Preparation for our new venture into Oblivion was not as hard as one would imagine. Almost five months of time here in this world allowed us to set up quite a few things. While we could have wished for more time we took what we got and ran with it.
Granny Viola prepped by enchanting some gear for myself and Shirou. With limited Magicka it was the best option for us to rely on more conventional weapons and armor then projections. Being kitted out in robes lined with enchantments for regeneration of Magicka and health was a blessing. My usage of Magecraft was very limited compared to Magicka after all.
For weapons I had my dagger. This also reminded me to make tarot cards for divinations. Granny once more came to the rescue as she used Alteration to transmute them from a mix of paper and silver. I did look like a robed thief. My red scarf was the final addition. She had enchanted it as well but with a special kind of enchantment. Her use of Alteration and the enchantment schools created something close to Ebonthread. So my scarf was just as much protection as well as a weapon.
Shirou opted to make himself a katana. His Damascus style in full swing as he chose Moonstone and Glass for the blade. While the Aedric symbol for air was near the base of the katana, Granny further enchanted the blade. So Kamaitachi was born.
The last bit of enchanted gear was something I always wanted. Due to not having an actual storage or inventory I decided to bring this up to Granny. While normally Mages will just claim a tiny pocket of Oblivion as their storage I asked to see if something different could be made.
With my help from my senses and her knowledge of mystic's teleportation, we figured out how to attach a point in space of Nirn onto an object. The harder part was enlarging the space "safely". Now we each carried an amulet that had a small space of 3 cubic feet (or around 1 meter of cubic space).
So while Shirou carried the normal camping gear and the likes of a traveling armorer, I carried the food. Granny still had access to her pocket so she wouldn't change that anytime soon. Throgor was happy to carry some of his different weapons.
A week of prep and telling our customers we would be leaving for an indeterminant time to go with the Hero of Cyrodil did wonders for business. We kept a good amount of Septims on us for our journey to the Isles. I still vaguely remembered that there were some shops in New Sheoth.
For food I made sure to have a few things. When going to meet the Dedric Prince of Madness one should always bring gifts. So with a bit of help from Shirou and a lot of finagling we made several forms of cheese. The sad part was they couldn't be aged cheese. Still, we did have a variety for him when the time came.
Other ingredients as well were included. Was determined to make pizza for the Mad God! So a week of planning and sourcing stuff was our endeavor. There was also training becoming more streamlined with actual spars for myself and Shirou. This lead to the discovery that while magic said we were related our bodies did not. So the "Cheat" of using the bleeding effect of his experiences was diluted. So that form of training slowed down.
So i took it as to learn from another opponent. So i also spent nights learning to sneak from the new Gray Fox. This also included lessons in how to use my dagger "Appropriately". While I had not killed, I may have just about crippled a certain idiot who thought Mollag Bal's views on women were correct.
Stupid imperial got every bit he deserved from that one. The woman he attempted to attack? Well she now had a job working at the arena as the receptionist thanks to a recommendation from it's champion.
As for the mental effects of spilling blood for the first time. Yeah... didn't take it to great afterwards. Threw up most of dinner and was sleepless for the night. I was able to bounce back after the night as memories from Shirou were helping me cope. Repressed as they were, now they had an outlet. So by the end of the last three days it was while not perfect, I could at least function in those scenarios.
The memories were some of the atrocities Shirou had tried to stop when he was alive. He wasn't always perfect. So some of the cracks left behind reared ugly heads in their wake. It was in these memories I could feel his thought process as well. He blames himself for many of his failures. But looking from the outside, somethings just couldn't be done alone.
With that revelation I talked to Granny Viola and Shirou. They helped me to cope and really get back into things. At the end of the day, I stopped a dangerous man and saved someone. Even if it went further, the result of that wouldn't change. Shirou's perspective when he worked with Alaya to stop future atrocities led to acceptance. Granny Viola's perspective was just about as Nord as can be.
"Brat, All life will end. If some piece of shit wants to bring himself an early end by being a piece of shit, Who er we to get in their way?"
But all things come to an end. So at the end of the week we were on our way over to the portal. The same guard greeted us from my vision of the place. Thankful that the Hero of Cyrodil came back to handle this issue. Then checked on us as well. My own and Shirou's features were very different from the normal populace after all. But being with the Hero, he knew better than to ask questions.
Walking up to the portal I felt the gazes land on us. Only a few this time. The fiery distortion of time, The shadow's grasp, and above all the Mad Glint. The Last of which was subdued. Not nearly as it should have been. Weakened but still daunting for a mortal mind to comprehend.
Steeling myself i walked through the portal passed the others. My impatience for a place I always wanted to see buried deep within. And so I was greeted to a spiral of blue bursting around me only to appear into a dark stone room. A metronome ticking by.
And there HE sat. The black and red suit was fitted perfect for him. But make no mistake he was not human. My intuition to not activate my eyes anywhere near him was blaringly obvious. The others were not far behind.
"So, The champion candidate returns, with guests." His voice smooth yet a tired boredom laced throughout it. The Chamberlain of the Mad God.
Straightening myself, gripping the air in a flourish I summoned Arrodes and bowed with Arrodes to my chest. Never give up a chance to act after all.
"A pleasure to meet with you Haskill. I have wanted to do so for a long time." my voice was smooth with no trace of the earlier dread of his presence. "I'm sure" his tone drawn out and sarcastic. "Oh, Truly though. The man who serves the Mad God in his glory must not lead a boring life though?" The barest hint of a smile draws upon his face for a moment. His legs crossed in his chair as he collected his fingers together.
"It has truly been the most tiring of jobs, one might say. But I do so with glee in mine heart. My Lord does treat his subjects well, after all. But sadly we are out of time to truly reminisce as it were. Guests and the champion, My lord expects you to arrive in New Sheoth, soon. Please, don't keep him waiting. "
With a tell tell sign of teleportation he was gone. We were left in the room as the ticking of the metronome continues for a few more seconds. Then when it stopped I saw it happen. So many times I witnessed this scene behind a screen. But nothing could compare to this.
The corners of the room pealed away into butterflies, revealing the iridescent sky and the mix of vibrant and dreary colors of the flora. We were at the top of a platform and staircase suspended high up.
"So, where do we go from here?" Shirou asked, his voice still in awe as he stared at the surroundings. Not that i could blame him, i was in the same boat.
It took about a minute for me to speak up. "We will need to head to New Sheoth. Which means getting past that gate off in the distance." pointing to the large wall and divided gate in the distance.
So we set off. Moving along the pathway to go towards the little town. Passing by we saw a few people who just weren't all there. "This place just gives me the creeps." Throgor mentioned. Granny was the one to answer this time. "You stand in the Shivering Isles grandson. When madness takes hold this is their fate. But this area is only for the people who haven't been invited by the Mad God. Though i am curious as to why we were not allowed past the gate?" Finishing she turned to me.
"Because something necessary will need to happen." I answered. Both my intuition as well as knowledge pointed towards that. The process to become Sheogorath was convoluted just as much as he is himself after all.
Throgor took it in stride at this point. A week of being with us allowed him to become accustomed to our few oddities that came with world travel. Even told him as much. I saw no issues with it being told as it would have come out eventually when this was all over. Though the pointed look Granny Viola was giving me was telling that we were due for a conversation.
Bypassing the town of mad people we climbed the stairs to find a group of imperial knights starting their climb.
I was about to run ahead but a force clamped down on me at that moment. Time seemed to slow and still. Then The presence made itself known sitting on my shoulder. A cat was there. A Cheshire grin on its face with a two toned suit collar on his body.
"There now, we wouldn't need you stopping some stupid mortals mucking about my realm now would we? But ahh, Where are my Manners? did i throw those away? ehh, Who needs them? BUT little god... thing.... You have to remember! Tough Love for all is the name of the game! and a few greedy mortals who wish to invade my realm? This is course for the par! or at least i think that's how that goes? whatever... This is my Domain! Just because i invited you doesn't mean you can be the one mucking about! At least not till i tell you.... IF I tell you."
Yeah, The Skooma Cat. My instincts say to run the fuck far away. My mouth though, Different circumstance. "So, Sheogorath... can I...?" an eyebrow cocked on the cat. Which was admittedly adorable. "Oh, what is it little thing? Spit it out! there's never harm in asking. Only what comes after asking is the thing. fickle thing really..."
"So canIpetyou?" my words coming out quickly as I spoke in one breath.
Both eyebrows were up now. And then a laugh the guttural dual voice shaking.
"ha haha.. ahahahahahahahh hahahhahahaahahahahha!" the realm shook in the stillness. "oh i haven't had a laugh like that in years! even when i saw that fool Dagon getting his ass handed to him a few months ago! I wana skin your arm and beat you with with it! but to Dare! Its Just MAD! and i like mad..."
With an arm raised to his chest as if he was checking his heart he chuckled once more.
"Fine little thing, a few pets for the Skooma cat. You know the last one to pet me in this form?" Proceeding to do just as he turned his head so i could pet behind his ears. It was soft and relaxing to do so. Even if he was a god that could destroy me on a whim.
"That shadowy lady had found me when i was wanderin about those little jungles down there. first she trapped me! Baited me with some string on a ball! It was too late when i already was in her hands. Apparently some mortals told her about regular cats and how petting them was relaxing. So she wanted to test it! But noooooo, she couldn't have a regular cat to try it. Got my revenge though! stupid shadow lady didn't like all of her fancy robes being shreaded when i escaped. Still think she drowned those mortals in her shadows after that."
That was a lot to unpack. And huh, Nocturnal likes cats? thought she liked crows?
"Good job, thing, i don't quite know what to call you since you aren't like those oversized lizards or those "Divines" but you give good massages! So i won't be killin ya! But anyways, welcome to the Shivering Isles! at least while it lasts... If it lasts..."
"We'll make it last. oh, and you can call me a mystery for now. Makes it more fun!" my voice a bit more firm and a reassuring smile.
"You really, really! do belong here, Mystery. Mystery, Mystery Mystery! Yes, i Like the optimism. Well talk later. Did you a favor for the nice massage. No need to go further yet. That hunter fellow is coming down to see you. REMEMBER! I expect Gifts!
And he was gone. While time was quick to catch up but i felt myself being shaken and blinking awake. The three adults looking at me in worry. Behind them a Nord hunter in furs was coming down the way.
"AZARIUS!" "yes, my name is Azarius." answering the Granny looking sternly at me.
"What... happened."
"...Skooma Cat?"