Shivering:Ritual of Accession

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[edit] Quick Walkthrough

Receive your next task from Sheogorath.
Choose which duchy you wish to become Duke/Duchess of.

[edit] Detailed Walkthrough

Speak to Sheogorath, who will have appeared in the back row of pews in the Sacellum Arden-Sul. He wishes to promote you to Duke/Duchess, explaining that such a task entails removing the existing Duke or Duchess from power and advises you to speak to the priests.

[edit] The Rituals of Removal

Speaking with Arctus and Dervenin about "Accession" will yield a considerable amount of information pertaining to both the Rituals of Accession, as well as the Sacellum and Arden-Sul. Return to Sheogorath when you have decided which Duchy you wish to rule. Choosing Mania requires killing Thadon, thus initiating the Ritual of Mania, while choosing Dementia means killing Syl, thus initiating the Ritual of Dementia. You can only complete one of the two quests.

[edit] Rewards and Implications

Your choice at this point has several implications, although either choice allows you to complete the Main Quest:

The Ring of Lordship you receive as duke or duchess has different enchantments for the Mania and Dementia versions.
During the course of the Main Quest you will gain the power to summon both Golden Saints and Dark Seducers. Your choice, however, will determine just when you will receive each power and the duration of the summon. You will be able to summon a Daedra aligned with your Duchy for 60 seconds when you become Duke/Duchess; after The Helpless Army you will be able to summon the other Daedra for 120 seconds.
The unique item you get to loot from your dead predecessor is different. Syl is carrying Nerveshatter, whereas Thadon is wearing the Diadem of Euphoria. However, you will subsequently be able to acquire the other item during The Roots of Madness quest.
The forces defending the Fringe during Retaking The Fringe will be different: Golden Saints for the Duke/Duchess of Mania or Dark Seducers for the Duke/Duchess of Dementia.
The Daedra under attack during The Helpless Army will be different: for the Duke/Duchess of Mania, you help the Dark Seducers at Pinnacle Rock; for the Duke/Duchess of Dementia, you help the Golden Saints at Brellach. The Daedra you help will then reward you with a suit of their armor: Golden Saint Heavy Armor or Dark Seducer Light Armor.
The final opponent during The Roots of Madness will be different: it will be whichever of Syl or Thadon you previously left alive, and you will now get to obtain their unique item.
You will receive full access to your respective House, Mania or Dementia, once you are granted Lordship.
If you choose to usurp Syl, the priest from Mania will claim that you have "foresaken the name Arden-Sul" and will refuse to speak to you for the rest of the game. The reverse is true if you kill Thadon.

[edit] Notes

If you want both achievements on the Xbox 360, save before choosing so that you can complete both. If you do not, you will need to create a new character to obtain the other achievement.

[edit] Journal Entries

Ritual of Accession (SE07)
Stage	Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
0
5		I should report to Sheogorath that I have lit the Great Torch as he requested.
8		I've been directed by Sheogorath become the sovereign of Mania or Dementia. He's suggested I speak to Arctus, High Priest of Dementia or Dervenin, High Priest of Mania at the Sacellum Arden-Sul here in New Sheoth to learn more.
10		(One of these two options will appear depending on which of the two priest the player spoke to first) I've spoken to Arctus, High Priest of Dementia. The Ritual of Accession for Dementia is simple; Syl would have to be slain by the proposed successor, and her heart brought to the Altar of Arden-Sul at the Sacellum. I should now speak to Dervenin to learn of Mania's ritual. or I've spoken to Dervenin, High Priest of Mania. The Ritual of Accession for Mania requires the current ruler to commit suicide by taking three doses of Greenmote, which is lethal. Then his drug-tainted blood must be brought to the Altar of Arden-Sul at the Sacellum. I should now speak to Arctus to learn of Dementia's ritual.
15		(One of these two options will appear depending on which of the two priest the player spoke to first) I've spoken to Arctus, High Priest of Dementia. The Ritual of Accession for Dementia is simple; Syl would have to be slain by the proposed successor, and her heart brought to the Altar of Arden-Sul at the Sacellum. After I decide which ritual to undertake, I should return to Sheogorath and inform him of my choice. or I've spoken to Dervenin, High Priest of Mania. The Ritual of Accession for Mania requires the current ruler to commit suicide by taking three doses of Greenmote, which is lethal. Then his drug-tainted blood must be brought to the Altar of Arden-Sul at the Sacellum. After I decide which ritual to undertake, I should return to Sheogorath and inform him of my choice.
200		(One of these two options will appear depending on which of the two rituals the player chose) I've spoken to Sheogorath and chosen the Ritual of Accession for Dementia. or I've spoken to Sheogorath and chosen the Ritual of Accession for Mania.

Notes

Not all Journal Entries may appear in your journal; which entries appear and which entries do not depends on the manner in which the quest is done.
Stages are not always in order of progress. This is usually the case with quests that have multiple possible outcomes or quests where certain tasks may be done in random order.
If an entry is marked as "Finishes Quest" it means the quest disappears from the Active Quest list, but you may still receive new entries for that quest.
On the PC, it is possible to use the console to advance through the quest by entering setstage SE07 stage. Where stage is the number of the stage you wish to complete. It is not possible to un-complete (i.e. go back) quest stages. See SetStage for more information.