#sontaire

[thaliendir]

sheogorath ~ domain of sex and kink / version two

another , more in-depth writeup on potential for sexuality and kink as domain of sheogorath - details largely speculative , but hopefully able to make case for consideration !

obviously discussion of sex and kink , one brief touch on sexual assault in section 2 .

overlaps

of course , sheogorath is not only daedric prince - or god in general - with stake on aspects of sexuality . so first , some thoughts on areas of overlap ! dibella : sex moreso as expression of love , or otherwise to enjoy intimacy and closeness for intimacy's sake . little overlap . mephala : sex as wit and wiles , seduction - ability to drive narratives and situations , create favour or complicate feelings . overlap in some circumstances . sanguine : as one area of hedonism , and easily most overlap with this interpretation of sheogorath . however , where sanguine value indulgence and hedonism , effects of madness secondary , to sheogorath , indulgence is just another door to madness . while both might hold domain over these subjects , ultimate areas of interest can be just different enough to not fully run over each other's territory . ( very simplistic : perhaps sanguine will say bark , dog , while sheogorath will bend psyche until unequivocally believe self to be dog - and then say bark , dog . )

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obsessions of lust

lust can be obsessive , even dangerously so . some people come to depend on sex to deal with feelings and troubles , some people struggle with self control and discipline to avoid dangerous situations , some people make attempts to repress and only guarantee vicious cycle . likewise , subsequent reckless sex can lead to disease and infection , pregnancy , emotional trauma , even in some cases , physical trauma or death .

obsession in and of self is already one aspect of sheogorath's domain of madness and psyche , to descend deep into feelings until nothing else is important , until nothing else exist . in some worst case scenarios , obsessive lust might become almost molag balic in nature - need to feel like own and control subject of lust , consent and approval regardless .

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cultural madness & perceptions of sexual deviancy

cultural madness is idea which cover in previous post about domain of madness - not everything which sheogorath hold domain over is necessarily literal madness , as in variance of mental function , clarity , or stability . this can include expressions that people might deem to be illness of sexual deviancy or otherwise contrary to sane society , which extend to orientation and kink both - as seen in gay dumag gro-bonk and BDSM enthusiast sontaire , respectively .

as with cultural madness in general , this is not guarantee that all such people will become part of shivering isles , that any of this indicate literal madness , or that sheogorath will hold claim over soul - especially if lack pressures to label as mad to begin with .

but beyond these in-game characters , there is potential for sheogorath to embrace all who fall into this category , as seen in curio folio vii about exhibitionistic queen virwen : "From the very start Queen Virwen wanted you to tear her clothes off -- oh, yes, she was already my child, for her tastes -- and make love on the dining table."

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kink , altered states , & psyche-bend / psyche-break

this aspect include use of hypnosis or substances , but also subspace , domspace , and in general roleplay . any sex is indulgence of lust and feelings , and have potential to lose mind in those feelings , but this is where really start to cross into mental effects . in many cases this will be temporary , but there can be exceptions - especially if magic user specialise in such areas , or if foolishly invite sheogorath personally .

people might use these states to indulge unsurvivable fantasies through hallucinations , to intensify feelings , to clear mind of anything other than sex , or to become canvas for particular fantasies and scenes . content of kink is not most important part of sheogorathean sex - importance is ability to lose sense of true reality or identity through indulgence .

one kink which work as easy example of just how far this can go is bimbo kink - to intertwine identity with sex , and discard everything else . different flavours of this fantasy exist , draw on different aesthetics and variations of tropes , but that is gist . bimbo characters often have bright , cheery , if naive worldviews , ditsy attitudes , and obsession with sex so intense that even ordinary objects like cucumbers can trigger exhibitionistic lust . fantasy of bimbo transformation is that this is often not even choice - where real-world indulgence of fantasies may slip into CNC play - with ideas of bimbo virus , covert drugs , mind control , and so on .

in this way , while individual kinks might or might not be culturally mad , many kinks can be gateway to more literalistic madness - even if only temporary states . likewise , might circle back into obsessive lust , and consequences thereof .

relevant also , but no specific point to make : manic stories of arden-sul tell of grand orgy which heighten with greenmote , drug which heighten bliss immensely , but was then potent enough to kill all 214 participants .

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dangers of sheogorathean sex

of course , not all sex in shivering isles is necessarily sheogorathean sex - can be plain and vanilla as well . true sheogorathean sex place focus on these effects - to let go , to alter mind and identity , to get lost in another reality . this alone can become addictive for some people , another form of obsessive lust that might lead down roads of trauma or death , whether physical death or death of identity . other fantasies again might be unsurvivable , such as vore - but shivering isles quite conveniently have large carnivorous plants that so warmly invite . while altered states might be able to fulfill these needs in some people , others might still want that real deal at any cost ...

when sheogorath have personal involvement , all of this is even more true . sheogorath is very happy to dig into psyche and pull out deepest secrets , and then fulfill . beyond potential obsession , should sheogorath indulge changes of identity , there is chance would not return to prior life - and realistically , maybe not even intentional , let alone malicious ! call of sheogorath's madness is just so hard to resist , able to completely cloud mind and judgment - that deepest bliss is only thing of importance , fuck consequences .

might leave palace with no knowledge of name , year , or how to get home . might leave with some kind of strange physical changes after transformations of wabbajack , or new memories of lifetime as baliwog and urge to return " home " . might even find that certain words or phrases trigger now primal sexual urges ... regardless of situation and safety .

[courtkossai]

shivering isles files - dumag gro-bonk

so , dumag gro-bonk really interest ... why exactly is this man in shivering isles ? main notable thing is gay attraction - will compliment female players , but go above and beyond for male ones , even offer to give close and personal help with certain armour pieces . 

so , like tove the unrestful and ushnar gro-shadborgob , dumag originally plan as female character , but switch in development as lynda carter did not return . maybe intention was that female dumag would be another flirtatious , sexually obsessive type like sontaire , and upon switch , choose to keep dialogue as is rather than make obsession straight . 

that still do not answer in universe though . know recent elder scrolls online especially want to show queer inclusion as simple normal life , but would that really be true across world - is there really nowhere where queerness would be unfortunately devalue , with times when force to cast aside for sake of reproduction or alliances ?

in real life , madness never was just about measurable differences and instabilities of mind - very much also social and cultural category , where difference between madman and sane man could be as little as colour , wealth , or bloodline , which is honestly still true today . just look at things like drapetomania , where white man who seek freedom was healthy and well , but black man who seek freedom was sick - or how queer sexualities would be diagnosable disease , and many people still treat queer genders as disease first .

likewise in universe , sheogorath embody all shades of madness , even that which is more cultural standard than measurable difference . that is to say , maybe dumag gro-bonk find home among madness because of mistreatment in community which would not accept - mad not in mind , but in culture .

of course , that is not only possible answer , but everything else is very explicitly headcanon and theory without much basis - that maybe arrive with mad mother , maybe just hide something deep , or otherwise entirely unseen reasons . think neat to examine just what canon give as is .

[thaliendir]

... muurine , sickly bernice , cutter , earil , sontaire , j'zidzo , horkvir bear-arm , jayred ice-veins , dredhwen , felas sarandas , shelden , kithlan , wide-eye , high priest of mania dervenin , bolwing ! can not believe take this long to remember bolwing . also fimmion , uungor ...

this is not even close to everyone , but hey , ever notice how so many residents of shivering isles bosmer ?

( well , there is no way to prove this was really all from memory , but faeries' honour this was . shivering isles <3 )

Can you name ten Elder Scrolls characters, without looking them up? We are curious to see what are the first ones that come to mind.

The image depicts a Scrib, for no particular reason.

[bound-until-death]

[irithyllians]

Knight of Gwynevere // Finger of Rosaria

An Unkindled of Firelink Shrine, Amadea was in life a knight of Gwynevere, queen of Lothric. Upon the queen’s disappearance, her knights roamed the land in search of her unto their deaths; sometimes even beyond it. Upon awakening at the toll of the bell, Amadea remained bound by her oath in death and continued her search, until at last she found Rosaria, Gwynevere reborn, and swore herself anew to her now voiceless goddess.

And then Leonhard had to fuck it up.

[irithyllians-moving]

Pictures of Sontaire looking hot that absolutely no one asked for

[luckydxy]

well ...  she’s not wrong

[crysdrawsthings]

An incomplete list of things I took part in during the con

(With all possible love and respect to all this amazing people who were unfortunate enough that I ended up bothering them for almost an entire day)

So, today I:

played Jenga with the Worm Cult necromancer 

summoned a dremora

argued with a conjurer for some time about a possibility to do not search for the “sacrifice” and just sacrifice myself, damn my social skills and thank you lady who helped me with it

entertained smol and sof Barbas 

helped Brenith Aralyn to write a new bestiary of the Shivering Isles

found a misplaced sigil for a Dark Brotherhood assassin

painted a ghost’s lute, so she will feel better with a colorful one

took part in witches’ alchemy quest and won an acorn 

that was later revealed to be a powerful magic artifact used to help cultist with their plan of opening the Oblivion Gates

found the best looking lads for Sontaire 

answered after a few tries on a riddle of Varuni Arvel

took part in a quest to find powerful daedric artifacts

won a black soul gem in a lottery. Smells like black- and blueberries.

also won a poster with a really buff and wonderful khajiit dude

took photos of and with a lot of amazing cosplayers (you obviously will see none of them, because I am ugly and can’t take a normal photo to save a life. Amazing cosplays deserve better)

had a really good hecking day

[delsinsfire]

Scribble of two Fashion Souls victims

Rhianon belongs to me, Sontaire belongs to @irithyllians

[dakog]

🎁

“Now what’s an old bastard like me s’posed to scrounge up for a-- Oh, right. Speakin’ of bastards, figure it’d be pretty decent of me to send that maggot of hers a new chew toy, huh? Maggots? I forget.”

[thaliendir]

sheogorath and domain of sexuality

truly think that domains of sheogorath extend to cultural ideas of madness , and not just literal differences of internal worldview . some members of shivering isles make fairly good case for this : dredhwen is extreme narcoleptic , dumag gro-bonk is gay , sontaire is into BDSM ( though hardly great representative ) ... 

these people do not inherently have what modern world would term mental illness , but communities where these people come from likely disagree , hence presence in shivering isles . while not official in-game book , curio folio vii take another step in confirmation of this - queen virwen is exhibitionist and long to shock fellow royalty , to get lost in sexual bliss where everyone can see , which sheogorath personally consider to be under domain .

there is another aspect also would like to bring up also , which is that sexuality is another means to lose mind . people can get obsessive in love and lust , obsessive in carnal need , and go down paths which never usually would . sex is that carrot and stick which prompt some people to do ... well , anything imaginable , so long as this reward wait on that other side . 

beyond pursuit of lust , there is also infinite realm of kinks . many of these even in modern day fall into category of cultural madness - people term these as sicknesses , things that need fix , things that definitively come from some traumatic life event , or just reflection of true terrible morality and un-worth as person . to have love of exhibitionism , or vore , or balloons or feet or whatever , is " downfall of humanity " as fascists would say . 

sex already can be blissful and make people lose senses , but many kinks give even more potential to block out everything else and lose mind . one could get so utterly lost in body worship , or masochism , or really anything - especially when there is role to play , and/or use of substances or trance states . kink give reason to suspend everything and become someone or something else - to defy expectations and normality , for at least short time . 

sheogorath is quite happy to induce madness of all flavours , to play with emotions , identities , and memories , whether temporary or permanent - alongside drugs and substance use , sexuality is another gateway to this . again , this is something queen virwen prove . after one touch of gambolpuddy , this queen that queen virwen was simply is no longer , as gambolpuddy free from internal expectations and limitations … and external ones too - nothing but exhibitionistic sex from here on out . 

to shivering isles standards , best sex would be sex in which participants can not think about anything else even if try - say for example , depictions of bimbos who can not count to 3 , who can not contain lust even in grocery stores and beeline towards cucumbers , where identity and sex become one .

even impossible kinks might find some forms of indulgence , as these states of mind can completely suspend disbelief - and with some help , possibly even get lost in delusion and hallucinations of otherwise impossible fantasies . ( though pitcher plants do exist among isles , possibly big enough for person to fit within , will have to check … that is pretty permanent indulgence , though ! )

some participants in such sex might be content to move on with life after that , some might chase that high forever , others still might never even return to senses - and occasionally , die either in pursuit or in process of satisfaction . if mephala represent sex as seduction and manipulation , and sanguine represent sex as hedonistic indulgence , then sheogorath represent sex as this loss of mind , loss of identity , as well as blisses and dangers within .

[floralflorist-blog]

@sontaire

Gingerly, a vase bearing a fresh bouquet of carnations was set atop the counter. Its piquant aroma, not unlike the undertones of clove, seeped into his fingertips; a pleasant reminder of the work put into sustaining the vestiges of their beauty. The flowers would last for about three weeks, more if magick was involved, and he had to silently admire their transient splendour.

Moments passed, and Rumare’s eyes drifted away from the bouquet. The store was bright; a welcoming array of colours that melded together in gratifying consonance. One sweeping stare confirmed that no one else was in sight. Customer intake was slow. He was new, and many of the locals still treated him with rigid suspicion. It would take a while to solidify regular clientele.

[uesp]

"Gotta go, got things to see and people to do."

--Sontaire

[evangelineduval]

@sontaire   What have I said about intruding on my “me” time, Eva?

I have some serious doubts, Sontaire.

[halforcsmash]

@sontaire

The commotion at the inn had died down for the evening; the musical performance had ended, guests retreated to their rooms, and the few still out were finishing a meal or having a drink before bed. In the room off the side of the parlor, a small sitting room, Sontaire hummed a little tune to her boy, Hallandor, asleep soundly enough to rival the dead in her arms, while Noora still stubbornly attempted to stack some blocks. The blocks were altogether uncooperative, clacking noisily as she slammed each piece down on top of the other.

For now, she hadn’t noticed his approach, but she was completely engrossed in watching her children. It had been a long and tiring day. They were the start and the end to it all.

Korgul heard some kind of humming, and he looked for the source. Heading toward the small room, he was slightly shocked by the scene before him. Children. Very small children. A little younger than his own step daughter surely, but still very young and small. He smiled at the young one playing with blocks, looking like she was ready to fall over in a sleeping heap amongst the ruins of a great block city. 

He heard the song come to an end, and he rested against the frame of the entranceway as he quietly clapped. 

“A beautiful melody, Sontaire.” 

[luckydxy]

16 !

Tesblr Writing Prompts ;; Accepting

16 - write about a crush

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

Goes her forehead against the desk. Reaching out, without a glance, to her poorly written letter & allowing it to be crushed & shredded within her hands. With a self-pitying whine, it's tossed to the floor ; where an impressive pile had begun to form. How is this so difficult? Lovestruck youth ponders to herself, clawing her hands down the table - back to her head so as to tangle them among her mess of hair. How come nothing she writes sounds ... genuine?

Maybe because it wasn't. Maybe because this was a passing fever. Ara had felt just the same a month prior. & the month before that. & the month before that. First it'd been the fair Altmer with shining blonde hair ... next it was the Dunmer mage with striking crimson eyes ... currently it was a Breton spitfire with darling freckled cheeks. As was Ara's cycle of unhealthy fixation.

Blissfully unaware of her faults, Ara pulls her head up by her hair, propping her chin miserably upon desktop. Bleary eyes settling upon her dwindling candle ... it'd been fresh when she'd started this endeavor. With a dramatic moan, Ara slams her forehead back against her desk. It wasn't fair!

Then it hits her. A crude plot forming in the back of her mind ... earlier that day, as she'd wandered the streets of Bliss, Ara had made a stop at a certain bookshop. Sontaire always had a charming selection, but Ara often made efforts to avoid the woman at all costs. The menfolk around here are mine. Her haughty voice calls in Ara's mind. Gotta go, got things to see & people to do. Ara shudders, sitting upright. Ara hadn't the will or patience to inform Sontaire she'd nothing to fear from Ara when it came to ... competition. But perhaps the woman could be of use to her after all. As much as Ara was loathe to admit it- the Altmer was rather successful at procuring partners. Ara remembered how the other had responded upon her entry ; tucking away a letter in one of her many novels & glaring at Ara coldly, as if the younger woman had interrupted something of importance.

Ara grins wickedly. It must have been a love letter. It must have been one of many love letters. The subjects of Mania were an emotional but often poetic lot. It may even have been a well-written poem! Sontaire must have more than a handful tucked away ... surely she wouldn't notice if one or two went missing.

Giddy as can be, Ara all but leaps from her seat, snatching up her cloak & promptly rushing out of her private chambers. There were many things she ought to be putting her energy towards, the looming Greymarch & all that, but tonight she'd a very special crisis to avert! Avoiding her Court & their festivities, she manages to slip through the never-resting crowd & trots down the steps of New Sheoth Palace. Why shouldn't she have a little fun? Her Lord wouldn't mind ... & if even if he did, well, Ara wasn't so certain she cared. As if He were any better.

Easily passing into Bliss, Ara makes her way through increasingly familiar streets. Even so late at night the streets were vibrant & saturated with colorful lights & stained glass. Fungus & flowers dotted here & there, gleaming against the brilliant midnight skies of the Isles. Ara'd heard tale of similar views to be had from the furthest reaches of Tamriel, far north in the frozen wastes of Skyrim. She'd never been so far herself, but Ara doubts anything in the mortal realm could be worthy of comparison. Skipping down a garden path & ducking through an alleyway, it doesn't take long at all for her to reach Books of Bliss.

There were unsavory sounds coming from within & the front door was locked tight. This was no matter ... Ara would be swift. Ensuring there were no lingering Aureal guards nearby, Ara skillfully picks the lock. It wasn't too difficult, Sontaire should really look into that, no matter, it made her task all the easier. Slipping in unseen, Ara makes a point of blocking out everything heard upstairs. Hopefully they stay up there & give her ample time to rut around Sontaire's sales-table. There were books here & there. Notes & special requests. Some loose coin that Ara managed to brush aside without much temptation. She was on a mission.

Ara digs through a few drawers wildly ; nothing, nothing, nothing. Manic Duchess was begining to feel irritated when something caught her eye. My sweetest Sontaire - the corner page read. Excellent! Ara rips the letter from its hiding place, finding it attached to a certifiable brick of letters which had been tied up with a dainty green ribbon. Cute. There's a particularly violent smack heard from upstairs, some poor fool shrieking giddily in response. Ara gags to herself ... that was less cute. Ignoring it for the time being, Ara hides behind the counter & takes a seat on a stack of books. Undoing the ribbon, she begins flipping through the letters with a mischieveous glint to her eyes. This was fantastic! She'd find something suitable in no time! Snickering to herself, Ara reads through a good many. Some were better than others & she often recognized the names each were signed off by. A few surprised her while others .... Ara grimaces. Lord- was that ? No ... no, no, no. Not Thadon. Ara promptly destroys that particular poem ; as she had with most evidence of Thadon's reign & overall existence. What rubbish.

Annoyed, Ara quickens her search. The pronouns were off here & there, giving away that it'd been penned by a man, but she'd planned on copying it down in her own handwriting to begin with, so this would be little bother. Selecting three that had caught her attention, Ara decides that's more than enough. She tucks these away in her satchel & ties up the rest with the pastel green ribbon. The bow wasn't as neat as it had been before, but it was good enough for her. She leaves the brick of letters where she'd found it & slips back into the night with similar ease. Ara even remembers to lock the door behind her.

Feeling accomplished, Ara finds a comfortable cranny in Bliss & begins copying down her letter of choice then & there. She'd little patience. The night was young, but she fully expected speedy results. Once everything was just right, Ara hugs the letter for good luck & rushes back down another alley. The Breton of her desire lived nearby & was an insomniac to boot. Ara knew she'd be awake! Ara knew this letter would win her heart! Ara .... suddenly lacked the confidence to knock upon her front door. Fretting to herself, young Duchess paces. What if her master plan failed? What if the Breton was actually asleep? What if. What if. What if ... Ara left it at her bedside table for now? The freckled Breton napped a few hours over the afternoon- this Ara knew after a week of intense observation. This would give Ara time to ready herself for the arrival of her lover romantic interest.

Ara immediately clambers up a nearby balcony, fully intending on breaking into the Breton's home through her bedroom window. How romantic. Before she could make her move & slip into someones home for the second time in one night, an upsetting sight greets her. There was already someone there. A young man of handsome stock had an arm wrapped around the Breton's shoulder. They sat before a fire, seemingly caught up in engaging conversation. Ara watches on as the other woman nestles her head affectionately against his shoulder ; he responds in kind, letting his own head fall upon hers. This .... this wasn't part of Ara's master plan. Not at all. Dejected & feeling utterly hopeless, Ara climbs back down.

The walk back to the House of Mania suddenly felt miles away ... Ara hadn't the heart to tred more than a few feet. Sitting flat on the ground at a street corner, Ara pays little mind to any soiling of her dress. She didn't care. Couldn't care. A few Aureal guard & particularly restless Manics walk past now & again. Ara pays no mind to them either. She was trapped in a trance ; reading the letter in hand over & over again. Hardly noticing how it became damp with tears as the night wore on.

Day would be breaking soon & Ara wished it wouldn't. Maybe she'd slip away to Crucible & join the like-minded individuals there. As glum as she was, Ara dreaded rejoining the festivities of House Mania. She sighs, tucking the ruined letter back in with the rest, rising to begin the trek towards anywhere else.

"You're our new Duchess aren't you?" A gentle voice interupts, calling to Ara quizically from behind, "Shouldn't you be in the Palace?"

Ara jolts, finding an overcurious young madwoman watching her with wide blue eyes. Stunning, blue eyes. There's a boulder-sized lump stuck in Ara's throat, preventing her from explaining. Ara should be a lot of places ... guilt bubbles up in her breast - or maybe it was something else?

"I've never been..." Sweet thing comments innocently, "What's it like? Is it beautiful?"

Not as beautiful as you ... Ara wilts, Lord smite her for her pitiful hubris here & now, this was not how she'd intended her evening to go. Not exactly. Dragging her eyes down the other's form, Ara can't help the invitation which slips from her lips.

"Would you like to see ...? The Conservatory is lovely in the early morn. If we huried we could catch the dew."