The little island of Mania inside Niben Bay seems to suggest that Sheogorath managed to pump a piece of himself into Nirn during the Oblivion crisis (when the so called barrier was weak).

We know from Martin and others that stable portals to/from Oblivion are nigh impossible under normal circumstances, so how come?

Another problem is that we know that Pyke entered via the same portal as you did, which would imply that it existed either before the crisis or exactly since the crisis.

How do you explain a part of mania being stable in Nirn?

And as a funny thing I noticed, at least Cindanwe had the same butterfly experience as you did (I think this was the moment you went bonkers btw.) as noted http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Shivering:Cindanwe%27s_Notebook.

Well, when you talk to Haskill he says the gate poses no threat to Mundus, so no compact has been violated.

Maybe the reasoning behind the gates appearance makes it "legal"?

Hmmm, I belive that Shiggles or Haskill explains why the portal can be maintained on Nirn, an that is because "It does not pose a threat to Mundus. It is an invitation...", or something of the sort. Too lazy to get the quote. So really, it can just stay there because Daedra aren't pouring out of it. It's simply an invitation to any mortals ballsy enough to wander in there, asking them into the Isles.

It's much easier for the Daedra Prince to send simple matter than animated beings. The floating island is bigger than the typical magic item they send to the player once they've done a quest for them, but it's still just matter.

See how Dagon's gates themselves don't need to be summoned out of other gates.

"It's a doorway...an invitation. No Compact has been violated."

A "stable portal" seems to imply two-way travel. Nothing originating from SI can come back through, or so it seems.

The Golden Saint and Dark Seducer escorts cannot accompany you. Additionally, no one travelling with you (i.e., Adoring Fan, Dark Brotherhood Assassin, Brother Martin, etc.) can follow you into Sheogorath's Realm.

I wish I had a few more minutes to write more down, but that's my take on it at least.

___TWM

I don't think this is enough tbh. A stable portal doesn't mean it's 2 way. It's a portal which is for a long time, that's what stable portal means in my book. And as for the not-broken "Compact" well yes, that's fine, but again, I'm wondering how the island is possible for such a long time, and how the portal is possible for such a long time, especially even after you finish the MQ.

There were (are) more stable portals such this one in Tamriel and they were functional when the barrier worked. See http://www.imperial-library.info/obbooks/doors_oblivion.shtml.

Portals, gates, doors.... This is where the nitpicking happens, not in stable or permanent or even two ways.

Good point, if nothing else it could be retconned that Sheo just used a natural portal.

It is possible that Sheo has kept to the divine contract by ensuring that the portal only works with mortals, not with daedra.

Most likely. Again, it's just an invitation, you can go in if you want, no one and nothing is forcing you to enter or leave. I highly sentient being of the realm he made could pass through, which is also why the knights of order were not suddenly flooding Cyrodil all of a sudden.

Not that hard to make portals. Just have to know how. Been happening for ages.

Nah. The barrier only keeps the Daedra out, it doesn't keep people in and unanimated stuff also seems to go through unaffected.

One small problem. The portal-island is also infested with shivering isles flora.

Last I checked, mushrooms, and plants were animate life forms, and not inert matter.

I'd say the "Does not violate any compacts" is the key word here, as the barriers prevent INVASIONS. This portal was never intended to be a means of invasion, but a means of choice. It thus "Belongs" on Nirn, the world of uncertain choice.


It is still likely that the little island will end up with a blockade around it under imperial decree at some point or other, as I highly suspect that errant mages who have chafed under not being able to explore the void pockets of reality would be inexplicably drawn to such a thing.


I also feel that the portal will stick around for quite some time. It's shivering isles exit point *IS* the "Fringe" lands, afterall--- with a nice little path leading up to that nice little hamlet where budding madmen "Mature", before getting admittance.....

Not really as far as TES is concerned. Living, yes. Growing, yes. Animated? Not so much. The harrada and spiddal sticks are animated, and a few other plants in SI dungeons are too; but what you find on the little island is static.

Besides, it's mindless. Which is really what you should read in animated: the presence of an http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anima, a soul. A Golden Saint has one. A Knight of Order, despite being fittingly described as soulless for their lack of original thought or free will, has one, too. A mushroom? Nope. It's just decoration.

I suppose... But I still think the "purpose" of the portal is what makes it not violate the compact. While releasing Mania's nasty spore releasing mushrooms out into the heart of cyrrodiil could be seen as a kind of invasion, that was not the intended purpose.

It was to allow mortals just one more kind of choice. (The choice to leave the world of Nirni behind, and go chill with shiggles in his shattered imagination.)