Calvicus Vile - Elder Scrolls

Clavicus Vile is known as the child-god of the Morningstar, and the Prince of Bargains. He is one of the many Daedric Princes. He is the Prince of power, bargains, wishes, serenity, and trickery. In the plane of Oblivion where the Prince's rule, he owns the plane known as The Fields of Regret. By mortals, he is best known for granting wishes and entering into pacts with mortals. He is summoned by mortals when they have something they want to wish for. Clavicus grants those wishes but at inappropriate times. He enjoys toying with mortals, mostly for entertainment, and has been said to enjoy mortal souls.

Barbas is a shapeshifting Daedra, but most often takes the form of a dog. Daedra is entities who live in the realm of Oblivion. Though he has much importance when it comes to informing and warning people, he has been known to annoy Clavicus, which is why he was abandoned in the Fourth Era.

Clavicus has three artifacts, the first being Clavicus Vile Masque, which is a helm made to match Clavicus' personality. The Masque is known for giving the wearer rewards and have positive responses. In Skyrim, while wearing the helm, speech is increased by ten and prices are twenty percent cheaper. But Clavicus Vile can reclaim the helm at any time he pleases.

The helm is connected to a tale, about a girl named Avalea. As a young girl, she was disfigured and had a face no one could stand to look at. She made a distrustful deal with Clavicus Vile, in which he gave her the helm. Though it did not make her beautiful nor did it change her looks at all, it gave her the respect she longed for. Once she gained respect, she got married. When she was due for a child, exactly one year and one day after her wedding, Clavicus took the helm. Her husband, Baron, banished her from her home. But then, exactly twenty years and one day later, Avalea's daughter caught her father and claimed vengeance by slaying him.

The next artifact is known as The Rueful Axe. According to Barbas, the origin story of the ax is quite sinister. A man named Sebastian Lort had a daughter who had lycanthropy, meaning she had been bitten or consumed blood from a werewolf and became one herself. As a joke, Clavicus Vile gave the man the ax, as a means of a “cure.” The only way to get the Axe in Skyrim is during the Clavicus Vile quest “A Daedra’s Best Friend.” If you wish to kill Barbas, as Clavicus wishes, then he will give you the ax to do so, as no other weapon can. In return, you get to keep the ax.

The last artifact is only in Elder Scrolls: Morrowind. It is known as the Bittercup. Though there is no background known on this artifact, if you drink from the cup, it will add twenty points to your highest attribute, while taking twenty from your lowest. The quest “The Bitter Cup” is a Thieves Guild quest in Morrowind. Gentleman Jim Stacey, the master of the Thieves Guild, wants the cup so that he can convince Eydis Fire-Eye to help the Guild.

To start Clavicus' quest in Skyrim, you must find Barbas the dog outside of Falkreath. Previously, you probably heard some rumor about a dog wandering outside. One man gives you a piece of meat to help lure him. After talking to Barbas he will ask you to help him. He will tell you that he had a falling out with his master. After entering the Shrine of Clavicus Vile, Clavicus will ask you to return the Rueful Axe. You travel to Rimerock Burrow, and Sebastian Lort must be killed in order to retrieve it. After you do so, return to Clavicus. He will give you a choice: to return the Axe and the dog or to kill the dog and keep the Axe. After such the quest is complete and whatever you choose happens.

I want to point out on a personal level that Clavicus is my least favorite god or Daedric Prince. Not just because he's a trickster and just rude, but he literally asks you to kill his dog, who only wants to make amends. As a note, if you killed Barbas, you are the worst kind of person to me.