M'aiq the Liar (Skyrim)

For other uses, see M'aiq the Liar.

M'aiq the Liar is a Khajiit in Skyrim that can be randomly encountered on any road, however very rarely. He can be found as early as Helgen, but will only spawn after the "Unbound" quest is completed.

After attempting to talk to him three to five times, in some cases only once, he will say he is tired and walk away.

Equipment[]

Hooded Monk Robes
Boots
Three bottles of Skooma that can be pickpocketed.

Quotes[]

Quote	Audio
"M'aiq's father was also called M'aiq. As was M'aiq's father's father. At least, that's what his father said."
"M'aiq wishes you well."
"M'aiq knows much, and tells some. M'aiq knows many things others do not."
"M'aiq carries two weapons, to be safe. What if one breaks? That would be most unlucky."
"M'aiq is always in search of calipers, yet finds none. Where could they have gone?"^{[note 1]}
"M'aiq hears many stories of war... yet few of them are true."
"How does anyone know there was a city of Winterhold? M'aiq did not see it with his eyes. Did you?"
"Too much magic can be dangerous. M'aiq once had two spells and burned his sweetroll."
"What does this mean, to combine magic? Magic plus magic is still magic."
"It does not matter to M'aiq how strong or smart one is. It only matters what one can do."
"Dragons were never gone. They were just invisible and very, very quiet."
"Werebears? Where? Bears? Men that are bears?"
"Much snow in Skyrim. Enough snow. M'aiq does not want any more."
"Snow falls. Why worry where it goes? M'aiq thinks the snowflakes are pretty."
"Skyrim was once the land of many butterflies. Now, not so much."
"M'aiq once walked to High Hrothgar. So many steps, he lost count."
"Once M'aiq got in trouble in Riften, and fled to Windhelm. It is good that nobody there cared."
"M'aiq can travel fast across the land. Some lazy types take carriages. It is all the same to M'aiq."
"M'aiq does not understand what is so impressive about shouting. M'aiq can shout whenever he wants."
"M'aiq saw a mudcrab the other day. Horrible creatures."
"M'aiq loves the people of Skyrim. Many interesting things they say to each other."
"Nords are so serious about beards. So many beards. M'aiq thinks they wish they had glorious manes like Khajiit."
"M'aiq does not remember his childhood. Perhaps he never had one."
"M'aiq is very practical. He has no need for mysticism."
"Nords' armor has lots of fur. This sometimes makes M'aiq nervous."
"M'aiq was soul trapped once. Not very pleasant. You should think about that once in a while."
"Some say Alduin is Akatosh. Some say M'aiq is a Liar. Don't you believe either of those things."
"Something strange happens to Khajiit when they arrive in Skyrim."
"M'aiq has heard the people of Skyrim are better looking than the ones in Cyrodiil. He has no opinion on the matter. All people are beautiful to him."
"Why do soldiers bother with target practice? One learns best by hitting real people."
"M'aiq knows why Falmer are blind. It has nothing to do with the Dwemer disappearing. Really."
"M'aiq has heard it is dangerous to be your friend."
"The people of Skyrim are more open minded about certain things than people in other places."
"Some like taking friends on adventures. M'aiq thinks being alone is better. Less arguing about splitting treasure."
"Don't try blocking if you have two weapons. You will only get confused. Much better to hit twice anyway."
"M'aiq knows many things, no?"
"M'aiq is tired now. Go bother somebody else."
"M'aiq is done talking."

Trivia[]

Before patch 1.9 of Skyrim, standing next to M'aiq but not initiating in a conversation would allow the Dragonborn to hear technically an unlimited amount of comments. This is rather difficult to perform however, as M'aiq is constantly on the move and will refuse to say more should one exhaust his allotted quotes before exiting conversation.
If M'aiq is encountered when the Dragonborn is in Vampire Lord or Beast Form, he won't attack. He will usually say something referring to magic. Additionally, he will not attack a stage four vampire Dragonborn.
Invisibility has no effect on M'aiq; he would still make comments as if the Dragonborn is visible.
Assaulting M'aiq will not incur a bounty, even if done inside "outdoor" holds such as Dawnstar or Falkreath, where guards and other witnesses are abundant. However, should one attack M'aiq in the presence of Thieves Guild members, the members will become hostile towards the Dragonborn. This is due to M'aiq being assigned as a member of the Guild in his NPC scripts.
M'aiq constantly breaks the fourth wall with his variety of quotes, referring to graphics, skills, etc. in the game.
Unlike in Morrowind and Oblivion, the M'aiq in Skyrim spawns randomly.

Bugs[]

This section contains bugs related to M'aiq the Liar (Skyrim). Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following:

Please reload an old save to confirm if the bug is still happening.
If the bug is still occurring, please post the bug report with the appropriate system template 360 / XB1 , PS3 / PS4 , PC / MAC , NX / PS5 , XS , depending on which platform(s) the bug has been encountered on.
Be descriptive when listing the bug and fixes, but avoid having conversations in the description and/or using first-person anecdotes: such discussions belong on the appropriate forum board.

PC If an attempt is made to visit M'aiq early in the game via the console command: coc elsweyr, the Dragonborn teleports to a small room called "Holding Cell". In this room, M'aiq will either refuse to talk or will only say one or two phrases. Fast travel out of this room is not possible.
PC If spawned indoors, M'aiq will never leave the cell where he was placed. His comments will reset after one full in-game day.
M'aiq has a slim chance of repeating his previous comments.
His comments will reset should the Dragonborn run into him again after he left. Alternatively, using the console command player.placeatme 000954bf will place him next to the Dragonborn. Standing near him or talk to him will let the Dragonborn hear more comments.
PS3 M'aiq may appear with the head of an Argonian.^{confirmation needed}
- Talking to M'aiq will return him to normal.

Appearances[]

Notes[]

↑ The text subtitles read "yet finds none," but is spoken as "yet he finds none."

[1] The text subtitles read "yet finds none," but is spoken as "yet he finds none."

[note 1]