Yes, everyone, it's M'aiq the Liar, that NPC who is considered by many to be an Easter Egg of sorts. I assume everyone here is a roleplayer, but even if you aren't, how does M'aiq fit into your game? Is he an awkward moment that cannot be explained? Do you ignore him? Do you address him?

I've fallen into the habit of seeing him as a sort of sage, or wise-person. Usually my characters find him somewhere randomly, walk up to him, and wait for him to say something "wise". It might be "Nord wishes he have glorious mane like Khajiit" or "M'aiq does not remember his past; perhaps he never had one" or "M'aiq is very practical, he has no use for Mysticism."

And in some cases (like with Gunter, Son of Talos, who is an oaf, and not very bright) my character will not even know what M'aiq is talking about, but they look at him with awe, anyways. It doesn't matter if they're dull or bright, though, they always look forward to whatever M'aiq has to say next.

Fun topic!

For me it depends on the character, of course. Most of my characters do not approach strangers, so they never speak to him or even realize that it’s the same Khajiit. It’s easy with the HUD off, since there’s no little label to read. As for what he’s doing out in the middle of nowhere, they might be asked the same question!

Here’s how some of my friendlier characters view him.

Big D has introduced himself, so he recognizes M’aiq when he sees him. The orc thinks that the Khajiit might be under the influence of moon sugar. He always listens respectfully and doesn’t expect to understand him.

Jensa and Stenvar have come to M’aiq’s aid many times in her 200+ hour game (dragon attacks and when world events collide). She has decided that the old cat is harmless. She always stops to say hello. Since she is Dragonborn and has been known to utter odd phrases and meditate upon foreign words, she dismisses his behavior as some Khajiit following his own path. She does not have to make sense of everything in her world.

My Khajiit characters have always heard him speak to them in Ta’agra, and I just assume that some of their interactions do not translate well. For example:

M’aiq: M'aiq is always in search of calipers, yet finds none. Where could they have gone?

J’Shanji: Haha! This one would like to find a paint brush. Warm sands, my friend.

Grits: WTF?

Aravi (my Khajiit) always stops to speak with him when she sees him. One reason is that there aren't many Khajiit in Skyrim so she takes the opportunity to talk with one when she can. Another reason is she finds some of his comments to be amusing, even if they don't make much sense to her at times.

Some of my characters tend to view him as being a holy man, so deep in his meditations on life and the world that sometimes the things he says sound impractical or 'out there'. Others think he is just a cook, rambling nonsense. Most of them find him to be at least be amusing.

Thanks, y'all.

I never, ever have been able to speak to M'aiq in Cyrodiil. He runs way too fast. I'm pretty sure I've seen him run by several times, but have never been able to catch him. I am glad he is chilled-out now!

Was he in MOrrowind?

I have the same problem in Oblivion. He just darts off like a gazelle as soon as my characters spot him. I never did run across him in Morrowind.

Here’s a picture of Jerric meeting M'aiq on the road some time ago in Cyrodiil. I don’t blame M’aiq for taking off like a shot after they spoke. Here’s the look on Jerric's face while they were talking.

That's weird... ...All of my Knightish characters always talked to him either outside Anvil or outside Leyawiin...He never ran once...Unless it was post conversation...Weird...

As M'aiq has been there all the way through my gaming experience...All the Knights treat him with much respect and always stop to talk...

Sometimes, he talks back...Sometimes...Not...We shall see...

That's cool, McB. Wish I could find him standing around in Cyrodiil. He says a whole list of things I've never even heard; I have only read these things in the forums.



Ha ha that is priceless!

How do you take pictures? You are on PS3, right? Is that just a really good digital camera.?

I think M'aiq is supposed to be the same person in Morrowind and Oblivion, but is a descendent in Skyrim (whose father was M'aiq, and he presumes all the generations before).

He wasn't in Daggerfall, but I might just add him if I can get it running again on my new machine.

I had him play a part in Tsarrina's acquisition of Gweden Farm, so he's a favored client there.

Those two are screenshots from my laptop. I can play Oblivion on it, but not very well. Here's how Jerric looks on my PS3: Link. It's just an inexpensive Cybershot camera from Target, but I hold still. Also it's a pretty big TV.

I have Oblivion for the Xbox now (couldn't resist the 2-pack with Fallout), but shockingly Jerric has not yet invaded it.

ghastley: He is a descendent? That could be why M'aiq does not remember his childhood in Skyrim. Perhaps he never had one.

Grits: I've always liked the way a digital camera can capture a rougher picture than a PC screenshot. The digi camera pics look pretty good sometimes. They're not as "clean" and perfect, but I still like them.

I heard a new one today. Made me crack up a bit with laughter. ..

"M'aiq was trapped in a soul gem once. Not very pleasant. you should think about that once in a while!"

Gunter does use soul gems occasionally to power-up enchanted an enchanted weapon (Farkas showed Gunter how it's done) so I wonder if the game picks up on this.
.

I've always approached M'aiq as some sort of immortal wise being who's been wandering Tamriel for some unknown number of centuries....makes interactions with him all the more amusing.

jerric is actually really handsome now i am just going to think of that face....

how do you get that strong chin and broad nose ? he looks very masculine , the well - built plate armour and sandy locks help but that face is beautiful...has inspired me to try and get something akin to that

Awesome topic, Renee Lady Saga! Although I don´t play Skyrim I felt I wanna reply.

M´aiq is just there in my game. He´s just another Khajiit who happen to run fast and speak in tounges. Crazy, but harmless

That's cool, mirocu. In Skyrim M'aiq walks around, and appears randomly. He doesn't run anymore. This is a good thing for me, because in all the years I've played Oblivion, not once have I been able to catch M'aiq as he runs by. I have never heard him speak in TES: IV.

By the way, who is Renee? Is she that umbrella seller who was trained by the High Elves over at Beth's forums? dreamy school girl!

shes a nice gal '

*selects rumours*

" i heard one of her chracters decided to open up there own account for a differtant forum , musta' been the wind..."

I think she used to be called Renee Gade 2

Oh, so M´aiq doesn´t run anymore? Pitty. That was one of the things I liked about him and what made him a bit of a mystery. I always talk to him whenever I meet him in Cyrodiil

Thanks, flower! I widened his jaw and moved it back to make it look square, made his chin wide and short, narrowed the cheekbones until they weren’t wider than his jaw, made his nose short and not sticking out very much. The biggest thing was moving his brow ridge forward and making sure the nose area was wide in the different settings but the bridge wasn’t out too far. I picked a random face that started with a good mouth, since I am really bad at that part. Jerric was the first male character I made, but I’ve re-created him a few times for different platforms and he always looks pretty close to the original. Of course in Skyrim I could finally give him scars and a beard.

Oh.....HER! That umbrella seller! And Renee Gade III is even worse...stealing her name from RG2, and then banning RG2's account, all to get a few extra Fishy Sticks. What a dreamy school girl!

We should kick her boat, mirocu!



I much prefer the "new" M'aiq myself. He's got almost a regal bearing in Skyrim. Me and mine can't help but stop to listen to his wise words whenever we come across him in our travels.

I get where you're coming from, though. He's much more of a mystery/easter egg in Cyrodiil. If it weren't for the Internet, I would have no idea who that Khajiit who runs by my characters actually is, and what he does. I would pretty much ignore him; he runs way too fast.

owww....hehe can you get a pic of him in skyrim , pretty please ?

also do you have any other shots ? he is amazing

Do you remember my Black Horse Courier article about him over at Bethsoft?

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Do you remember my Black Horse Courier article about him over at Bethsoft?
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this might be good for a new topic , thats a fin activity to do isint it?

In Morrowind M'aiq resided in one out of the way spot that made going to see him a journey in itself. He truly was a liar then. Almost everything he said turned out to be false with the exception of two small tidbits. One of which, if followed up upon, got you arguably the best sword in the game. In Oblivion I spoke to him all the time and even made some leather boots with a hefty fortify speed enchantment so that I could race him across Cyrodiil. Good times. I'm not that crazy about the Skyrim M'aiq. Even the draugr are more animated than he is now! Plus everything that comes out of his mouth is a Bethesda justification for why features that could have been in the game were removed.

thats a good point

" why do we need < insert >? maiq ( im sure its just maiq) can make do without < insert list of cut items>

So I heard a new M'aiq quote today: Dragons were never gone, they were just invisible, and very very quiet.

How did anybody know there is a city of Winterhold? M'aiq did not see it with his own eyes. Did you?

What does this mean, to combine magic? Magic + magic is still magic!

I don't know why, but that just tickled me silly XD

Yea that one's a classic. I love running into M'aiq

I love that he's a recurring character. I also thought that it was funny in Morrowind how at least one of his rumors was actually true but the others were ridiculous.