Online:Akishan

Akishan is an Argonian bard found in the Hatching Pools. She loves riddles.
 

Related Quests


Quest-Related Events
During the related quest, she can be found in front of the Pools, playing her newly-won lute. You can either beat her in a game of riddles or ask her a riddle of your own.

:"Stretch your tail here in peace. What brings you to the Hatching Pools?"
:'''I'd like to recover Erranenen's lute.
:"Hmm. I do not return items lost on a bet. Did he tell you he lost it to gambling? Perhaps you're a gambler as well. Would you like to win it back?"
:What do I have to do?
::"I ask no gold, merely your time and effort. You will play a game of riddles with old Akishan. If you answer correctly, I will give you the lute."
::I'll hear your riddles.
:::(see below)
:I'd prefer to just pay for it.
::"But that wouldn't be any fun. No fun at all. Come now. Play a game of riddles with old Akishan. If you answer correctly, I will give you the lute."
::I'll hear your riddles.
:::"Excellent! This will be fun. Let me know when you're ready to hear the first riddle."
:::I'm ready.
:::[Persuade] You won the lute by asking riddles. Can you answer mine?

If you convince her to solve your own riddle instead:

:"An intriguing proposal. It has been long since anyone challenged me. Yes. I will hear your riddle. If I cannot answer it, the lute is yours."
:What can be made and broken but not touched?
:"Hmm. I have never heard the like. May I have another clue?"
:You can never keep it until it is given.
:"Is … Is it love?"
:No, a promise.
:"Ah. I am honored you chose to share your riddle with me. Here, you may have the lute. I hope you share your wisdom with Erranenen so that he never again gambles away such a fine instrument."

Otherwise, her first riddle is:

:"Good. Here it is … Dripping crimson, it washes across battlefields. Both friend and foe fall in its wake. The few who defeat this undying enemy surrender to its cold embrace."
:Fire.
:A sword.
:Death.
::"Ha! Perhaps that was too simple. Are you ready to hear the next riddle?"
::Yes. Let's continue.

The second riddle:

:"Prepare yourself. It runs smoother than rhymes. It falls but cannot climb. It trembles at the lightest touch, yet can carry the heaviest of burdens. Its sweetness soothes the spine. What is it?"
:Wind.
:Silk.
:Water.
::"Ha ha! Correct. You're good at this. One riddle remains. I hope you're prepared for it."
::I'm ready for the final riddle.

The final riddle:

:"Hmm… Ah, yes. This should get you thinking. Destroyer of kings and maker of merchants. It brings high men low and low men high. A wise man's vice. A fool's folly."
:Love.
:Time.
:Greed.
::"Excellent! That is the very riddle upon which Erranenen lost his lute. His greed cost him his most prized possession. As promised, here is his lute. I hope this experience has taught him the price of greed."

If you get any of the three riddles wrong, she gives the same response and ends the conversation:

:"Wrong. Come back when you're feeling more clever."

Speaking to her again will allow you to retry the riddle or take another opportunity to persuade her:

:"Are you prepared to hear my riddle?"
:I'm ready to hear the first riddle./I'm ready for the next riddle./I'm ready to hear the final riddle.
:[Persuade] You won the lute by asking riddles. Can you answer mine?

Speaking with her again after winning back the lute:
:"You impress me,  . Few can defeat me in a game of riddles."''