Online:Sulahkeesh

Sulahkeesh
Home City	Lilmoth
Location	The Lusty Argonian Footman, Root-Whisper Village
Race	Argonian	Gender	Female
Health	39,959 15,000 (After gathering the evidence/During the negotiation)
Reaction	Friendly
Other Information
Faction(s)	Shadowscales (formerly)

Sulahkeesh

Sulahkeesh is an Argonian and retired Shadowscale who can be found in Lilmoth's inn, The Lusty Argonian Footman. As she has reached such an advanced age, she serves Sithis by acting as a judge and arbitrator for the locals who come before her.

Related Quests

• The Assassin's Arbitration: Assist in investigating a land claims dispute for a retired Shadowscale.

Quest-Related Events

Petitioning the Shadowscale

When speaking to her on Chuxu's behalf:

"No need to come any closer, stranger. I can hear you just fine from there."

I'm here to talk to you about Nurhei and Paheiza's claim over the saltrice farm.

"Yet you are not Chuxu. Lost his nerve, did he? He may have a way with words, but still lacks the will to speak them. A shame.
I will help with this dispute, but need you to be my eyes. As you can plainly see, I lost my sight long ago."

Be your eyes? How so?

"I need evidence if I'm to properly judge. Speak with the two claimants, Nurhei and Paheiza. Seek their truths, yes, but also their lies. Both will help my decision.
It also wouldn't hurt to check the farm itself."

I'll speak to the claimants and search the farm.

<Remain Silent.> (Option only appears if you are a member of the Dark Brotherhood.)

"Ah, such a sweet sound. As they say, "Silence is the music of Sithis."
You have my attention. Is this about Chuxu? I've heard him pacing for an hour or so, and suspect he seeks my judgment on some matter."

Yes. He wants your help to judge a dispute between Nurhei and Paheiza over a saltrice farm.

"As I thought. Very well. I'll need evidence if I'm to properly judge. Speak with two claimants, Nurhei and Paheiza. Seek their truths, yes, but also their lies. Both will help my decision.
It also wouldn't hurt to check the farm itself."

Agreed. Hail Sithis.

After speaking with her, Sulahkeesh is willing to answer some questions.

"The midge lingers. Do you seek anything else?"

I have a few questions.

"Naturally. Speak."

Tell [sic] more about the Shadowscales.

"We are ones born under the Shadow, trained as assassins and given over to the Dark Brotherhood. Those of us fortunate to live long lives, however, must learn to serve Sithis in other ways.
So I have become a ku-vastei; an agent of needed change."

Needed change?

"Many think of death as an end. This is only partially correct.
Death is also a beginning, a cycle turned again. The Shadowscales see this more clearly than most, and so we are tasked with sharing our wisdom with others. Sometimes quite suddenly."

So that's why you're asked to judge disputes.

"Disputes stem from a refusal to accept change, This creates stagnation.
A stuttering tongue cannot be trusted to say what must be said. Sometimes, the words can be coaxed into being. Other times, it must be cut from the mouth."

How did you lose your sight? / I see. Speaking of seeing, how did you lose your sight?

"Right to the point.
Tell me, how old do you think I am?"

I don't know. Fifty, sixty?

"My, what a charming little liar you make.
I'm much older than that, of course. When my eyes began to fail me, I knew my role was fated to change. I now honor Sithis through my guidance, rather than my blade."

Older than dirt.

"Oh! Khah-khah-khah! I like you.
Yes, I am very old. With age came the loss of my vision. Now I honor Sithis through my guidance of others, rather than my blades."

After By River and Root

If you've completed the main Murkmire quest line, you'll have additional dialogue options (see Notes below):

A ku-vastei?

"An agent of change, I suppose you could call it.
I'm curious, though. You have gone through many hardships to awaken this Hist. Many are now lost, including your own ally. Tell me … was it worth it?"

Yes, it was worth it.

"I'm sure many would agree with you. Of course, many would not.
But it is never up to us to decide if change has worth. Sometimes what is most needed is also most feared. The Shadowscales have always known this truth."

Stay well, Sulahkeesh.

"And you as well, midge who has become Rootmender."

<Stay silent.>

"So you understand.
The worth of change is not for us to decide. What must be will be. Our Brotherhood has well prepared us for that truth, no matter how dark a truth it is."

Stay well, Sulahkeesh.

"And you as well, midge who has become Rootmender."

No, I don't think it was.

"Understandable. Much has been lost.
Still, change comes upon us whether we wish it to or not. Always remember to keep your eyes on the path before you, lest you stumble."

I'll try to. Stay well, Sulahkeesh.

"And you as well, midge who has become Rootmender."

Presenting the Evidence

Once you have gathered enough evidence, you can return to her and find Sulahkeesh speaking with Chuxu.

Sulahkeesh: "Do not be a limp fish. You did right coming to me. I sense there are more coils to this snake than a mere property dispute."

Speak to her and inform her of the gathered evidence:

"Welcome back. Your footfalls have a very peculiar quality, did you know? You bear much weight on your shoulders, I sense.
No doubt you have spoken to the claimants. Tell me, what have you learned?"

Paheiza stole from her sister to pay for her skooma habit.

"Ah. And from what Chuxu has told me, she also plans to sell the farm. Most likely to pay off the debts she undoubtedly has with such a habit.
What of Nurhei?"

Nurhei was the one selling Paheiza skooma. Both sisters owed him for loans.

"And so it all comes together. Paheiza steals from her egg-sister to pay off her debt to Nurhei. The saltrice farm suffers as a result. Nurhei uses this to his advantage, and forces Keema-Ru into debt as well."

Has this helped you with your decision?

"The answer is now clear. The two parties must meet.
Acquire oil from both a mature bog willow and a perfumed snapper. You must keep these oils separate, of course. Give the bark oil to Nurhei and the snapper oil to Paheiza."

Why do I need to give them oils?

"It is a Shadowscale custom. The oils help separate those who cling from that which they cling to. In this case, a dispute which has lasted far too long.
Have patience. Soon, all will be clear."

All right, I'll retrieve the oils and give them to Nurhei and Paheiza.

You can then inquire further:

"Have both Nurhei and Paheiza rub the oil into their scales, and tell them to meet at the town's entrance. There, the matter will finally be put to rest."

You think you'll be able to get them to talk when Chuxu could not?

"In Murkmire, the decision of a Shadowscale is absolute.
Chuxu may have sun-blessed intentions, but one cannot merely ask an eel to fly. It must be pierced by an arrow and shot upwards. This, you shall see."

An Assassin's Judgement

After collecting the oil and handing them over Nurhei and Paheiza, Sulahkeesh will be waiting at the town entrance with Chuxu. As you approach the negotiation will start.

Chuxu: "Thank you for both agreeing to this negotiation."

Nurhei: "Of course! Far be it from me to deny the wisdom of a Shadowscale."

Paheiza: "Oh, please. Let's just get this over with."

Sulahkeesh: "Before we begin negotiations, I want the two of you to shake hands, amicably. To show your good intentions in coming here."

<The pair reach out and shake hands. An explosion erupts from where they touch, killing both instantly.>

Chuxu: "What … what happened? What did you do?"

Sulahkeesh: "What was asked of me. I resolved their dispute. I entrust the farm to you, Chuxu. You'd do best to not disappoint me."

Sulahkeesh can then be spoken to receive your payment.

"And so the farm now belongs to one who is worthy of it.
I'd much rather pass such judgement with my own hands, of course. But at my age, this is the best I can manage."

So you planned for them both to die?

"I saw the needed resolution, and acted accordingly. That is all. My rulings are always just, though not always … pleasant.
I thank you for your aid in the matter. Here, a reward is only fitting."

After the quest is completed, you can give your opinion on her methods, though it won't matter much to her anyway.

"In the name of Sithis, I have brought about the needed change. That which hindered has been removed. That which must be, shall be."

Your judgement seems harsh. Did they really deserve to die?

"It seems the midge dislikes my judgement.
Weeds choke the garden, and so they are uprooted. The limb begins to wither, and so it is cut away. A sacrament is uttered, and so a life is taken. That is the will of Sithis."

There must have been another way.

"Perhaps. But it would not have been the Shadowscale way."

I think you made the right choice.

"Ah, to have the admiration of a midge. Should I be honored? Truly, you must be acquainted with many who hold your opinion to quite a high standard.
But I act from the Will of the Dread-Father, and he alone. Your words hold no weight."

<Remain silent.> (Appears only if you are a member of the Dark Brotherhood.)

"May the Dread-Father guide your blade."

Dialogue

Lilmoth

She can later be found back in the tavern after the quest is completed, where she be asked about why she became an arbitrator.

"Hmm. So you have returned. Not many choose to.
Come then, let us speak."

Why did you become an arbitrator?

"Once, I was Shadowscale. I lurked within the darkness, waiting for my time to strike. My victims were many, of course. Young and old, rich and poor. Those who were cruel, and those who were kind.
And in that way, I honored Sithis."

What changed?

"I did. I grew old and weak. When my eyes began to fail me, it was time to move on.
I had options. I could train hatchlings born under the Shadow in our dark ways, or create poisons for my sanctuary. But I felt those choices to be … limited."

Limited?

"Ineffectual, perhaps. I would never see the fruits of my labor.
For a lifetime, I have honored Sithis with a corpse laid at my feet. How could I spend my final days prattling wisdom to hatchlings? Creating poisons for others to use?"

So arbitration is more hands on, as it were.

"I have became [sic] ku-vastei, that which sparks the needed change. In the past, I ended life which must be ended. Now, I assist the change which must occur.
Of course, both ways honor Sithis. For he who is void is both destroyer and creator."

Root-Whisper Village

Sulahlkeesh visits Root-Whisper Village.

If the above quest has been completed prior to By River and Root Sulahkeesh will be one of the many who gathered to see the reawakening of a Hist tree.

"So the midge becomes the Rootmender. Impressive. You certainly have proven yourself a capable ku-vastei."

A ku-vastei?

"An agent of change, I suppose you could call it.
I'm curious, though. You have gone through many hardships to awaken this Hist. Many are now lost, including your own ally. Tell me … was it worth it?"

Yes, it was worth it.

"I'm sure many would agree with you. Of course, many would not.
But it is never up to us to decide if change has worth. Sometimes what is most needed is also most feared. The Shadowscales have always known this truth."

<Stay silent.>

"So you understand.
The worth of change is not for us to decide. What must be will be. Our Brotherhood has well prepared us for that truth, no matter how dark a truth it is."

No, I don't think it was.

"Understandable. Much has been lost.
Still, change comes upon us whether we wish it to or not. Always remember to keep your eyes on the path before you, lest you stumble."

Stay well, Sulahkeesh. (All options will lead to this reply.)

"And you as well, midge who has become Rootmender."

Notes

• She does not exist in the game until you start the related quest.
• It seems Sulahkeesh's greeting should have been different if you have completed the main quest, as there is no reason to ask her about ku-vastei with her current greeting.
• "<Remain Silent>" is a running dialogue option throughout the Dark Brotherhood quests going all the way back to Oblivion.