Online:Aniel

Aniel
Location	Thormar
Race	High Elf	Gender	Female
Reaction	Friendly
Other Information
Follower	Baan Dar's Boast

Aniel

Aniel is an avid fan of Baan Dar's Boast, an annual event where scoundrels, thieves, and mischief-makers gather together to "worship" Baan Dar by drinking, celebrating, and playing pranks on one another.

The participants believe that, by playing particularly funny pranks, they can win an invitation to a great party in Baan Dar's realm, called The Five Finger Dance. This has turned into a competition between a Bosmer group called the Pariah's Hand, and a Khajiit group called the Subtle Knife. Recently, Aniel has felt that the event has gotten a bit less exciting, and seeks your help in spicing things up by pranking the pranksters.

If you help her, she will tell you that this Boast is one of the funniest ever, and will invite you to The Five Finger Dance (along with the Pariah's Hand and Subtle Knife), where she will ask you to worship Baan Dar further by cooking chicken and serving the guests. Finally, she will reveal her true nature as a Daughter of Baan Dar, who helped you "[b]ecause as a follower of Baan Dar, I'm entitled to a little fun now and again, aren't I?"

Related Quests

• Baan Dar's Boast: Play pranks on the party-goers at Thormar.
• Baan Dar's Bash: Join Baan Dar's party!

Quest-Related Events

Baan Dar's Boast

As you start to climb the steps up to Thormar, an elder elf suddenly materializes. She seems to be sweeping the steps humming a song and paying you no heed. Speaking to her:

"Oh, hello dearie. Here for the Boast? Of course you are. Everyone wants a chance to visit the Five Finger Dance."

The Boast?

"Of course! Dear old Baan Dar holds the Boast every year. Folk come from far and wide to play tricks on one another. It's a festival of fun. And the best tricksters get to dance and drink the night away in Baan Dar's realm."

Baan Dar's realm?

"That's the Five Finger Dance! The greatest party in all the worlds. But I tell you dearie, things have been so boring the last few years. Why don't we see what mischief we can get into? It'll be fun!"

I'm in.

Asking more about this place:

"Let's start by chatting with the Bosmer and Khajiit. Get you introduced around.
You'll see what we're up against."

There are different groups here?

"Oh, yes. Every year folk form up into groups to trick and prank each other. This year it's the Khajiit of "The Pariah's Hand" versus the Bosmer of "The Subtle Knife.""

Why those names?

"Yanabir-ja, leader of the Hand, preaches about the misadventures of Baan Dar most of the rest of the year. Dolirdor likes to make light of it, but she's a blade for hire when she's not planning practical jokes."

What is this place?

"Thormar. It's an Ayleid ruin, but most of it's collapsed beneath the bluff. The scholars never come here anymore, so it makes a perfect place for the Boast."

Why are you here, Aniel?

"Oh, you know how it is, dearie. You get to be a certain age and it seems like you've seen everything.
At the Boast, there's always something to make me smile."

Once you start moving:

Aniel: "This is going to be so much fun!"

If you leave Thormar before finishing the quest, she'll randomly say:

Aniel: "Stay safe, dearie. I'll be right here when you get back."

Aniel: "Go on ahead, dearie. I'll wait for you here."

Aniel: "Don't be long, dearie. I'll wait for you up here."

Once you return, she'll randomly say:

Aniel: "We'll even make the Trickster God himself laugh!"

Aniel: "Can't wait to hear Baan Dar's laughter."

Aniel: "Welcome back to the Boast!"

Aniel: "Good to see that you're well, dearie."

Approach Yanabir-ja at his camp and Aniel will speak to him:

Aniel: "Yanabir, this is my new friend. Tell us what the Pariah's Hand is up to this year."

Yanabir-ja: "We have been feasting and drinking on our own trickery, Aniel! Hidden traps, potions of transformation … the Hand is at its finest this year."

Aniel: "Good to hear! Do you think you'll earn your way into the Dance?"

Yanabir-ja: "Oh yes. The Khajiit are first in the eyes of Baan Dar! And we will prove ourselves worthy of the Dance!"

Aniel: "Come along, my friend, we should be away. Let's go meet Dolirdor."

Speak to her and she'll say:

"Haven't had this much fun at a Boast in years, dearie."

Approach the bosmer and Aniel will speak with her:

Aniel: "Dollie, I'd like you to meet my new friend. We've come to learn what your plan is for this year's Boast."

Dolirdor: "The cats keep teasing me about my … vocation. Say I don't know what's funny. But they'll see. We've trapped some wee critters from the forest!"

Aniel: "You're going with some critter underfoot tricks?"

Dolirdor: "Baan Dar himself will be laughing when those cats start running from our mice. Hah!"

Aniel: "Sounds funny, Dollie. Good luck with your tricks. Traveler, can I speak to you in private?"

Lead her away from earshot of the bosmer and she'll tell you her plan:

Aniel: "Let's talk about this, I have an idea."

She will have ideas on how to prank:

"I'll be honest, dearie. Those tricks are funnier than the ones we've seen the last few years. But for your entrance into the Boast? We can do better."

What do you have in mind?

"Well, let's see. Let's take their ideas and turn them into something worthy of Baan Dar's laughter. We'll need some things from the Wood Elf camp. One of their Rotmeth barrels and some poison from Dollie's pack."

How do we turn poison into something funny?

"The Khajiit are going to use alchemy. Transformation potions and the like? Well, there's a hardy breed of plant near the ruins called the strangler. It can process Dollie's poison, turn it into something non-lethal."

So I get the poison and use it on the stranglers. Then what?

"Then kill the nasty things. Crack them open and harvest their core stems. Poisoned strangler stems create a powerful hallucinatory effect when thrown into a fire. The Khajiit will just love it!"

What am I going to do with a barrel?

"Dollie is planning to release little creatures into the Khajiiti camp. Why don't we release some big creatures into the Wood Elf camp? One up them! Creatures like the giant snakes around the base of Thormar."

Won't that be dangerous?

"No, no. The Elves will be fine. But the looks on their faces will be priceless! Kill a few of the giant snakes around the ruin and harvest their glands. Then stuff them in a barrel, right in the middle of camp!"

So we're going to poison Strangler stems and put snake glands in a barrel?

"Ha, it already sounds hilarious when you say it out loud. Oh dearie, thank you. This is going to be the best Boast in years. You're going to love the Five Finger Dance!"

I'll get the barrel and the poison, then!

When you go down to get snake glands, she'll wait for you:

Aniel: "Good luck, dearie. I'll wait here. I'm too old to play with snakes."

After playing both pranks, she'll call for you to follow her:

Aniel: "We've done it, dearie! Follow me, it's time you were introduced to the Dance!"

Speaking to her:

"Ha ha ha. The looks on their faces! Dollie ran so fast, I thought she'd fall on her face. And that old cat, chasing his tail! Oh, thank you. I haven't laughed this hard in years."

Glad I could make you laugh. You said something about a party?

"Yes, the greatest party in all the worlds—the Five Finger Dance! Baan Dar's realm. You've done so well today, I know old Baan Dar will be glad to have you at his side."

What about the Wood Elves and Khajiit?

"Oh, they're invited too, dearie. You've all made me laugh so hard this year. Now come with me. You're going to have such fun!"

Aniel opens a portal and steps through. Follow her and you'll find yourself on a surreal beach:

"Welcome to the Dance, my friend! What did I tell you? Baan Dar does love a good party!"

What is this place?

"It's as I said. This is the realm of Baan Dar himself! To many he is the Pariah, an outcast. But we Bosmeri and the Khajiit know him for what he is. The Legend, the Robber Baron, Master of Shadows—he who is called the Bandit God! Baan Dar!"

Baan Dar's Bash

If you don't start the quest and approach her, she will say:

"Over here!"

Continuing on from her conversation:

"Well, now, before we start with the fun … we need to do a little worship."

What do you mean by worship?

""A full belly and a cold drink are the best kind of worship!" All of these drunken sots are already followers of Baan Dar. You, my dear, need to prove yourself. Here, take this."

What's this?

"It's a sacred relic of Baan Dar, used only for special occasions. It's called the Wand of Fowlfire. It cooks chickens perfectly! First time, every time. Cook up a few, and then head over to the bar. I'll meet you there."

I'll get to work, then.

She will give a warning:

Aniel: "Just remember to point the wand away from you, dearie!"

If you speak to her before she disappears:

"Go on with you, those chickens aren't going to roast themselves. Just remember to point the far end of the wand away from you. He's lost some followers that way."

With that last bit of advice, she'll vanish again.

Collect the meals and you'll find her enjoying her drink:

"Mmm, those chickens smell delicious, dearie."

What's next? You said something about a cold drink?

"Just so! As you can see, the faithful have bellied up to the bar, waiting for food and drink. They'll order up and you serve them what they want."

How do I know what to give them?

"They'll yell the order out, and you toss them what they asked for. Just keep serving them until they're all happy. When you're done, come find me by the stage. All right, dearie?"

I'll see you there.

Once again, she takes her leave.

Aniel: "Good luck, have fun!"

Aniel revealed as a Daughter of Baan Dar

Meet up with her again:

"How did it go, dearie? The faithful have been served at Baan Dar's bar, yes?"

I think so. Do you need me to do anything else?

"No dearie, I think we've all earned a little reward. Baan Dar is well pleased with this year's Boast. The best we've seen in years, to hear the way it's told."

This was the best Boast in years?

"Yes. As a Daughter of Baan Dar, I've presided over countless Boasts. And this has been one of the best in my living memory."

Why help me?

"Because as a follower of Baan Dar, I'm entitled to a little fun now and again, aren't I?
Please enjoy the party. Just head back to Thormar when you're finished."

She will turn into her spirit form and leave:

Aniel: "I'll see you back in Thormar, dearie."

Return to Thormar and she'll be waiting for you:

"Ahh, it was so good to see their smiling faces. Hear their laughter. Thank you, dearie. Thank you from the bottom of Baan Dar's heart."

So you'd say the Boast went well?

"Best Boast we've had in years. Believe you me, Baan Dar is well pleased. Very well pleased indeed! Feel free to return to the Dance any time you want. And keep an eye out. You might see me around!"

She has one final life tip:

Aniel: "Just remember. Laugh a little bit every day. It'll do you good."

If you speak to her before she fully vanishes:

"Make sure you laugh a little. A little bit every day."

And with her parting words, she vanishes once more.

Notes

• Though she is a High Elf, her dialogue implies she was supposed to be a Wood Elf.
• Before she introduces you to the leaders of the prank teams, if you were to get into combat with a snake or strangler, she will immediately turn into a blue spirit form which foreshadows her true nature.

She is not what she appears to be.