Hey there, I'm not sure if this is the correct forum to ask this or to place this, but since it's about lore, history, and legend I thought that it would be the best place.

Also, if there is another topic on this then I couldn't find it as I searched for a thread, but found none.

I also googled a lot and nothing linked to what I was looking for. It kept leading me to the Alik'r Desert and not even really saying much about it besides that it is an area in Hammerfell.

So, here's my question.

Who and what are the Alik'r?

I've been wondering this for a very long time since I met them in the game Skyrim. It seems that they are connected somehow to the Alik'r Desert since they share the same name, but I've heard that they are Hammerfell warriors. So this leads me to believe that they're not just in the Alik'r Desert, but all throughout Hammerfell.

I've also heard them called mercenaries and assassins.

So, are they assassins of Hammerfell noble houses? Are they a Royal guard unit used by the Hammerfell Royalty? Are they natives to the Alik'r Desert and serve the noble houses there? Are they just blades for hire that come from the Alik'r Desert? Are they even from the Alik'r Desert?

Any information about the Alik'r would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Well for one they're Redguards...

Joking aside, I personally don't know much about Yokudan culture, but i'm assuming that The Alik'r is a name to Redguards who lives in the desert of the same name. And chances are, they operate on a tribal like system, unlike most of the Redguard, whom lives in the cities.

They probably also serve as mercenaries or hitmen judging from the ones we see in Skyrim.

They're people from the Alik'r Desert.

Skyrim presents a group called, The Alik'r. They are a group of bounty hunters/mercenaries, and depending on which side you take in the quest they are trying to subdue Saadia because:

A.) They were hired by the Aldmeri Dominion or its supporters to subdue a Royal dissedant, or

B.) They are catching her because she betrayed Hammerfell to help the Aldmeri Dominion.

The Alik'r Desert is also the region dominating western Hammerfell.

Officially, thats all we know.

I know about the quest. I've beaten it before. Siding once with Saadia and another with Kematu.

That's not why I started this thread. I just want to know about the Alik'r. The group themselves. Not the Alik'r Desert. The people you see in Skyrim.

I want to know about them.

A lot in the Elder Scrolls world is not known about some people. Though those that we don't know much about are either long gone, almost extinct, or are not in the current world.

The Alik'r interest me because they seem like an elite group of warriors. Kind of reminding me of the Immortals from Persia.

I want to know what they are. Mercenaries that anyone can hire for any reason (Kind of a mix of the Companions and the Dark Brotherhood), or if they're a group that is loyal to their country, or if they're a royal guard/army unit, etc. etc.

I want to know where they originated from. Did they start out over in Yokudan, or did they start once the Redguards came to Tamriel?

These are the things I want to know. Thanks again.

You know exactly what we know. The little information that was presented in-game is all there is to go on when it comes to these Alik'r warriors. I really wish we had more to go on, but I suppose I'll have to wait until they set a game in Hammerfell.

They seem to be a mercenary group. Thats all we officially? know. Im sure theres some fan-fic out there, but that obviously doesnt hold any precedence.

Their presentation in Skyrim gave me the impression that they were a government sanctioned organization similar in part to a Royal Guard type of deal mixed with an Special Forces type of deal. But that is just my impression from how they organized themselves in the cave you follow them into.