21 replies to this topic

[dubbad29]

Hey everyone-

 

I've always been curious about the truth behind Saadia.  It's impossible to discern the real story just by talking to her/ Kematu, as neither party has more credibility than the other.  So is there a book or something anywhere that explains the real story?

 

If it matters, I always side with Saaida because it's nice to have a server at the Bannered Mare.  I went with Kematu once just to see what would happen, and I regretted it for the rest of the playthrough.

 

Thanks!

 

-dubbad

[chanchan05]

Nothing. While it is true that both of what they say are plausible, there is no evidence anywhere that can support one or the other. In this case, all we have are both their words of mouth. Both have their reasons to lie to you, or to not lie to you.

 

However there are some inconsistencies in her story.

 

1. She says she does not know they were in the city, but knows that one of them got imprisoned.

2. The book the Great War says that Hammerfell were able to drive off the Thalmor. Which brings to question why are they hiring Redguard Assassins?

 

 

However, the Alik'r are self described mercenaries going after Saadia for the bounty, which Thalmor may have indeed placed upon her. Although I still find it hard to believe Redguards working for the Thalmor after they devastated Hammerfell, even for a huge sum of money. 

[Lachdonin]

 

However, the Alik'r are self described mercenaries going after Saadia for the bounty, which Thalmor may have indeed placed upon her. Although I still find it hard to believe Redguards working for the Thalmor after they devastated Hammerfell, even for a huge sum of money. 

 

Especially considering the Alik'r are primarily formed from former Legionaries who were 'discharged' during the retreat to Cyrodiil and left in Hammerfell for the sole purpose of fighting the Thalmor. The idea that they would suddenly work for the enemy, even if Kematu isn't a veteran of the Great War, is... Unlikely.

[Hyacathusarullistad]

While there's no direct evidence to support either party's story, I'm personally inclined to believe that Saadia is lying. If she's fleeing the Thalmor and their assassins, then the absolute safest pace for her would be with the Stormcloaks in Windhelm. And yet she's hiding in Imperial controlled Whiterun, where the Thalmor themselves could theoretically pay a visit at any time. She also clearly misleads the player - as chanchan pointed out, she knows that one of them has been arrested despite initially feigning surprise upon hearing that the Alik'r were in Whiterun. While Kematu and his people don't tell the whole truth either, theirs is a lie of omission rather than outright deception. That makes me more inclined to have faith in their motives over hers, particularly considering that they paralyze her for capture - if they were Thalmor agents they would have just killed her.

[Nosdrapoel]

When it comes down to it, I sided with the Alik'r for this reason:

 

Both people are lying, I can tell. But there's a major difference - 

Saadia wants Kematu dead.

Kematu wants Saadia captured.

 

Well, I sided with the Alik'r up until I tried to pickpocket him and he didn't like that, so I shot him in the face with an arrow. Then Saadia jumped me, and I shot her in the face with an arrow. Woo

[LOL50015]

Well, I sided with Saadia because when I first go to Kematu's hideout, the people I fight have the words bandits written on top of them, I also found a book called "Thief" and they attack me on sight. Besides, when in Whiterun, they were very rude to me by not telling me why they want Saadia captured even after I offered to help them. Besides, if Saadia was a criminal, why send mercenaries, shouldn't they be sending soldiers?

[Rennn]

Although I still find it hard to believe Redguards working for the Thalmor after they devastated Hammerfell, even for a huge sum of money. 

 

Eh... They wouldn't be very good mercenaries if they allowed personal feelings towards a client to affect their work. Just pointing that out.

[chanchan05]

Although I still find it hard to believe Redguards working for the Thalmor after they devastated Hammerfell, even for a huge sum of money. 

 
Eh... They wouldn't be very good mercenaries if they allowed personal feelings towards a client to affect their work. Just pointing that out.

They'd be stupid to work for people who wants them dead, since the Alikr fought the Thalmor in the war. Plus the whole mercenary thing is part scam. Lore says the Alikr were former Imperial soldiers who were discharged/deserted to remain fighting in Hammerfell while the rest of the army march to the Imperial City.

[Roentgens]

Saadia's story does not check out. The Thalmor prefer to handle things in house, they would not hire Alik'r warriors who can't even make it past the guards at the front gate. If we remember Malborn, Esbern, and the Dragonborn, we know that the Thalmor can infiltrate cities at will and capture or eliminate their marks with sleeper agents and kill squads.

 

The large amount of Alik'r warriors in Skyrim suggests that there is indeed a large bounty on Saadia, and it is not from the Thalmor.

[WickedRequiem]

I didn't believe Saadia, mostly because she had no reason to remain in Skyrim when Hammerfell would have been a much safer place (as a noble who spoken out against the successfully repelled/defeated invaders).  It seemed more likely that she was running away from retribution in Hammerfell by the Redguards.