Alik'r Desert

"A sacred flame rises above the fire, The ghosts of great men and women without names, Cities long dead rise and fall in the flame, The Dioscori Song of Revelation, Bursting walls and deathless rock, Fiery sand that heals and destroys, The desert grips our hearts and souls, Its flame within our eyes and ears, Dust cannot die, and we are dust, Windblown, ephemeral, eternal, all."

―Weltan of Sentinel^[src]

The Alik'r Desert, Alik'r, or Alik'ra is an endless sea of desert that stretches across the northern coast of the province of Hammerfell. The sands of the Alik'r stretch as far as the eye can see, encompassing the majority of the province, and housing several civilizations, from the Redguards, to even the Dwemer.

By game

Alik'r (Daggerfall)
Alik'r Desert (Online)

Description

Geography

Hollow Wastes

Leki's Blade is a trading outpost named after Leki, the Saint of the Spirit Sword.

The Hollow Wastes is a stretch of land situated in the center of the Alik'r, bridged between the cities of Bergama and Lainlyn, both of whom are the largest settlements in the region. Much of the Hollow Wastes is desolate, with very little between each city. The outpost of Leki's Blade is found in the wastes, and it is a school, being one of the very last places that teach the ways of Sword-Singing. Near the town of Lainlyn is the Aswala Stables, which is well-known for breeding the Yokudan Chargers, a breed of Horse that originates from Akos Kasaz in Yokuda. The Lainlyn Family has a large presence in the region, as they are the namesake for the Barony of Lainlyn.

Myrkwasa

Ancestor's Landing is where the spirit of Navid the Singer haunts after killing his friend.

Myrkwasa is the center of the Alik'r population, situated along the northwest coast of the province, where the capital city of Sentinel is located. The coast is more fertile than deeper towards Bergama, where the desert begins in Myrkwasa. Pomegranates and Figs are grown in vineyards around Sentinel. South of the city lies the Rain Catcher Fields, which is self-explanatory, it catches the seasonal rains that flow past through the region, and makes it safe to drink for the locals, and preparing for trading. The ruined city of Salas En was a major city in the Altmeri occupation of Hammerfell, until they were taken out by the Yokudans of Yath.

Tigonus

The Motalion Necropolis is one of the largest crypts in the Alik'r, found near Satakalaam.

The region of Tigonus is the eastern front of the Alik'r, found along the Dragontail Mountains that border towards the region of Bangkorai. The two main cities in the region are Kozanset, an open-aired trading town, and the holy city of Satakalaam, named after the Yokudan God, Satakal. Tigonus contains several notable landmarks, such as the city of Volenfell, the lost capital of the Rourken Dwemer. The Lost City of the Na-Totambu, the ancient city of the Na-Totambu that fell into obscurity, and the Motalion Necropolis, the largest cemetery in the Alik'r Desert, built just north of Satakalaam. Various Kings and nobles of the Alik'r Desert are buried here, throughout the years, such as King Haqmir of Yath.

Greater Alik'r

Pge01 hammerfell — The Greater Alik'r consists of the desert of Hammerfell, from Hegathe to Ska'vyn.

The Greater Alik'r refers to the desert of Hammerfell, which shares its name with the general region of Northern Hammerfell. This area encompasses the western-half of Hammerfell, where much of the province's greatest history had occurred, such as the Arrival of the Ra Gada, and the Conquest of Hammerfell. The ancient capital of the Rourken Clan of Dwemer, the city of Volenfell is located here, with sources claiming its location around Satakalaam and Gilane, two settlements separated by the expansive Alik'r. Various nomads in Hammerfell traverse the Greater Alik'r, between the coastal cities. Nomadic groups like the Ash'abah are considered outcasts in Redguard society. On such tread across the Alik'r, the March of Thirst was noteworthy in the history of the Third Empire.^[1]^[2]

Fauna

Dunerippers

Harpies

Skeletons & Mummies

Camels & Horses

Desert Lamia

Miscellaneous Creatures

Flora

Government

Religion

History

First Era

The Rourken Clan of Dwemer; Volendrung & Volenfell

DAVolendrung — Volendrung, the Hammer of Might, was flung from Vvardenfell by the Rourken Clan into Hammerfell.

"So the Rourken chieftain hurled Volendrung into the sky, declaring that their people would find a home wherever it landed. Volendrung thus served as a guiding light for Clan Rourken in exile as the Hammer roared, beastlike, across the sky. It shone like a second sun during the day, mirrored the moons at night, and led the Rourken to the other side of the continent. There, they supposedly founded the fabled city of Volenfell—which has yet to be discovered in the modern era, if it ever truly existed."

―Gurour^[src]

In 1E 420, the First Council of Morrowind was formed between the Dwemer and the Chimer, bring peace throughout the region, but while most were in favor of this, there were sects that were against this decision, and one of them was the Rourken Clan. The Rourken Chieftain had thrown his Hammer of Might, Volendrung in the distant west, where it would land somewhere in the Alik'r Desert. The Rourken Clan trudged through Cyrodiil's forest and into Hammerfell, where they founded the city-state of Volenfell. The history regarding the Rourken is dispersed and not concise. At one point in time, the Arch-Mage, Shalidor waged war single-handedly with the Rourken Clan in the Battle of Rourken-Shalidor. King Rourken had utilized the Spell Breaker, which is a Dwemer Tower Shield that can deflect magic. When they had founded Volenfell, they discovered large veins of untapped minerals all throughout the Alik'r Desert, to which they traveled great lengths to obtain this power. And so, they built various mining settlements, such as Santaki or Rkulftzel. The Rourken's self-exile had inspired various other clans to migrate out of Vvardenfell, such as the Kragen Clan, who founded the cities of Arkngthamz-Phng, and pioneered the use of Aetherium. In the end, the Rourken Clan, along with the rest of the Dwemer, disappeared in 1E 700 in the aftermath of the Battle of Red Mountain. Their ruins remained abandoned ever since.^[1]^[3]^[4]^[5]

The Destruction of Yokuda & the Ra Gada Wave

Yaghoub the Seafarer & the Jewel of Alik'r

The Corelanya Clan & Origins of the Ash'abah

Gaiden Shinji & the Siege of Orsinium

Second Era

Main article: Alik'r Desert (Online)

King Fahara'jad & Suturah the Withered

Hammerfell & the Daggerfall Covenant

The Assault on Sentinel Docks & the Ansei Wards

Uwafa the Defiler; Trouble at Tu'whacca's Throne

Alasan the Revenant; Plot at Tava's Blessing

Battle of Satakalaam & the Seventh Legion

Shiri the Deciever & Suturah the Returned

The Hammerfell Civil War & Volag's Purge

The Third Empire & the Treaty of Stros M'Kai

Third Era

Main article: Alik'r (Daggerfall)

The Alik'r and its cities during the Simulacrum

Conflict across the Iliac; the War of Betony

The Alik'r during the Warp in the West

A Coup d'etat at Lainlyn; Lord Kain of the True Horn

The Rise of King Lhotun; the Waning Third Era

Fourth Era

Arannelya's Campaign & the Great War

Hammerfell Stands Alone & the White-Gold Concordat

Locations

Regions

Settlements

Ruins

Caves

Landmarks

Gallery

Appearances

The Elder Scrolls: Arena
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (mentioned only)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (mentioned only)
The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls: Legends (mentioned only)

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Pocket Guide to the Empire, First Edition: Hammerfell
↑ The Great War
↑ What is Volendrung?
↑ Tamrielic Lore
↑ Arkngthamz-Phng

[1st_Hammerfell-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Pocket Guide to the Empire, First Edition: Hammerfell

[Great-2] The Great War

[3] What is Volendrung?

[4] Tamrielic Lore

[5] Arkngthamz-Phng

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]