Redguard The Redguards , are a race of humans who hail from the lost continent of Yokuda and now reside primarily in the province of Hammerfell . While officially Yokudan , they acquired their current name through the corruption of the native Yokudan term " Ra Gada , " which ( loosely translated ) means " warrior wave . " Due to their swift and decisive conquest of Hammerfell , the Redguards are renowned as some of the most naturally gifted warriors in Tamriel . Their ferocity and versatility is also manifested in their personality , which lends itself to why they are most effective as scout s and in small units as opposed to being deployed as rank and file soldiers . Hammerfell . Hammerfell is an arid land consisting mostly of deserts , mountains , and grasslands . The Alik ' r Desert takes up all of the western region of Hammerfell , and is widely regarded as the most inhospitable region in all of Tamriel . Until the coming of the Ra Gada in the eight hundreds of the First Era , the deserts were populated only by monstrous beasts , including giant scorpions . While the fauna of the Alik ' r Desert remained deadly into the Third Era , the Redguards had managed to significantly reduce the presence and threat of those creatures . The Alik ' r Desert is also the home to ruins of countless civilizations that had perished beneath its sands . Its blazing heat , ferocious sandstorms , and lack of water , makes it nearly impossible to survive in the Alik ' r Desert . The desert was inhabited only by the nomadic Redguards . Physiology . The Redguards ' innate agility and high level of endurance allows them to excel in any activity that demands sustained effort . Most notably in combat . They are largely average in height , with a well muscled and sturdy physique . Also , they are blessed with a very hardy constitution that allows them to resist poison . In appearance , the Redguards ' skin tone can range from light brown to black and their hair texture ranges from thick and wavy to tightly curled and wiry . History . First Era . Redguards are former inhabitants of the continent to the west , Yokuda . Around 1E 792 , much of Yokuda sank into the ocean after a group of Ansei called the Hiradirge sought revenge on the land after their defeat in battle . The surviving Yokudans sailed to the east and settled in Volenfell ( the Dwemer name for the region ) , what would later be known as Hammerfell . Most of these refugees would stay on the island of Herne , but a group of warrior Yokudans known as the Ra Gada traveled to the mainland in 1E 808 and swept across the country to claim as much land as they could , slaughtering or enslaving the local beastfolk and Nedic tribes . Eventually , Yokudan royalty known as Na - Totambu left the island of Herne and made their place in Hammerfell after the Ra Gada drove off the Orsimer . The name " Redguard " originates from " Ra Gada . " At first , this newcomer race did not open up to the rest of Tamrielic culture . They kept their Yokudan language intact and refused to trade with neighboring societies . Only when the Redguards and the Breton s found a common enemy in the Orcs of Orsinium did they begin open trade with High Rock . In 1E 950 , the Siege of Orsinium began with an outcome of Redguard and Breton victory . Their language was eventually replaced because of the need to easily communicate with trading partners and create treaties , but the language was still spoken by some . Second Era . Over time , Redguard society split into two factions , the Crowns , who followed the royal Na - Totambu and strived to hold onto traditional Yokudan culture , and the Forebears , descendants of the Ra Gada who wished to fully assimilate into Tamriel for the purposes of commerce and politics . A civil war soon broke out and in 2E 864 , the Redguard king Thassad II was killed . His son , A ' Tor , would go on to lead the Crowns ' effort , but ultimately the Forebears , backed by the Imperial Empire , won . Hammerfell was absorbed by the Septim Empire , although some concessions were made after a successful revolt in Stros M ' kai . Redguard society remained split for a vast amount of time , with the northern parts of Hammerfell keeping with Yokudan traditions , dress , and personality , and the southern parts tending to be more open to the rest of Tamrielic culture . Third Era . In 3E 249 , a pretender to the Camoran throne , called the Camoran Usurper , freed Valenwood of Septim Empire control . After gaining control over Valenwood , the Camoran Usurper marched northward seizing control of any land he could conquer . In 3E 253 , the Redguard cities Rihad and Taneth sent a call for help to Elinhir to the north that went unanswered because of the tension that still existed between the Crowns and the Forebears . Later , because of this , Forebear cities would not aid Crown cities that were overrun by Nords during the War of Bend ' r - Mahk around the time of 3E 397 . The reign of the Camoran Usurper ended in 3E 267 after his defeat . Redguards of eastern Hammerfell held a grudge against the Nords of Skyrim and continued to try to regain land lost during the War of Bend ' r - Mahk throughout the end of the Third Era , but to no avail . The War of Betony , a land dispute over the island of Betony between the Bretons of Daggerfall and the Redguards of Sentinel , saw the death of the King of Sentinel , Camaron in 3E 403 . The aftermath of the war left tension between the Redguards and Bretons of the Iliac Bay area . In 3E 417 , The Warp in the West occurred . Fourth Era . In 4E 171 , the Great War broke out when Emperor Titus Mede II refused to cede large tracts of land including southern Hammerfell to the Aldmeri Dominion . Ultimately , the Thalmor won and the Empire gave over the rights to occupy parts of Tamriel to the Aldmeri Dominion as part of the White - Gold Concordat in 4E 175 . The Redguards of Hammerfell , however , refused to accept this and fought on against the Thalmor . After years of bloodshed , they were successful in their repulsion of the Dominion ' s invasion , and in 4E 180 , the Second Treaty of Stros M ' kai was signed to end the fighting between the Redguards and the Dominion . After the treaty was signed , the Thalmor forces withdrew from Hammerfell . Many Redguards remained bitter toward the Empire for what they considered a betrayal , and claimed that their victory was proof that the Concordat was a mistake and the Empire would have eventually won if it had kept fighting . Culture . The Redguard ( or " Yokudan " ) culture is martial by nature . Every man , woman and child is schooled in the art of war and combat from a very young age . This would explain why they have never truly been defeated by any invading force since their arrival in Tamriel . From Tiber Septim to the Aldmeri Dominion , none have been able to completely assimilate the Redguards , much less defeat them outright . Despite the schism in their culture that produced the Crown and Forebear factions , the Redguards of Hammerfell have proven time and again that they are more than capable of putting their differences aside for the sake of their lives and culture . According to Trayvond the Redguard , in Hammerfell , they " Don ' t much like spellcasters , because Wizards steal souls and tamper with minds . If you use magic , you ' re weak or wicked . " They particularly hate Conjuration , relating it to Necromancy and Illusion because it tampers with the mind . However , he does mention that he and other Redguards are fond of Destruction spells which suits their culture well . Religion . The main religion of Hammerfell is primarily based in the traditional Yokudan pantheon , though there are pockets of those who ' ve embraced the gods of Tamriel .