Lore:Satakals

A naked bodyguard from Rihad (back)

The Satakals (some of which are known as Satakal Jiit Nomads) are a Redguard cult of devotees to Satakal the Serpent God. While they have resided in the cities of Hammerfell, most notably Rihad, many live among the nomads of the Alik'r. These Devotees of Satakal have been seen rolling in the desert sand sidewinder-fashion in continuous, hundred-mile stretches, from Balhar all the way to the Nohotogrha oasis.

The Maormer ruler King Orgnum was a deathless wizard rumored to actually be the Serpent God of the Satakal. Traditional Redguards not of the cult view Orgnum's connection to Satakal as blasphemous, and maintain that Orgnum will not be spared at the coming of the true Satakal.

Many of the Satakals, such as those that inhabit Rihad, like to go naked in the streets, slithering in the dirt, and nipping at passersbys like snakes. They even perform exhibitions of "shedding their skin". As of the Second Era, modern devotees of Satakal were said to shed their skin in gruesome rituals with winding daggers, with a possibility of self-consumption (though this has never been confirmed). Flensing rituals of Satakal were suggested to be more restrained in earlier eras. It is said the Satakals had hidden and well-guarded skin-archives detailing various traditional legends and myths from Yokuda. One such legend tells the tale of Tall Papa's War with the Prince Boethiah, and how the conflict was settled when Hunding defeated Boethiah's son in a game of limb-riddles.

The Satakals have historically caused the A'likr border-states no end of strife. These "revered madmen" sometimes form perilous bands, terrorizing the countryside in "old Ra Gada fashion." Despite this they are said to depend entirely on the charity of the other Redguards. When the Third Empire first controlled Hammerfell, the Satakals proved resistant to transitioning to worship of the Eight Divines. The Satakals began biting on Imperial civil servants, forcing the Provisional Governors to run them out of the cities, protecting both locals and the Imperial garrisons.

Gallery

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  Second Era depiction of Satakal

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  Second Era depiction of King Orgnum

References

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.