Skyrim: In My Time Of Need Quest [Complete Guide]

The Skyrim In My Time of Need quest can be a bit tough to follow because of a lack of quest markers, but that's where this guide comes in.

After playing through the opening hours of Skyrim and reaching your first major city, Whiterun. Players may notice another event within Whiterun that’s quite hard to ignore. Two Redguard NPCs can be seen arguing with a guard at the city’s main gate, attempting to gain entrance into the area. This is the beginning of the ‘In My Time of Need’ quest, and this guide will show you how to complete it step by step.

Key Takeaways
  • Skyrim’s “In My Time of Need” quest begins by talking to one of two arguing Redguard NPCs at Whiterun’s entrance.
  • The quest involves finding a Redguard woman named Saadia, wanted by the Alik’r Warriors.
  • Players can side with Saadia or Kematu, the Alik’r Warriors’ leader.
  • Siding with Saadia requires killing Kematu and getting a 500 gold reward from her.
  • Siding with Kematu involves setting up an ambush for Saadia and capturing her, also resulting in a 500 gold reward.
  • The quest can be challenging due to the absence of quest markers but offers a choice between Saadia and Kematu.

In My Time Of Need Quest Walkthrough

Skyrim In My Time of Need
Unwelcome Guests.

In order to formally start the quest, talk to one of the NPCs arguing at the entrance and they will be revealed as Alik’r Warriors. They say that they are on the trail of a refugee woman from their homeland of Hammerfell and that they require your help in locating her.

They act quite shady and refuse to tell you what they intend to do with the Redguard woman, only going so far as to inform you that they will be waiting for news at the village of Rorikstead.

There are no actual consequences involved if you don’t get to this quest right away. So take your time and approach it at your leisure.

Redguard Woman Location

Skyrim In My Time of Need
The Redguard Woman.

When you’re searching for the Redguard Woman, you won’t have a marker guiding you to her location. However, you can eventually find someone matching her description in The Bannered Mare tavern in Whiterun.

Her name is Saadia, and if you mention the men at the gate, she becomes distraught and invites you to speak with her privately in her room.

You have two choices at this point:

  1. Ignore her and proceed to Rorikstead, where you can turn her in to the Redguard men. This option ends the quest and rewards you with 500 gold.
  2. Listen to Saadia in her room. She explains that she is a noblewoman from Hammerfell named Iman and that the Alik’r Warriors have been hired to assassinate her for speaking out against the Aldmeri Dominion. She asks for your help in assassinating Kematu, the leader of the assassins, instead. If you choose to assist her, she also informs you of another member of the assassin group being held in captivity at the Whiterun jail.

Your choice in this quest will significantly impact how it unfolds, so choose wisely.

The Alik’r Camp

Skyrim In My Time of Need
The Alik’r Prisoner.

n the quest involving the Alik’r Warriors and Saadia in Skyrim, after speaking to the Alik’r prisoner in Whiterun’s jail and securing his cooperation, you can learn that Kematu, the leader of the Alik’r Warriors, is hiding in Swindler’s Den to the east of Rorikstead.

Here’s what to do next:

  1. Head to Swindler’s Den, where you’ll encounter an Alik’r Warrior at the entrance. While it may appear that you have the option to talk to him, the situation inevitably leads to a fight. Defeat him to enter the cave.
  2. Inside the cave, you’ll face several tough enemies. Be prepared for battles as you progress deeper into the cave. Make sure to have a supply of health potions to keep yourself alive.
  3. As you continue through the cave, you’ll eventually reach Kematu, the leader of the Alik’r Warriors. You can choose to engage in a conversation with him to learn more about his perspective. Kematu explains that Saadia is, in fact, a traitor to Hammerfell, and his mission is to bring her back to face the consequences of her actions.

Now, you’re faced with a final choice in the quest, which will determine its outcome. Your decision will significantly impact how the quest concludes.

Saadia Or Kematu

Skyrim In My Time of Need
Swindler’s Den.

You have two choices:

  1. Siding with Saadia: Kill Kematu and return to Saadia at the Bannered Mare tavern in Whiterun. She rewards you with 500 gold, and the quest ends.
  2. Siding with Kematu: Convince Saadia that the Alik’r are coming for her at the tavern. You can deceive her about a horse waiting at the city stable to aid her escape, but she’ll be captured by Kematu instead. Kematu also rewards you with 500 gold, and the quest concludes..

This has been our Skyrim In My Time of Need quest guide. This one can be a bit tricky because of the lack of markers, but hopefully, the guide will help ease some of that annoyance.

In My Times Of Need Quest Tips

While you are completing the “In My Times of Need” quest, there are some important things that you must keep in mind in order to perform the task efficiently.

Here are some quick tips that will surely help you while completing the quest.

  • Paying the fine to Whiterun guards is of no use as they will still not release the prisoner of Alik’r.
  • You cannot side with Saadia and Kematu at the same time. Although both parties will say that they are right, you have to follow the commands of one person for the progress of the quest.
  • Once you complete the quest, you get access to the twin bed in the tavern for free.
  • If you try to kill Kematu or any of his guards before the quest is started, then it will be considered murder and you will get a bounty for it.
  • If you kill Saadia after the quest, you can find her body in the Whiterun’s Hall of the Dead.

This sums up our Skyrim guide about the In My Time of Need quest. Players who side with Saadia have to return to her to ensure her safety. After that, the quest will be completed with the reward of 500 gold. If you decide to be on Alik’r side, then you have to lure Saadia to the stables by saying that she is in danger. Once you reach the stables, Saadia will be handed over to Kematu, which will award you 500 gold with the completion of the quest.

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Huzaifa is eXputer's Review Editor, who’s all about RPG games. He’s got several years of experience critically judging games and writing his unbiased thoughts on them. You can also find his content published on sites like Twinfinite & GearNuke. Huzaifa has been gaming for 23+ years, during which he managed to amass 400+ hours on Elden Ring! You can follow his gaming activity on his Xbox and Steam Profiles.

Experience: 5+ years || Previously Worked At GearNuke & Twinfinite || Mainly Covers RPG Guides & Latest Games Reviews || Education: Bachelors in Hospitality.

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