It's only one of the most anticipated titles of the 21st century so far. Elder Scrolls 6 will take place in the province of Hammerfell, Bethesda announced as a small teaser in a Twitter comment on the last day of 2020, and the gaming world finally exhaled. It's going to be tough for Bethesda to follow the success of Skyrim while maintaining the online portion of the franchise, Elder Scrolls Online. 

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In some DLCs and expansions for the stand-alone Elder Scrolls games, most notably the most recent and very popular Skyrim, the region either appears in lore or players can visit certain locations in the province. In ESO, players can explore the region extensively. Despite the exciting news, fans are still going to wait a few years for the game's actual release. While we're all waiting for the next installment in Bethesda's flagship franchise, we have plenty of time to hit the books and get acquainted with the ancient land of Hammerfell.

10 The Deathlands

Before it was called Hammerfell, it was known as the Deathlands by the ancient Nedic people, the place where civilizations would go to die. Players that enjoyed the spelunking of Skyrim and the dungeons of Cyrodiil, along with exploring countless old tombs and temples, will have a lot to do in Hammerfell.

This ancient land saw many civilizations pass through, only to be either wiped out by the invading Aliki'r or the harsh elements. That's why there are names for this region in the ancient tongues of the Dwemiri, who call it Volenfell, and the Aldmeri Dominion, who named it Hegathe. A city on the coast, which ironically is one of the few to currently exist outside of Dominion control, still retains this name.

9 The Continent of Yokuda

The human residents of Hammerfell have a direct connection to the sunken continent of Yokuda, a legend that touches on other important parts of ancient Hammerfell lore. The exact cause of the disaster that caused the continent to sink under the waves in 1E 792 is still hotly debated, and one theory even includes an alternate timeline, but any complete records of the event have been lost. The civilization was a highly advanced one, and it was partly their knowledge that allowed them to conquer the other races that challenged them for domination of Hammerfell.

8 The Sload Of The Deeps

After the continent of Yokuda sunk, the region wasn't entirely abandoned. The Sload, also known more colloquially as Slugmen, inhabit these underwater kingdoms. These creatures are from the Isles of Thras within the Abecean Sea, and they are the most hated and also the most feared of any other creatures in Tamriel. Their magical skills rival even that of the Aldmeri and they're known for their practice of Necromancy. The destruction of Yokuda might have had something to do with them and they could figure prominently in any game that takes place in Hammerfell.

7 The Redguards Or Ra Gada

The Redguards are one of the playable races in the Elder Scrolls franchise, and their homeland is Hammerfell. The term "Redguard" is a corruption of the ancient Yokudan term "Ra Gada" which means "warrior wave." This ancient term indicates that the fighting skill was something the future Redguards were already experts in when they landed.

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If you want to play a warrior, the natural choice for a race is the Redguard, since the people are known for their stellar talents with a blade. A vast majority of the most skilled assassins and bodyguards in the game hail from Hammerfell, and they have higher constitutions and better resistance to poison.

6 The Forbears And The Crown

The term "Redguard" refers to the human residents of Hammerfell, and like other provinces, that doesn't mean that they're a homogenous group when it comes to politics or culture. The Redguards are divided into two distinct groups, the Forbears and the Crown. The Forbears were descendants of the Ra Gada who wished to integrate more with the other races of Tamriel, whereas the Crown was made up of more traditionally-minded Yokudans who wanted to keep to their isolation and ancient heritage.

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This division still exists in the present day and will no doubt have more influence on the setting and backstory as the game develops. There's a third, much smaller faction called the Lhotunics, who integrate reverence for traditional Yokudan beliefs with features of Imperial heritage.

5 Reverence for the Dead

The Redguard people have some interesting cultural quirks that make them a unique race to play in Tamriel. Their religious beliefs were imported from their island homeland and differ from the Daedric worship that's common on the rest of the continent. These beliefs include a serious reverence for the dead.

Despite their amazing fighting skills, a Redguard refuses to raise arms against the undead, not only because of the spiritual implications, but also a cultural revulsion to disrespecting the dearly departed in any way. Hammerfell has issues with the undead like anywhere else in Tamriel, thus the isolated tribe of Ash'abah is often tasked with fighting them off.

4 The Vast Alik'r Desert

This vast desert takes up most of the northern part of Hammerfell and remained virtually untamed until the Yokudans arrived. Even still, it's known as the most inhospitable place on the continent. The desert is divided into three regions known as the Hollow Wastes, Myrkwasa, and Tigonus, with the first being the only one with any major settlements. The Yokudans were the first people to successfully challenge the fierce beasts of the desert and uncover some of the oldest and most valuable ruins in Tamriel. Only the Dwemer, the only race to pre-date the Yokudans in the region, came close to being their equals.

3 Stros M'Kai

Stros M'Kai might look small, but it's historic and modern strategic importance is why players should know more about this island. The location is just south of Hegathe on the mainland, one of the few cities on the coast still under Redguard control. Pirates, traders, and revolutionaries currently make the island their home, including notable groups like the Restless League. This island is also home to the city of Port Hunding, which players can visit in ESO and the spinoff The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard. 

2 Dragonstar

On the coastline, there's the matter of a few islands and other mysteries, like the local Sload population. We're already familiar with Cyrodiil to the east and Skyrim to the north. In fact, there were a few interesting references to Hammerfell politics in Skyrim and it wouldn't be a surprise to see threads of other games and expansions picked up as well.

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That's where the city of Dragonstar comes in, with its location close to the borders of Skyrim, Hammerfell, and High Rock. Hammerfell and Skyrim have considered the city-state to be a contested territory since the war of  War of Bend'r-Mahk, and on a more personal level, there's an arena here that's used to settle disputes between individuals.

1 The War Against the Aldmeri Dominion

The Empire of Cyrodiil only recently lost their grip on Hammerfell, only to have the Aldmeri Dominion take over part of it instead. There's a quest in Skyrim that references part of how this happened, and it involves a hidden Redguard woman hiding in Skyrim who allegedly turned traitor and gave up one of the coastal cities. The Dominion is outspoken about their aim, to end the domination of humans in Tamriel and replace their rule with that of the Mer, a vastly superior race in their view. The current residents of Hammerfell will probably have something to say about that.

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