As the topic name suggest, i'd like to know which side speaks the truth (if any). I agreed to side with the woman, until I got to Kematu and heard his version, now I am unsure what to do.

My character is a Good-ish character and wouldn't betray a "client" unless she has a really good reason, so is there a way to know who is really speaking the truth?

I believe Keamatu. He doesn't seem to have much reason to lie, and if he was assassin like Sadis claimed, he wouldn't take her back to Hammerfell alive-- he'd just kill her.

I've played two good "aligned" characters. Following the dialog, I didn't find enough information to determine which side was telling the truth. My first play through I sided with Kematu (didn't feel that comforable with how that turned out). My second play through I sided with Saadia (not positive about that choice either). On my second play through a two things bothered me about Kematu. First, his assumption that my character was motivated by money and his off putting attitude. Second, he was hiding out in a den of bandits (birds of a feather kind of thing). Yeah, he wasn't welcome in any towns, but neither are the Khajiit caravans and yet the Khajiit merchants (even given their reputation) give off a better "feel" than Kematu and his boys.

Saadia isn't clean either. She's basically doing a murder-for-hire.

The down side of going with Saadia is Kematu's crew continues to hang around Skyrim harassing Redguard women.

I suggest betraying her if only to get the Redguard to stop looking for her.

They stay at the Whiterun gates and question Redguard women randomly along the roads in the oddest of places forever if you dont help them.

Probably Kematu. His side of the story is more historically consistent, plus there's a lot less bloodshed if you turn Saadia in.

I don't think there's a way of knowing what the truth in this situation is, but Saadia does draw a knife on you when she first gets you alone. There was some argument that neither side could really be speaking the truth because of the timeline and how long it's been since the Thalmor have been defeated in Hammerfell. The Aldmeri left Hammerfell in 4E 180, this quest takes place 21 years later, so where has Saadia been, how old is she and how long ago would it have been when some city in Hammerfell was betrayed, since the war lasted 5 years before The Aldmeri lost?

Also, what possible threat is there to Saadia if she was pro-Thalmor? She is not in Hammerfell, and Whiterun is an Imperial city, so why would she be in hiding?

If I remember correctly, Kematu states the betrayal was during the great war. Not between its ending and current times. Kematu's story matches up, Saadia's doesn't.

I sided with Saadia on all my playthroughs. She's just too hot to hand over to Kematu. She's HOT!!!

This is very interesting news. Been a while since I did this, but wasn't it a city in Hammerfell that she was supposed to have betrayed? Kematu does take her away and doesn't just kill her (at least not that you see) which does lend weight to him not being a simple assassin. Still, if Saadia is an aristo and a Thalmor sympathiser and has fled to a province where the Thalmor lord it over everyone, why is she hiding and working as a waitress?


Edit: Wait, the Great War ended 26 years before this quest...

I too sided with Kematu my first play and also did not really feel comfortable with the whole idea of backing him and betraying Saadia. After all, she seemed nice enough, she didn't seem to ne harbouring any mal intentions or anythying like that. Kematu, on the other hand, just did not come with a good vibe. Second play through I sided with Saadia. It was more worth it. By no means is my character a goody goody or anything, but occaissionally I like feeling I did thew right thing instead of doing it for the money or the spoils. It could be said best by saying that I am the type who doesn't mind helping you out, but also doesn't mind helping myself out and pickpocketting you when you give me your back out of trust...

That being said and all, I felt I should side with Saadia...And not to mention, she is very pretty...

Except that would make her very young when she supposedly betrayed the city. Too young to be in a position to betray a city IMO. I don't believe either side is telling the truth.
As for Saadia pulling a knife on you shes a women being hunted down. Only natural to be a little paranoid.

It appears both sides play the player for a fool. But Saadia is a more compelling advocate, and her hiding in the open is even better. It is possible to destroy both sides and doubly profit, but that's in the wiki.

I went to the cave fully intending to kill Kematu, but then saw he had like 8 body guards. So, my character of questionable moral fiber took the path of least resistance.

People have mentioned in other threads that if you side with Kematu the Thalmor send hit squads after you. On the character that sided with Kematu I've yet to have any Thalmor come after me and accuse me of turning in one of their trusted spies; I only get the standard anti-Talos worshipping dialogue from them. Also, there's no dossier on her in the Embassy that I've ever found, but maybe they wouldn't have one on her since she's not an "enemy" to them.

After the White Gold Concordat was signed, the Empire had handed over the southern part of Hammerfell to the Thalmor.

Her claim that the Alik'r have been sent after her because she publicly spoke out against the Aldmeri Dominion really doesn't fit history. The Thalmor were beaten and driven out- why would anyone care if she spoke against them? Kematu may be lying as well, but at least his story doesn't have a huge glaring hole in it.

Apart from her supposedly betraying a city to the Thalmor whilst still a child.

I killed them both. No more wondering, and I got Kematu's scimitars

You never really get any proof of who's telling the truth here.

I chose to help Saadia out because she was better to look at than the Alikr. Plus she always calls me handsome when I visit the Inn.

I got those after I turned Saadia into him. I was sent to Swindler's Den for another quest long after In My Time of Need where he's hiding out and he was still in there.

Do you have some source on Saadia's age?


Kematu isn't an assassin either. If you turn Saadia over and then kill her, Kematu will get upset.

Apart from appearance no, but Redguard lifespan isn't anything unusual. At most shes a youthful 40 which would put her in her teens during the Great War.

Ulfric's past his 50s. He doesn't particularly look that old.

Same here.

Without a concrete source on Saadia's age, I doubt we'll be able to say what age she was when she sold the city out - if she did. Still, someone in their late teens would be more than capable of doing it.

I'd have said Ulfric looked to be between 40-50 to me, Saadia around 30, but I'll admit its just guesswork, hardly concrete.
As for somebody in their late teens being able to betray the city how?
Even if noble I doubt they'd have the authority to order the gates to be opened or order troops away from a vital defense point.