Avad

Avad
Culture	Carja
Gender	Male
Eye color	Brown
Hair color	Black
Position	Sun-King, 14th of the Radiant Line
Family	Nasadi (stepmother) Itamen (half-brother) Araman (ancestor; deceased) Hivas (grandfather; deceased) Marzid (granduncle; deceased) Jiran (father; deceased) Kadaman (brother; deceased) Fashav (cousin; deceased)
Portrayed by	Kirk Newmann (model) Josh Keaton (voice) Josh Jefferies (motion capture)

"The most important thing is what he isn't like: his father. I think you will find him to be a reasonable man."

―Marad speaking to Aloy about Avad

Avad, referred to ceremonially as Sun-King Avad, 14th Luminance of the Radiant Line, is the 14th and currently reigning Sun-King of the Carja Sundom. Unlike his father Jiran, he is a compassionate, just and fair ruler who desires a working relationship with other tribes based on mutual respect. Repulsed by and tired of his father’s manifold atrocities, he successfully overthrew Jiran and set out to build back the tribe.

Appearance

Avad in Horizon Zero Dawn.

Avad is an adult male with a tan complexion. He is tall, but does not have a particularly large build. Avad has black facial hair and brown eyes.

Avad wears two metallic strips forming a cross on his torso with white shoulder pads. He also wears white pants with red fabric that covers his waist. He wears some wrist bands. He wears a headdress that looks to be made of machine parts and fabric, decorated with many details such as a center piece and an upper piece that resembles a crown. When needed, he wears a holster on his right hip, containing a sword.

Avad in his ceremonial outfit in Horizon Zero Dawn.

For special occasions, Avad also wears two long strips of white and red fabric with gold detailing over his shoulders, with matching fabric hanging from his forearms. He also wears a large, metallic star made of four squares behind his head.

History

Background

Avad is the second of Jiran's three sons: while nothing about his mother is known, it is believed she also birthed Avad's older brother, Kadaman. Itamen, Avad's younger half-brother, was born to Nasadi.

Unlike Kadaman, who was favored as an heir for his combat prowess and boldness, Avad took a greater interest in history and the arts, only training in combat when he had to. Indeed, nothing about Avad's early life was indicative of his fate: he neither anticipated nor intended to ever become Sun-King.

The Red Raids

Avad and Kadaman grew up in the Palace of the Sun in the Carja capital Meridian, where they watched their father’s fall from a respected leader into a brutal tyrant.

Eight years after Jiran's Red Raids began, the Oseram warrior Ersa was captured in a raid and thrown into the Sun-Ring. When she survived, Jiran "rewarded" her by making her a palace slave, where Avad befriended her. Helping her obtain valuable intel, he helped her escape back to the Claim by disguising her as a Carja noblewoman (although he had to similarly disguise himself to gain her cooperation).

Both Kadaman and Avad, like many other Carja, abhorred the raids and human sacrifices, recognizing them as pointless bloodshed. However, unlike other dissidents, they were in a position to make their feelings known directly to Jiran. Kadaman presumably and erroneously believed that, as Jiran's eldest son and heir, Jiran would acquiesce if he demanded their cessation. But when he did so, Jiran instead responded by sacrificing him as well. Jiran's response demonstrated to Avad that Jiran was beyond reason, and the atrocities would only end if he was deposed. To a one, the men of his honor guard agreed.

At dusk on the day of Kadaman's execution, Avad and his honor guard fled Meridian and headed to The Claim, hoping to assemble an army of allied tribes to depose Jiran. Jiran branded them as traitors on finding out. In The Claim, Avad again met Ersa, who had, along with her brother Erend, formed connections with the Oseram freebooters who fought against the raiders. The siblings helped Avad ally these groups with his men to form the army he needed. Avad also had assistance from within Meridian, in the form of Jiran's advisor and spymaster, Marad. While the exact nature of his assistance is unknown, it is presumed to have been subversive, as he told the Nora huntress Aloy that he “served” Jiran “to his enemies."

The Liberation

After months of preparation, the liberators marched on Meridian. As they advanced deeper into the Sundom, any Carja soldiers who encountered them fled back to the city, laid down arms, or joined them. On their arrival at the city’s walls, they faced Jiran‘s fanatical Kestrels and Carja soldiers who remained loyal to Jiran. The defenders were dug in, but the liberators' newly developed weapons, known as Oseram Cannons, made a long siege unnecessary; the cannons quickly broke the city's defenses. Avad strictly limited their use in order to spare the city from damage as much as possible. Executing the three-pronged attack that Avad had planned, the liberators overcame the defenders and secured the city. Jiran’s loyalists among the civilian population, comprised mainly of most of the Sun-Priests and nobility, fled the city, leaving mainly the now-freed slaves and other members of the Carja underclass, all of whom supported Avad.

Jiran knew he was defeated but, as Avad knew would happen, refused to surrender. He ordered his champion, the Kestrel commander Helis, to take his queen Nasadi and youngest son Itamen away from the city to his summer palace at Sunfall, while he waited to confront Avad in his Solarium. Officially, Avad pled with his father to surrender, and reluctantly slew Jiran when he refused. In truth, Ersa laid the killing blow, charging forward in Avad's moment of hesitation. Carja belief holds that the murder of a Sun-King would plunge the world into shadow; the Sun's light would be extinguished. When this failed to happen upon Jiran's death, the Carja took it as a sign that the Sun had never supported Jiran's atrocities and had renounced him as its chosen vessel in favor of Avad. The fact that Avad himself was of the Radiant Line strengthened their belief. This prevented full-out war, as Avad had hoped.

Though Avad had won, Jiran's loyalists were not permanently defeated. Led by their de facto leaders Helis and the High Sun-Priest Bahavas, they formed a splinter tribe known as the Shadow Carja. They would later get an opportunity to attempt to retake the Sundom and depose and kill Avad, in the form of the Eclipse, a warrior cult formed by Helis and Bahavas in service to the ancient artificial intelligence HADES after being deceived by it.

Reforms and diplomacy

With his Liberation successful, Avad immediately set about undoing the social and political damage Jiran had inflicted on the tribe. He outlawed slavery, a practice started by his grandfather Hivas and which had become very prominent under Jiran. He ordered the Carja Hunters Lodge to remove its restrictions against non-Carja, women, and non-nobles, and likewise opened the military to the same groups. He opened Meridian, previously strictly forbidden to non-Carja, to visitors from any tribe. Militarily, he ended the Red Raids and expelled participating soldiers and officers from the army, though some, such as the officer Zaid, managed to remain by covering up their involvement.

He also began a diplomatic program of outreach and apology to the tribes his father had terrorized. He particularly made efforts to restore trade and peaceful relations with the Nora, whose territory abuts the Sundom in the east. At the Carja border settlement Daytower, he assigned a commander named Balahn, an army captain who had been part of the liberating army, and who strongly believed in his reforms and was determined to do his best to improve relations with the Nora.

Avad also maintained and strengthened ties with the Oseram, largely relying on Ersa's unique talent of convincing the normally argumentative Oseram ealdormen to cooperate with each other and the Sundom. He commissioned the freebooters who fought alongside him into an elite unit known as the Vanguard as both thanks for their invaluable assistance, and as a gesture of peace to the Oseram, and appointed Ersa as the unit’s captain. The two became enamored of each other, but could not openly pursue a relationship because neither the Carja nor the Oseram would accept it.

Dervahl was one of the Oseram at the forefront of the fight against the Carja during the Red Raids, and his name soon became well known. In retaliation, Jiran had his wife and daughter captured and sacrificed in the Sun-Ring, which turned his protective rage into unending hatred and vengeance. Dervahl would demand nothing less than genocide of the Carja as terms for peace. This hatred soon spilled over into his own tribe who had sympathy for the Carja and desired peace instead of vengeance.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Avad and his Vanguard.

The prime Oseram target for Dervahl's hatred became Ersa. She was once one of his most stalwart comrades, yet she withdrew as she saw how much his hatred infected the rest of his actions. Her withdrawal made him more unhinged not only because of her loss, but because he perceived a potential relationship between Avad and Ersa. Dervahl had grown enamoured with Ersa, yet her rejection of him, potentially for a Carja, drove the knife deep. In his madness and grief, he instituted a plan by which he would eliminate her, kill Avad and devastate the Carja via a terrorist bombing of Meridian that would destroy the city and kill its residents. However, Aloy uncovered his plans for Avad and Meridian and defeated him, leading to his arrest, though not before he succeeded in killing Ersa. In a subsequent conversation with Aloy, Avad spoke of his feelings for Ersa and his grief over her death. In his grief, he became attracted to Aloy, finding her to be much like Ersa and spoke fondly of their similarities in strength, intelligence, and temperament. However, Aloy declined his advances.

Avad welcoming Nasadi and Itamen to Brightmarket.

Avad encountered Aloy again when she assisted in the successful defection of Jiran’s widow the Dowager Queen Nasadi and their son Itamen from Sunfall. A Carja spy named Vanasha had long been placed in Sunfall by Marad, and had had hatched a plan for the willing Nasadi to defect with Itamen. Helis and Bahavas claimed Itamen to be the one true Sun-King as Jiran’s chosen heir, and thus the Shadow Carja were the true Carja tribe. His defection to the Carja and acceptance of Avad as Sun-King would destroy these claims. Aloy worked with Vanasha to successfully accomplish the defection. Avad received his step-mother and half-brother on their arrival, and was again deeply grateful to Aloy for her help.

Aloy would later return to Meridian to warn Avad of a new threat: the Eclipse are preparing to launch an assault on Meridian and take the Spire for HADES. If HADES is successful, it would use the Spire to reawaken countless ancient machines and bring out the permanent end of life on Earth. While Avad did not fully understand the nature of HADES, he immediately put the Carja army on a war footing. He had the city guard and the Vanguard fortify the western ridge to defend both Meridian and the path to the Alight, and sent word to every corner of the Sundom for assistance. Many Carja rose to the cause, and were joined by warriors from the Nora, Oseram and Banuk: many of them came to the defense of the city out of respect for Aloy through their encounters with her. With the exception of the Nora delegation (who declined a royal audience), Avad received them all.

Avad observed as the Eclipse charged on Meridian, attempting to stop Aloy from confronting Helis, but he couldn't convince her to stop. After the battle, Avad and Marad joined in the victory cheer from the palace balcony. In a reaction that illustrated his attitude toward his subjects, he spontaneously hugged a very surprised soldier.

Sometime between Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West

With the Shadow Carja's leadership in tatters, Avad was finally able to end the civil war in the peaceful manner he had hoped for. By offering amnesty to all those who returned, Avad inspired the citizens trapped in Shadowside to take back the Citadel for Meridian, reuniting the Carja tribe and setting the sun on twelve long years of war.

Some number of weeks later, Avad visited the Hunters Lodge to meet with Talanah Khane Padish, offering her a position as Special Advisor to the Council for the Restoration of Meridian in recognition of her effective and progressive leadership of the Lodge. In addition to Talanah, Erend was also among those Avad selected to sit on the council.

Horizon Forbidden West

Six months following the battle of the Alight, Avad led his royal retinue to the Spire upon learning that Aloy had returned. Upon reuniting with the Savior, Avad remarked that she left in such haste, he never had the chance to formally thank her for her heroics. Following Nasadi curbing Itamen's haste in mentioning gifts, Avad confirmed they indeed had gifts to offer and remarked that while decorum called for a ceremony at the palace, he suspected Aloy would desire a less formal setting. Subsequently, after Uthid and Vanasha gifted Aloy a new spear and tiara, Avad stated these tokens would remain a reminder of the Sundom's eternal gratitude.

Avad got the chance to speak privately with Aloy soon after. He pointed out the statue of Aloy and remarked that the sculptor wanted to make it twice the size, laden with gold and jewels. Upon learning that Aloy was soon to depart for the Forbidden West, claiming that Meridian is still in danger, Avad told her of the upcoming embassy, in which the Tenakth would trade back his cousin, Fashav, who was taken captive five years ago. He requested that Aloy pass on to Fashav that he awaits him in Meridian where he belongs. Also, he confided that he planned to cede the throne to Itamen when he comes of age, granting himself the freedom to explore the world and maybe join Aloy on one of her adventures. As Aloy turned to leave, Avad asked her if she would return to and stay in Meridian after her mission is complete so that they might get to know one another.

• Are you kidding?
• It's a nice thought
• Now's not the time

Aloy is frustrated by Avad's repeated advances. She angrily asserts that she is too busy with her mission to save the world to be spending time with him. Avad is visibly hurt and apologises for his behavior. He askes that she forget what he has said and bids her farewell.

Aloy tells Avad that she does hope to see Meridian and him again, but that she needs to stay focused on her mission for now. She admits that she doesn't know what will happen with her life afterward. Avad reminds her that she will always be welcome in Meridian and sends her off, looking forward to her return.

Aloy points out that what happens between her and Avad is not important, not yet at least, as her mission needs to take priority. Avad agrees with her and apologises for his foolishness, wishing for Aloy's success as he bids her farewell.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores

While Aloy was venturing through the Burning Shores, Avad and the Tenakth arranged another embassy between the two tribes, this time hosted by Avad himself in Meridian. While Erend spoke favorably about Avad, Kotallo remains cautious of him as he left the Memorial Grove for the Sundom.

The Official Horizon Cookbook: Tastes of the Seven Tribes

Upon hearing of Milduf and Pentalla's journey to document meals across the various tribal territories, Avad had a Vanguard bring them to the Palace of the Sun, requesting they prepare a Tenakth meal for him. Milduf eagerly accepted, but Pentalla wanted to learn, not serve. Under Milduf's insistence that this was part of learning, she grabbed a bushel of redthorn pepper and two rats by the tails. Horrified by the idea of serving rats to the Sun-King, Milduf poured kindleweed oil onto the coals ashen the rats. With Pentalla determined to still serve the rats to Avad, Milduf reminded her that he had her recipes and he would make them if she wouldn't, prompting her to storm out of the kitchen. Milduf made good on his threat, preparing a mix of all he had learned. Later on, when Avad came into the kitchen to thank Pentalla personally for the meal, Milduf explained her absence by claiming the mesa air had made her unwell. To show his appreciation, Avad offered his Vanguard to escort Milduf and Pentalla to the Nora Sacred Lands, as well as his personal healer to treat Pentalla.

Personality

Avad is at heart a gentle soul who, as he lacked the prowess for physical exploits, spent his formative years learning history, music, and poetry. In contrast to his older brother, his charisma was based on intelligent observation, emotional acuity, and empathy, which ended up serving him better as king than he had ever expected. Whereas his father would shed blood at any slight, Avad will give diplomacy every reasonable opportunity to succeed before resorting to arms. He believes in peaceful coexistence with other tribes based on mutual respect, and seeks to have beneficial relationships with all of the Sundom’s neighboring tribes. He is reasonable, progressive, flexible, and conflict-averse, and governs accordingly. While he had the military strength to completely destroy the Shadow Carja, his personality and philosophy did not allow him to make such a ruthless decision. He is recognized in the annals of the Sun-Kings for having freed the Carja from Jiran’s brutal reign. Indeed, the annals refer to him simply as The Liberator.

Associated Quests

Horizon Zero Dawn

• Mother's Heart (mentioned only)
• The City of the Sun (mentioned only)
• Into the Borderlands
• The Sun Shall Fall
• The Terror of the Sun (mentioned only)
• Queen's Gambit
• The Looming Shadow
• The Face of Extinction

Horizon Forbidden West

• The Point of the Lance
• The Embassy (mentioned only)
• GEMINI (post-quest conversation; missable)

Gallery

Avad's face paint.

Concept Art

Concept art of Avad.