- "...I feel that my life, like my markings, is only half complete. This side shows my martial deeds. Before I die, I'd like to see the other half marked with the laurels of peace."
- ―Fashav
Unyielding Fashav, also known as Marshal Fashav, is a character in Horizon Forbidden West. He is a Carja nobleman and general who, after being captured during the Red Raids, became a Tenakth Marshal.
History[]
Fashav was born and raised in Meridian. As a relative of the Radiant Line,[1] Fashav was able to spend much of his youth in the libraries of nobles and Sun-Priests. His all-time favorite book was Considerate Udain's The Forbidden West.[2] Prior to the Red Raids, the only contact and experience he had with a Tenakth was a Tenakth prisoner at Sunstone Rock.[3]
As one of the army's leaders, Fashav left to the Forbidden West during the Red Raids in hopes of containing the brutality of the Carja military. By Fashav's own admission, his efforts were unsuccessful.[4]
Around two years before the end of the Red Raids,[1] Fashav was captured by the Tenakth during the Battle of Cinnabar Sands while covering the retreat for Carja soldiers. While Fashav put forth great resistance, he was violently subdued by his captors, who took him to the Tenakth capital of the Memorial Grove, throwing him before Chief Hekarro.[4]
In desperation, Fashav demanded a Kulrut, a Tenakth trial-by-combat he had overheard his captors mention. While unaware of the trial's nature, Fashav hoped that he could earn a boon by winning, potentially even his freedom. Hekarro accepted this challenge, and Fashav was able to emerge victorious by defeating a machine in the Arena, though it wasn't without complications. Unbeknownst to him, winning the Kulrut meant becoming a Marshal and serving Hekarro.[4]
For the next five years, Fashav served as a Marshal, during which he developed a mutual respect with Hekarro and an appreciation for the Tenakth as a whole. Although some Tenakth still spat where he went, he quickly made them reconsider by grinding their face into their own spit. He tattooed half of his body, planning to tattoo the other side with the laurels of peace as a monument to peace between two peoples.[4] Fashav recorded his experiences though the different areas of the Clan Lands. One of his first tasks as Marshal was to deal with a matter regarding injured soldiers and resources in Arrowhand, where he had first been taken prisoner, between Grudda and Drakka. He remarked that if he had to teach Grudda harshly, he would, and Grudda seemed to have nursed a grudge against him since then.[5]
Fashav had a rough beginning with the Sky Clan, having a very opinion of Commander Tekotteh upon meeting him.[6] The Sky Clan also came to fear his judgement, as in one case, Fashav exiled a young warrior for murder, and ordered him to climb down, away from the Sky, never to rejoin or enter the Sky Clan lands again.[7]
Those within the Desert Clan tolerated Fashav, but offered little respect, as Regalla was originally part of the clan, and her word carried more weight than his. Despite his prowess, Fashav was never able to earn Regalla's respect, who was then a Marshal as well, and hated Fashav for being a Carja. She considered it a deep insult that he was allowed to serve as a Marshal, wear their armor, or become tattooed, as those were reserved for Tenakth alone.[8] No matter when he saw her, she always had a fire behind her eyes, that indicated she would sooner run him through than tolerate his presence. His need to prove himself allowed Regalla to goad him into attempting the trial in the Valley of the Fallen, which he soon saw as a trap he walked into.
At some point, he met Nessa, a fellow Carja who had been taken prisoner by the Tenakth. He spared her from execution and allowed her to earn her survival, after which she fully embraced the tribe and rebranded herself Ritakka.
By the time the blight had come to the Tenakth, Fashav had been serving as a Marshall between 2 and 3 years, and was well respected among most of the Clans, particularly in the Lowland. Yet in the face of the blight, he was powerless and could do nothing to save his adopted tribe as many succumbed to disease and starvation. He was distraught at his inability to stop the blight, and came to hope that his service as a Mediator between the Carja and Tenakth after the Embassy could help do good for both peoples. He and Hekkaro parted on good terms and both had high hopes for peace at the Embassy.
Fashav's diaries[]
The player can find Fashav's diary entries in many of the larger Tenakth settlements. They detail his experiences traveling through the Tenakth lands, starting from his first assignment as a Marshal until he embarks for the Embassy. He discusses his perspectives on the Tenakth people, their culture and traditions, and his place amongst them as an outsider.
Associated quests[]
The Embassy[]
As Aloy and Varl proceed into No Man's Land, they are stopped by the Marshals. Hearing about her deeds and reputation, Fashav is the first to hear Aloy out. If she chooses to do so, she can learn how Fashav came to be among the Tenakth, along with his hopes to bring peace between the Carja and Tenakth.
Aloy successfully convinces Fashav to allow her safe passage into the Forbidden West; he provides her with a dagger as proof of passage, and advises her to speak with Hekarro if she needs it, but warns her to wait until after the Embassy to venture west. The Embassy is attacked by Regalla's Rebels, and Fashav is among the casualties. His body is returned to Meridian, and buried with full honors beneath the Alight.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dialogue with Avad during The Point of the Lance.
- ↑ Tide's Reach (datapoint)
- ↑ The Memorial Grove (datapoint)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Dialogue with Fashav during The Embassy.
- ↑ Arrowhand (datapoint)
- ↑ The Bulwark (datapoint)
- ↑ Cliffwatch (datapoint)
- ↑ Scalding Spear (datapoint)