Korl is a character in the Horizon Zero Dawn comic series. He is the main antagonist of the second volume.
History[]
Red Raids[]
During the Red Raids, Korl was a member of Dervahl's band of freebooters who fought back against the Carja invaders, alongside the siblings Ersa and Erend, with whom he was frequently at odds. During one raid on a Carja convoy, Ersa was captured and taken to Meridian.[1] Some time later, aided by Prince Avad, she managed to escape and return to the Claim, where upon her return Korl accused her of striking a deal with the Carja to free herself and sell the freebooters out, prompting Erend to threaten him. Two years later, Prince Avad arrived at their camp to forge an alliance with the Oseram and end the raids. Korl attempted to take him hostage, prompting Ersa to jump to his defense. This nearly escalated to an altercation between Erend and Korl before Dervahl intervened and agreed to make the alliance. With his pride hurt, Korl promised to "take down Erend and Ersa in a matter of time", a challenge Erend eagerly accepted.[2]
After Dervahl's true, genocidal intentions towards the Carja were revealed, potentially jeopardizing the alliance and the only chance to stop the Red Raids, the allies decided to do away with him. Korl was subsequently arrested and given a choice between leaving Pitchcliff and never coming back or joining the alliance and fighting. He chose the latter, to Erend's surprise. In reality, Korl only did so out of greed, intending to loot the Carja once Meridian was taken.[3]
The Liberation[]
Amidst the chaos during the Liberation of Meridian, Korl seized the opportunity to loot a Carja shrine. Although he managed to escape after the battle, the stunt made him a wanted man.[4]
Freeing Dervahl[]
A few months after the Liberation, Korl freed Dervahl from his torturers, presumably joining him in his plot for revenge.[4]
A fugitive[]
After Ersa's death and Dervahl's capture and imprisonment, Korl escaped to Pitchcliff, where he murdered a local trader and stole his wares. Erend set out to investigate the murder, aided by the Nora huntress Aloy. The pair tracked him to a camp not far from the settlement, where they found the embers from his campfire still warm, indicating that he hadn't gotten very far. Realizing he's being followed, Korl cut a rope bridge after crossing a ravine in order to slow down his pursuers.[1]
Unable to climb down the ravine due to the bottom being infested with Stalkers, Aloy and Erend instead climbed the head of a Tallneck in order to get across. Once on the other side, they spotted Korl going into a ruin. In order to further delay his pursuers, he had planted a machine lure, attracting a Stormbird[2] that attacked them, buying him just enough time to swim across a nearby river and escape. After dealing with the machine, the pair continued their search, eventually coming across a small Banuk trading post where they finally caught sight of Korl attempting to sell his contraband.[4]
Death[]
Realizing he'd been spotted, Korl used another machine lure. Aloy shouted for the people at the post to flee as two Longlegs descended on them. While she battled the machines, Korl attempted to run, but Erend caught up to him and tackled him, and the two were locked in a bitter fist fight. Korl eventually got the best of Erend, who, feigning begging for his life, managed to distract Korl just long enough for the Longleg that was charging at him to make contact, incapacitating him and allowing Erend to beat him into submission as Aloy finished off the machine. While he lay defeated, Korl taunted Erend by saying that, for once, he had fought like his sister, and that she was made from colder steel than he. Though infuriated, Erend managed to keep his cool, telling Korl to save his words for the Ealdormen in the Oseram capital Mainspring. Having no intention of answering for his crimes, Korl pulled out a blast bomb, intending to kill himself as well as his pursuers. Fortunately, they jumped to safety just in time while he was killed in the explosion, his severed arm landing next to Erend.[4]
References[]
| Oseram tribe | |
|---|---|
| Merchants | Abadund - Danur - Hakund - Handa - Larend - Milduf Boarbroiler - Mystery Boxes Merchant - Runda - Thurlis |
| Vanguard | Erend Vanguardsman (captain) - Aldur - Ersa - Fendur - Joruf - Telga |
| Tribe members | Arnuf - Asera - Bajund - Beladga - Belna - Brageld - Boomer - Burgrend - Corend - Delah - Dervahl - Dorgeld - Dorund - Elkend - Fernund - Garnund - Gera - Gildun - Gilvarn - Hakurt - Jelda - Jorgriz - Jorund - Kaeluf - Karhn - Kendert - Keruf - Korduf - Korl - Korvend - Lokuf - Lora - Lorund - Luf - Lunda - Marsa - Menuf - Minda - Morlund - Odund - Odurg - Ohlgrud Smithsson - Ohtur - Olin Delverson - Olin's son - Petra Forgewoman - Porguf - Radel - Ragurt - Ralert - Rasgrund - Raynah - Salga - Salma - Silga - Stemmur Wordsmith - Thorden - Tolland Cleanbroker - Ulvund Freeholder - Varga - Vilgund - Volma |