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"The lesson will be taught in due time, Aloy. Until then, we wait."
This article contains heavy spoilers. Read ahead with caution.

"Where the arrowhead passes between armor and skin -- that's the place I belong."
―Nil

Nil, also known as Red Teeth in Horizon Forbidden West, is a character and potential ally in Horizon Zero Dawn and minor character in Horizon Forbidden West. In Horizon Zero Dawn he can be found waiting outside bandit camps and invites Aloy to raid the camps with him when their paths cross, and in Horizon Forbidden West he once again meets Aloy as she participates in the Gauntlet Runs.

Appearance[]

Nil appears to be an adult male in his 20s or 30s. He has a tan complexion. He has black facial hair on his mouth and chin, with a bit of facepaint under his eyes. He wears a simple red and white vest with armored pieces covering his arms. He also wears a red scarf around his neck and red pants. Nil also wears a headpiece that appears to be made of machine parts or metal that is covered with a red material in the back. Nil looks to have short hair in the back. 

History[]

Nil was formerly a Carja soldier who fought for Meridian during the reign of the Mad Sun-King Jiran. During the Red Raids, he fought in at least two significant battles, namely the Battle of the Daunt and a skirmish at Cinnabar Sands. During the latter battle, there apparently were no survivors. Nil's role in both these battles is unclear, although it is implied Nil was responsible for several atrocities.

When Avad ascended the throne, he began to weed his father's loyalists from the army. Subsequently, Nil confessed to war crimes and was sentenced to serve two years in Sunstone Rock, the Carja prison, for his crimes.

At some point after being released from Sunstone Rock, Nil adopted the name he currently uses. Neither his real name nor any of his former aliases have been revealed.

Hunting bandits[]

In order to satisfy his bloodlust without retribution, Nil began hunting bandits. He eventually found a partner, who met his demise at the hands of the bandits in Devil's Thirst.

Nil would occasionally cross paths with Aloy, coincidentally always when both were going to raid the same Bandit Camp. After several efforts of both or Aloy alone, there were no more Bandit camps to raid. This leads to Nil inviting Aloy to a meeting above a Mesa, which turn out to be a challenge to a duel, which Nil gave the choice to Accept or Decline.

Should Aloy accept, Nil will fall at the former's hand. Should Aloy decline, he will come to Meridian's defense during The Looming Shadow, mainly because of the chance to kill Eclipse soldiers while facing impossible odds. He can then be seen fighting corrupted machines amidst the burning Meridian Village along with some Carja soldiers and possibly Uthid.

Racing Gauntlet Runs[]

"By chance or fate I found myself wandering the desert, thirsty for a thrill."
―Nil

When peace finally overtook the lands and there were no more bandits or enemies to battle, Nil moved west, hoping to find more fierce warriors. Instead, Nil discovered a group of Tenakth who ran the Gauntlet Runs. Nil knew that no Carja would be accepted amongst them, and then adapted a Tenakth outfit, becoming a regular Gauntlet racer known as Red Teeth.

After constantly racing and improving his skills, Nil became the best Gauntlet runner among the group, regularly dominating gauntlet runs and beating other runners. Seeing as his identity was hidden and highly desired, he decided that whoever bested him would see the face behind the mask. Nobody had succeeded in doing so until Aloy bested him in a race at the Sea of Sands.

Aloy is surprised to see the face of one of her allies in the Forbidden West, but is glad and relieved that Nil had found something he loves to do that doesn’t involve bloodshed.

Personality[]

A soldier to the core, Nil takes the typical combative personality of Carja soldiers much further into the realms of the sadistic. A man who describes with a passionate caress in his voice the joys of war and the spark in the eyes of a man when he dies, Nil lives for warfare.

He targets bandits due to the thrill he gets from killing humans, but also because they are disposable. He reasons that since bandits live dirty lives, that they are not of any tribe's concern, thus freeing him up to murder as many as he wants without negative consequences. In Aloy's words, he's doing the right thing for all of the wrong reasons. He is very fond of his bow, nicknaming it the "Voice of Our Teeth".

Nil's love for violence seems to surpass his regard of his own life, as he challenged Aloy to a duel to the death only to admit that he did so because he knows the probable outcome in his dying breath, should Aloy accept and win. If he is spared, he will later come to join the final battle, mainly because he was told the chance of winning was impossible.

When Aloy introduced the idea of fighting the Eclipse, Nil rejected it at first, giving the excuse that he tries not to meddle with political affairs. However, should his duel offer be rejected, Nil will be present for the final battle, presumably because he knew the matter has grown into a worldwide threat, as well as giving him the chance to kill without consequences.

Associated quests[]

Battle stats[]

HP Attack Damage Additional Info[1]
1500 Flash Grenade Temporary Blinding
  • Vulnerable to Critical Hit if knocked down.
  • Takes reduced damage from explosives.
Precision Arrow 100
Light Attack 100 (up to x3 Combo)
Strong Attack 200 (up to x2 Combo)
Leaping Attack 200

Trivia[]

  • The name Nil is of Egyptian origin and means "the river".
  • Nil's bow is named "Voice of Our Teeth" although his knife is nameless.
  • Nil shares the same tribal markings and eye color as Ligan. His tribal markings are also consistent with the unlockable face paint Carja Stalker.
  • Nil is one of six characters whose fate is chosen by Aloy. However, his return in Forbidden West indicates that the canon choice is to spare him.

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. Table adapted from Horizon Zero Dawn Strategy Guide (Collector's Ed.), p.262. Future Press, 2017.
Carja
Carja
Sun-Court Avad - Itamen - Marad - Nasadi - Vanasha
Sun-Priests Hishavan - Irid - Jahamin - Namman - Vuadis
Nobles Amadis - Daradi - Elida - Fashav - Lahavis - Ranaman - Ravan - Rhavid - Rokasha
Military Balahn - Conover - Firiv - Gediah Kho Veriv - Hami - Janeva - Kavad - Lakhir - Laruvik - Lawan - Maleev - Mavas - Nessa - Nozar - Payiv - Urid - Uthid - Walid - Ybril - Zaid
Hunters Lodge Ahsis - Aidaba - Bashad - Brativin Khane Padish - Farukawas - Greatrun Keeper - Havash - Izvad - Kyran - Ligan - Malesh - Palaved - Spurflints Keeper - Sun Furrows Keeper - Talanah Khane Padish - Talavad Khane Padish - Tarkas - Tufanah - Valleymeet Keeper
Merchants Cantarah - Eclectic Collectibles Merchant - Kudiv - Machine Resources Merchant - Palas
Lore Amavad - Aram - Araman - Basadid - Hivas - Iriv - Jiran - Juwadan - Kadaman - Khuvadin - Marzid - Masarad - Nahasis - Pashaman - Ranan - Sadahin - Sadeva - Tashadi - Udain - Zavarad
Other members Dirid - Duvad - Enasha - Furahni - Gavan - Gendas - Gulahni - Hashiv - Three-Toe Huadiv - Ilsadi - Javad - Keadi - Kindiv - Lubavad - Marzavid - Nasan - Nil - Omas - Quarry Foreman - Ranin - Ravan's Steward - Rushavid - Ruwas - Shahavad - Talvo - Vashad
Shadow Carja
Sun-Priests Bahavas
Military Atral - Helis - Ryas - Shivin - Tarav - Thiran - Vezreh - Yusis
The Order of Twilight Lokasha - Savohar
Other members Abas - Dekamin - Ghaliv - Shianah
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