Nil

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

Nil
Nil in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
General Information
Culture	Carja
Gender	Male
Pronouns	He/Him
Affiliation(s)	Gauntlet Runs
Profession	Racer Soldier (formerly)
Aliases	Red Teeth (Tenakth disguise)
Status	Alive
Biological Information
Eye color	Gray
Hair color	Black
Production
Appears in	Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Horizon Forbidden West
Portrayed by	Chase Baker (model) Alex Lanipekun (voice)

"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 recurring character and potential ally in Horizon Zero Dawn and minor recurring character in Horizon Forbidden West.

In Horizon Zero Dawn, Nil can be found waiting outside bandit camps and invites Aloy to raid the camps with him when their paths cross, while in Horizon Forbidden West, he is an opponent in the Gauntlet Runs.

Appearance

Nil has a tan complexion with black facial hair on his upper lip and chin with short black hair. In his usual outfit, 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. He wears the Carja Stalker/Watcher face paint.

Nil as Red Teeth.

In his Tenakth disguise, Nil wears an outfit typical for a Desert Tenakth (one that resembles the Tenakth Vindicator) with a head dress that conceals all of his head except for his eyes. While he doesn't have any tattoos typical for Tenakth, he does wear Desert Tenakth face paint with his facial hair shaved off. In this disguise, he goes by "Red Teeth".

History

Nil was a Carja soldier during the reign of the Mad Sun-King Jiran, having been one since before the Red Raids. During the Red Raids, he was among the soldiers sent into the Forbidden West, where they faced the Tenakth. Nil fought in at least two significant battles, namely the Battle of the Daunt and the Battle at Cinnabar Sands. Nil's role in both these battles is unclear, although it is implied Nil was responsible for several atrocities as he mentions that he has fond memories of his time in the Forbidden West.

After the Liberation of Meridian, the new Sun-King Avad called an investigation into war crimes committed during the Red Raids. Nil confessed to such and was sentenced to two years in Sunstone Rock for his crimes. He was kept in a dark stone cell, where he learned to focus on what was truly important to him. Janeva notes that Nil had honor and was old fashioned, with his time in Sunstone Rock boiling it to the surface.

At some point, Nil and Janeva fought together, and against each other, although the details as to what happened aren't elaborated on. Janeva's reaction to Nil's name indicates that he used to go by a different name.

In order to satisfy his bloodlust without retribution, Nil began hunting bandits, as he found machines unsatisfactory to kill and because people complained when he wasted the meat when killing animals. He eventually found a partner, who met his demise at the hands of the bandits in Devil's Thirst.

Horizon Zero Dawn

While scouting out bandit camps, Nil met Aloy, who teamed up with him to help clear out the bandits, with Aloy wanting to eliminate the danger they pose, while Nil is doing so purely for sport. At one point, Aloy offered Nil to help her fight the Eclipse, but he refused as that was a political matter. After several efforts of both or Aloy alone, there were eventually no more bandit camps to raid, with no more bandits wishing to come near due to the reputation they had earned.

"Non-viable biospheres aborted..." The following collapsed section(s), while possible to experience in-game, have been proven non-canon by other official sources.

Aloy Accepts Nil's Offer

With the bandit threat now over, Aloy notes that it is their final farewell, but Nil first asks to meet him atop a mesa at the Spearshafts. Once there, he offered Aloy a fight to the death. Aloy accepts the offer and comes out victorious. With his dying breath, Nil stated how he thought he would win.

Aloy Declines Nil's Offer

With the bandit threat now over, Aloy notes that it is their final farewell, but Nil first asks to meet him atop a mesa at the Spearshafts. Once there, he offered Aloy a fight to the death. Aloy, flattered, states that she doesn't want to kill Nil, thinking there might be a need for him in the world. Nil is confused, to which Aloy plainly states that she is not going to fight him. Nil was saddened, claiming that Aloy was cruel.

Nil meeting Aloy outside Meridian Village.

Despite not wishing to fight the Eclipse, Nil changed his mind and traveled to Meridian Village in preparation for the Eclipse's upcoming assault on Meridian and the Spire, claiming that he came due to the impossible odds, fine company and the chance to kill without consequences. During the battle, Nil fought alongside Uthid against some corrupted machines in the village.

Sometime between Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West

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

―Nil

Having survived the battle and with Meridian now a land a peace, Nil grew restless for more kills and decided to return to the Forbidden West. Having killed some Tenakth on the way, he found himself in the desert of the Clan Lands, where he chanced upon some Tenakth racing on overridden Chargers. Knowing the Tenakth would never let a Carja join in, he adopted a Desert Tenakth disguise and the name "Red Teeth" in order to join the racers, becoming the best of the group. He has found that the repeatable excitement of racing has soothed his desire to kill others. Seeing that his identity was highly desired by the other racers, he decided that whoever bested him would see the face behind the mask. He has hopes that one day, his disguise will no longer be necessary.

Horizon Forbidden West

Nil as Red Teeth without his headdress.

When Aloy joined in the Gauntlet Runs, Nil, as Red Teeth, silently approached her, with the other racers describing him to her. After Aloy won at the Dry Yearn, Cliffs of the Cry and Bonewhite Tear, Nil mentioned that he had found a new place to race in the Stillsands. This time, he took part in the race and ended up losing to Aloy. Away from the other racers, he revealed himself to be her old ally, much to Aloy's surprise. After telling her how he ended up taking part in the Gauntlet Runs, Aloy was relieved that Nil had found a hobby that didn't require killing others.

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.

Janeva describes Nil as having been "born under a long and dark shadow" but that he had honor, unlike the butchers of the Sun-Ring, and is old fashioned.

Nil 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, he changed his mind and chose to partake in the defense of Meridian due to the impossible odds, fine company and the chance to kill without consequences.

Associated Quests

Horizon Zero Dawn Devil's Thirst Bandit Camp Two-Teeth Bandit Camp Gatelands Bandit Camp Blackwing Snag Bandit Camp Shattered Kiln Bandit Camp Sunstone Rock (mentioned only; only if Nil has been spoken to after two Bandit Camps have been completed) Hollow Fort Bandit Camp Cause for Concern - Farewell The Looming Shadow (only if Cause for Concern - Farewell has been completed and Aloy refused the duel) The Face of Extinction (only if Cause for Concern - Farewell has been completed and Aloy refused the duel)

Horizon Forbidden West Gauntlet Run: Dry Yearn Gauntlet Run: Cliffs of the Cry (mentioned only) Gauntlet Run: Bonewhite Tear Gauntlet Run: The Stillsands

Battle Stats

HP	Attack	Damage	Additional Info
1500	Flash Grenade	Temporary Blinding	Immune to Silent Strike, Strike From Above, and Strike From Below, even if Aloy has the Leader Strike skill. 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

Gallery

Official Artwork

Model render of Nil in Horizon Zero Dawn.

Screenshots

Profile Images

Nil in Horizon Zero Dawn.

Nil in Horizon Zero Dawn.

Nil in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.

Nil in his Tenakth disguise in Horizon Forbidden West.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

Horizon Forbidden West

Nil as Red Teeth.

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 as he feels naming a knife is unnecessary.
• In Horizon Zero Dawn, Nil wears the Carja Stalker/Watcher face paint, which is also worn by Ligan and Ranaman.
• Nil is one of six characters whose fate is chosen by Aloy. His return in Horizon Forbidden West confirms that canonically, Aloy refuses to kill him.

References

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