- "The entire center of the map is Sundom territory, ringed by frontier outposts and inhabited by subjects loyal to Sun-King Avad, though increasing numbers of Oseram settlers also occupy these lands. At the heart of this domain stands Meridian, the tribe's capital."
- ―Horizon Zero Dawn Collector's Edition Guide, p. 613
The Sundom (portmanteau of Sun and Kingdom) is the territory of the Carja tribe, featured in Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West.
History[]
The first Sun-King Araman led a pilgrimage from the eastern Sacred Lands and established the city of Meridian. The surrounding area was developed into farmlands and, eventually, housing for villagers and nobles. However, it was not until the third Sun-King Sadahin came to power that the land was established as a territory and designated "the Sundom." Sadahin expanded the Sundom by establishing a port on the southern shore of the Daybrink and similarly erecting gates to south and east of Meridian.[1]
The Sundom's boundaries were again expanded during the reign of the fifth Sun-King Zavarad, who crossed the Great Lake of the Daybrink and established the port known as Blazon Arch on the northern shore, thus claiming the vast body of water for the Carja.[1]
Basadid, the seventh Sun-King, cemented the western border of the Sundom by ordering the construction of a large military base called Sunfall and declaring the land to its west forbidden to members of the tribe. Khuvadin, his successor, established the eastern border after failed attempts to colonize the tribesfolk that remained in the Sacred Lands convinced him that fortification against their territory was necessary to protect the Carja.[1]
During the reign of the ninth Sun-King Ranan, the Sundom came under attack by the Tenakth. The Carja army, accompanied by Ranan himself, claimed victory against the invaders, though Ranan was greatly scarred during the battle.[1]
After the Liberation of Meridian, Sunfall and part of the Jewel fell under the control of the Shadow Carja, but were returned to the control of the Sun Carja. However, they were returned to the control of the Sun Carja after the Battle of the Alight.[2]
Geography[]
The Sundom is filled with mesas, buttes and canyons, with several rivers cutting through sedimentary rock deposits. The plentiful sandstone is used by the Carja for much of their architecture.
The approximate span of the Sundom currently reaches from Daytower Gate and Dawn's Sentinel in the east separating it from the Sacred Lands and the Valleymeet, to Barren Light in the west (although Sunfall is also often treated as the western boundary) separating it from the Forbidden West. The Sundom's northern border is formed by partitions separating it from the Claim, with the southern border being somewhere north of the Deadlands and/or the southern plains.[3] It is located southwest of the Cut and Ban-Ur, and northeast of the Burning Shores.
Climate[]
The Sundom has a largely tropical climate, save for the more mountainous areas in the far north. While the central and southeast areas are rather arid (with the Rustwash in the northwest containing sand dunes), the southwest is a lush and verdant jungle, with soil suitable for agriculture.
Trivia[]
- The Sundom appears to be entirely surrounded by mountains from east and north
- The Sundom contains points that correspond to the real world locations in the states of Utah and Arizona:
- Navajo Mountain [4]
- Bryce Canyon
- Monument Valley
- Eagle Canyon
- For additional real world locations please see the linked section/region pages above.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Sun-Kings
- ↑ As mentioned by Uthid during The Point of the Lance.
- ↑ As mentioned by Nil after completing the final Bandit Camp.
- ↑ Lucas Bolt refers to this in-game location as Navajo Mountain in his post Horizon Zero Dawn - Jungle Landscapes
