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"The lesson will be taught in due time, Aloy. Until then, we wait." This article contains heavy spoilers for Horizon Zero Dawn. Read ahead with caution.
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Teersa is a High Matriarch of the Nora tribe. A member of the High Matriarchs, she attempts to lead the Nora with compassionate wisdom, and is often at odds with Lansra.
Appearance[]
Teersa is an elderly woman who appears to be of Caucasian descent, with a small frame. She has long grey hair in the style of braids, with her eyes appearing to be blue. Her outfit consists of a long garb with a bag around her waist. She also wears many necklaces and bracelets, along with a headdress with metal components mixed with fabric.
History[]
As a Brave[]
In her younger days, Teersa was a Nora Brave who was among those attempting to rescue the hostages taken by twelve murderous outlanders who invaded Mother's Vigil, including Rost's six year old daughter Alana, which they found to be impossible as every time they came within bow-shot, a hostage was killed. Unable to track them close enough to figure out what they were doing, the outlanders camped beyond Devil's Thirst for two days, with Teersa hearing reports of strange noises. They were never able to save the hostages, as the outlanders took them outside the boarders of the Sacred Lands and killed them, leaving their corpses there, unable to be retrieved until Rost, now a Death-Seeker, was able to go and bring them back.[1][note 1]
Within the year it took for Rost came back, Teersa became a Matriarch/High Matriarch.[1]
As a High Matriarch[]
Acting as the primary form of government for the Nora in both political and religious matters, Teersa, Lansra, and Jezza lead their tribe through many situations, from following the customs of the All-Mother to war with the Mad Sun-King Jiran.
On April 4 3021,[2] Teersa was among those who discovered a baby girl lying in front of All-Mother. Believing that this child was of importance, Teersa tried to convince the other Matriarchs to take her into the tribe, but Lansra and the other Matriarchs did not see eye-to-eye on the matter, believing the baby to be a curse and cast her out of the tribe.[3] Teersa had the child given to the outcast Rost to look after.[1]
Horizon Zero Dawn[]
Teersa and Rost performing Aloy's Naming Ritual.
Definitively a High Matriarch by this point,[4] against the other Matriarchs' wishes, Teersa discreetly had Rost bring the child to the overlook of All-Mother Mountain to perform a Naming Ritual. Rost gave her the name Aloy, which Teersa declared to be blessed, but they were interrupted by Lansra, who berated Teersa for performing the rite without the rest of the tribe and angrily interrogated Rost as to what Teersa had told him.[5]
Teersa meeting Aloy in Mother's Heart.
Teersa and Aloy did not meet again until the latter turned 18 and came to Mother's Heart to take part in the Proving, and Teersa was overjoyed to see her again. However, she could only provide encouragement and sent Aloy to see a friend of hers. Teersa addressed the Nora, introducing the envoys from Meridian seeking to restore trade relations, and gave Aloy a prayer lantern to use as she and the other High Matriarchs performed the Blessing.[6]
Teersa showing Aloy to All-Mother.
After the massacre at the Proving, Teersa had Aloy, who was near death, recover inside All-Mother Mountain, much to Lansra's disapproval. After some rest, Teersa took her to the door to explain the circumstances of how they found her as an infant. When she stood in front of the door, a voice spoke as a bright red beam scanned Aloy, but did not allow her entrance due to the Alpha Registry being corrupted. Teersa interpreted this voice as that of All-Mother, saying that Aloy should heal the world of corruption, and convinced Jezza to allow her to name Aloy a Seeker to help her seek out the answer to the problem.[7]
Teersa on her knees as Aloy returned from All-Mother.
Later on, the tribe was attacked by the Shadow Carja and corrupted machines, looking to wipe out the Nora tribe in the hope they'd find Aloy among them. Teersa allowed all tribe members, including outcasts, into All-Mother Mountain for the sake of survival, again defying Lansra, who could barely protest as the tribe scrambled past her into the mountain.[8] When Aloy returned with a restored Alpha Registry in order to enter All-Mother, which both amazed and humbled those present, Teersa among them. Aloy explained that she has a purpose to defeat a Metal Demon, to which Teersa agreed and announced that any who wished to follow Aloy would be named Seekers.[9]
Aloy stopped to speak to Teersa, asking to be told Rost's story and why he was a outcast, to which she complied. Before Aloy left, she gave Teersa a hug, much to Teersa's surprise.[1]
Personality[]
Teersa is wise, compassionate, and open minded. She is unafraid to act against the other Matriarchs' wishes if she feels it is right, such as when she blesses Aloy's name[5] and has her brought to All-Mother.[7] She often clashes with Lansra because of Lansra's closed mindedness and intolerance of breaks in tradition. She shows great care for Aloy and treats her much like a granddaughter, personally making her the lantern to use in the Blessing (which is usually the mother's task).[6]
While Teersa is devout in her belief in All-Mother, she is open minded enough to be willing to accept that there are things beyond her understanding, such as when Aloy told her that the inside of All-Mother looks a lot like the ruins of the Metal World, with only a brief exclamation that that cannot be so before conceding that this is something beyond her understanding.[7]
Associated Quests[]
Horizon Zero Dawn[]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Dialogue with Teersa after completing The Heart of the Nora.
- ↑ Operations Log
- ↑ Dialogue with Teersa during The Womb of the Mountain.
- ↑ Teersa's title as a High Matriarch is mentioned by herself and Rost during the opening sequence of Horizon Zero Dawn.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Opening sequence of Horizon Zero Dawn.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Mother's Heart (Quest)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 The Womb of the Mountain
- ↑ Dialogue with Varl during The Heart of the Nora.
- ↑ The Heart of the Nora
Notes[]
- ↑ Teersa refers to the Nora Braves involved as "we" multiple times, indicating that she was among them.
[]
| Nora | |
|---|---|
| High Matriarchs | Jezza - Teersa - Lansra |
| Braves | Aloy - Bast - Den - Dran - Ferl - Jarm - Marea - Muns - Resh - Sona - Teb's father - Vala - Varl |
| Seekers | Aloy - Sona - Teb - Varl |
| Outcasts | Brom - Cren - Grata - Jom - Kam - Kurnst - Nora Keeper - Rost - Yun |
| Other members | Alana - Arana - Dral - Enara - Fia - Grist - Jarg - Jun - Karst - Lut - Nakoa - Olara - Orn - Solai - Taim - Teb - Thok - Yan |