The Roots That Bind is a side quest in Horizon Forbidden West.
Synopsis[]
After Tenakth rebels began raiding the village of Riverhymn for supplies, Nel fled to the Plainsong to seek help from The Chorus. Denied an audience however as Riverhymn was seen as lost lands no longer under the protection of Plainsong, Nel turned to Aloy for help. Nel explains that while the Utaru and Tenakth have tended a peaceful alliance, her village's location has made it a key site for supply raids. When asked why they choose not to flee to the safety of Plainsong, Nel explains that the seeds of those lost during the Buried Years were sown and tended in the grove of Riverhymn, and so to abandon the village is to abandon those lost. Aloy agrees to help and sets off to Riverhymn to meet up with Kue, the head of the village's defense.
Aloy arrives to the village under attack of the rebels. After helping the Utaru fight off the rebels, Aloy follows Kue back to his workshop. When asked were he learned to fight, Kue explains that he had joined the Tenakth when they drove back the Carja raiders during the Red Raids. During this time, he also learned the skills of a metalweaver. With these skills now, he plans to create better weapons for his people to compensate for their lack of combat experience and skill. He had sent their best climber, Vaus, into the Drumroot to retrieve the resources needed from Widemaws. Since the Derangement however, the once peaceful passage was now crawling with machines. Curious again why the Utaru did not leave despite their lack of resources and training, Kue explains that the seeds of those who died in the Red Raids were sown and tended to in the village's grove, including the Wintersong seeds of his daughter. As a result, he and his people refuse to abandon the village. With no chance of convincing them otherwise, Aloy agrees to find the resources Kue requires for the new weapons.
Departing from Kue at the entrance of the Drumroot, Aloy ventures through the caverns and passages. Along the way, she finds Vaus' body, his death brought on by the Burrowers roaming the caves. Taking his seed pouch with her, Aloy defeats the machines and continues on until she emerges out into the open. Navigating the Burrowers and Widemaws occupying the space, Aloy collects the fertilizer pods dispersed by the Widemaws. Returning to Riverhymn not a moment too soon, Kue assembles the weapons to fight off the new wave of Tenakth rebels. Together with the Utaru, Aloy defeats the rebels and their machines. With the rebels defeated and the newly capable Utaru warriors, Kue thanks Aloy for her aid in ensuring Riverhymn is again safe and gifts her a newly forged bow.
Objectives[]
- Go to Riverhymn
- Kill the Tenakth Rebels
- Follow Kue
- Talk to Kue
- Go to the Top of the Drumroot
- Return to Kue
- Kill the Tenakth Rebels
Trivia[]
- After completing the quest, Nel returns to Riverhymn, remarking that she expected to come back to a battle but was relieved to see it had already been fought and won by Aloy.
- After completing the quest, Kue can be found admiring the first blooms of his daughter's Wintersong flowers, newly relieved of the heaviness from the past years.