The Tenakth are a warrior tribe living in the Forbidden West, and are the first natives that Aloy encounters early in the game. At first, they are portrayed as ruthless warriors who protect their land and kill any intruders from the East. Amid the Red Raids, when the Carja systematically attacked every other tribe in the land, the Tenakth were successful at driving invaders away after a considerable loss of life. The main premise of “The Embassy” mission was for the Carja and the Tenakth to create everlasting peace between their tribes, though things are never as simple as they appear.
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The History of Horizon Forbidden West’s Tenakth
Prior to the Red Raids, not much was known about the Tenakth. Sometime before the events of Horizon Forbidden West, the clans within this tribe were at war over territory and resources, which led to the Carja describing them as savages. Rumors of guerilla tactics and even cannibalism within the Tenakth spread across the Eastern tribes, painting a very different picture of how the Tenakth were eventually portrayed in the game.
The Tenakth were divided for much of their history, with each clan controlling a set territory and surviving in different ways. The Sky Clan, for example, settled closer to the mountains and used the advantageous elevation to protect themselves from attacks. During the events of the Red Raids, the Carja ruthlessly attacked and kidnaped many Tenakth to use them as sacrifices under the orders of the Mad Sun-King, Jiran. This forced the Tenakth to unite under Chief Hekarro and his Marshals, leading to the Tenakth successfully liberating their land and capturing Fashav, a Carja soldier who later becomes a Tenakth Marshal.
The new Sun-King, Avad, sought to broker peace between the two nations with Chief Hekarro following the events in Horizon Zero Dawn. This is when Aloy enters the narrative in Horizon Forbidden West.
Tenakth Clans in Horizon Forbidden West
The Tenakth remains divided into three clans when Aloy travels to the Forbidden West, each still controlling their individual territories. The Lowland Clan controls the coast and the forested area to the farthest point westward. They are known as masters of this land, using their surroundings to remain hidden while traps and machines take out their enemies.
Meanwhile, The Desert Clan resides in the most hostile land of the Forbidden West, where both food and water are scarce. They hunt machines and trade parts with the capital settlement, which houses the clan’s only water source called The Wound. The Sky Clan, thanks to their formidable defense, live in relative peace from invading humans or machines. However, since they inhabit mountainous regions, they are like the Nora with most of their food coming from hunting and gathering.
Regalla’s Rebels in Horizon Forbidden West
After news of a peace treaty between the Carja and the Tenakth started spreading across the Forbidden West, a group of Tenakth warriors rebelled against Chief Hekarro. Led by Regalla, the group act as antagonists during the events of Horizon Forbidden West, seeking to get rid of Aloy and her friends while taking control of the Tenakth clans. They gained the power to override machines and prevent Aloy from gaining the remaining GAIA sub-functions.
While a lot is still left unknown about the history of the Tenakth, they are proving to be a powerful and wise force in the world of Horizon. While often described as savages, they have a unique culture and bond between their people and the land, as well as a lot of respect for the Machines that roam it. Horizon Forbidden West has opened the door for future titles in the franchise to explore this tribe and the others with far more depth going forward.
Horizon Forbidden West is available now on PS4 and PS5
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