#nora tribe

[pedroam-bang]

Horizon Zero Dawn (2017)

[gentlyrowan]

I heard you all enjoy robot dinosaurs...

Might I also interest you in the real creatures who walked Aloy's homeland long before the time of the Old Ones?

NORA SACRED LAND

DINOSAUR RIDGE, NEAR DENVER

(Devil's Grief), COLORADO, USA

Fifteen miles west of Denver is a natural wonderland called DINOSAUR RIDGE!

Did we know what that was before we went? No. We let curiosity lead us.

I feel like that's very much in keeping with the spirit of Horizon Zero Dawn.

Post 1 of 6 from Dinosaur Ridge

See Part 2 here: Dinosaur Ridge: Bones, Tracks, and Even Ripple Marks from an Ancient Sea Make This a Very Special Place

I don't have great pictures of Denver for you, because I spent most of my Denver time outside the city. I think you'll agree, I made the cool (read: nerdy) choice.

[stuffedeggplants]

I haven't finished Horizon Zero Dawn yet, but I just saw the recordings between Dr. Sobeck and Faro, and based on those and other documents in that building it seems like the Nora tribe's oral history (the story you can hear a woman telling an audience before the Proving) is basically correct.

Humans first worked with robots to make life easier, but then their priorities/outlook changed and they started worshipping the machines. These humans became subordinate to them, and the machines pursued their own agenda and eventually attacked the rest of the humans. It's not that the humans of the past (i.e. basically our time) were literally worshipping Boston Dynamics robots; the Nora's history is communicating something on a deeper level about how human self-interest and hubris went so far without anything to check it that humanity basically facilitated its own near destruction at the hands of artificial intelligence.

(Like I said, I haven't finished the game yet--Faro's office is the most recent thing I did in the game and I have no idea how much I have left to play--so this could be off-base and I'd have no idea. This is just how the sort appears to me at this stage of things.)

[mceproductions]

Best of 2022: Game of The Year

Nominee: Horizon Forbidden West*

Our first nominee for game of the year ironically found itself in the same predicament that its original was in when it was released in 2017.

Being sandwiched between two highly anticipated games.

But what Horizon Forbidden West does here is actually expand upon the Zero Dawn landscape as Aloy traverses terrains and fight robotics of all sizes.

Even better looking on the PS5.

SUM 22: Aloy and company traverse the lands to save the biosphere in the years first nominee for best game.

[bobauthorman]

How to Muck the Nuck

I wanna talk about how the final battle against the Nuckelavee went. This monster has been terrorizing Anima for a decade, maybe longer, and when it first shows up it is clearly a force to be reckoned with. But once Team RNJR (Mostly Ren) get their heads in order they take it down semi-easily. This might seem like a bit of an anticlimax, but consider this.

In Mountain Glenn, Dr. Oobleck states that older Grimm are more dangerous because they've developed the ability to recognize threats and pick up on patterns, using the line of elephantine Goliaths as an example. The Goliaths don't attack Vale because they that if they do, the Huntsmen defending the kingdom will wipe them out. They only attack when the surge of pent-up negativity is release, drawing in so many lesser Grimm to help overwhelm the kingdom's defenses.

Now, let's look at the Nuck's attack patterns (Spelling out the name every time is a pain, so I'm abbreviating it)

The first time the Nuck''s presence is felt, it's in the aftermath of Shion Village's destruction. Said destruction was also caused by the raid of the Branwen Tribe, so it's most likely the Nuck taking advantage of the bandits distracting the village's defenders to launch its own attack.

In Ren's flashback, the Nuck attacks his village, a place where hiring a Huntsman was seen as the final desperate move, not the first instinct. Ergo, it was a place that was outside the regular sphere of protection from the kingdoms.

In the present storyline, the Nuck attacks Team RNJR because, from a purely superficial view, they are no threat. Teenaged, runaway students, and Qrow is slowly dying from poison. So it attacks without fear.

But while Team RNJR may not have the strength advantage, they make up for it by fighting smarter. Ren's Semblance allows people to become invisible from a Grimm's negative-radar, giving them the opening to take it by surprise. And then they pin down the Nuck's arms, taking away its maneuverability. This allows Ren to finish the beast off.

So, yeah. I like it when characters win by acting clever.

[nasermater]

really wanna see aloy go back to the nora lands in the next game. there's so much to unpack there

[esealia-art]

Nora Stonedancer Shaman of the Mountain.

[horizon-armor]

Nora Lookout Grey Dawn Pale Fens Eventide Frozen Wilds Hunter’s Dusk

All Dyes

[signutai]

brb, gotta go foam at the fucking mouth

[thunderjawsandlightning]

Some really fun insights to the design and worldbuilding process of developing the tribes that populate the world of Horizon. Lots of little details of regarding fabric and colour choices specific to each tribe based on their environments, as well as tribal history reflected in how they might utilize machine parts with their clothing.

I've included Arno Schmitz's ArtStation albums of his concept art work on Zero Dawn and Forbidden West in the document.

---

I took the transcript subtitles from the video and did some formatting and minor editing for context clarity and sentence structure. And occasionally, where relevant, included comments with timestamp links for things of visual interest shown in the video background, or transcribed copies of datapoints mentioned during the episode.

[dnmstarsi]

Here's my next batch of pics for this year

[pedroam-bang]

Horizon Zero Dawn (2017)

[gentlyrowan]

"Be vewwy vewwy quiet...

We'we hunting Thundewjaws!"

Real world adventure inspired by

Horizon Zero Dawn 🏹

Arches National Park, The Sundom

[phoenixandraptorarts]

Here’s Aloy again!

~~

Upon completing Zero Dawn and before starting Forbidden West, I decided to design Aloy an outfit that includes little bits of all the tribes she’s encountered. I felt like because she’s a wanderer she’d have picked up the most useful pieces of kit from different tribes and the old world along her travels (as is evidenced by the Ancient Armory armor look, which blends Nora and old world tech).

~~

I feel like my design came out a bit lacking, but I like the colors.

~~

Also the games were so fun and the world is amazing.

[rachetmath]

Family

Ruby: F*** you!

Raven: F*** you!

Yang: F*** you!!

Raven: F*** you!!

Qrow: F*** you!!!

Jaune: Why are they screaming at each other?

Nora: I don’t know. Probably, because Raven abandoned them and is the worst mother ever.

Jaune: Isn’t that your mom then?

Nora: F*** you.

Jaune: Yep. Anyways… Yo!

RYBB: WHAT?!!!

Jaune: Can’t you all talk about this? You know like a family.

RYBB: f-

Jaune: Try me. Try me and see what happens. Understand, you all can be or are on my shit list. I already have my issues with my family. I already talked to Winter about hers. I will humble all of you. 

Raven: Look kid this has-

Jaune: It’s crazy how you know about family but abandoned your kin for a bunch of strangers.

Raven: … 

Jaune: It’s crazy how you’re your daughter's biggest stalker but just like one you can barely have a conversation with her.  And attempt to take her life the moment your views differ from one another.

Raven: … 

Jaune: It’s crazy how you risked your tribe, only to give the relic to your daughter, probably the only present you’ll ever give her out the years of her life. And what’s insane is you did all that because you didn’t want to deal with Salem even though she held your tribe hostage. Speaking of your tribe where are they now?

Raven: *silent*

Jaune: Sit you no leadership, die-hard shogun ass down.

Raven: *sit down*

Qrow: Well damn kid-

Jaune: Bitch I’m older than you now but even before that I was more man than you.

Qrow: Now hold-

Jaune: I will admit you showed up when Tyrian came. However, you want to know why I was pissed and made those assumptions?

Qrow: I mean I saved Ruby and your lives.

Jaune: Yeah. You were watching us from a distance. Good. But you were late. Which means when you were late we encountered Grimm. Now what could cause that?

Qrow: Um…

Jaune: You were drunk.

Qrow: Well-

Jaune: Back to the journey to Mistral and after you could have been more useful in almost every event.

Qrow: Woah kid I was-

Jaune: Dude when you couldn’t find any hunters, you didn’t even bother trying to help any of us improve. When we were trapped in a room with Salem's allies and your sister, your first thought was to stand around, do nothing, and find out.

Qrow: Okay b-

Jaune: Raven kicked your ass. Hazel punched your back out. And the only one you were protecting was Oscar. What happened to Ruby and Yang being your nieces? Speaking of Oscar didn’t you punch him in the face and never apologize for it?

Qrow: That was for Ozpin.

Jaune: In Oscar’s body, don't try to defend this. Suppose a huntsman saw that, would you not be arrested?

Qrow: Okay now that I think about it-

Jaune: Oh, and when Oscar went missing what the f*** were you doing? Getting drunk, again.

Qrow: I was having a hard time.

Jaune: Screw you.

Qrow: Well at least I didn’t endanger my friends.

Jaune: At least I didn’t get one of my friends killed. Like with Clover. Which I will say, great job in letting Tyrian escape. It’s crazy how even sober you are still an idiot. Also, you’re a fraud. Qrow: Well I-

Jaune: Like now there is no comparing us, I’ve been through more shit than you will ever imagine. And I wasn’t given a choice. You were. And that’s misfortunate. Your nieces almost died a couple of times and you weren’t there to help them. I was. God I’m starting to realize why your team is a mess and why, Tai, hates you. You are both a downer and a deadbeat. Pick a struggle.

Qrow: *silent and sits with Raven*

Jaune: *stares at Ruby and Yang*

Yang and Ruby: *sat down immediately*

Jaune: So what are you all going to do?

RYBB: Talk like a family.

Jaune: Good. Now you excuse me I need to write a letter to my mother who I am not on the best of terms, right now. Bye.

Nora: Jaune? Jaune, is there something you want to talk about? I’m openly available.

Jaune: F*** you too, Nora.

Qrow: How long was he on that island?

Ruby: Uncle Qrow, we had our first argument on that island.

Qrow: Oh… s***.

[rwby-encrusted-blog]

Qrow: Hey. You're a tough gal Valkyrie. Here's Fifty Lien. You've earned it.

Nora: ... Really? I haven't really done anything-

Qrow: You've had a tough life and deserve a little spending cash.

Nora: ...

Nora: *Breaks down into hysterical sobbing*

Qrow: Jeez- Are you okay Kid?

Nora: Th-Thank you sir! I won't forget this!

~~~~~

Qrow: Y'know, Em, I'm proud of how well you've adjusted to being on our side. I'm glad some people know how to change their ways.

Emerald: uh- Thanks? I'm happier over here than I ever was with Cinder which feels .. Wrong? It's different, and I'm still getting used to it.

Qrow: *Ruffling Emerald's hair* Yeah, I get that. I was sent to Beacon to learn how to kill Huntsmen. Glad I got away from the Tribe.

Emerald: *Experiencing Fatherly Affection for the first time* ...

Emerald: *Beginning to tear up*

Qrow: Oh gods not again-

Emerald: *Bawling*

~~~~~

Qrow: Hello, I'd like to turn in this paperwork.

Clerk: Oh! Adoption papers! That's wonderful! Who are you adopting? What are they like?

Qrow: Two emotionally constipated and unstable almost-twenty year olds.

Clerk: ... Oh!

Qrow: Yeah. It's weird. But, I don't care, so.