- "Meanest of all Thunderjaws, some say the first. One swipe of its tail, and five hunters go down."
- ―Ligan
Redmaw is a unique machine in Horizon Zero Dawn.
About[]
Redmaw was a legendary Thunderjaw among the Carja and a highly sought after kill by members of the Hunters Lodge. Many hunters met their end trying to take it down, including Talanah's sponsor, Tarkas, and Ahsis.
Redmaw's history was chronicled by Inquiring Jandiniman, Historian-In-Residence at the Hunters Lodge. While he attempted to separate fact from fiction when possible, he admitted that it was difficult to find accurate information.[1]
Given Redmaw's reputation for killing those that set out after it, it became an expression among the Lodge members that if a hunter went missing and never returned, it was the work of the notorious Redmaw.
History[]
While no conclusive evidence has been provided, it is thought that the destruction of a Carja freehold near the Hands of the Flood and the deaths of nine people in the early spring of the eighteenth year of Sun-King Jiran's reign was Redmaw's first attack. Later during that same season, four hunters set out from Sunstone Rock to further investigate; all of them perished. This was also assumed to be the work of Redmaw.[1]
The first confirmed sighting of Redmaw came in the early summer of the same year. An expedition of six mercenaries set out from Meridian to investigate the two previous incidents. Five of the mercenaries were killed by the Thunderjaw, and the sixth was badly wounded, but he managed to escape and share his account of Redmaw's attack. The nickname "Redmaw" came from the survivor's claim that it bit a man in half. While another, larger expedition set out from Meridian in the late summer, none returned, with the bodies found near Blackwing Snag, with at least one missing.[1]
The situation escalated in the fall of the same year, when Jiran ordered members of the Hunters Lodge to pursue the monstrous machine. After numerous delays, three Hawks and their Thrushes set out that winter; one pair survived to tell the tale, and they were killed for their failure, documented as cowardice. After that, only the proudest Hawks and most eager aspirants would dare to hunt Redmaw.[1]
Interest in killing the beast was reignited the following summer when a caravan with six people was destroyed south of the Spurflints. Three expeditions, totalling fifteen mercenaries, went after Redmaw, with only three returning.[1]
Almost a year later, soldiers travelling from the Raingathers to the Alight were attacked by Redmaw, only one survived while the rest were killed by Redmaw, or by an avalanche caused by attempts to flee. Later that same season, three military expeditions were mounted to kill Redmaw, with 34 men in total. However, they were ambushed by Stalkers, with only four surviving the encounter. This encounter ended pursuit of Redmaw for some time.[1]
Two years later, Redmaw attacked an Oseram caravan, killing five while one escaped. The survivor begged Ersa, the captain of the Vanguard, to send the Vanguard after the monster, but she denied his request. Over the course of the year, three more expeditions were mounted against the machine; all failed. Out of 27 men total, only five survived.[1]
Another two years later, Redmaw was sighted near Thunderhead. Tarkas left to take the Thunderjaw by himself. When his Thrush, Talanah arrived, Tarkas was mortally wounded. Talanah later testified that Tarkas' spear was still embedded in the machine's side when it left the area.[1] That next season, Talanah set out to kill Redmaw in a bid to take the title of Sunhawk from Ahsis and avenge her former Hawk's death, with her Thrush, Aloy following soon after. Ahsis sought to keep his title at all costs, and hired a group of mercenaries to stop Talanah. After a failed attempt to destroy the beast, Ahsis was left mortally wounded. Immediately after, Redmaw was finally taken down by the combined forces of Talanah and Aloy, promoting Talanah from Hawk to Sunhawk.[2] Jandiniman described it as "a fight for the ages".[3]
Associated Quests[]
Trivia[]
- Redmaw is the only Thunderjaw to be recorded in The Jewel.
- Redmaw's appearance is unique among Thunderjaws, with its chassis is having several spears stuck in it that have strips of red material tied to the ends of them, undoubtedly thrown into it by previous hunters.
- Redmaw also only has one Disc Launcher (the other was presumably lost in a prior battle with hunters).
- Aloy's Focus simply identifies Redmaw as "Thunderjaw", despite it having a name, and despite other named individuals having their names represented in Focus scans.
- Redmaw has more health than other Thunderjaws, but otherwise, its behaviour, capabilities and damage dealing are exactly the same as any other Thunderjaw (aside from the missing Disc Launcher).[6]
- Redmaw can be overridden, but this will not complete the quest, so Redmaw must still be killed to progress.