"Men, let her through at once!" Rea ordered. At first, the guardsmen were hesitant.
"Now!" Rea ordered, as the guardsmen stepped off to the side. I placed my bow on my shoulders as the Utaru guardsmen finally let me through the gate. I nodded my head sternly towards them, and approached Rea.
"I didn't know you lived here, Rea." I stated, as she smiled.
"That's Grain Queen Rea to you, Aloy." Rea replied. "Come. Let me take you to my residence."
I nodded my head, and followed Rea through the village of Brightgrain. Everywhere I looked, there were heaps of grain beside the wooden buildings that were scattered within the walls of the village.
"What do you do with all of the grain you harvest, your Majesty?" I asked, as I saw some young Utaru women kneading some dough on a table in front of their house.
"A multitude of things, Aloy." She replied. "We use wheat to make bread, and barley to make beer. We grow maize for food, and use oats we grow to make succulent Utaru porridge. You must try some while you are here."
I smiled, as we approached the residence of Rea, which was an elegantly designed building constructed out of large wooden logs, adorned with green, white, and gold ribbons. Rea walked up to the guards who were guarding the entrance, and whispered something I couldn't catch into their ears. After she entered her home, the guards stepped off to the side, and allowed me to pass. I smiled at them as I passed by and into Rea's residence. Walking in, I was blown away by the intricate designs of the furniture and rugs on the wooden floor. Rea appeared from my left, holding two bowls of green liquid. I set my bow and lance down at my feet, and sat down on the yellow couch. I smiled as Rea handed me a bowl of the green liquid. I took a sip, and winced as the heated liquid went down my throat.
"What is this?" I asked as I blew on the the liquid before taking another sip. Rea smiled, and sat on the couch across from me.
"It is Fire Kiln Root tea." Rea replied, as she took a sip from her bowl, and sat down. "It is a delicacy among the Utaru people. Now Aloy, if I may ask, what brings you out to Brightgrain?"
I sat up, and straightened myself out on the couch.
"I've been following a trail, and it has led me here." I replied to her question.
"Who created this trail that you follow, Aloy?" Rea asked. I looked back up to her to meet her face.
"I was informed by a Hunter of the Lodge in Meridian that a band of Utaru tribesmen had kidnapped Sunhawk Talanah Khane Padish, and a young Oseram poet stated that they marched for Brightgrain." I replied, in between sips of tea. "Their information led me here, and I was wondering if you had any information on these warriors."
Rea paused for a few moments, and stroked her chin.
"A few mornings ago, a guard at his post reported seeing a shell-walker pass by the walls of the village, which agitated the Watchers patrolling the fields. He also reported seeing soldiers from a rogue faction of Utaru, led by their enigmatic leader, Saskwani, around the shell-walker, which had a cage on top of it."
I looked at her with a confusing look.
"What can you tell me about this Saskwani and his rogue Utaru?" I asked sternly.
Rea returned a look of concern to me.
"Very well." Rea replied. "During the Red Raids, when the Carja attacked, there were some Utaru soldiers who supported the Mad Sun-King, and joined his ranks. Saskwani was among them. They would partake in the bloody human sacrifices in their capital city called Queen's Ruin. I always thought that my father put an end to Saskwani and his men during the Utaru Civil war, but it seems that I was wrong."
I let out a deep breath.
"It seems you were, no offense." I replied, followed with a smile. "It seems I will have to go into Queen's Ruin, and rescue Talanah."
Rea returned a look of concern towards me.
"I know you are brave, Aloy." Rea stated, as she placed her hand on my shoulder. "Just look at when you saved me from those Snapmaws. But, a brave woman like yourself should be wary of the Plains north of here."
I looked up to her, meeting her eyes.
"What should I watch out for?" I asked, sounding a little confused.
"The Plains north of Brightgrain are known for their herds of Tramplers, which have wiped out several of my hunting parties."
I smiled, followed by a chuckle.
"I've tangled with quite a few Tramplers before." I replied with confidence. The look of concern returned to Rea's face.
"Aloy, The Tramplers aren't the same as they were." Rea informed me. "A mysterious element has taken over them, something daemonic."
My eyes widened.
HEPHAESTUS has something to do with this, I thought, as I took another sip of tea.
"I've seen the likes of those machines back when I was in the Cut." I replied, with a quick smile. "I'm pretty sure I can handle myself against these daemonic machines."
The look of concern faded from Rea's face, and turned into a look of confidence.
"Rest before you leave tomorrow, Aloy." Rea said, with a smile. "But, before you rest, you have to try some Utaru porridge. It's over on the table behind me."
I smiled, and watched as Rea walked away to her quarters. I got up from the couch in the living area and approached the porridge on the table. I grabbed the ladle and scooped some porridge into my bowl. I returned to the couch, bowl in hand, and tasted the Utaru porridge. I winced, as the porridge entered my mouth. To me, it tasted very bitter, and lacking flavour. I managed to finish the porridge, and set the bowl down beside the couch. I lifted my legs up onto the couch, and laid my head upon a pillow on the couch, drifting off to sleep.
I awoke in the late afternoon, rubbing my eyes free of sleep. After I yawned, I looked down to the floor to see a bundle before my feet. On it was a letter. I picked it up, and began to read it.
Dear Aloy,
I apologize for not being here, as I went with a convoy to trade with some Oseram not far away from here. In this parcel is somewhat of a remarkable invention of unknown origin. It is a blade for your wrist, that flicks out the moment you flick your wrist! I feel like you would better suited in using it in your journey to rescue your Sunhawk. Use it well, Aloy.
Remember, you are always welcome in Brightgrain!
Grain Queen Rea.
I smiled, and folded up the letter, placing it in my pocket. I picked up the small parcel, and opened it. Encased in a small brown bracer, was the wrist blade. I took the armor off of my left forearm, and slid the bracer onto my wrist. After tightening the wrist straps, I flicked out my wrist. The blade sprung out from the bracer, which made me jump. I flicked my wrist in, which returned the blade into the bracer. I grabbed my Banuk Striker Bow, and placed it over my left shoulder. I then made my way to the exit of Rea's residence. The guards moved their spears out of the way, allowing me to pass. Though when I turned back, they had disgusted grimaces on their faces.
They don't like me because of the armor I wear. Wonderful, I thought, as I began my walk through Brightgrain. I looked around as I walked down the street.
Hm. Doesn't look as lively as it was yesterday. Must be because Rea isn't here, I thought, as I reached the village gates. Surprisingly, the same guards from last night were guarding the gates. As I walked past them, one of them approached me.
"I apologize for my boorish behavior I showed last night." He stated, with a bow of his head. "I was in over my head. I wish you nothing but the best on your journey, milady."
I replied with a stern smile, and a curt nod of my head before I spied a herd of Striders just beyond the grain fields. I took the long way around the grain fields, and approached the Strider herd. I ducked into the bushes, and whistled. A Strider heard my whistle, and came over to investigate. Just as it came up to the bushes, I pulled out my lance, and held it up against the Strider's nose. I held onto it for a few moments, watching as it slowly turned a light blue color.
Too easy, I thought, as I climbed up onto the Strider. Upon seeing me atop the overridden Strider, the other Striders fled the scene. After the other Striders fled, I steered my Strider onto the northern path towards the mysterious city called the Queen's Ruin.
Carrying on down the road, I noticed that the road was littered with the wreckage of the ancient Faro machines. Plant and wildlife were nonexistent
Unreal, you can't even see the ground, I thought, as I examined the wreckage from the road. No wonder the Utaru don't venture out this far to hunt.
I looked up into the sky, and noticed that the sun was getting lower in the sky. Just ahead of me, I noticed a clear opening surrounded by trees, free from any clutter or machine parts. I steered my Strider towards the clear opening. I hopped off of my Strider, and let it graze not too far from the opening. I approached the trees, and watch a herd of Tramplers mow through a small group of Watchers in the distance. I saw that the Tramplers bore no resemblance to the daemonic machines I had seen in the Cut.
Fierce, but not daemonic, I thought, as I began to grab branches of ridge-wood and built a small shelter out of the ridge-wood I had collected. After I created it, I laid back in it, and began to drift off to sleep. My sleep was short lived, however, as I heard the sound of a machine being hunted. I turned my head to the right, and peeked out of my shelter. As I did, an arrow whiz by my head. I picked up my bow, and confronted the mysterious assailants. In front of me, were four Utaru men, clad in traditional Utaru clothing, two armed with spears, and two armed with bows, standing before the corpse of my Strider.
"What in the name of All-Mother are you doing here?" I asked, demanding an answer.
One of the archers laughed.
"We are here to personally escort you to Queen's Ruin." he said, pointing his finger at me. "Get her!"
I quickly put my bow over my left shoulder, and pulled out my lance. I flicked my left wrist, and unsheathed Rea's wrist blade, as the spear men charged at me. I planted my feet as we locked spears. I thrust my wrist blade into his chest, which knocked him down to the ground. He screamed and clutched his wound in pain. I turned my focus to the second spear man, and landed several shots on him, all to which he countered. I continued to try and land shots on him, but to no avail, until I felt something pierce the left side of my stomach. I fell to my knees, and looked down to see an arrow lodged in the left side of my stomach, with blood beginning to well from the wound. I looked over to see one of the archers grinning at me. I pulled the arrow out of my wound, and grimaced as I threw it to the ground. I returned my focus back towards the spear man, who drove the butt end of his spear into my forehead. I fell to the ground, before everything went black.
The two archers walked up to the unconscious body of the Nora Brave Aloy. The two spear men approached her, with one confiscating her weaponry, and the other began to strip her of her armor.
"Is she the one the boss was hoping to get?" the first spear man replied, as he held onto Aloy's armor.
"Red hair, and a Nora Seeker badge. She is the one we seek." the first archer replied. "Brilliant shot on her."
The second archer smiled.
"Thank you." he replied, as he picked up the bloody arrow, and placed it into his quiver. "Load her up onto the back of the Broadhead, and let us make our way to the Queen's Ruin I'm sure our boss would love to speak to her.."
The two spear men nodded their heads, with the first man picking up Aloy's body, and slinging her over his shoulder. After a short walk, the group approached their herd of overridden Broadheads. They each hopped onto a Broadhead, and carried Aloy and her equipment towards the capital of the Rogue Utaru, the Queen's Ruin.
I awoke in a cell, weaponless and with my hands tied behind my back. I could feel my forehead throbbing. I looked down, and noticed I was wearing only my skin-tight black undershirt and beige pants. Shifting to my left, I felt a searing pain on the left side of my abdomen. I looked down to see a fresh wound, about two inches long, with blood still seeping from it. All of a sudden, my cell door swung open, and two tall men with traditional Utaru clothing entered, but with yellow and black face paint, deviating from the traditional yellow, green, and white.
"Let me see her." a voice said from behind her. The two men parted to reveal a man wearing all black robes, tinted with a mysterious green element on his shoulders and chest. Covering his face was a metallic mask with the same green element on the side. He approached me, held my head up by my chin, and examined my face, and in particular the wound on my forehead.
"So, it really is you. The great Aloy of the Nora..." he said, as I nudged my shoulder into him.
"Get your hands off of me!" I roared back. He stepped back, as his guards restrained me.
"Quite a feisty one you are." He said, as he approached me again.
"Who are you?" I asked, demanding an answer out of the mysterious man.
The man scoffed, and laughed before I got a response out of him.
"All you want to know is my name, and not the reason why we captured your friend?" He replied, with a laugh. "My name is Saskwani, son of HEPHAESTUS."
"HEPHAESTUS was a monster, just like you are and were, siding with Jiran in the Red Raids, and capturing my best friend Talanah." I stated sternly, as I felt my abdomen wound throb. "What have you done with her, and why did you come to the Sundom to capture her?"
Saskwani tilted his head.
"Your friend is imprisoned here, within the Mosaic's Embrace, awaiting sacrifice later today."
My eyes opened wide after he said the word 'sacrifice'.
"You can't sacrifice her!" I roared, as his men restrained me again. Saskwani let out a boisterous laugh.
"It's simple, really." Saskwani replied. "She killed the legendary Thunderjaw Redmaw, a creation of HEPHAESTUS. For that reason, we marched to the Sundom, and discovered her location outside Meridian with our Focuses. After a lengthy fight, I shackled her and threw her into a cage atop a Shell-Walker. But, the machines of HEPHAESTUS will accept the sacrifice of your friend today, and all will be well in the world, with Redmaw avenged. Unless..."
"Unless what?" I spat back.
"Unless you can defeat four of the most fearsome machines HEPHAESTUS has created, with only your bow, and what you are wearing." Saskwani replied. "Only if you can do that, I will release Talanah. If you fail...if you fail, Aloy, you will serve as a sacrifice to HEPHAESTUS alongside your beloved Talanah."
Saskwani looked into my eyes.
"Good luck." he whispered, as he poked me where the wound on my abdomen was. I screamed in pain.
Saskwani let out another loud laugh. He then looked at his men beside me, then pointed at me, and pointed upwards before he exited my cell. Saskwani's men propped me up by my arms, and dragged me out of my cell, and to the center of the arena, to my death.