Banukai is a legendary figure of Banuk lore.
History
According to Banuk legend, at a time shortly after the Old Ones and when the Banuk population was small, Banukai was the first to crawl from the cave beneath the world and was who led her werak through the frozen wastes, fleeing the cannibalistic Ravenous Tribe as they attacked them for food.[1]
Seeking a way to defeat their attackers, Banukai had a dream where she saw herds of machines filled with Blue Light, prompting her to follow a star for many days to a temple built from sparkling ice. There she met the machines from her dream, bowing to her as she entered the temple. Inside, she found Blue Light, bubbling from a hole like a spring. Requesting help from the machines, they explained that as the Blue Light's chosen vessels, they go where it goes, and that carrying the Blue Light within her will deal a great cost. As Banukai waded into the pool, the Blue Light reared like a nest of snakes and struck Banukai, filling her up. Though in agony, Banukai remained strong and left the temple, followed by the machines. To keep the Blue Light within her, she sewed her body shut with the cables of the machines and patched herself with their metal.[1]
Upon arriving back to her camp, Banukai found that the Ravenous Tribe had surrounded her werak. Charging into battle alongside the machines and others from her werak, they successfully defeated the Ravenous Tribe using pieces of the fallen machines as makeshift weapons. Upon their success, Banukai fell, understanding the truth of the Blue Light and feeling at peace. The machines bowed their heads and the werak mourned her loss. The Blue Light within her drifted from her wounds and rose to the sky.[1]
Legacy
Banukai is remembered as the namesake of the Banuk tribe.[1] Her legend serves as the inspiration for much of the Banuk's spirituality, as well as the shamans' practice of sewing machine cables into their skin, and is somewhat seen as a deity among the Banuk.[2][3]
A shaman tells Banukai's story in Song's Edge, between the Bluegleam trader and Sekuli's scaffolding.
Associated Quests
Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds
- Into the Frozen Wilds (mentioned only[2])
- The Forge of Winter (mentioned only[3])
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 As heard in the legend of Banukai told by a shaman in Song's Edge.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 As mentioned by Yariki during Into the Frozen Wilds.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 As mentioned by Aratak during The Forge of Winter.
| Banuk | ||
|---|---|---|
| Aratak's Werak | Aratak (chieftain) - Naltuk (shaman) - Ourea (shaman) - Ruatuk - Sekuli - Signutai | |
| Kikuk's Killers | Kikuk - Nulat | |
| Kopilai's Werak | Kopilai (chieftain) - Aujak (shaman) - Inatut | |
| Onnekut's Werak | Onnekut (chieftain) - Nukoni | |
| Scars of the North/ Shattered Hearts/ Nukoni's Arrows |
Tatai - Tulemak - Urkai | |
| Signak's Werak | Signak (chieftain) - Ili - Tektuk | |
| White Teeth Werak | White Teeth Chieftain - White Teeth Shaman - Mailen | |
| Exiles | Arnak - Brin | |
| Disputed | Sylens | |
| Other members | Aluki - Anutai - Ardik - Banukai - Enjuk - Ikrie - Kamut - Kimik - Kutani - Laulai - Lauvuk - Naunuk - Opili - Opitak - Rukul - Siluk - Tikuk - Ukan - Yariki | |