Sunfall is one of the three main settlements in Horizon Zero Dawn along with Meridian and Mother's Heart. Historically the western edge of the Sundom, it served as the capital of the Shadow Carja, claimed by the followers of the Mad Sun-King Jiran.

Sunfall makes a brief appearance in Horizon Forbidden West.

History

In the Old World

The area where Sunfall would be located is just outside of what the Old Ones called Bryce Canyon National Park.^[3] It was the site of Bryce Orbital,^[2] later converted into the Zero Dawn Project Facility.^[3]

In the New World

Establishment

The city of Sunfall was first established by the seventh Sun-King, Basadid. After his younger brother Iriv, the sixth Sun-King, vanished while exploring beyond the canyons of the Daunt, Basadid declared the land beyond the "Forbidden West"^[4] and became increasingly concerned about the potential dangers lying beyond the Sundom's border. He ordered the construction of a large military fortress atop of ruin of the Old Ones on the western edge of the Sundom, reasoning they must have seized upon the location for its strategic value.^[5]

Parts of the ruins were collapsed or built over, with the stone ring being left as a Sun-Ring to serve the garrison as a training ground. Even though its builders and soldiers worked in fear of the land to the west, the finished walls of the fortress gave them confidence that they were safe. Basadid, along with his High Priest Irrefutable Pashaman, named the fortress "Sunfall."^[5]

As a Garrison

Despite Basadid's concern about enemies in the west, no great threat emerged during the next three generations beyond minor incidents with bandits or machines in the local area, causing Sunfall to slip from common memory.^[5]

As a Settlement

During the sixth year of his reign, the eleventh Sun-King Marzid came to Sunfall to inspect it. In the desert heat, he was struck with a vision of a grand Citadel in Sunfall and ordered the immediate construction of his vision. Once the Citadel was complete, Marzid began using it as a summer palace. Many nobles of the Sun-Court joined him, and over the years, Sunfall became a bustling artisan city. Large artworks were commissioned and the Sun-Ring, once used for military training, was repurposed as a stage for pageantry and entertainment. Sunfall continued to evolve as the cultural hub of the Sundom until Sun-King Marzid passed away,^[5] his illness caused by the fumes of his own beloved paints.^[4]

During the early reign of the Sun-King Jiran, Sunfall became the training site for the newly-created Kestrels, as Jiran used the desert's harsh conditions in a particularly harsh season in Sandwhisper Valley to test the strength of his elite soldiers. Sunfall eventually became a key location in the Red Raids, as its Sun-Ring became a place of sacrifice. Initially serving to supplement the sacrifices in Meridian, which had been deemed insufficient, Sunfall's own Sun-Ring quickly became even more feared as a place where Carja dissenters were taken to be quietly killed.

The Civil War

During the Liberation of Meridian, Sun-King Jiran's remaining loyalists fled to Sunfall, with Meridian having fallen to his son Avad. Seeing him as a usurper, the loyalists took Prince Itamen and his mother to Sunfall, where the High Priests declared the boy the new Sun-King after Jiran's passing and held him hostage, declaring the loyalists to be the Carja in Shadow (known as the Shadow Carja by outsiders). This soon began a civil war with the Carja of Meridian.^[5]

As the Shadow Carja's capital, Sunfall struggled to provide for its citizens - its remote location made farming impossible, and trade was limited due to the Shadow Carja's hostile relations with all other tribes. An impoverished and sickly underclass grew on the outskirts of the palace, while available resources were dedicated to the military in the hopes of someday retaking Meridian.^[5]

After their loss at the Battle of the Alight,^[6] the Shadow Carja were left without a royal family^[7] or military leadership,^[6] leaving the city's poor to swiftly revolt against the crippled upper class. When Sun-King Avad offered amnesty to all Shadow Carja commoners, not holding any of them responsible for the crimes of their superiors, control over Sunfall was returned to the Carja.

Post-Civil War

Sunfall currently serves as a garrison for the Carja army. Uthid, a former Shadow Carja officer, was offered the command of Sunfall in light of his experiences, but he declined.^[8]

Notable Locations

Shadowside

The first section of the city is the slums, where the refugees who fled Meridian resided. With little available space, the people were forced to live in makeshift houses and tents outside the palace itself.

The Citadel

The second and most distinctive feature of the city is the King's palace, a large citadel consisting of balconies and alcoves with a view of the land and the rest of the city. The main room of the palace is the throne room, which is near the center and is distinct in having the Sun-King elevated above the rest of the room, with a commanding view of the arena.

Sun-Ring

The third and largest area of Sunfall is the arena, where great games were once held. The design was such that prisoners or criminals would be lowered to the arena without weapons and fight to the death against machines for the enjoyment of the crowd and the Sun-King. Helis often did this to remove people who were treasonous to the Shadow Carja.

Notable Inhabitants

Former Inhabitants

Other Notable Former Inhabitants

• Marzid; deceased

Gallery