The Sun-Ring was repurposed into a memorial for the victims of the Red Raids.ĭervahl being dragged away after trying to kill the Sun-King AvadĪbout two years after the Liberation, the infamous Oseram Dervahl began a plot to destroy Meridian and kill Avad. With almost all of Jiran's loyalists defected, the power vacuum was quickly filled by those loyal to Avad, ensuring a relatively peaceful transition.

The Oseram that aided Avad during the Liberation were given the title of 'Avad's champions' and were named the Vanguard. Due to their assistance in the Liberation, the Oseram were allowed into the city, and quickly became a common sight (and, thanks to their tendency to argue, a common sound). Balahn would note that Meridian had become far more alive than it had been during the reign of Jiran. He quickly ended the Red Raids and brought about sweeping reforms, including the end of slave labor. However, Jiran refused to answer for his crimes, and Avad reluctantly slew his father.Īfter executing his father, Avad succeeded him as Sun-King. Avad personally confronted his father, hoping to convince him to surrender and avoid further loss of life. As Jiran's slave pits were opened, Itamen, Nasadi, Helis, Bahavas, and many of his loyal followers used the chaos to flee the city with whatever they could carry they would go on to become the Shadow Carja. This began followed by a three-pronged assault one group attacked the main gate, one scaled the walls nearest the temple, and another infiltrated the city through the irrigation tunnels. However, the defenders of Meridian stood firm, and Avad was forced to order the use of Oseram cannons to decimate the outer walls. His plan worked, as many Carja warriors retreated, surrendered, or even defected. He hoped that his status as rightful heir to the throne would spark an uprising among the Carja and thus avoid large-scale death and destruction. Months later, and with an army of Oseram warriors and mercenaries, Avad marched on the capital. He and his men crossed into Oseram territory, and thanks to his personal friendship with Ersa, were able to negotiate an alliance with the tribe. Upon the execution of his older brother Kadaman for questioning his father's demands for sacrifices, Prince Avad fled the city along with those soldiers loyal to him. The Red Raids culminated in Jiran's twenty-first year. When sacrificing slaves failed, Jiran escalated to invading foreign territories in what became known as the Red Raids. In response to the phenomenon known as the Derangement, Jiran began ordering human sacrifices in the Sun-King in an attempt to appease the machines. The reign of the thirteenth Sun-King, Jiran, was a time of great turmoil for Meridian. As the city grew, the people prospered, and traders arrived from foreign lands.

The Carja came to settle on the mesa surrounding the great tower, building the capital city of Meridian - named from a passage in the Leaves of the Old Ones - from the abundant local resources. In spite of persecution and outright violence from other tribes, the Carja continued until Araman experienced a vision of what came to be known as the Spire.

Along the way, many Carja died, Araman's own family among them. They wandered for an unknown amount of time, following the Sun and the Glinthawks. Meridian was founded by the first Sun-King, Araman, after the people that became the Carja were driven out of their homeland.

Horizon zero dawn blue icons on map