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As players progress through the main story of Horizon Forbidden West, more Side Quests will open up. There are lots of side quests, and they offer all sorts of helpful rewards aside from Skill Points and Experience. Rewards aside, side quests help tell side stories that give more life to the world.
In Plainsong, Horizon Forbidden West players can find a woman named Nel. She is from a settlement called Riverhymn, and they need help from Alloy. Tanakth Rebels are attacking Riverhymn and aid is needed. This guide will show players how to complete the side quest 'The Roots That Bind'.
Go to Riverhymn
Track this side quest and follow the path to reach Riverhymn. As players get close, Aloy will comment on how she hears that someone is in trouble. The quest step will update, and players will have to help kill the Tenakth Rebels in the area. This is a fairly small group, and since they are distracted it is fairly easy to get a few stealth kills to even the odds.
Folllow Kue
After killing all the Tenakth Rebels, a cutscene will start. Follow Kue as he walks back to the settlement. Once he stops walking, talk to him again. He needs help gathering materials to make stronger weapons for fighting off the Tanakth Rebels. There is a special kind of pod created by a Widemaw up on the top of the Drumroot. Follow Kue toward the bottom of the Drumroot. Before proceeding, make sure to speak to Kue again.
Reach the Top of the Drumroot
Reaching the top of the Drumroot will require lots of climbing up rock walls. In order to get any further in this Side Quest, players must have obtained the Vine Cutter to bypass the vines blocking the way forward.
How to Get Up to the Top of the Waterfall
The quickest way to get up to the top of the Drumroot is to get up the waterfall. There is no direct path for getting up there, however, so players will have to climb up. Before making the ascent, make sure to kick down the ladder to make it easier to get back up.
From there, jump onto the ledge directly ahead. Climb up the rock wall and then jump across to reach the other side. Look up to see a spot where players can use the Pullcaster to quickly go up.
Nearby is another rock wall that players can climb along. Get to the top and jump off the platform to the rock below. Sprint and then jump to get in range of a Pullcaster spot against the wall. From there, players just have to climb up one last rock wall to reach the top of the waterfall and arrive at the top of the Drumroot.
Gather Widemaw Pods
At the top of the Drumroot, Horizon Forbidden West players will spot a large machine called Widemaw. These mechanical creatures mostly roam in the nearby pond. Peridoically, pods will fall from the Widemaw. These pods don't stay around for long, so players will have to quickly rush over and grab them before they disappear.
The problem is that Widmaws are not friendly. If players get detected, the Widemaw will attack. Run away and hide until it eventually gives up and goes back to the pond. There are other machines in the area as well, so players will need to keep an eye out for them. Carefully stay out of sight and gather six Widemaw pods.
Return to Kue
After gathering all the pods, head back toward the waterfall. For a quick way down, jump and use the Glider to reach the bottom. Return to Riverhymn and speak with Kue to give him the pods.
Fight off the Tenakth Rebels
Before long, the Tenakth Rebels come back with a stronger force. This also includes several machines. Shoot off components to kill the machines faster. Once all the Tenakth Rebels have been slain, a cutscene will start and the side quest will end.
Horizon Forbidden West is available now for PS4 and PS5.
