Zaid is a minor antagonist in the 2017 video game Horizon Zero Dawn, serving as the main antagonist of the side quest "A Daughter's Vengeance".
He is the cruel, calculating captain of his own unit within the Carja military, who was noted for his infamy with the Nora during the Red Raids, being responsible for torturing and killing them, which included Nakoa's father. He serves as the arch-enemy of Nakoa.
After Avad's reformation of the Carja, Zaid and his own corrupt unit (including Firiv) would soon secretly run a Nora slave ring by abducting any Nora travellers, before his plans would soon be foiled and exposed by both Nakoa and Aloy, thus killing him by the former, who later avenged her own father's death at the hands of him.
Zaid is modelled by Billy B. Collins and voiced by Lewis MacLeod, who voiced Protoboy and General Yakitori from Robotboy.
Appearance[]
Like most members of the Carja military, Zaid is donned in the usual guard outfit, with the only difference is with him not donning a helmet. He is a dark-skinned male with black hair and brown eyes.
Personality[]
Zaid was noted to be brutal and cruel, who is feared by the Nora for his term during the Red Raids and his infamy that he garnered. He is also seen to be shrewd, who was able to stave off suspicion from Avad and Balahn by masking his true identity via his peaceful facade.
Background[]
Nakoa, the daughter of one of Zaid's victims, assaulted him sometime before the arrival of Corrupted machines. He freed Nakoa while continuing to act innocent, purportedly to demonstrate that he did not hold her "misguided" attack against her. Nakoa was captured by Zaid's men and brought to his compound in anticipation of being sold into slavery as soon as she was out of sight of Daytower. He would beat Nakoa every time he visited as payback for assaulting him, but not severely enough to lower her value at auction.
Later, the Nora Brave Aloy, who was looking for Nakoa on behalf of the latter's brother Yan, approached him. Zaid attempted to allay her concerns by telling her about the encounter with Nakoa while acting as though he was ignorant of Nakoa's presence and once more denying any wrongdoing during the raids. Assuming Aloy would pose a threat, Zaid advised her to travel to Lonesome Rock, alleging that there had been rumours of a young lady being kidnapped there. He did this in the hopes that his men would ambush and capture her when she arrived.
Aloy, however, managed to escape Zaid's trap and track down and release all of his hostages, including Nakoa. Just as Aloy was about to go, Zaid and several of his men came with plans to re-arrest his victims and catch Aloy. He assaulted Aloy with his troops, but she murdered them and rendered him helpless. He was powerless when Nakoa charged at him with a spear from one of his dead soldiers and ran him through with it.
With Zaid's passing, his slaving ring was made public, which led Daytower to begin a thorough investigation under Balahn's orders.
Abilities[]
- Tactical Ingenuity - Zaid was able to fool Avad and Balahn by using his peaceful persona, in order to avoid suspicion regarding his involvement in his slave ring.
- Combat Abilities
[]
 Villains
| ||
Artificial Intelligences Organisations Carja Shadow Carja Banuk Oseram Tenakth Londra's Devotees Far Zenith | ||