Nezarec, Final God of Pain: Difference between revisions

|othernames= Nezarec, Disciple of the Witness <br> The Purest Light <br> The Darkest Hour <br> Whispering Nightmare

|image= {{Tabcontainer

|content1=[[File:NezarecInfobox.jpg|300px]]

|faction= [[Disciples of the Witness]]<br>[[Dread]]

|weapon= {{icon|Void}} [[Tormentor Scythe#Overview|Night Terror]]

'''Nezarec, Final God of Pain''' is a [[Disciples of the Witness|Disciple]] of [[The Witness|the Witness]]. An ancient being with powerful psychic abilities, Nezarec is a sadist who relishes the fear and pain experienced by other sentient beings, and is known to induce nightmares in his victims in order to feed on their fear. His psychic presence and reputation were known in several sects of civilizations who feared and even worshipped him, including the pre-[[Cabal]] [[Psion]]s and pre-[[Golden Age]] [[Humanity]].  

Nezarec led the [[Black Fleet]] in its assault on [[Earth]] during the [[Collapse]], carrying [[The Veil|the Veil]] aboard his [[The Lunar Pyramid|Pyramid]]. He was betrayed by [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen|Savathûn]], who killed him and cursed his remains, leaving him entombed in his own Pyramid on the [[Moon]]. Despite his physical death, echoes of his consciousness continued to persist across the system. His remains were later found by [[Fallen]] scavengers, who would split Nezarec's corpse into pieces that were distributed amongst them as "relics" and talismans. These pieces would be gathered centuries later by two parties: The [[Guardian]]s of the [[Last City]] and [[Eramis, Kell of Darkness]] of the [[House of Salvation]] in [[Season of Plunder]]. The original Fallen raiding party would leave Nezarec's head inside the Lunar Pyramid.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/3/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]:[[Lightfall]] - [[Armor|Armor Lore]]: [[Bite of Trepidation Suit (Hunter)#Vest of Trepidation|Vest of Trepidation]]''</ref>  This led to the Witness later coming into the possession of Nezarec's head and encased his remains in a sarcophagus located on the [[Essence|Witness' Pyramid]].

Nezarec would become active again in the fallout of [[The Traveler|the Traveler]]'s attack on the Witness's [[Essence|Pyramid]], where he haunted the citizens of [[Neomuna]] in the [[CloudArk]]. Serving as the final boss of the ''[[Root of Nightmares]]'' raid, he would fully resurrect via a newly grown [[Tree of Silver Wings]] with both [[Light]] and [[Darkness]] powers, only to be defeated once more by the [[Guardian]]s during their conquest of the Pyramid.

Hailing from an unknown species gifted with immense psionic abilities, Nezarec was elevated and transformed by the Witness into one of its chosen Disciples, empowering him with pure primordial [[Darkness]]. For his new position, he was also given a [[Nezarec's Whisper|glaive]] by [[Rhulk, Disciple of the Witness|Rhulk]] as a gift.<ref name="whisper">'''Bungie (2022/5/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]] - [[Weapon|Weapon Lore]]: [[Nezarec's Whisper]]''</ref> The titular final god of pain would become a force of terror across the known universe, with his psychic influence felt across countless races; the most particular being the ancient Psion race whom revered him as a deity in their pre-Cabal history.<ref name="Psions">'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Nezarec, Final God of Pain]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6AUTpFszfs "Psions. Do You Still Adore Me?"]''</ref> A hidden cult of Psions would continue to honor Nezarec in modern times, offering individuals with particularly powerful psychic abilities as sacrifices to him. One such unfortunate was [[Acasia]]'s partner, who was taken from his home and tortured by the cult in order to feed Nezarec's hunger for pain and fear.<ref name="Acasia IV">'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Armor|Armor lore]]: [[Breath of Detestation#Boots of Detestation|Boots of Detestation]]''</ref>  

Nezarec's influence was also present amongst humanity before their Golden Age. He was the subject of a pre-Golden Age text titled ''Of Hated Nezarec'',<ref name="sin">'''Bungie (2017/9/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Shadowkeep]] - Item Description: [[Nezarec's Sin]]''</ref> A leather-bound tome containing apocrypha of the disciple which survived in the possession of a human family into the Golden Age and post-Collapse eras.<ref name="Dream Demon">'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Sparrow lore: [[Dream Demon]]''</ref>

 

When the Black Fleet chased the Traveler to the [[Sol System]], Nezarec led the assault against humanity, accompanied by [[Hive]] forces led by Savathûn, the Witch Queen.{{citation needed}}

During the Collapse, Nezarec had possession of the Veil, the primordial source of all [[Darkness]] and of the Witness’ [[Final Shape|endgame]] to link with the Traveler; which was present aboard his Pyramid. Just when victory seemed assured, however, Nezarec was betrayed by Savathûn, who mortally wounded the Disciple. Nezarec attempted to project his consciousness into the Darkness and cheat death, only for him to be denied as the Witch cursed his consciousness to remain bound to his physical remains. His last thoughts were of hatred for the Witch Queen as she stole the Veil away to [[Neptune]] and hid it from the Witness.<ref name="Conditional Finality">'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Item Description: [[Conditional Finality#Lore|Conditional Finality]]''</ref>  

Nezarec's Pyramid crashed into the surface of the Moon following his death, entombing his corpse beneath the lunar surface.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [[Eido]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmmmso_uFaU "Nezarec Led the Witness's First Assault on Earth."]''</ref>

For centuries following the Collapse, Nezarec's corpse remained undisturbed within his Pyramid. Eventually, [[Inaaks]], the then-[[Kell]] of the [[House of Wolves]], uncovered his derelict ship during a spelunking expedition despite the nearby Hive forces picking off her raid party.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [[Lore:Above All Else]]: [[Lore:Above All Else#II. The Whispering Dark|II. The Whispering Dark]]''</ref> Inside, Inaaks and her fellow Fallen scavengers discovered Nezarec's corpse and determined that it was a source of great power. They split his body into pieces, which were distributed as morbid talismans. Over time, these pieces were stored within relics and scattered across the solar system, exchanging hands between Fallen pirates including Inaaks' son [[Mithrax, Kell of Light|Misraaks]].<ref>'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [https://youtu.be/O9Mlvz5jAWI?t=203 Nezarec]''</ref> Possession of Nezarec's remains were not without consequence, however, as echoes of his consciousness continued to persist from them; to haunt and torment their bearers.

During the Dark Age, [[Mykel]] and his family continued to worship Nezarec and conduct rituals in his name, with every new generation tested for loyalty and worthiness. On the night of his 18th birthday, Mykel was awakened after a nightmare caused by Nezarec, leading one of his parents to induct him into the cult by torturing a captive Eliksni in order to "extract its fear".<ref name="Dream Demon"/> Later in his adulthood, Mykel would form the [[Acolytes of Nezarec]] by directing the God of Pain's influence towards his ideal victims. Those who would join included prior victims of his such as Acasia, a former [[Titan (class)|Titan]] named [[Briar]] and the Eliksni pirate [[Koraxis]].

At one point, [[Drifter]] was contracted by [[the Spider]] to retrieve a relic of the disciple from the Acolytes at the titular "[[Fourth Tomb of Nezarec]]" in [[Jovians|Jovian]] space.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Lore:A Drifter's Gambit#Artifacts and Old Friends|A Drifter's Gambit: Artifacts and Old Friends]]''</ref> Though he was accosted by both an unknown individual (implied to be [[Nessa]]) and Nezarec's own powers, he escaped unharmed with the artifact in hand.<ref name="Gift Of Cruelty">'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Jumpship lore: [[Gift of Cruelty]]''</ref>

After being released from her Stasis prison, Eramis, the Kell of Darkness, was tasked by the Witness with collecting the remaining pieces of Nezarec's corpse.<ref name="cutscene">'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Between Stolen Stars#I. Thaw|Between Stolen Stars - I. Thaw]]''</ref> Through her research on these relics, [[Eido]], Mithrax's daughter, discovered a reference to the "Curse of Nezarec" in an ancient dirge. The curse is alleged to drain the life of the user, though to what purpose is unknown.

 

During the siege of [[Neomuna]], Neomuna Civil News reported that the [[Neomuna#Trivia|Neomuni]] were experiencing widespread nightmares, with one name appearing in all of them: Nezarec. The reports also speculated on the connections between Nezarec and the Psions.  

Additionally, a connection between Nezarec and the Tormentors may exist, as multiple [[Tormentor]]s [[Imprint of Nezarec|named]] after the titular disciple are fought by [[Guardians]]. When first encountered, Osiris claims that Tormentors are "The fruits of an unholy alliance between the Witness and Calus."<ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]]'' - [[First Contact]]</ref> Neomuni archivist [[Quinn Laghari]] later speculates if they are the same species as Nezarec or are clones made by the Witness, perhaps using Calus' cloning technology. <ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ays25gide1Y&ab_channel=DestinyLoreVault| Idle Dialogue, Neomuna | Quinn: "The Same Species as Nezarec?" | Lightfall]</ref>  

 

{{Quote|My memory will never extinguish. In your calmest moments, your deepest slumber... you will remember me, Guardians|Nezarec's final words after his defeat}}

File:NezarecStatueRootOfNightmares.png|A statue of Nezarec found at the beginning of the raid.

**''[[Season of the Haunted]]'' {{Mo}}

**''[[Season of Plunder]]'' {{Mo}}

**''[[Season of the Seraph]]'' {{Mo}}

**''[[Season of the Deep]]'' {{Mo}}

**''[[Season of the Witch]]'' {{Mo}}

*''[[Breakdown]]'' {{Mo}}