The Witness: Difference between revisions

At some point, the species discovered that the Traveler had a counterpart entity, located in a distant star system. They named this entity the [[the Veil|Veil]], and determined that it was a source of power that was the opposite of the Light, one linked to the mind and consciousness rather than the physical world: the [[Darkness]]. In studying the Darkness, they discovered that it held the means to guide the universe into a perfected, eternal form, a "[[Final Shape]]" that would last to the end of time and beyond. In this, they found the purpose they had sought for so long.

In order to achieve their goal, the civilization determined that they needed to bring the Traveler and the Veil into close proximity, strengthening their connection and in so doing granting them the ability to alter reality itself. They set out to locate and retrieve the Veil, and brought it back to their homeworld so that they could form a link between it and the Traveler.  

Sometime after the Witness created the Hive, the Darkness-wielding [[Ecumene]] and [[Qugu]] were rendered extinct by them. Their use of the Darkness is not reported in the [[Books of Sorrow]], suggesting that either [[Oryx, the Taken King|Oryx]] or the Witness itself excised this fact, presumably due to its seeming contradiction with the Witness' ideology.

Soon, the Pyramid ships would spread further beyond Io, with three more ships now above [[Saturn|Saturn's]] [[Titan (moon)|moon of Titan]] overseeing the [[New Pacific Arcology]], near the [[BrayTech Futurescape]] on [[Mars]], and above the [[Fields of Glass|Caloris Basin]] in [[Mercury]]. The Pyramid on Io also began rapidly deploying Pyramid Scales, which could be seen flying to and from the vessel, in order to presumably prepare the moon for terraforming. It is unknown where the rest of the fleet was at the time. In response, Zavala had deployed the [[Young Wolf]] to their allies on the four planets and moons with the presence of the Pyramids to begin preparations for a mass exodus and retreat back to [[The Last City]]. However, after completing a series of tasks Commander Sloane, Brother Vance, and Asher Mir would opt to stay with Ana Bray being the only V.I.P to return to the City but not after saving what remains of Rasputin with the help of the Young Wolf.

In the following weeks, Guardians were pulled into the Ascendant Realm, reminiscent of the [[Court of Oryx]] on the [[Dreadnaught]], this time encountering [[Nokris]], Savathun's supplicant. Upon defeating him, the Witness was able to complete its message, while forcibly transporting the Guardians aboard a room within the Io Pyramid, telling Guardians there is an ancient power deep beneath the surface of Europa and that it must be embraced, displaying statues of each race approaching a central Pyramid, with a lone shadow lingering over the Fallen.

Almost half a year after the Pyramids returned, the worlds of Mercury, Mars, Io, and Titan had all disappeared from the system, hidden by the Witness. The status of the Pyramid Fleet is unknown, but it is presumed that they are holding position along the outer reaches of the system after being driven back by the Traveler healing itself.

Ultimately, the Vex would invade Europa through the constructed gate and begin wiping out all life they could find, as well as begin transforming the moon into another a Machine World. Clovis Bray's fledgling colony would be destroyed in an all-out war against the invading machines, eventually leading to its abandonment. Whether this was a test by the Witness to see if Clovis Bray had what it took to be a Disciple or not is currently unknown, though going by what is known about the Witness and how it selects for Disciples, it seems likely.

As the object of Calus' nihilistic fascinations, the Witness was contacted again by the exiled former Emperor. Calus felt like the Witness' actions did not meet up to his expectations, and sought an audience with it to receive an explanation. Utilizing the Scorn and the Crown of Sorrow, Calus focused their minds to allow conversation with the Witness. This led to the disappearance of Calus, as he was whisked away during a communion, leaving behind his Loyalists to die at the hands of an Egregore infestation.

Mars would later return under mysterious circumstances, but with regions of its surface having been temporally displaced, displaying what appears to be the Golden Age. However it is later revealed the Savathûn, after her revival as a Lightbearer, used the Witness' power to take worlds, to bring Mars back from its anomalous state.  

Yet, The Witness would gain a Pyrrhic victory through Eramis's efforts and that of the Wrathborn. Though Eramis managed to gain access to the Warsat network, even personally encouraging her to let the Traveler feel her pain, the Witness failed to destroy the Traveler thanks to Rasputin's sacrifice. However, during these moments, the Traveler looked as if it were leaving Earth. As it hung in Earth's lower orbit, Eramis, incredulous that the Traveler wasn't abandoning humanity as it had done to the Eliksni, asked why it was doing so. The Witness responded, stating that it simply had no place left to run to. The Witness and its Pyramid fleet, along with a vessel containing its latest Disciple, Calus, had arrived in the Sol System, passing Jupiter.

With the link created between the Veil and the Traveler, the Witness was able to create a triangular incision upon the Traveler's surface, creating a triangular portal in front of the incision. The Pyramid ships surrounding the Traveler were then pulled into this portal, with the Witness following shortly afterwards. With this action, the Traveler appears to be completely inert, Ghosts unable to feel its presence, and no instruments or devices owned by the Coalition forces have been able to penetrate the portal successfully. At present, where the Witness has gone, and what it is currently doing, are both totally unknown.

The Witness would later become aware of the Coalition's continued resistance, their efforts to pass through the portal and of their recent incursions on Titan after the moon had returned, where they made contact with the renegade worm [[Ahsa]], who knew of the Witness's origins. Xivu Arath attempted to halt their efforts but to the Witness's displeasure, not only did the Guardian's learn of it's origins and its intentions but also identified one who might know how to pass through the portal: the Witch Queen herself. Making contact with Xivu Arath upon the Dreadnaught, The Witness made its disappointment known to the Hive God of War, informing her that they must now make preparations should the Guardians decided to allow Savathûn to be revived.

The Witness is a tall, pale-skinned humanoid being. Most of its features are obscured by its metallic robe-like clothing, which constantly ripples and shifts seemingly of its own accord. Its long black cloak emanates the same resonance as other Darkness artifacts have done. Among its most notable features is a column of white "smoke" that is continually billowing from the top of its head, which forms a multitude of humanoid faces as it spreads and dissipates. Its true face is partially concealed, but it can be seen to have large, dark eyes and a rectangular pattern of gray lines on its brow and forehead.  

The Witness appears to be single-mindedly devoted to bringing about the [[Final Shape]], an end-state to the universe in which the only things that exist are those that defeat all obstacles to their existence and remain existing forever. It seems to be extremely hostile towards the idea that the Darkness can be used for any purpose outside of invoking the Final Shape; according to records found aboard the Witness' personal Pyramid, the civilizations known as the [[Ecumene]] and [[Qugu]] used the Darkness for peaceful purposes, but no mention of this is made in the [[Books of Sorrow]], which record the extermination of both species by the Witness' servant race the [[Hive]].  

The Witness appears to possess a very calm and stoic personality, almost never expressing any perceptible emotion even in the face of setbacks to its plans. It has been seen to speak in a flattering, almost mentor-like tone when talking directly towards the Guardians or its Disciples. However, according to [[Mara Sov]], beneath its seemingly emotionless facade the Witness harbors a constant, burning rage, and its Disciples and other followers all fear incurring its wrath. Savathûn, herself a god who had the power of the Light and resurrection, would rather sequester the Traveler than attempt to confront the Witness directly. Eramis, once freed from her Stasis cocoon, is explicitly motivated by fear of what the Witness will do to her and her [[House of Salvation|House]] now that she has failed to gather the pieces of [[Nezarec]] and failed to activate [[Abhorrent Imperative]]. Rhulk, although much more subtle about it, is quick to beg the Witness for forgiveness upon his final defeat. Calus, normally unflappable and full of braggadocio that the Witness is wasting its power, is quickly cowed by the wrath of the Witness, who quickly looms large upon Calus in anger at his commentary.

*A seemingly abstract tree-like symbol is often seen in association with the Witness; this symbol or ones closely resembling it can be seen in the symbol for the Witness used in the [[Vow of the Disciple]] [[Raid]], on the side of [[The Upended|the Upended]], and on the floor of the "planetarium" room within the Witness' personal Pyramid. A "sculpture" resembling the symbol can also be seen piercing the sarcophagus of [[Nezarec]] in the [[Root of Nightmares]] Raid. It is currently unknown what this symbol represents.