Editing Nezarec, Final God of Pain

'''Nezarec, Final God of Pain''' was a [[Disciples of the Witness|Disciple]] of the [[The Witness|Witness]]. An ancient being with powerful psychic abilities, he was known for bringing terror to entire worlds and species in order to feed on their collective fear; he was both feared and worshipped by various groups across time, including cults and sects among 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]]. Nezarec's remains were later discovered by [[Fallen]] scavengers, who split his corpse into pieces that were then distributed amongst them as "relics" and talismans, leaving only his head inside the Lunar Pyramid.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/3/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Item Description: [[Bite of Trepidation Suit#Vest of Trepidation|Vest of Trepidation]]''</ref> 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]] during ''[[Season of Plunder]]''. This led to the Witness taking possession of Nezarec's head and encasing it within a sarcophagus aboard its [[Essence|Pyramid]].

Having long slumbered on the edge of death as a barely-living psychic presence, Nezarec became active again in the fallout of the [[The Traveler|Traveler]]'s attack on the Witness's [[Essence|Pyramid]], which resulted in his remains becoming infused with Light. As he gathered his strength, he haunted the citizens of [[Neomuna]] in the [[CloudArk]], bringing them nightmares as they slept. He would later fully resurrect in a new corporeal form imbued with both Light and Darkness, only to be defeated a final time by the [[Guardian]]s as they [[Root of Nightmares|stormed the Witness' Pyramid.]]

 

As with [[Rhulk, Disciple of the Witness|Rhulk]] and possibly other Disciples of the Witness, the Witness used Nezarec as a template for its Dread soldiers, in his case the [[Tormentor]]s.  

 

Hailing from an unknown species gifted with immense psionic abilities, Nezarec was elevated and transformed by the Witness into one of its chosen Disciples. Rhulk also gifted him a [[Nezarec's Whisper|glaive]] as part of his exaltation.<ref name="Whisper">'''Bungie (2022/5/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]] - Item Description: [[Nezarec's Whisper]]''</ref> Nezarec's own blueprint would later be used by the Witness to create the [[Tormentor]]s, powerful and hulking brutes within its personal army known as the [[The Dread|Dread]].{{Citation needed}}

 

[[Eris Morn]] and [[Micah-10]] speculated that Nezarec had the power to command [[Nightmare]]s, a previously untapped power of the [[Darkness]] that he co-opted for himself and wove into the fabric of his Pyramid.<ref name="Visitation">'''Bungie (2023/06/04)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Final Shape]] - [[The Visitation]]''</ref> These Nightmares would be encountered centuries after Nezarec's death during the Collapse, when his Pyramid was re-discovered on the Moon.<ref>'''Bungie (2019/10/1)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Shadowkeep]]''</ref>

 

{{Quote|The Psions kneel to you. Their faith is shattered, and they will look to you. For guidance. For truth.<br>Sow the seeds of discord that will pave the way for our victory.<br>Preach unto their greatest the truth of the Darkness... so that they may see beyond the Veil.<br>Go forth, Nezarec... and show them the power of the Veil. The Dark of the Deep. The edge of the knife.|The Witness to Nezarec}}

 

Nezarec would go on to become a force of terror across the known universe, with his psychic influence being felt by countless races. Notable among these were the [[Psion]]s, whom he would sow discord into the society on behalf of the Witness and be revered as a god to them<ref name="Psions">'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Nezarec: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6AUTpFszfs "Psions. Do You Still Adore Me? Worship me?"]''</ref> He  would show them the power of the [[The Veil|Veil]], a primordial source of Darkness, and preached onto their greatest minds the "truth" it presents.<ref name="Visitation"/>

 

A hidden cult of Psions would continue to honor Nezarec in modern times, offering him individuals with particularly powerful psychic abilities as sacrifices. One such unfortunate was [[Acasia]]'s partner, who was taken from his home and tortured by the cult to feed Nezarec's hunger for pain and fear.<ref name="Boots of Detestation">'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Item Description: [[Breath of Detestation Suit#Boots of Detestation|Boots of Detestation]]''</ref>

 

Nezarec's influence was also present amongst humanity before the Golden Age, having formed their own [[Acolytes of Nezarec|cult]] dedicated to worshipping him. He was the subject of a pre-Golden Age text titled ''Of Hated Nezarec'', 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="Sin">'''Bungie (2017/9/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]] - Item Description: [[Nezarec's Sin]]''</ref><ref name="Dream Demon">'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Item Description: [[Dream Demon]]''</ref>

===The Collapse===

When the Black Fleet chased the Traveler to the [[Sol System]], Nezarec led the first invasion against humanity accompanied by [[Hive]] forces led by Savathûn, the Witch Queen.<ref name="Eido">'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [[Eido]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmmmso_uFaU "...second-hand accounts is that Nezarec led the Witness's first assault on Earth, or, as Humans call it, "the Collapse"."]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[Parasitic Pilgrimage]]''</ref> On [[Earth]], Nezarec's fleet engulfed the planet in such massive numbers that they turned day into midnight.<ref>'''Bungie (2024/6/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Episode: Echoes]] - [[Lore:Polyphony]]: [[Lore:Polyphony#IV. MSUND12/Personal|IV. MSUND12/Personal]]''</ref>  

 

 

[[File:Inaaks2.jpg|300px|left|thumb|[[Inaaks]] cuts apart Nezarec's corpse.]]

Following the Collapse, Nezarec's corpse remained undisturbed within his Pyramid until the [[Fallen]] arrived during their [[Long Drift]]. Eventually, [[Inaaks]], the then-[[Kell]] of the [[House of Wolves]], uncovered his derelict Pyramid 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 carved his body into pieces which were then distributed as morbid talismans amongst members of the Old Crews, including Inaaks's son [[Mithrax, Kell of Light|Misraaks]].<ref name="S18 Flashback>'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [https://youtu.be/O9Mlvz5jAWI?t=203 Nezarec]''</ref> Over time, these pieces were stored within super-dense reliquaries to contain their radiating Darkness energies.<ref name="1st Relic">'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [[Eido]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF62BnpgM-U "Spectral analysis indicates trace amounts of Darkness energies radiating from within the vessel. However, the reliquary is made of a super-dense substance, like a lead barrier around uranium. This leads me to deduce that the relic itself is likely quite powerful, and potentially harmful if handled directly."]''</ref> According to an intercepted transmission from [[Eramis, Kell of Darkness|Eramis]] to [[Vrisk, the Coward]], the Darkness contained within the relics would dissolve anyone attempting to use them, with only beings of extraordinary fortitude being able to withstand their power.<ref name="6th Relic">'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [[Eramis]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbL11nnCLRk "The Darkness inside would dissolve you before you could ever wield it against the Hive."]''</ref>  

This use of Nezarec's remains was not without consequence, however, as echoes of his consciousness continued to live within them, to haunt and torment their bearers. Among these was a Fallen pirate named [[Koraxis]], who pried one of the Disciple's seven eyes from his head and kept it for himself.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Item Description: [[Bite of Trepidation Suit#Vest of Trepidation|Vest of Trepidation]]''</ref>  

By the time Koraxis became a [[Captain]] of his own crew,<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Item Description: [[Bite of Trepidation Suit#Mask of Trepidation|Mask of Trepidation]]''</ref> he was in constant pain from an injured leg and paranoia stemming from his possession of the eye. After experiencing a nightmare that caused him to relive his expedition into the Pyramid,<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Item Description: [[Bite of Trepidation Suit#Grips of Trepidation|Grips of Trepidation]]''</ref> Koraxis made the decision to evoke Nezarec's presence with a ritual involving the eye, a pointed crystal, and a book of magic.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Item Description: [[Bite of Trepidation Suit#Boots of Trepidation|Boots of Trepidation]]''</ref> As Nezarec's voice beckoned for Koraxis to "free him", Koraxis reacted in fear and flung the eye out into the Reef with all the strength he could muster.<ref name="Cloak of Trepidation">'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Item Description: [[Bite of Trepidation Suit#Cloak of Trepidation|Cloak of Trepidation]]''</ref>

Other pieces of the Disciple were enshrined by the Fallen into what became known as the Tombs of Nezarec;<ref name="5th Relic">'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [[Eido]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLx5gGcK1RY "The many tombs of Nezarec are well known, though the being itself is less thoroughly documented."]''</ref> [[Fourth Tomb of Nezarec|one]] of them being located in [[Jovian]] space.<ref name="Fourth Tomb">'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], [[Lore:A Drifter's Gambit#Artifacts and Old Friends|A Drifter's Gambit: Artifacts and Old Friends]]''</ref>

During the [[Dark Age]], Nezarec's influence continued to plague the dreams of [[Lightbearer]]s and non-Lightbearers alike with nightmares whenever the Moon was at perigee. One of his victims was a [[Titan (class)|Titan]] named [[Briar]] of the Wild Brambles, who was psychically touched by the God of Pain after unknowingly killing one of his prior victims out of self-defense.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Item Description: [[Palate of Agony Suit#Helm of Agony|Helm of Agony]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Item Description: [[Palate of Agony Suit#Gauntlets of Agony|Gauntlets of Agony]]''</ref> Nezarec's psychic torment drove Briar to madness and desperation, eventually burning down his own home with his [[Hammer of Sol]] out of desperation.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Item Description: [[Palate of Agony Suit#Plate of Agony|Plate of Agony]]''</ref> Eventually, Briar cut out his own eyes in a futile attempt to keep him from seeing the Disciple's visage, only for his [[Ghost]] [[Firethorn]] to heal him and restore his vision. At Nezarec's own command, Briar turned on his Ghost and killed him, piercing Firethorn's lens with a knife before blinding himself a final time. <ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Item Description: [[Palate of Agony Suit#Greaves of Agony|Greaves of Agony]]''</ref>  

Meanwhile, [[Mykel]] and his family continued to worship Nezarec and conduct rituals in his name to keep his legacy alive, 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 to "extract its fear".<ref name="Dream Demon"/> Later in his adulthood, Mykel would lead the Acolytes of Nezarec by directing the god of pain's influence towards his ideal victims. He also reached out to other prior victims of his to recruit into their ranks, including Acasia,<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Item Description: [[Breath of Detestation Suit#Bond of Detestation|Bond of Detestation]]''</ref> Briar,<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Iem Description: [[Palate of Agony Suit#Mark of Agony|Mark of Agony]]''</ref> and Koraxis.<ref name="Cloak of Trepidation"/>

At one point, [[The Drifter|Drifter]] was contracted to retrieve a relic of the Disciple at the [[Fourth Tomb of Nezarec]].<ref name="Fourth Tomb"/> Though he was accosted by both an unknown Acolyte (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]] - Item Description: [[Gift of Cruelty]]''</ref>

Around the time of the [[Severing of the Nightmares|Leviathan's Haunt]], Eris would delve further into Nezarec's derelict Pyramid and found the [[Chantry of the Darkest Hour|chamber]] that housed Nezarec's ancient [[Nezarec's Whisper|glaive]].<ref name="Whisper"/>

===The Hunt for the Relics===

After being released from her [[Stasis]] prison, Eramis, the Kell of Darkness, was tasked by the Witness with collecting the scattered pieces of Nezarec's corpse for an unknown purpose.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [[Lore:Between Stolen Stars]]: [[Lore:Between Stolen Stars#I. Thaw|I. Thaw]]''</ref> Having rallied the Old Crews of the [[Themis Cluster]] to her side, she tasked the Pirate Lords with recovering the relics of the ancient Disciple. When [[Iriks, the Sharpshooter|one]] of them attempts to extort Eramis with their possession of a relic, she immediately rebukes his threats.<ref name="2nd Relic">'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [[Eramis, Kell of Darkness]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLx5gGcK1RY "Deliver the relic as agreed, and I will overlook your attempts to extort me. Do it, or face the wrath of a power you cannot imagine."]''</ref> In retaliation, Mithrax along with his daughter Eido, the Drifter, the Spider, and the Guardian, would form their own pirate crew composed of Guardians and Eliksni alike as they took on the Pirate Lords in possession of the relics.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [[Pirate Hideouts]]''</ref> Meanwhile, the Hive of the [[Lucent Brood]] began their own plundering of the Disciple's remains for reasons unclear, overwhelming Eramis's forces in the process.<ref name=>'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [[Pirate Hideout: The Coward]]''</ref>

During a parlay with Mithrax, Eido and the Guardian, Eramis revealed the true nature of the relics and the connection they share with Nezarec, Inaaks, and Mithrax's own bloodied past.<ref name="S18 Flashback/> The Drifter would also recall his past encounter with the relic he claimed back at the Disciple's Fourth Tomb a long time ago, which he tried gifting to Eris earlier as a sign of affection and was instead given an idea for Mithrax on the best usage of the relics for good.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [[The Drifter]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asDiAOIK1Fs "...long time back, I found myself at the Fourth Tomb of Nezarec. Recognized these relics the first time I saw one. That's why I needed you involved. Ain't nobody I trust with that kind of power more'n you. Well... after Eris. She gave me some ideas that might help Mithrax use these things for good. Whatever he does will show us just what kind of person he is... if we can stop Eramis from finding the last few relics and killing us all. So, uh... get on that, heh."]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [[Eliksni_Quarter#Semephore_Signals|Semephore Signals - Drifter messages Eris]]''</ref>   

Ultimately, Mithrax and the Guardians had successfully gathered the majority of the relics of Nezarec before Eramis and the Lucent Brood. Through her extensive research on the relics, however, Eido discovered a reference to the "Curse of Nezarec" in an ancient dirge as a potent side effect of the relics' usage. The curse is alleged to drain the life of the user, though to what purpose is unknown.<ref name="8th Relic">'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [[Eido]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZvr5gdORiE "Now that we've collected all the relics, Misraakskel and I believe that we could harness their power. To what end... we're still uncertain. While I believe in our abilities, I am concerned about the potential side effects such a process could have. An ancient dirge I discovered describes something called "the Curse of Nezarec", which is rumored to drain the life of the user. Of course, I don’t give credence to such superstition. Dark Age Humans were comically ignorant. Still, I would rather not take the risk."]''</ref> Mithrax took time to study the secrets of Nezarec's relics as they were connected by threads only he could perceive and whisper to him. He then performed a conversion that distilled a mass of primal Darkness from them to create something useful: a mentally revivifying elixir which was given to a comatose [[Osiris]] in the hopes that it would rouse him from his state. The brew worked as hoped, leading Osiris to finally awaken from his slumber.<ref name="Awake">'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAIpmG9-iLs Awake]''</ref> Though in distilling Nezarec's essence, Mithrax had siphoned all its corruptive elements into himself and slowly became afflicted with the curse.{{citation needed}}

===Nightmarish Revival===

[[File:Nezarec CloudArk.png|300px|left|thumb|Nezarec's psychic hold on [[Neomuna]].]]

During the initial battle between the Traveler and the Witness in Earth's orbit, it was revealed the Traveler struck the Witness' Pyramid with a [[Light]]-infused terraforming beam. Its attack deformed the surface of the Pyramid, sprouting a massive, budding [[Tree of Silver Wings#Trivia|root]] with ostensibly benign paracausal flora growing wildly within the structure of the ship.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [https://youtu.be/7BLYLVaZVQ0?t=109 Witness Arrival]''</ref> One such root would pierce a large crystalline sarcophagus containing the disembodied head of Nezarec: the only remaining piece of the Disciple Eramis acquired for the Witness after the rest were taken by the Guardians.{{citation needed}} Nezarec, having been revived unintentionally by the Traveler's terraforming power, sought to use his newfound paracausal power for his own morbid curiosities.<ref name="Post-Raid">'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbhdR0I2aAQ Root of Nightmares Post-Raid Cinematic]''</ref> Meanwhile, the God of Pain would also terrorize the Shadow Legion aboard the Pyramid, with [[Zo'aurc, Explicator of Planets]] detailing his own nightmares and more reports of night terrors and violent incidents among his forces.<ref>[https://www.bungie.net/7/en/news/article/twid-05-02-2024 This Week In Destiny – 05/02/2024]</ref>

During the [[Shadow Legion]]'s [[Invasion of Neptune|siege]] of [[Neomuna]], the Guardian was sent on a [[Strike]] mission into the [[Vex Network]] to halt their sabotage of the city's [[CloudArk]] systems. When they first entered the network, [[Nimbus]] reported that the Neomuni had been having nightmares and hearing voices. Eventually, the voice within the network spoke to the Guardian and their Ghost, commenting on the abundance of fear and pain within the Darkness surrounding the CloudArk. Caiatl compared the phenomenon to the Nightmares they had previously encountered on the Leviathan. After the Strike team defeated [[Parthenios, Drifting Mind]] and stopped the [[Taken]] corrupting the network, the voice identified itself as Nezarec, who vowed to break free of his confinement within the network.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[HyperNet Current]]''</ref> 

[[Jisu Calerondo]] of Neomuna Civil News reported on the ongoing psychic attacks inflicted by Nezarec on the [[Neomuna#Trivia|Neomuni]] in the CloudArk as they continued to experience widespread nightmares,<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Jisu Calerondo]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6reJDhi8S3U "Cloud Strider Nimbus reports that recent CloudArk fluctuations are the result of new security measures to guard against intrusions. The Cloud Strider credits the Earth's Guardians for contributing personnel toward the dangerous operation. Despite this, more citizens have experienced nightmares. One name common to all? "Nezarec."]''</ref> including city archivist [[Quinn Laghari]],<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Quinn Laghari]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD2415dZHbU "I searched my whole library, but can't figure out what a "Nezarec" is."]''</ref> maintenance chief [[Viragni "Sid" D'Sydney]],<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Viragni "Sid" D'Sydney]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJSDwU6_V58 "We all did regrettable things thanks to Nezarec."]''</ref> rapid responder [[Sam Moleyn]],<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Sam Moleyn]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggrd70DTdio "CloudArk's been a bit weird the last couple of days."]''</ref> and city administrator [[Tse Jingye]].<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Tse Jingye]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quSaS3unCDc "When I close my eyes, I see everything burning. Even the CloudArk, consuming us all."]''</ref> Scientists from the city's Civil Defense Ministry determined Nezarec's CloudArk-disrupting signal to be a psychic carrier wave similar to the suspended energy matrix which maintains the CloudArk.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Jisu Calerondo]]:[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQWDWHgT37E "Scientists with the Civil Defense Ministry report that the mysterious signal causing CloudArk disruptions appears to be a psychic carrier wave. The most common use of this technology, of course, is the suspended energy matrix which maintains our own CloudArk."]''</ref> Authorities also speculated on the possible connection between Nezarec and the Psion race, with ethnographers noting recurring motifs in Psion art and ritual, as well as the potent psychic abilities exhibited by both parties.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Jisu Calerondo]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkm5z68SqcU "Authorities have questioned the connection between the entity Nezarec and the Psion people, a client species of the Cabal Empire. Ethnographers note recurring motifs in Psion art and ritual, as well as the psychic potent abilities exhibited by both parties."]''</ref> The ongoing disruptions and nightmares would also contribute to the city's first case of cryogenic murder, with [[Bhur Zhimri]] being suspected of homicide following the death of his wife from cryo-tank malfunctions.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Jisu Calerondo]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnIrtEaUWlI "Formal homicide charges have been filed in the case of Bhur Zhimri. Listeners may recall Zhimri was suspected in his wife’s death following cryo-tank malfunctions earlier this week. Prosecutors are describing it as Neomuna’s first case of cryogenic murder."]''</ref> Nezarec would later remark that if he had a modicum of his original power, he would kill one or even three other citizens to expedite the Guardians.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - Nezarec: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMSvofTO5uU "If I had a modicum of my original power, I'd have killed one — or three — of those citizens to expedite your arrival."]''</ref>

Additionally, multiple parties began speculating a possible connection between Nezarec and the Tormentors under the Witness's command, as multiple [[Imprint of Nezarec|Imprints]] named after the titular Disciple are fought by [[Guardians]]. When first encountered, Osiris claimed 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> Quinn Laghari also speculated if they are the same species as Nezarec or clones made by the Witness of its generals.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Quinn Laghari]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ays25gide1Y "So, those Tormentor things are... what? The same species as Nezarec? Or does the Witness make, like, clones of its biggest, baddest generals?"]''</ref>  

In addition, whispers from the Disciple could also occasionally be heard by the [[The Guardian|Guardian]] while patrolling Neomuna, particularly in [[Maya's Retreat]] and in the [[Thrilladrome]] Lost Sector. These whispers were ordinarily unintelligible, but whilst either Nezarec's Whisper or Nezarec's Sin was equipped they could be understood, and Nezarec would taunt them further during the [[Terminal Overload]] public event and within the Vex Network during [[Partition]] activities.

[[File:Cataclysm2Info.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Nezarec's sarcophagus, pierced with the root from the Traveler’s terraforming.]]

====Root of Nightmares====

{{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}}

Seeking to find the source of the mysterious provocateur haunting Neomuna, the Guardian led a fireteam of six to investigate the now-derelict ship. Upon exploration of the interior, Nezarec greeted the intrepid fireteam upon their arrival. After hoping that his messages had reached them, the disciple had considered they would leave him to rot in his crystalline sarcophagus but remarked that Guardians cannot resist unanswered questions or a challenge. Upon reaching his tomb, Nezarec began channeling his hatred into massive waves of overwhelming paracausal energies which threatened to wipe out the team in addition to the Shadow Legion reinforcements. The fireteam was forced into a relay race where they linked nodes of Light together and supplied paracausal energy into the root connected to the Disciple's sarcophagus. [[Cavum of Nezarec|Cavum]] Tormentors were also called forth at the beckoning of their progenitor but were dispatched to keep his hatred momentarily delayed. Upon completing the encounter, Nezarec was invigorated by how familiar and yet different his new power felt.<ref name="RONT">'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Root of Nightmares#Transcript|Root of Nightmares]]''</ref>

The fireteam traveled throughout the shattered interior of Essence, fighting the Shadow Legion while they overcharged the Tree's root with Light and Darkness energies, growing even bigger across the Pyramid's architecture. Its energy fed into Nezarec's tomb, the Disciple could hear its shifting and even taste the paracausality on his tongue. When enough energy was fed into the coffin, large contractions of Resonant energy began to pulse from it, threatening the fireteam with extermination if they failed to attune with it. Along the way, Nezarec recalled his past encounter with the Witch Queen, having killed him and cursed his remains before whisking the Veil away to Neptune. Despite his loathing, he applauds her efforts. Nezarec would also remark about the current state of his remains, asking the Guardians if anyone had suffered from the pieces they took and if they knew who currently possessed them.<ref name="RONT"/>

Once the team reached Zo'aurc's location at [[Macrocosm]], Nezarec tells them to tear the Cabal apart as he had not accomplished as the Guardians in their short time there. After killing the [[Incendior]] and overcharging even more paracausal energies into the root, the Disciple remarks how fascinated he is by the lengths they went to reach their goals, labeling them as "emissaries of pain and death". As they approach back to his now terraformed [[Cataclysm|tomb]], he tells them to free him so he may experience the world again with his new perspective.<ref name="RONT"/>  

[[File:2023 Root of Nightmares Raid PressKit Boss Compressed 003.jpg|300px|thumb|Nezarec, fully revived with powers of Light and Darkness.]]

With the fireteam returning to the sarcophagus, Nezarec's rebirth completed as he burst forth from the crystalline encasement of the tomb; now with a fully grown body fed on the Light and Darkness of the root thanks to the Guardians. Reveling in his newfound powers, the resurrected Disciple demanded to devour their fears as they engaged in battle. Armed with a massive [[Tormentor Scythe|Scythe]] and his [[Void]]-powered attacks, Nezarec unleashed both overwhelming energies of Light and Resonance at the Guardians only for them to survive by attuning to his attacks with Light and Dark nodes surrounding the battlefield. By linking both sets of paracausal nodes, they could channel the radiating power of the overgrown root into the Disciple's sarcophagus and unleash a massive beam of terraforming and resonant energies directly at Nezarec: dropping his impervious defenses and leaving him briefly vulnerable to the fireteam to damage. After much effort, the Guardians successfully defeated Nezarec as he was preparing to unleash a final wave of overwhelming energy; destroying his physical form in much the same fashion as Rhulk, Calus, and the Dread had met their ends. In his final whispers to the fireteam that killed him, Nezarec reminded them that he would always be present in their memories and nightmares, being an inescapable impression upon the universe.<ref name="RONT"/>

===Legacy of Terror===

{{quote|Is Nezarec truly dead? Can something that exists as an idea ever be destroyed?|[[Micah-10]]}}

Upon his latest death, Nezarec's psychic hold on the citizens of Neomuna was lifted.<ref name="Post-Raid"/> Jisu Calerondo issued a report on Neomuna Civil News detailing the demise of the Final God of Pain aboard the Witness's derelict Pyramid.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/02/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Jisu Calerondo]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJH0oaR_Rt8 "Vanguard forces recently engaged an independent provocateur identified as "Nezarec" within a derelict Black Fleet vessel."]''</ref>

Sometime later, an unpartnered Ghost named [[Balthazar]] would attempt to enter the lunar Pyramid seeking information on the Witness. Out of concern, [[Micah-10]] had the Guardian venture back into the Pyramid to find the lost Ghost. Their own [[The Ghost|Ghost]] remarked that they thought the Nightmares would disappear after killing Nezarec, to which Micah responded by wondering whether or not something that exists as an idea could ever be destroyed. After entering the Pyramid and facing the Nightmares within, the Guardian found an artifact which contained a recording of an interaction between the Witness and Nezarec, instructing the Disciple to share the Veil's secrets with the Psions.<ref name="Visitation"/>

Although Nezarec remains dead, his psychic influence nevertheless continues to torment Mithrax. Having previously taken on the corruption of the relics from their [[Search for Nezarec's Relics|search]], Mithrax now suffers from episodes where he hears the Disciple's voice in his mind.<ref>'''Bungie (2024/6/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Episode: Echoes]] - [[Lore:Polyphony]]: [[Lore:Polyphony#III. Heart-Truth|III. Heart-Truth]]''</ref> The Disciple's influence can be heard in Mithrax's voice at moments when he is gripped by strong emotion, causing the Kell's thoughts and words to verge even deeper into bitterness, rage and despair.

''For an in-depth description of the battle against Nezarec in the Root of Nightmares Raid, see [[Root of Nightmares#Nezarec|Nezarec]]''

Nezarec appears as the central figure and final boss of the [[Root of Nightmares]] raid, where he greets and subsequently attacks the Guardians. He shares most of the abilities of Tormentors (aside from the Dark Harvest grab attack); these abilities include the crescent-shaped Abyssal Cleave attack, a spinning disk of Void energy that sends out a barrage of Abyssal Cleaves, and the Tormentor's signature suppressing leap and slam attacks. In addition, Nezarec can channel his Hatred to conjure Psionic Blasts underneath the Guardians, and will eventually erupt in an explosion of Overwhelming Energy, Light, or Darkness that the Guardians will have to seek Refuge from. While made temporarily vulnerable by a combination of Light and Darkness, Nezarec will gain the ability to teleport for a suppressing slam attack, as well as a slower slam attack that sends out spinning Void blades along the ground.

Like Tormentors, Nezarec has two weak points on his shoulders and one weak point on his chest, though these serve different functions from those of Tormentors as they are tied to raid mechanics. While he is vulnerable, these weak points will take extra damage (though his whole body can take damage at this time).

Nezarec is also a devoted follower of the Witness and its goal of the [[Final Shape]], which he believed would offer it "the fullest gamut of existence" based on his own interpretation. However, he would have a poor outlook on the [[Shadow Legion]] [[Cabal]] as their "new recruits" and the [[Vex]], whom he calls the [[Sol Divisive]] the best of their kind. This is in contrast to his enemies such as the Guardians (especially [[Warlord]]s), whom he labels as "emissaries of pain and death" inflicting terror with their own chaos, and even [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen]], whom he applauds for her efforts despite his loathing of her.

*Nezarec's true nature as a Disciple remained largely mysterious until ''[[Season of Plunder]]'', with most information coming from the lore entry for the [[Exotic]] [[Warlock]] helmet [[Nezarec's Sin]] and the [[Glaive]] [[Nezarec's Whisper]].<ref name="Whisper"/> It is also implied that Nezarec is the one speaking in the description of the [[Delicate Tomb]] [[Exotic]] [[Fusion Rifle]].<ref>'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - Item Description: [[Delicate Tomb]]''</ref>

**''[[Into the Light]]'' {{Nc}}