The Watcher (Final Fantasy XIV)

The watcher is a non-player character in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker. He serves as the guardian of Zodiark's seal on Mare Lamentorum.
==History==
The watcher is an aetherical construct based on an Ancient who was comrades with Venat and part of the group that summoned Hydaelyn.
Before the sundering, the individual whose essence was used to create the watcher was the chief archivist at Anamnesis Anyder. As a man of learning, he was firm friends with Venat, spending long hours trading theories, or debating the universe. When the Final Days bore down upon the Ancients, he joined Venat's faction in opposition of Zodiark. He was conflicted about Venat's decisions, knowing that in becoming Hydaelyn's heart, she would forever stand apart from the people she loved.
After Hydaelyn sundered Zodiark and Etheirys, She created the silver moon to serve as a prison for Zodiark, because if He was destroyed, the Final Days that had nearly destroyed Etheirys would return. To ensure Zodiark remained in stasis, Hydaelyn created the watcher to see over His seal. For millennia, the watcher resided in his palace and watched over the seal. He was forced to bear witness of the seven Umbral Calamities as each of them rejoined a part of Zodiark to Him, the primal becoming more powerful with each rejoining. Another Watcher was created on the Thirteenth, which was slain after the Ascian Igeyorhm manipulated the dark knight Golbez into believing the watcher was responsible for the chaos consuming his world. In actuality, Golbez doomed his world to a Flood of Darkness that resulted from the watcher's death.
One day, the watcher witnessed a powerful wave of aetherial energy destroy five out of six of Zodiark's bindings, and met the Warrior of Light recognizing them as Hydaelyn's chosen. He directed the Warrior to protect the final binding from Zenos Galvus and Fandaniel. The Warrior failed to stop them, and was forced to fight Zodiark when Fandaniel merged with Him. The Warrior defeated Him, and while the watcher was set to reseal Him, Fandaniel used the weakened Zodiark to destroy itself. With Zodiark gone, the shroud of aether that protected the star from the Final Days was undone. The Warrior and Watcher foresaw a vision through the Echo of Etheirys destroyed. The watcher asked the Warrior to join him at his palace.
Y'shtola Rhul, Urianger Augurelt, and Thancred Waters arrived on the moon and met the watcher. The Warrior informed them that Zodiark was no more. The watcher revealed the foundation of the Final Days, and how it caused the ruin of the Amaurotines. The phenomenon had struck in places where aether currents were weakest, and over time, it even affected celestial aether currents that surrounded the world. When that happened, the whole planet was affected by the phenomenon.
The watcher revealed in the event the Final Days should return, Hydaelyn had prepared a contingency: evacuation of the star's population to the moon. The Scions of the Seventh Dawn determined it to be a last resort. When the watcher noticed the Warrior hold a glowing flower, he claimed it was like Hydaelyn to give it to them as a guide. He called the flower "Elpis", mentioning the Warrior would do well to remember it. Eventually, the Warrior followed Watcher's advice and traveled to Elpis in the past, and discovered the source of the Final Days, the Meteia.
In the aftermath of the Final Days, the Warrior of Light was approached by Omega, who had transferred its consciousness to a model created by Garlond Ironworks, to help it understand how the Meteia's power over dynamis had affected the Omicrons. As part of its investigations, Omega sought to speak with one of the Ancients, prompting the Warrior to deliver it to the watcher. Though willing to answer Omega's inquiries, the watcher explained that his recollection of the time before the sundering was muddled, and that having the Warrior recount the tale would be more effective. As Omega contemplated the answers received, the watcher proffered that each individual's interpretation is their own, and encouraged the Omicron to draw its own conclusions.
When the Warrior of Light, G'raha Tia and Krile Baldesion discovered a phantom realm, Omphalos, in Mor Dhona, they encountered the Twelve. After the Warrior battled nine of them, they directed them to their symbols throughout Eorzea to gather necessary records to activate the Omphalos Monument. As Krile read the inscription of the monument, its last line mentioned an unnamed thirteenth god, whose duty was to watch over his charge forever to the end. G'raha theorized that this god could be the watcher. The group proceeded to question the watcher, who confirmed their suspicions and, while he declined to divulge the Twelve's true purpose, assured them that they did not wish to harm mankind.
==Characteristics==
===Appearance===
While not an original Ancient, the watcher is identical to their appearance: much taller than any current sentient living with a blue-white robe that covers his whole body, and an Amaurotine mask covering his face.
===Personality===
The watcher is dedicated to his duty in watching over Zodiark's seal, his only purpose. He shares the same ideals as Hydaelyn and carries the traits of the scholar he was based upon. He is compassionate, wise and caring. Like Hydaelyn, he lamented each Umbral Calamity that strengthened Zodiark and his inability to stop them.
During the Omega: Beyond the Rift quests, the watcher states that they do not clearly recall the time before the world's sundering. He hypothesizes that such was a deliberate choice on Hydaelyn's part, so that he would be able to watch over the sundered world without the bias of his memory from the world before the Final Day.
Oschonn described the person that would become the watcher was Hydaelyn's most loyal and closest ally.
==Behind the scenes==
The watcher is similar to Fusoya from Final Fantasy IV. Both are remnants of an ancient civilization who wear blue-white robes and watch over an ancient evil sealed on the moon. Endwalker features several other homages to Final Fantasy IV, such as the Loporrits and Lunar Whale mount.
==Etymology==
==Citations==
Category:Characters in Final Fantasy XIV