Talk:The Outsider/@comment-2.103.29.168-20131024183041

Might be a bit of a weird theory, but I was thinking for most of the game that the Outsider was an amalgamation of all the whales, kind of like a 'hive mind'. The whales appear to have semi-magical abilities, as their oil is an energy source that seems to be used directly (ie. not burned, etc.) and their bones are made into arcane ornaments which, although granting Corvo abilities, seem to be mostly found on or near the dead...

It definitely seemed like there was some connection between the whales and the Void though, and there was a whale swimming happily through it whilst Corvo was visiting, apparently unconnected to the events Corvo saw.

Or, as someone below said, the Outsider may be a god of the whales, perhaps created from the Void by their beliefs. Either way, I got the impression throughout the game that the Outsider was not a 'human' god, and had little real interest in their affairs. At times the Outsider seems confused and surprised by Corvo's behaviour (particularly if he shows mercy), as if human behaviour is somewhat alien to him.

So what does the Outsider 'want'? For people to stop killing the whales. Sokolov invented many whale oil based devices and the Outsider will have nothing to do with him as a result, and mentions 'disgusting' rituals, possibly involving whale oil, which he partakes in to gain an audience with the Outsider. So the Outsider grants abilities to those who may further his aims, such as destabilising Gristol, currently the only (known) nation to have begun using whale oil power.

Apologies if any of these points are nullified by the DLC, I've only played the main game so far!