Warfare Overseers

"Wherever the Overseers go, common folk tremble, and brother accuses brother."

—The Heart

The Warfare Overseers, or simply Overseers, are a militant faction within the Abbey of the Everyman, sworn to combat those who associate themselves with the Outsider.

During the reign of Hiram Burrows, Overseers are feared by the populace for their brutality, and despised by the City Watch for their zealotry. Their Order is headquartered at the Office of the High Overseer within Dunwall, and headed by a High Overseer. During the events of Dishonored, this position is held by Corvo Attano's first assassination target, Thaddeus Campbell, who is soon replaced by Loyalist conspirator Teague Martin.

Appearance

The uniforms of warfare overseers and their corresponding masks vary from location to location.

In Dishonored and DLCs

Overseers wear golden masks stylized in the face of Benjamin Holger; their back supports lay partially over a piece of cloth covering the rear of the overseer's head while the front provides protection. The symbol of the Abbey: a trident passing through a capital C shows prominently upon the forehead. These same symbols are embroidered onto the sleeves of their dark gray jackets, which appear to be standard issue. High Overseer Thaddeus Campbell wear the same uniform but with a red jacket.

In Dishonored 2 and Death of the Outsider

The Karnacan Branch of the Overseers wear grey masks that are also emblazoned with the symbol of the Abbey. Unlike the masks of the Overseers in Dunwall, these masks cover a larger portion of the head. Karnacan Overseers also wear vestments that include white gloves and black tabards emblazoned with the Abbey's symbol. Vice Overseers wear similar uniforms, but with crimson tabards and black gloves instead, while Roving Vice Overseers still wear the uniform of regular members. Dunwall Branch Overseers are also seen, wearing the golden Holger masks, and similar vestments to the Karnacan Overseers, although with darker colors. High Overseer Yul Khulan's uniform has red tabard and red gloves instead.

Induction

Overseer candidates are chosen through a system known as the Trials of Aptitude in which veteran Overseers carefully observe and study individuals – often children – who show the proper inclination to become future Overseers. After sufficient observation, promising entrants are taken from their homes and brought to an outpost, where they are further assessed and evaluated. On the last night of the Month of Rain, they begin a pilgrimage to Whitecliff where, during an elaborate ceremony, it is determined which of the children will become Overseers and which will be "put down".

The Heart suggests that some candidates with the "proper inclination" to become Overseers are actually the sons of heretics and apostates who have been executed by the Abbey. If Corvo points the Heart at an Overseer, it claims that the Overseer "watched as his parents were tortured for the worship of the Outsider".

It is also possible that some recruits join the Order willingly; in one of his announcements, the Propaganda Officer states that parents should send their children to be tested by the Overseers, suggesting the practice was perfectly acceptable. Eavesdropping on various Overseers also reveals that some joined the Abbey at a later age rather than being drafted through abduction. Overseer Byrne seems to join the Abbey on his on volition.

Abilities

Overseers in Holger Square.

Overseers are highly durable. Thanks to the metallic masks they wear, they are also immune to frontal headshots, though if they are shot there, they will be momentarily stunned and their current action disrupted. They can also command wolfhounds, which can immobilize and inflict serious damage to the protagonist. In combat, Overseers fight with sabres and are additionally armed with grenades or pistols. Unlike City Watch Officers, who usually prefer to dodge, Overseers are more likely to block melee attacks while aiming their pistols.

In addition, certain Overseers can use technological devices attached to their abdomens, known colloquially as "Overseer music boxes". They negate the power of supernatural abilities granted by the Outsider, and deal a continuous stream of damage to any supernatural target.

Quotes

Dishonored

Idle Chat

• "Die, you filthy little furball." (when crushing a rat)
• "Ha! I shit bigger than you!" (when crushing a rat)
• "Rat! Damn you!" (when crushing a rat)
• "Think you'll get your own squad after what happened last night?"
• "Should we gather for whiskey and cigars tonight?"
• "I'll write to her again. She has to see reason."
• "Is it true that more bone charms have been taken from apostates since the plague started?"
• "Will our sisters in the oracular order make a pronouncement regarding the plague soon?"
• "Are the new applicants as weak as the last set?"
• "Ricardus claims he memorized the Litany of the White Cliff in a night. Is it possible?"
• "Will you be leaving the city during the Fugue Feast this year?"
• "None of this would have gotten so bad if that damn fool Corvo hadn't killed the Empress."

Idle Answers

• "Never doubt it."
• "Chances are very good."
• "Indeed, I believe so."
• "Yes, yes."
• "No, no no."

Searching Alone

• "Oh I'll find you."
• "Where are you?"
• "I know you're here somewhere scum."
• "I know you're here."
• "When I find you, it's gonna be bad."
• "You'd like to reveal me to have an errant mind, but that won't be happening, I'm afraid. Come out."
• "Do you think you're being quiet?"
• "Let's see who's hiding about. A severe caning might be in order."
• "I'm going to find you, whoever you are, and then I'll demonstrate your failings."
• "Come out and I'll go easy on you."
• "The Abbey doesn't train fools. I know someone is here."
• "Present yourself! Don't make me find you."
• "Let my hands not be restless. Reveal yourself."
• "I'll feed your heart to the hounds."
• "Restrict the Wandering Eyes that look hither and yonder for some flashing thing that easily catches a man's fancy in one moment but brings calamity in the next."

Searching in Groups

• "We got a prowler on the loose."
• "Stop messing around and come out at once!"
• "Give yourself up. Come out. We both know you're weak at heart."

Returning to Idle

• "Must've been rats, into everything."
• "Okay where did you go?"
• "Alright, I won't be catching this rat bastard."
• "Righteous and Pure, I do Every Man's Work."

Attacking

• "Die, dammit!"
• "Die in fire!"
• "Die, idiot!"
• "Take out his legs!"
• "I need more men!"
• "I'll read signs from your entrails!"
• "I'll feed your heart to the hounds!"
• "You're going down!" (when enemy is out of reach)
• "Watch it!" (when throwing a grenade or aiming a pistol)
• "We're not taking this one alive!"
• "We'll burn your body tonight!"
• "You're gonna bleed, damn you!"
• "Your spirit is failing!"
• "Your blood will be ours!"
• "Burn!"
• "A promotion for the man who kills this one."
• "Dieee!"
• "Take this!"
• "Take it!"

Protagonist's Death

• "Fish bait."
• "Rot in the void! The man you ended was a friend of mine, jackass!" (after a kill)

Dishonored 2

Idle Chat

• "It is here that we unite against the Spirits of the unknown that would drag us screaming into the night."
• "Restrict the Roving Feet that love to trespass."
• "Am I being presumptuous, hoping to cross paths with that Assassin?"

Alerted

• "Think I've spotted someone suspicious."
• "Think you're being quiet?"
• "Anyone here, show yourself!"
• "Huh?! That sounded like – broken glass?!" (when nearby glass is broken)
• "The Overseer you killed was faithful and dedicated, you worm." (when finding a dead Overseer)
• "One of us is down!" (when finding a dead Overseer)
• "You died serving the Abbey, brother." (when finding a dead Overseer)

Searching

• "Don't make me search the whole place, I don't have time for that."
• "I smell heresy!"

Detection

• "You’re not supposed to be here!"
• "What the? Stop!"
• "By the Strictures, isn't she the woman on the posters?" (Death of the Outsider only)

Returning to Idle

• "I'll get her/him next time."

Attacking

• "I'll stand against the faithless any day!"
• "Shame on you!"
• "Take it!"
• "I smell heresy on you..."
• "Accept your fate, miscreant!"
• "Come at me then. The strictures guide my hand!"
• "I'll perform rites over your corpse, blasphemer!"
• "I'll cure the world from the likes of you!"
• "Die heretic!"
• "Surrender and die!"
• "For the Abbey!"
• "Let him go!" (while an ally is being grabbed)
• "Clear!" (throwing or dodging grenades)
• "I have her/him in sight!" (aiming pistols)
• "Thank the strictures, an opportunity to cleanse Karnaca from the likes of you!" (when fighting Howlers)
• "You Howlers need to die!" (when fighting Howlers)
• "I’ll kill you for that!!" (when an ally is killed)
• "Revenge!!" (when an ally is killed)
• "You’re gonna pay for her/his death!" (when an ally is killed)
• "How dare you!" (when an ally is killed)
• "No, that hound was loyal to the Abbey!" (when a wolfhound is killed)

Reaction to Supernatural Abilities

• "By the Strictures!!"
• "That’s not natural!"

Trivia

• Originally, Overseers were designed as "Witch Hunters". Their original appearance was similar to the Puritans of 17th Century England.
• The mask of the Overseers resembles those of the Persian Immortals from 300.
• An outpost for abducted Overseer candidates can be found in the Back Yard at the Office of the High Overseer.
• During The Knife of Dunwall, Campbell sends a team of Overseers to the Flooded District to combat Daud's assassins. Corvo can find the remains of the squadron scattered throughout the district, but during the actual DLC, Daud can choose to spare or execute them as he sees fit.
• An Overseer outfit is available in The Brigmore Witches mission A Stay of Execution for Lizzy as a disguise if the "Overseer Daud" favor is purchased.
• Bundry Rothwild's younger brother was an Overseer candidate who allegedly failed the Trials of Aptitude and was put down.
• The Overseers appear to take part in a form of divination, as they claim they will "read signs on Corvo/Daud's entrails".
• The Overseers are a reference to the Order of the Hammer, or Hammerites, from the Thief games.^{[citation needed]} The Hammerites are religious zealots loyal to the Builder and enemies to worshipers of the Trickster, and are known for working as a police force before the City Watch.
• In some places where Overseers are present, they can be heard reciting the Seven Strictures.
• In the mission The Surge, two Overseers can be heard discussing how consuming rats is an offense against the Abbey. The prohibition of consuming rats and other vermin seems to be a part of the Abbey religious tradition, as it is mentioned on several occasions throughout the series.
• The collar of an Overseer's uniform resembles the collar of a priest's vestment.
• Overseers are the only character class that utilizes grenades.
  • A pistol-wielding Overseer can inflict friendly-fire damage upon his comrades should they obstruct his line of fire, which is common for enemies in the Dishonored franchise. This can be exploited to weaken the opposition if combat is unavoidable.
• Because Overseers share most of their voices and lines with the Watch Officers, their exclusive lines may be recited in a different voice than that used for their shared dialogue.
• Two City Watch Officers can be overheard in Lady Boyle's Last Party recalling an incident where a woman was supposed to sing for officers of the City Watch, but lost her voice right at the beginning.  Coincidentally, an Overseer patrol passed while blaring a music box right when the woman stopped singing. She was then tackled by the Overseers and detained as a witch. The Officers had to go to the Lord Regent and request a letter of pardon to get her released from the Abbey, saying that she "hasn't been the same since".
• It seems to be a common misconception that Overseers are not allowed to be married. However, Overseer Jasper is mentioned to have a wife, indicating that this may not be the case.
• Overseer masks from each nation in the Empire seem to have a different design: the masks of Oversees of Serkonos have different design from those of Gristol, and in Dishonored 2, during the Dust District mission, if Emily Kaldwin inspects the dentistry mannequin heads during Low Chaos, she comments on how they resemble the masks used by Overseers in Morley.

Gallery

Dishonored

Overseer face concept art.

Original "Witch Hunter" design.

Overseer model.

Overseer model.

Overseer mask render.

Overseers converse in Holger Square.

An Overseer patrols the kennels.

An Overseer aims his pistol at Corvo.

An ill Voracious attacks an Overseer.

An Overseer and Justice attack Corvo.

Corvo stabbing an Overseer.

An Overseer outside the Office of the High Overseer.

Archer, and another Overseer, searching for Campbell's black book.

Overseer Sturgess gives advice to three citizens.

A hostile Overseer.

Corvo in combat with an Overseer.

A Warfare Overseer.

An Overseer in the hallway of the Office of the High Overseer.

Berthold, an Overseer in the backyard.

Corvo fights an Overseer.

Corvo kills an Overseer in the Backyard.

An Overseer wielding a pistol.

Two Overseers attack another Overseer who has contracted the plague.

The infected Overseer being killed.

Close up of the infected Overseer being killed.

Overseer with a music box.

An Overseer uses a music box on Corvo.

An Overseer at the Boyle Mansion.

An alerted Overseer.

An Overseer and his hound at Dunwall Tower.

An Overseer in Dunwall Tower.

An Overseer with a sticky grenade on his face.

Gerard guards the safe room of Hiram Burrows.

Overseers in the Flooded District.

Close-up of an Overseer mask.

Close-up of an Overseer mask.

Close-up of Overseer sigil on sleeves.

An Overseer shooting another Overseer's head off.

Overseers that have captured Billie Lurk.

Daud fights Overseers at Slaughterhouse Row.

Overseers, captured and maskless.

A Whaler leading a captured Overseer.

Overseer Pradclif at Brigmore Manor.

An Overseer zapped by an arc mine.

An Overseer during the challenge Back Alley Brawl in Dunwall City Trials.

Promotional images of two Overseers for The Knife of Dunwall.

Dishonored 2

Concept art of the different Overseer attire in Dishonored 2.

A revised version of the previous concept art.

Render of overseer in Dishonored 2.

An Overseer in the streets of Karnaca.

An Overseer putting a comrade out of his misery.

Two Overseers executing two civillians.

A display made by the Howlers decorated with Overseer masks.

A dead Overseer in the Royal Conservatory.

An Overseer being attacked by bloodflies.

An Overseer fighting an albino wolfhound.

Overseers hung high in Dishonored 2.

Two dead Overseers hanging from hook mines.