| “ | Come closer. Fear not, for though you are already dead, I still have need of you. | „ |
| ~ The One Who Waits giving the Lamb another chance after the latter's death. |
| “ | He was unalike the rest of his kin. While others dealt with flux; chaos, famine, pestilence, war. Things in which their constancy must transpose. And yet he was the inevitable; the obstinate and irresistible. The one who waits. Truly peculiar, 'twould then seem, has appetency to invite the novel and the new, break ancient vow and primordial bond alike. Traditions stagnate and appetites augment, nonetheless. Doubt tears faith asunder. | „ |
| ~ Haro talking about the One Who Waits. |
| “ | Bonds of familial duty, turned instead to chains. Most voracious of appetites, curbed and contained. Most infectious of ideas cut of and cauterised before given chance to rot and spread. Cruel, verily. Alas, what other recourse was given? How does one kill Death? ... Alas. One cannot. | „ |
| ~ Haro talking about the One Who Waits' imprisonment. |
Narinder, better known as The One Who Waits, is the main antagonist of the 2022 roguelite video game Cult of the Lamb. Formerly one of the Bishops of the Old Faith, The One Who Waits was sealed away after betraying his siblings. To obtain his revenge and freedom, he gave his crown to the Lamb.
Personality[]
The One Who Waits acts cordial towards the Lamb, even if a bit imperative. However, this kindness is a mere act as he's actually a violent and power-hungry god who's willing to sacrifice the Lamb for his own freedom, and becomes absolutely furious if the Lamb refuses to return the Red Crown to him. Even if the Lamb obeys at the end, he kills them by sadistically breaking their limbs one by one, showing how little their service really meant to him. Even as the Lamb's follower he tends to belittle them and their leadership decisions, though he often does or says things that are out of character due to still mostly behaving like a regular follower NPC.
He doesn't seem to care much about the vessels that worked under him before the Lamb, even complimenting the Lamb if the latter sacrifices Ratau to the Red Fox because the old rat was "weak". He also doesn't care for his attendants Baal and Aym.
He also clearly despises his siblings, although he does seem to like Leshy's realm. It's also shown that, despite everything, he still holds some genuine care for Shamura, and as a follower he asks the Lamb if his sibling wept when they died and if they knew it was their end, and becomes oddly quiet if the spider silk (which, in his own words, reminds him of Shamura) is given to him, seemingly showing he does at least feel some remorse for what he did to them.
Biography[]
Sometime in the past, The One Who Waits bargained with the Mystic Seller and became a god.
Back when he was still known as Narinder, The One Who Waits was the fifth Bishop of the Old Faith and ruled alongside his siblings as one of the last remaining gods in the Lands of the Old Faith. However, as centuries went by, he grew ambitious due to growing discontent with his role and beginning to question, as well as having been introduced to the ideas of change by his sibling Shamura. Furthermore, as explained by Shamura once they’re healed, Narinder’s gifts of immortality would make them popular with the mortals, granting them more followers and strength beyond their siblings’ bounds. Because of this, the other Bishops chained him in another realm, though they were all horribly wounded in the process.
In the attempt to obtain revenge against his siblings and be free once more, The One Who Waits sent various vessels against his siblings, all using the power of his Red Crown, and all failing. At some point, Forneus' children, Baal and Aym, were sacrificed to him by Shamura, and he raised them to be his servants.
When the last lamb in the Lands was killed, The One Who Wait made sure that they would reach him in the realm serving as his prison, promising the Lamb to revive them and grant them incredible power in exchange for the latter making a cult in his name. After the Lamb accepted, The One Who Waits gave the Lamb the Red Crown, making him into his new vessel.
Unlike the previous wearers of the Red Crown, the Lamb was successful in the task of killing the Four Bishops. However, when the time to return the Red Crown to The One Who Wait came, the latter kidnapped the Lamb's flock and revealed that he intends to sacrifice the Lamb to reach true freedom, and asks them to return the crown and accept their fate.
If the Lamb does return the Red Crown, The One Who Waits breaks free from himself and brutally kills the Lamb, before presumably doing the same with the rest of the flock. Should the Lamb however refuse, The One Who Waits becomes furious and, after his two servants fail to kill the Lamb, he breaks free and attempts to end them himself, even taking a monstrous form as the fight goes on. Once the Lamb defeats him, The One Who Waits loses his divinity, asking whether they will be vengeful or merciful towards them, and pointing out that the Lamb can no longer blame him for their actions.
If the Lamb decides to kill him, The One Who Waits remarks how they are no different from him before finally being killed. If the Lamb instead decides to spare him, The One Who Waits will freak out before being sent back to the Lamb's base. From here on, he will serve the Lamb as one of their followers, and though no longer a god, he is still immortal.
If previously killed by the Lamb, The One Who Waits will eventually be brought back to life by the Mystic Seller after the latter defeats the Bishops a second time, meaning he inevitably ends up as a follower of the Lamb either way.
Quotes[]
| “ | So, you fed Ratau to the wolves. Your treacherous opportunism has far exceeded my expectations. Ratau was an adequate servant, yet lacked the ruthlessness you have so eloquently displayed. He renounced his position after striking a bargain that resulted in the sacrifice of a Follower. He was weak, and allowed my Temple to descend into ruin. I see that is not a problem you share. I sent Ratau to aid you, but this pleases me greatly. A great Vessel takes their master's will as their own. Very well done. | „ |
| ~ The One Who Waits if the Lamb has sacrificed Ratau to the Red Fox. |
| “ | Vessel, I relinquish you from your service to the Red Crown. Return it to me, and embrace the end that awaits. With this last sacrifice of my most devoted Follower, I will be freed. Finally... I will be FREE! Approach, vessel, and lay your life down at my feet. | „ |
| ~ The One Who Waits asking the Lamb to return the Red Crown to him. |
| “ | So you have betrayed me, Lamb. You have shunned my gospel, and claimed yourself a false idol. The crown is mine by divine right! You think to stand in the very face of death? | „ |
| ~ The One Who Waits if the Lamb refuses to return the Red Crown to him. |
| “ | You have supplanted me. A vessel no more, instead a crown bearing deity. Damned Lamb! I am at your mercy, are you to be a vengeful false idol, or a merciful coward? No longer can you blame your vile acts on me. | „ |
| ~ The One Who Waits after being defeated. |
| “ | Hmf. Baal and Aym? I did not take them. They were given. Intended as keepers, perhaps, but they were young and in need of guidance. Must I be blamed for my influence? Salvaged from the void, they are yours now. Do what you wish, scornful God. I care not for them. | „ |
| ~ The One Who Waits if Baal and Aym are brought back to life. |
Gallery[]
Game[]
Trivia[]
- Within the game's data, his follower ID is 666, with this being the Number of the Beast.
- It's common among fans to ship him (in his follower form) with the Lamb. This is because The One Who Waits can actually be married as a follower.
- He represents the Horseman of Death.
- Him being chained represents the phrase "Do No Evil".
- The One Who Waits is the middle child among his siblings.
- He is the only one of the Bishops to initially fight the Lamb in his base form instead of immediately using his eldritch form.
External Links[]
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 Villains
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Cult of the Lamb Old Faith | ||