Marked by the Outsider

Lore & Background

Despite its power, the mark is a double-edged sword. It attracts the attention of the Abbey of the Everyman, a zealous religious order dedicated to eradicating witchcraft and the influence of the Outsider. To the common citizenry, the brand is a symbol of heresy and danger, often leading to persecution or execution if discovered by authorities. Yet, for those who embrace it, the mark represents freedom from the constraints of mortal law and physics, allowing them to reshape the world around them in ways that defy natural logic.

In Their Own Story

The rain slicked the cobblestones of Dunwall's Lower Wards as Corvo stared at his left hand. The spiral brand pulsed with a faint, violet light, humming against the cold dampness. He could feel the Outsider watching from the edges of his vision, a silent observer waiting to see if he would become a weapon or a savior. With a flicker of intent, the world seemed to bend; shadows lengthened unnaturally, and the air grew heavy with static. He was no longer just a man in a city of rats and whalers; he was a conduit for something ancient and terrible.

Reader's Guide

The narrative arc begins when an individual is offered the mark by the Outsider, usually during a moment of desperate need or profound loss. This act immediately grants them access to supernatural abilities but also places them in direct conflict with the Abbey of the Everyman and other enemies who view such power as abhorrent. As the story progresses, the marked individual must navigate political intrigue, assassination plots, and personal vendettas while mastering their new powers. The mark allows for unique gameplay mechanics where choices regarding chaos level influence the world's fate. High chaos often leads to a grim, oppressive atmosphere with more enemies, while low chaos fosters a hopeful restoration of order. Ultimately, the impact of being marked determines the destiny of entire nations. Whether the bearer uses their powers to restore justice or unleash destruction shapes the timeline, resulting in different endings where the city either flourishes under new leadership or crumbles into anarchy and plague.

Did You Know?

• The mark's placement varies: Corvo Attano and Emily Kaldwin bear it on their right hands, Billie Lurk on her left, whereas Daud is the notable exception with it on his right.
• Bearing the mark does not guarantee success, and canonical evidence shows that some marked individuals—such as the unnamed marked person in 'The Corroded Man' novel—have been captured or killed by the Abbey of the Everym
• Contrary to popular belief, the mark's glow does not attract rats or weepers; Weepers are blind and react only to sound, while rats are drawn to blood or noise rather than light.
• The mark is permanent and cannot be removed, even through intervention or rituals.

Origins and Mythos

The Outsider exists as a supernatural entity residing within the Void, an empty otherworldly dimension distinct from the physical realm. Unlike traditional deities created by cosmic forces, his origin story reveals he was once a human street urchin who was forcibly sacrificed by a cult against his will. This ritual transformed him into one of many representations of the Void, granting him god-like status while trapping him in an eternal state. His backstory draws thematic parallels to the ancient Greek concept of the pharmakos, a sacrificial figure used to purge societal impurities. Despite these divine attributes, director Harvey Smith has explicitly denied categorizing him as a trickster god, suggesting a more complex nature rooted in tragedy and forced ascension rather than capricious mischief.

Narrative Role Across Games

First introduced through promotional webisodes like The Tales from Dunwall, the character made his interactive debut in Dishonored (2012), where he grants magical abilities to Corvo Attano after a dream visitation. He continues this role in Dishonored 2 (2016), though with a significant twist: players can now choose to reject his mark and powers entirely, adding a layer of agency not present previously. In the sequel, he also provides the living heart containing Empress Jessamine's spirit. The narrative arc concludes in Death of the Outsider (2017), where former assassin Billie Lurk is tasked with hunting him down. Here, he forcibly marks Billie to aid her quest, only for the player to decide whether to kill him or spare his life based on discovering that his mark represents a forgotten name.

Performance and Evolution

The character's vocal portrayal underwent a significant transition between game releases. Billy Lush provided the voice for the Outsider in the original Dishonored and its downloadable content, establishing the entity's enigmatic tone. For Dishonored 2, Arkane Studios replaced him with Robin Lord Taylor, marking Taylor's first video game role outside of live-action performance. Although Lush appeared in the reveal trailer, he was not contacted for further work on the sequel. To prepare, Taylor studied Lush's previous recordings and received extensive lore details from the developers to maintain continuity while refining the character's silhouette and presence. This shift allowed for a fresh interpretation of the entity as the story progressed toward its potential conclusion.

Thematic Significance and Reception

Critics and analysts have frequently debated the Outsider's symbolic meaning, often linking him to themes of choice, free will, and the open-ended gameplay mechanics of the series. While some view him as a classic trickster figure, others interpret his forced sacrifice and subsequent existence as a commentary on the cost of power and the burden of divinity. The character has received mixed reviews; some praise his mysterious allure and narrative function, while others criticize his ambiguity or lack of traditional moral alignment. His shrines throughout the games serve not only as gameplay checkpoints but also as moments for reflection, where he comments on player actions without dictating a specific path, reinforcing the franchise's focus on consequence over judgment.