Maker

The Maker was the being that created the fal'Cie and humans. When the Maker was on Gran Pulse, it was peaceful for both species. However, at one point the Maker left Pulse, beginning the events leading up to Final Fantasy XIII. The Maker is known as 'Hallowed Pulse' and 'the Goddess' in certain analects discovered on Pulse.

The Maker left the game's world long ago after creating the fal'Cie and humans. However, she still intervenes in the events of the game - turning Fang back to normal twice and destroying Barthandelus's deception that the l'Cie have become Cie'th.

The main scheme of the game's villain Barthandelus is to destroy Cocoon. He believes that the Maker will return once more if this happens because she can no longer ignore what is happening. The fal'Cie are now 'orphans' without their maker and so they desire her return above all else - thus leading them to all take part in the plan to destroy Cocoon.

The main cast in the game don't know about the Maker until late in Chapter 10. When they encounter Cid Raines in the Fifth Ark, Raines explains to them how the fal'Cie want to use Cocoon as a sacrifice so that they can get the Maker to return to Pulse. The fal'Cie cannot destroy Cocoon themselves for they are bound to its creation and maintenance, so instead they use l'Cie as tools and give them the Focus to destroy it in their place.

Later, Barthandelus presents them with a choice - they can either allow Cocoon to destroy itself from within through the conflicts between the Pulsian beasts, the Cavalry and PSICOM or confront Orphan, the main fal'Cie that holds Cocoon in place above Pulse, and allow the world to die painlessly.

Upon return to Eden, they discover that there are signs that the Goddess may return - strange crystal dust covers the air that Barthandelus claims signals the Maker and the great conflict taking place in Eden cannot be ignored by her for much longer.

Despite the fact that the l'Cie help to destroy Orphan, Fang and Vanille save Cocoon by becoming Ragnarok and erecting a huge crystal structure to stop Cocoon crashing into Pulse. Thus, Cocoon is not destroyed and the Goddess's return is seemingly prevented.

Trivia

 * In the Japanese version, the characters talk about "God" rather than "the Maker."