Lindzei

Lindzei (リンゼ, Rinze) is a god from the Gran Pulse mythology of Final Fantasy XIII.

II. Lindzei's Nest
And lo, the viper Lindzei bore fangs into the pristine soil of our Gran Pulse; despoiled the land and from it crafted a cocoon both ghastly and unclean. Lies spilled forth from the serpent's tongue: 'Within this shell lies paradise.' Men heard these lies and were seduced and led away. O cursed are the fools who trust a snake and turn their backs upon the bounty of Pulse's hallowed land! For those who dwell in that cocoon are not Men, but slaves of the demon Lindzei. Ye who honor Pulse: rise unto the heavens, and cast down the viper's nest!

-- Author unknown

VIII. Fell Lindzei
As our fal'Cie are the children of Hallowed Pulse, so are the fal'Cie who lurk within Cocoon the brood of Lindzei. But all gods are not alike. Lindzei is cunning and false; sovereign to snakes and fiends; an anathema to be abhorred. Cocoon fal'Cie are of Fell Lindzei's line, yet that did not spare them. They were betrayed all the same; left orphans when their Succubus fled this earthly realm.

-- A Call to Arms

Profile
Lindzei is first mentioned in the Analects as the creator of Cocoon. Because the Analects are written from the Pulsian point of view, Lindzei is portrayed with contempt and hatred, frequently referred to as the "serpent", "viper", the "Succubus", the demon, and also "Fell Lindzei".

According to the Analects, Lindzei created Cocoon from pieces of land taken from Gran Pulse's soil. From then on Lindzei borne other fal'Cie within Cocoon, and invited mankind to live there, calling it paradise. Pulsians believed those who live in Cocoon are no more but Lindzei's slave.

However, after a certain time, the VIII. Analect records that Lindzei left Cocoon and the fal'Cie, betraying them altogether, leaving them orphaned.

In Final Fantasy XIII Episode Zero: Promise Part VII: Tomorrow, Lindzei is said to have destroyed everything on Gran Pulse. It is said that Lindzei tore down the mountains, razed the fertile land, ate the fruits of the earth, pulled up the river and cast it down, washing away the people and creatures of the land. The two children that survived the attack by Lindzei could possibly be Vanille and Fang.

The Final Fantasy XIII Ultimania Omega reveals that the statues in the Orphan's Cradle's Narthex Throne are that of Lindzei and Lindzei's symbol is the Cocoon l'Cie brand; the same brand of which can be seen on Cocoon's fal'Cie. Interestingly, the statues of Lindzei appear female, even if Etro is the only deity referred to as "goddess" during the game. The statue itself also resembles the Cocoon l'Cie brand.

Etymology
Lindzei may be derived from the common name Lindsey or Lindsay, which is a unisex name or Gaelic origin associated with lakes and islands, or specifically islands of Linden trees.