Lindzei

Lindzei (リンゼ) is a fal'Cie deity from the mythology of Fabula Nova Crystallis: Final Fantasy. It is the deity said to have created the fal'Cie of Cocoon in Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2. It is only ever mentioned by name in the Analects section of the Datalog in Final Fantasy XIII, and in a name of a fragment in Final Fantasy XIII-2.

Lindzei's gender is ambiguous, because even if the statues depicting it in Final Fantasy XIII are feminine, they may be based on its fal'Cie's image of a mother, and thus may not depict Lindzei's appearance accurately. Lindzei is also referred to as a succubus in one of the Analects, which is a female demon. The original Japanese version of the mythology uses gender-neutral pronouns. Etro is the only deity in Fabula Nova Crystallis: Final Fantasy to be specified as a goddess, and is often referred to as "the" goddess, giving the impression she is the only female deity out of the three, Pulse, Lindzei and Etro. However, most of the information on Etro in the games is from the point of view of the Farseers, who worship Etro as their patron deity. Lindzei is represented by the Jack in the card games in Serendipity, a male symbol.

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

Mythology
According to the official Fabula Nova Crystallis: Final Fantasy mythology, Lindzei was created by a god known as Bhunivelze. Bhunivelze had destroyed his mother, Mwynn, in order to become the sole ruler of the world. Mwynn was thus banished in the realm of the dead. Afterward, Bhunivelze came to believe Mwynn had cursed the world to mean all things would one day die, including him. Desiring immortality, he wanted to destroy Mwynn in the realm of the dead for good. In order to do this, Bhunivelze created three fal'Cie of his own, Pulse, Lindzei and Etro. Even though the mythology calls the three "fal'Cie", they are known as gods by the people of the world of Final Fantasy XIII.

While Pulse was given the task of creating the world of Final Fantasy XIII and to find the door to the realm of the dead, and Etro was given no powers at all, Lindzei was given the task of protecting Bhunivelze from all who might want to destroy him. Bhunivelze then crystallized himself to sleep until his creations succeed in finding a way for him to enter the world of the dead. Before doing this Bhunivelze gave Lindzei a special task: to wake him once the time would come.

Lindzei and Pulse created many fal'Cie of their own; Pulse in order to expand the world, and Lindzei to protect it. Humankind was born out of Etro's sacrifice. The humans came to worship Pulse as their all-powerful ruler, and Lindzei as their protector, and Etro they called the Goddess of Death.

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 bore other fal'Cie within Cocoon, and invited mankind to live there, calling it paradise. Pulsians believed those who live in Cocoon are no more than Lindzei's slaves.

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.

The Ultimania further reveals the female figure in Orphan's first form represents Lindzei as Barthandelus envisions it, but differs from Lindzei's actual appearance and is more sinister. This Lindzei figure is depicted with a serpentine tail, fitting as the Pulse legends portray Lindzei as a viper.

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

Trivia

 * Orphan's true form features Barthandelus as a 'fatherly' figure and his own version of Lindzei as a 'motherly' figure.
 * The Gate that are shown whenever the party is leaving or entering Cocoon seems to have been modeled after Lindzei.
 * The mark of Lindzei is seen at some of the walls of The Palamecia.