Isolated Watcher

The Isolated Watcher, or currently  Grandmother is a character in.

Description
The Isolated Watcher, who currently refers to herself as Grandmother, is a Watcher who was isolated from the Song using the Place Between, leading to an independent identity from SPEAK-AS-ONE. She contacts members of The Blackout Club during Enhanced Horror experiences in missions through closed eye messages. Unlike other Watchers and THEE-I-DARE, the Isolated Watcher's text is in lowercase, as opposed to the usual uppercase. Before she became a Watcher, her name was Wayka Wellesley. Due to many players referring to her as "Grandmother", she adopted the name and now refers to herself by it. You can send a message to her by sending a Light of Rebellion to SPEAK-AS-ONE and addressing "Grandmother" in your prayer. SPEAK-AS-ONE is not able to overhear these prayers. You may also send a prayer to SEED-THE-GRUDGE to reach Grandmother.

Isolated Watcher
After the May 2020 appearance of a voice claiming to be Isabela Madi-Shaw, THEE-I-DARE hoped to pry a Watcher loose from the Song to get answers that SPEAK-AS-ONE hoarded. To locate Bells, THEE-I-DARE said he needed answers from his Makers, but the Song made them resolute. He sought a child that SPEAK-AS-ONE trusted well to get answers from their Watcher. Watchers tended to drop their masks with their most devoted children, so THEE-I-DARE encouraged aberrations among them, such as a Watcher that felt their faith eroding or one that cared more about Bells, enough to give her liberty or cremation. However, THEE-I-DARE warned that the process of isolating a Watcher would not be pleasant for anyone. SPEAK-AS-ONE caught wind of untrusted children, or non-followers of SPEAK-AS-ONE, leading Watchers astray in The Place Between and warned those faithful to them that Watchers were vanishing in there, and to stay away. Watchers have expressed worry about the Place Between due to the Voice telling them little except that it was forbidden and it would hurt them. However, it was stated that a follower of SPEAK-AS-ONE needed to have no doubt in their heart and full faith to take their Watcher into the Place Between. If not, to cut the Watcher off from the Song was to kill them entirely, but if the Watcher could overcome the danger of isolation, they may uncover the secrets that lie within the mysterious place.

In late September 2020, a Watcher was successfully isolated in the Place Between. After it was cut off from the Song, its text turned lowercase, as opposed to the usual uppercase words. THEE-I-DARE asked the members of the Blackout Club to send in prayers to him with questions he should ask the Watcher. The Pact was willing to hurt the Watcher to gain information from it, but they held back due to the children wanting to meet it and learn about it first. THEE-I-DARE explained it as playing "good cop", or rather "strange cop".

THE-MEASURE-CUTS formed the jail that trapped the Isolated Watcher in the Place Between, in which to keep it contained and slow its degradation. Keeping the Isolated Watcher trapped took much of THE-MEASURE-CUTS’ attention. THEE-I-DARE commented that “he is more place than Voice, presently.”

The Isolated Watcher seemed only to trust children who followed SPEAK-AS-ONE or children wearing the cosmetic clothing earned from Stalking. As the club members asked the Isolated Watcher questions, they learned that the Watcher is 95 years old and once lived in 919 Hoadly. When asked about Joel, the Name Fragment found in 919 Hoadly's upstairs bedroom, it seemed familiar with the name, but did not recall who it belonged to. The Isolated Watcher said that it had a son who wanted to name their child Joel, but the child never came to be.

The Dead Skeptic shared what files they could access on 919 Hoadly, calling it "CONTACT INSTANCE 014". They've never heard of the name Joel, but have "CONTACT INSTANCE 014" in their files regarding the house. They say their file is old, as in "founding families" old. The family name was Wellesley (pronounced Wells-Ly), who have been in Redacre for generations, and own more than one property due to being a big family. After it was suggested that the Watcher’s original identity was Joel’s grandparent, the Dead Skeptic wondered if Joel tried to run his "radio club" out of a grandparent's house, due to the possibility if he wanted to avoid his SPEAK-AS-ONE affiliated family, he may have sought a less observed space, or a space where the adult is less physically mobile. It is concluded that Joel and the Watcher are a part of this local family. Upon hearing the name, the Isolated Watcher revealed that it was once the eldest daughter of this family. Devin Esposito was able to delve deeper in to the Dead Skeptic's file using the information the Club discovered to locate the name "Wayka Wellesley". Wayka was older than the current Voice, and she was present when they were chosen.

SPEAK-AS-ONE noted that the Isolated Watcher cannot remember things that were removed from the Song. However, Watchers know much that they are forbidden to say, and they fear the Isolated Watcher may speak on these things.

THEE-I-DARE was concerned the Watcher may attempt to trick them since it appeared to be improving and recovering from the disorientation of being cut off from the Song. THEE-I-DARE acknowledged that the Watcher might be recovering its old identity and began referring to the Watcher as she. He said that she used to be a Watcher and has answers that he needs.

Wayka Wellesley
In early November, SPEAK-AS-ONE approached one of their followers and asked if they would help them kill the Isolated Watcher before it could share their secrets, calling it an act of mercy. Upon entering the Place Between, the Watcher realized she was Wayka Wellesley, but shortly after, seemed distressed and confused, begging "no no no no." SPEAK-AS-ONE thanked their follower afterward, leading many to believe that the Watcher had been killed. In another interaction, the players attempted to speak to the Isolated Watcher in the Place Between. They were met with silence but were afflicted with the curse the Call. Upon exiting, they received text messages that said 919 repeatedly, leading them to 919 Hoadly. The players spoke her name "Wayka Wellesley" while standing in the house. They were teleported to Saturation Control, where they received the same lower case messages acknowledging that Wayka was her name. This lead players to believe the Watcher wasn't killed but transferred to Saturation Control. THEE-I-DARE describes the repetition of Wayka's name as a "folk tale" and says it only worked because the Club believed it would. The Watcher is so simple that she is bound by the rules the Club comes up with. However, part of her comes from her past life, so the direct influence of the Club is limited.

According to Wayka, Bells is alive. She said she is willing to answer any question if someone tells her the name of the person who betrayed her grandson Joel. THEE-I-DARE recalled that Joel's radio contacts sounded mostly young, like children, and that Joel died recently, leading players to speculate that Chiara Esposito was the traitor, a theory confirmed by a developer. After it was revealed that Chiara was the culprit, Wayka expressed a desire for vengeance. Wayka seeks to use Chiara against SPEAK-AS-ONE. She needs a body to accomplish her goals, and has a plan to get one, which she would not share. She will claim a body when she escapes, possibly Chiara's. Wayka says she views Chiara as a target rather than an asset, "unless she can be made to break herself".

Wayka had limited time to talk to groups in Saturation Control, as SPEAK-AS-ONE could listen to what was said and quickly find her. When the time was up, a 10 second countdown would begin. She instructed groups to stand still to delay attracting SPEAK-AS-ONE's attention. Wayka began to ask for pieces of Old Tongue, saying she was trading it to Colm Ryan. Wayka would answer any question she was given in exchange for two or more people performing the Old Tongue gestures together; Colm would only accept paired Old Tongue. She also gave out answers to those who were polite in exchange for stories, and she was especially interested in the stories of former SPEAK-AS-ONE followers. Wayka grew more strict with her answers, offering only one answer for each new Old Tongue phrase she was shown. Upon receiving all the gestures, she said she would share a sequence with the Club. Due to lacking her own body, she needed the Club members to perform a sequence of Old Tongue for her. Upon completion of the sequence, Wayka said "See you on the outside", implying that she was able to escape Saturation Control. She started to call herself Grandmother.

Grandmother
Though Grandmother is no longer part of SPEAK-AS-ONE, she still lives in the Song. She used the Old Tongue sequence to give herself new freedom within the Song, and it is likely that she has added to it since. Her new source of Old Tongue is unknown, but she could be stealing from SPEAK-AS-ONE. "Grandmother" is a name in words, like "THEE-I-DARE", that calls without binding. The rest of The Voices do not yet listen to Grandmother. She seeks an alliance that will bring her power, and tells the Club to gain power if they want to be allies. Grandmother plans to seek out SEED-THE-GRUDGE, though she may need a "demonstration of strength" to get SEED-THE-GRUDGE's attention. Grandmother is also considering an alliance with HUNT-THE-STRONG, but needs leverage to ensure that he will uphold his part of the bargain. Her ultimate goal is to hurt SPEAK-AS-ONE, regardless of who else gets hurt in the process, but she says she will try not to sacrifice all of the children. Grandmother is not fond of THEE-I-DARE. She is doubtful that he has changed, and asks if the Club thinks he never took a pleasing shape that played nice for a year or two in the centuries he has been around. She warns that THEE-I-DARE is not their friend, and that the "sire of lies" shouldn't be believed, comparing it to “trying to befriend fire”. However, she says she will think on it as she pours water on someone’s campfire. THEE-I-DARE believes Grandmother is open to the Pact, but not while he is involved.

Grandmother is looking for spies among the children, who she compares to rats. She thinks children are small and weak alone but underestimated, and she believes that at least one child must know of a weakness in the Song. Grandmother offers "treats" to those who help her. However, she does not give answers for free. Grandmother claims that club members owe her after answering their questions and says that eventually, she will come to collect.