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Ithaqua, also known as the Night Watch and formerly known as Eta Vilulf,[1] is one of 34 playable Hunters added to Identity V.
This page is a compilation of lore and story content for this character.
Backstory[]
Character Introduction[]
It is believed that every winter, the sound of thunderous footsteps echoes from the depths of the forest, shrouded by a snowstorm. In the silence of the winter night, a chilling voice can be clearly heard.
The unlucky ones might witness the starry sky suddenly obscured by a massive, dark cloud with a human-like profile. Above the figure's body appears an angry, distorted face—almost human, but twisted and monstrous. Giant horns jut out amid the swirling wind and snow, while withered hair streams behind like ghostly tendrils. Two bright, deep purple stars shine where its eyes should be.
According to the few survivors, those found by Ithaqua are ruthlessly hunted and tormented. Some victims are even transformed into monsters like Ithaqua, doomed to wander the snowy forest forever, dragging feet burned by the freezing cold.[6]
Weibo Post[]
The witch hunts had already begun to dissipate in civilized society, yet in the Far North, such evil condemnations spread like the Black Death.
The people of the Far North held this doctrine to ensure every inch of their land would be "pure" - "If she lives a disastrous life, she resides with the demons; if she acts solemn, she clearly has something to hide; if she is infertile, she has already been corrupted at heart; if she bears a deceased child, then clearly, she bears the child of a demon..."
Glancing at the dead younger twin brother his wife gave birth to, the Magistrate Norwell naturally did not want to suffer condemnation himself. Therefore, he told the story that "the Norwell family gave birth to only one boy tonight."
And that seemingly lifeless baby, thrown into the forest in a raging blizzard, regained his heartbeat. He then regained a mother, who escaped the forest clutching a jug of salad[TN 2]. It was a pity that just as how a bonfire could not keep alight for long in a snowstorm, solitary peaceful life in the woods would never last - the adopted youth, who had now reached adulthood[TN 1], never understood why his mother, a devout believer of God, would be beaten by the intruders as a "demon", nor did he know why the mother who taught him language and culture was unable to utter a half a single word to the intruders. What he did know, however, was that the leader of the men who took his mother had a face almost identical to his. This could help him rescue her.
Infiltrating them was unexpectedly easy. He naively assumed that helping his mother escape would not pose a struggle, only to find that the methods of torture they had subjected her to were of greater evil than the plots of demons... And when he regained consciousness, the prison was already silent, the heavy scent of blood drifting through the air. Yet he saw the scene as something similar to a church - what he saw at that moment, at that time, was true purity.
But nevertheless, his revelation came too late. His mother's humanity withered before dawn. He brought his mother through the blizzard, back to their home deep within the woods, and whispered to her the words she had once sung to him: "sleep, mother, I'll watch the night. Don't be scared; I promise there will never be another living being near you."
When foolishness becomes the root of evil, civilization protects none. He chose to shed his human shell and return to the root of foolishness, becoming the fear of fools - Ithaqua. And as for his real name, perhaps the only person left in this world who knows it can no longer call out for him. But to him, that's no longer important.[7]
Character Relations Menu[]
In the lands of civilization, the witch hunt has long since subsided, while in the barbaric nations of the north, the judgment of evil is still spreading like the black death.
The people of the north still abide by the religious conventions to preserve the sanctity of this land. "If her life is in disorder, she is in the company of the devil; if she acts with dignity, it's obviously feigned; if she is barren, she is tainted both physically and mentally; if she gives birth to a stillborn baby, it is most definitely the spawn of the devil..."
As he gazed at the stillborn among the twins, Norwell, who was once a magistrate, would naturally not allow judgment to be fall himself. He told everyone, "Only one baby boy was born in the Norwell family tonight."
As for the stillborn with no vital signs, its heart started beating anew upon being thrown into the Forest of Blizzard, and it gained a mother who fled into the forest with a strigae pot. Unfortunately, bonfires never last for long in a snowstorm, and their warm life hidden away in the forest is bound to be destroyed. The boy who had grown into a young man now couldn't understand why his mother who praised the gods would be branded a demon by the intruders, or why his mother who'd taught him morality and how to read was unable to utter a single complete sentence to the intruders. All he did know was that the one who led the group which took his mother had an almost identical face to his own, and it would be the key to rescuing his mother.
Sneaking through the crowd went unexpectedly well, so he naively thought that everything would return to normal once he took his mother and fled. Yet he was shocked to see those madmen torturing his mother in ways worse than the devil ever could! When he came back to his senses, the prison was deathly silent while the stench of blood filled the air. He felt that, compared to the church, this place was truly clean right now.
No matter what, he was too late, and his mother's humanity had been lost before dawn. He brought her back to their home deep within the Forest of Blizzard, and he whispered softly to her, just as she'd put him to sleep every night, "Sleep, my mother. I will keep watch at night. Fear not for the living to approach you again."
When ignorance becomes the root of evil, civilization can protect no one. He chose to shed the shell of humanity, returning to the most primal savagery—to become the embodiment of fear in the mouths of the ignorant: Ithaqua. As for his true name... perhaps the only person in the world who knew it could no longer speak it aloud. And to him, that no longer mattered.
Character Trailer[]
Trailer Transcript[]
On that night the blizzard laid waste to the Plateau of Leng
She brought light before my "corpse"
She could have told me the bitter truth
So that I could escape the intolerable surge of emotions
She could have gouged out my eyes
So that I could not see
The demons of hell in the skin of gods
Or his ugly face that is so alike my own
But it matters not for the secret is forever buried
After all corpses do not speak
But the price of it all
Her humanity fell into the bowels of the "gods"
Fret not, mother
The hunt of the "gods"
Ended on the night the blizzard laid waste to the Plateau of Leng[8]
Deduction Quests[]
All completed Objectives reward the player with +335 Logic points for the Logic Path. After the character's deductions are completed, their Worn Clothes will be available.
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Letters[]
This section contains the letters the player receives after completing Ithaqua Vilulf's Character Day Event on December 7th each year. After the event they can be accessed in the file section of the character's Notebook page.
A Stack of Unsent Letters to Home (2024)[]
(It's speculated that this stack of 18th-century letters was frequently examined. The papers are worn and damaged to varying degrees. Below are excerpts from the organized and restored legible text.)
[I]
The star cluster of Vilulf will fall into the fourth house, symbolizing the law of "disintegration." This powerful force compels the life chart to discard the old and embrace the new—not in a gentle manner like a snake shedding its skin, but rather with the sudden breaking of a dragon bone, causing thousands of tons of iron and wood to sink to the depths of the sea.
—The prophecy of the star atlas foretells suffering. My brave Ragnar, how have you fared?
You were still young when I left Medan[TN 3], yet I believed you would ultimately choose to follow the old man and navigate the oceans. I have no idea where to send this letter, but I trust that the power of the universe will carry my thoughts to you as I write under the moon.
I hope that when you gaze up at it, your spirit will be stirred to heed my guidance:
Ragnar, do not attempt to conquer lands with ships. Our era has passed.
Ragnar, gather our people and leave the Indian Ocean. Head north to Scandinavia, where you can rest and recuperate for at least a century.
Ragnar, I do not wish for you to abandon your beliefs, but please understand that the rationality and morality of humanity form the true foundation of a just society. A well-ordered world is the only environment where true freedom can thrive, and it is this discipline that will illuminate the world with the light of civilization.
...
[II]
Back then, the old man often said that in the brief span of life, you and I would eventually be gone; he urged us to be bolder.
I understood that he was imparting the values of our family—honor, freedom, adventure, and the spirit of resilience. Yet, his words also inspired me to explore an alternate path in life. I found solace by the shore, wisdom in books, energy in the city, and peace in the wilderness. Amid the winds of the grasslands, I discovered a different kind of faith that resonated deeply with my soul. Had the old man known, he would have deemed me a traitor and perhaps even broken my legs. But the call of the north was undeniable, and it held true transcendence and meaning, guided by the sea of stars.
However, my journey was far from smooth. The remote northern lands were as perilous as the sea, filled with their own brutalities and sins. Each time I offered seed pods to pregnant women or rowan berries to those in need, I felt the watchful eyes of the local church committee upon me. The already tense atmosphere became dangerously charged, forcing me to move on before I could linger too long.
Ragnar, you might think I am struggling. Lagertha, who once fought valiantly before you, now lives like a deserter, avoiding bloodshed. Yet, I find myself questioning whether my true self ever existed at sea. The concept of "my true self" is fluid, and the quest to "become my true self" is a journey without end.
...
[III]
I believe I have discovered a piece of the "meaning." I have named him Eta.
The star η Ursae Majoris hangs in the northern sky, serving as my guide. Remarkably, this star has led me to this young life. He is intelligent and tenacious, possessing the courage and strength to stand firm. Unlike you, his strength is deeply internalized, making him perhaps more like me. The old man valued character above lineage, and he would surely recognize Ithaqua as a member of our clan. So, when you come to visit, please remember to address him by his name: Eta Vilulf[9]. As for me, I might not be able to wait for your arrival, as the star atlas indicates I must travel far after three years. But he is still so young. Will a few years together be enough for him to learn to thrive on his own?
...
[IV]
Dear Ragnar,I am truly happy to hear that your astrolabe is back on track! This is a promising sign. Eta has kept me from stargazing for quite some time, possibly because he was worried about my strange behavior when I predicted that my star cluster would fall into the fourth house. He tends to treat me like a fragile being who can't manage even the simplest tasks. I wonder how he would react if he knew his mother was the second mate on the Medan.
But I digress. You are on your way to the peninsula, are you not?
This change has taken fifteen years longer than I initially expected. Perhaps I should adjust my interpretation: everything has a natural trajectory toward improvement. "Disintegration" can signify both the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. By recalibrating the ego's inertial patterns, one can harness a powerful regenerative force. Just like the treasures controlled by Pluto can only be unearthed amid peril, as long as you stay steadfast in the face of danger, you will ultimately prevail.
Perhaps the danger I foresaw is not destruction after all; it may nurture life and grant me a few more years with him.
Forever your family,
Lagertha Vilulf
A Bundle of Family Letters and Journal Fragments (2025)[]
[Family Letter Fragment I]
While out hunting yesterday, the boy said he heard a whisper in the wind. He followed that murmur and came upon a stag, strayed from its herd. His strange senses grow ever keener; it may aid him in the forest, yet it bodes no good. Ragnar, do you remember Captain Todd? He claimed it was the muttering of the storm that saved him, only to throw himself into the sea in the end, his mind quite undone. To set out guided by instinct alone, without faith or reason, is perilous in the extreme. I cannot bear the thought that Ithaqua[TN 4] might share his fate. Besides, I can no longer read any clear guidance in the stars; I cannot foresee danger. That, I know, is my punishment. Perhaps I ought to send him to town. He would not be so free as he is in the woods, but at least he might live in some security. The child has a rare gift for study, enough to earn his place within the order of the city.
[Journal Fragment I]
Mother says that keeping a record makes the mind as sharp as a hunting knife. But I do not care for books, nor for writing, and I have nothing I wish to ponder. Just now the fire is burning in the stove. She is mending a coat; the needle passes through the cloth, the firewood cracks and hisses. My legs itch to run after rabbits. She looks over and gives me a hard stare. I grin, and she smiles as well. It is warm in the house. I do not care to go out.
[Family Letter Fragment II]
Before this little contest, we agreed that the number of kills would decide the winner, and the loser would have to butcher the game. That cunning child of mine drove an entire flock of snow hares straight into my traps, taking only the larger beasts for himself. He wished to let me win with ease, and at the same time lay in enough meat for the winter. Truly, he is... Our salt and flour are nearly gone. Next time I cross the fjord to trade for supplies, I shall make inquiries about the towns to the south.
[Journal Fragment II]
She was very pleased with her victory. I was even more delighted to have tricked her. A wager is a wager.
[Journal Fragment III]
Mother is going away again. She says this time it will be farther, but she has promised that next year she will take me to a larger, warmer place. I do not care where, so long as we go together.
[Family Letter Fragment III]
Folks in the neighboring village say this place is cursed, that a great many women die in childbirth. Yet, from what I have seen, the true cause lies in their unclean practices and primitive traditions. The family that put me up has a mistress near her time. I ought not to have interfered, but when the cries and prayers rose at midnight, I could no longer stand idle. A life should not be snuffed out by ignorance. Boiling water, fire, strong spirits, clean linen, and yarrow to staunch the blood—fortunately, I still remember the methods taught by my elders. Only, the villagers no longer look at me as they did. Before "the widow from the North" becomes a tale to be traded around the bonfire, I must be gone. Tomorrow I shall leave a few packets of coltsfoot for the pregnant women. May the stars watch over them.
[Journal Fragment IV]
Dull. Soup, hunting, sleep—and no lessons.
[Family Letter Fragment IV]
That brown-haired man with the goatee made his advances to me. I could feel his eyes after I refused him, clinging to me like a fishnet that will not come loose. I have become too entangled with this village. The journey to town must be put off. It is time to go home.
[Journal Fragment V]
(Scribbled and joined in haste, the words scarcely legible. Beside them, two snowmen are drawn.)
[Journal Fragment VI]
She is back! She smells of sunshine and pine needles. No lessons today, only fire in the stove and good food.
[Journal Fragment VII]
This morning, while clearing the wheel tracks, I saw someone loitering at the edge of the woods, a head with brown hair. I lured a bear that way, and he fled in such terror that he nearly fell over himself. When I told Mother, her face did not look well. Had I known, I would have turned him into a snowman.
[Family Letter Fragment V]
Ragnar, I have made a fatal mistake. The man I refused has followed me all this way, and I never sensed it. We must change our dwelling again. We shall move after this birthday has passed.
[Journal Fragment VIII]
The day Mother found me is my day of good fortune. But this year her blessing was strange, and I must set it down and think on it. She said that at first she foresaw herself always on the road, moving like the migratory birds. This land does not easily suffer a woman to walk alone bearing knowledge. It is well that news travels slowly; one need only depart before suspicion takes hold. Then she came into these mountains, and for sixteen years she allowed herself the comfort of staying. Now she says she hopes I shall see a wider world and find what I truly love. All I wish is for Mother to remain by my side, always.
Letter Summaries[]
These summaries are found in the Character Relations menu after the letter has been received.
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Rewards[]
How many years the player has participated and completed the Character Day Event determines which letter they receive and the extra reward.
- If this is the first time the player has completed the event, they would get a Portrait for the character and the 2024 letter.
- If this is the second time the player has completed the event, they would get a Portrait Frame and the 2025 letter.
Character Resources[]
The additional in-game and external documents for this character include:
The Character Relations Web shows Night Watch's connections to other characters.
Quotations[]
- 5th Anniversary Give Me Five offline event quote:
- "Yo, here comes another group of pouncers. I'm bored, so why don't you play a hunting game with me to cheer me up."[10]
- 5th Anniversary Congratulatory Video quote:
- "5th anniversary? It's an honour to be invited. Eh? Why the surprise? Do you believe someone who believes barbarism is better than civilisation should be illiterate and lacking etiquette? How annoying. Or would you rather see me act barbarously?"[11]
- Deduction Star 2023 quotes:
- "The heat under the spotlight is vastly different from the cold deep inside the forest."
- "I always recall the blizzard that night. The piercing wind blew some of my memories away..."
- "The brightest thing I have ever seen was the torch burning on the Plateau of Leng."
- 6th Anniversary Congratulatory Video quote:
- "Today's moonlight is very beautiful.
Holding a party indoors feels like a bit of waste.
Would you like to go and take a look? Along with me."[11]
- "Today's moonlight is very beautiful.
- Nymph Awards 2024 quotes:
- "Is this for me? So long have I dwelt in the cold, I'd forgotten there were things warmer than snowflakes in this world."
- "Quite an interesting snowflake, indeed, but don't get smug... I might not remember it tomorrow."
- Qixi Festival 2024 Wishing Star quote:
- "Mother, if possible, I wish to at least dream of those moments in the woods and snow at night."
- Autumn Harvest Tavern Guestbook quote:
- "A bowl of hot soup in the forest snow feels like sitting by an open fire—a warmth beyond compare."
- 7th Anniversary Congratulatory Video quote:
- "Since we're old acquaintances, allow me to give you some advice——
Don't enter the forest, don't yearn for the beautiful moon. Tonight, go home early."[11]
- "Since we're old acquaintances, allow me to give you some advice——
- Nymph Awards 2025 quote:
- "You wrote a new story? Let's hear it. What's that face for? Of course you should read it—what, you want me to?"
- Nymph Awards 2025 Winner quotes:[12]
- "I notice you have quite refined tastes, but I hope the lights won't be so overwhelming the next time you present yourself before me."
- "They remind me of the dazzling snow upon that barren heath."
- New Year's 2026 quote:
- "May this firework send word to the stars. I want to hear her call my name again."
Japanese Twitter Replies[]
Please press "Expand" to see in-character replies from the official Japanese Twitter.
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| Event Appearances | ||
|---|---|---|
| Icon | Event | Role |
| Twilight Banquet (Mentioned) (October - November 2022) |
Himself | |
| 5th Anniversary Adventures Booklet (April & July 2023) |
Himself | |
| 5th Anniversary Character Test (July 2023) |
Himself | |
| The Proof of Azoth's Theorem (July 2024) |
"Helios" (Philosopher's Stone) | |
| Behold the Vilulf (March - April 2025) |
Preconscious (Nevermore) | |
| The Frozen Lie (November - December 2025) |
King of Bohemia | |
Night Watch has been mentioned in the following documents for other characters:
Letters[]
None
Deductions[]
None
Backstories[]
None
The following resources related to The Ripper were, at some point in time, present in official websites or in-game after Identity V's official release, but have since been replaced. As such, they may contain details that have since been altered or removed from the character's backstory. Their related removal date will be listed at the top of their respective section.
Character Introduction[]
Night Watch's character introduction on the Identity V Official Website was reworded at some point before August 12th 2025. The following is the previous wording.
| It is believed that Every winter,the hear of footsteps soulds[sic] like thunder will come from the depths of the forest covered by a snowstorm,chilling voice in the silence of the winter night is clearly hearable. The Unlucky guys might see the starry sky covered by a huge dark cloud, the cloud body has a human profile, and that above the human body, is an angry and distorted face, like a human face that has been distorted, giant horns with wind and snow, withered hair waves like Ghosts, and there are two bright stars that seem to be eyes shining in deep purple. According to few survivors, the people found by Itakua,[sic] will be rutally[sic] played and hunted; some victims will even become monsters like Itakua,[sic] dragging the feet burned by the freezing cold, never ends up wandering in the wind and snow forest. |
Canon Manor Game[]
We can gather who was in a canon Manor Game together by information in Letters and Diaries, and very occasionally from character quotes during events. However, there is currently not enough information to determine which Manor Game the Night Watch participated in.
Compiled Overview[]
Backstory[]
Ithaqua was born as a twin son of the the Norwell family. However, he was stillborn. Due to a superstition of stillborns being signs of a witch's curse, Ithaqua's father, the town's magistrate, abandoned his body in the wilderness, claiming only one son was born that night. A suspected witch who was on the run found Ithaqua and brought him back to life. Lagertha raised him as a son, teaching him how to read and hunt.
One day, the magistrate's son and Ithaqua's twin, Nathaniel Norwell, led a mob of villagers to their home. Ithaqua hid and watched as they took his mother due to her reputation as a witch. Ithaqua would infiltrate the village and kill Nathaniel, framing it as a suicide. He then escaped with his mother. However, due the the torture she had gone through, his mother had gone mad and didn't recognize him. After this, Ithaqua discarded what remained of his humanity, taking on the name Ithaqua. Rumors spread about Ithaqua, the walking death, who appears during stormy nights in the forests, attacking all who entered.
Alternate Theories and Conclusions[]
- In Night Watch's character trailer, a book can be seen with the title "The Thing That Walked on the Wind". This is a reference to Ithaqua's Lovecraft debut story of the same name.
- His birth mother's name might be Janet, but it is unclear who the person referred to in Ithaqua's second deduction is.
- Nathaniel's name means "Gift of God" or "God-given", Similarly, Janet's name shares a similar meaning, being "God's gracious gift". This could mean as family, they have similar name meanings.
- Ithaqua was adopted into the Vilulf family which Brynhildr Vilulf is a decendant of. This could mean the two are connected.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 See Night Watch's 2024 Letter.
- ↑ He was unable to consume alcohol on the Coconut Breeze public map.
- ↑ His talents were previously translated as Setting traps, Woodwork, Tree climbing.
- ↑ His likes were previously translated as Birds, the Moon, Mother, Stories.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 See Night Watch's Design Notes - Weibo
- ↑ Backstory from the official Identity V website - https://idv.163.com/character/index.html
- ↑ Night Watch Weibo Background Story - https://weibo.com/6140485374/Mt80KAAWF
- ↑ The Plateau of Leng is a cold arid plateau inhabited by several beings. In Ithaqua's Lovecraftian debut story, it is said that he took 2 individuals there.
- ↑ His real name was previously mistranslated as "Ithaqua Vilulf". It was fixed on December 12th, 2024.
- ↑ Original Chinese: 呦，又来了一群扑腾的家伙。 我正无聊呢，不如你陪我玩追猎游戏助助兴。
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Translation by jaesti.
- ↑ These quotes had been in the game's files unused since 2024.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Translation by @_cjlyng.
Translation Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 He is most likely an adult, but can be possibly younger. The exact phrasing of this in Chinese is "已被养育成人的少年", which can be read as "the youth who had been raised until adulthood" or "the youth who had been raised and become human". Both are plausible, given the imagery of Night Watcher "shedding his human shell".
- ↑ 斯忒律基 (Strigae), is a Roman bird-like demon that preys on children. Strigae, is a plant, commonly known as witchweed. The generic name derives from Latin strī̆ga, which has definitions: evil spirit (supposed to howl at night), hag/witch (harms children), vampire.
- ↑ In the Chinese version of the letter, it seems she refers to herself as his older sister.
- ↑ In the Chinese version of the letter, Lagertha uses his real name, Eta (伊塔), rather than Ithaqua (伊塔库亚).
Deduction Quest Changes[]
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Night Watch’s Deduction Quests were adjusted on April 27th, 2023.
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 Night Watch Navigation
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|---|---|---|---|
| Night Watch | Night Watch/Lore | Night Watch/Cosmetics | Night Watch/Gallery |
| External Traits | Abilities | ||
| Windwalker | Tempest • Windwalk • Wind Control • Tempest - Cyclone • Windwalk - Charge • Spawn of the Winds | ||
| Costumes | |||
| S-Tier (Gold) | At This Hour All Is Silent • Morningstar • Philosopher's Stone | ||
| A-Tier (Purple) | Invisible Man • KNIGHT-c3 | ||
| B-Tier (Blue) | Boreal Owl • Nevermore • Night's Requiem • Overseer • The Captive • The Green Man of Avalon • The King of Bohemia | ||
| C-Tier (Green) | Original • Worn Clothes • Jungle Green • Moonlight Blue • Sand Beige | ||
| Accessories | |||
| S-Tier (Gold) | None | ||
| A-Tier (Purple) | Iced Beverage • Thunderstruck | ||
| B-Tier (Blue) | Weather Forecast | ||
| Other Customizations | |||
| Graffiti • Emotes • Standby Motions | |||