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The '''Wyrm''' is one of the three incalculably powerful [[Spirit (cWOD)|spirits]] comprising the [[Triat]].
[[File:Wyrm.gif|thumb|[[Garou]] glyph for the Wyrm.]]
 
In the theology of the [[Garou]], the '''Wyrm''' (also called ''Cahlash'' by the [[Bastet (WTA)|Bastet]] and ''Qyrl'' by the [[Rokea]]) is one of the three incalculably powerful [[Spirit (cWOD)|spirits]] comprising the [[Triat]]. He is one of the higher [[Celestine (cWOD)|Celestines]]. The Wyrm's purpose is the cleansing and rectification of Creation, furthering its descent into [[Entropy (Metaphysic Trinity)|Entropy]]. He achieves this by eliminating that which the [[Wyld (cWOD)|Wyld]] creates and the [[Weaver]] structures.
 
   
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==Overview==
According to Garou theology, the Wyrm was the second member of the Triat to go insane. Once the Weaver went mad and began encasing everything in Webs, the Wyrm was progressively constrained until he went mad and started to destroy everything. Consequently, the Wyrm is now a spirit of destruction, chaos, darkness and corruption, the essence of everything the Garou oppose.
 
 
[[File:Wyrm.gif|thumb|[[Garou]] glyph for the Wyrm.]]In the theology of the [[Garou]], the Wyrm is one of the higher [[Celestine (cWOD)|Celestines]]. The Wyrm's purpose is the cleansing and rectification of Creation, furthering its descent into [[Entropy (Metaphysic Trinity)|Entropy]]. He achieves this by eliminating that which the [[Wyld (cWOD)|Wyld]] creates and the [[Weaver]] structures.
   
 
According to the general consensus among the Garou theologians, the Wyrm was the second member of the Triat to go insane. Once the Weaver went mad and began encasing everything in Webs, the Wyrm was progressively constrained until he was driven mad as well, hellbent on destroying everything. Consequently, the Wyrm is now a spirit of destruction, chaos, darkness, and corruption, the essence of everything the Garou oppose. Most [[Tribe_(WTA)|Tribes]] have their own myths that describe the Wyrm in their own specific cultural nomenclature.
==Heads of the Hydra==
 
   
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===Triatic Wyrm===
As part of a resultant multiple-personality disorder on a universal scale, there are three main "heads" of the Wyrm, each representing a different part of its personality. As mentioned in the [[Book of the Wyrm]] the three heads also represent the Triat and the original balance Wyrm trying to figure out what went wrong, and as such the main three heads are called the ''[[Triadic Wyrms]]''.
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As part of a resultant dissociative identity disorder on a universal scale, there are three main "heads" of the Wyrm, each representing a different part of its personality. As mentioned in the ''[[Book of the Wyrm]]'', the three heads also represent the Triat and the original balance Wyrm trying to figure out what went wrong, and as such the main three heads are called the ''[[Triatic Wyrm]]''.
   
* [[Beast-of-War]], the Wyrm of Calamity, a monster of senseless rage, ready to destroy all in its path. The [[Sadhana#Practitioners:_raktasadhu|''raktasadhu'']] of India call upon this Wyld-aspected Wyrm by the name ''Sadyojata''{{cn}}, which they say translates as "birther of calamity"{{cn}}. It is said by some that [[frenzy (WTA)|frenzy]] and [[Rage (WTA)|Rage]] are this Wyrm's blessings. This Triatic Wyrm is analogous to the Wyld's love of chaos, but here it is a chaos achieved via destructive terror.
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* '''[[Beast-of-War]]''', the ''Wyrm of Calamity'', a monster of senseless rage, ready to destroy all in its path. It is said by some that [[frenzy (WTA)|Frenzy]] and [[Rage (WTA)|Rage]] are this Wyrm's blessings. This Triatic Wyrm is analogous to the Wyld's love of chaos, but here it is a chaos achieved via destructive terror.
* [[Eater-of-Souls]], the Wyrm of Consumption, paragon of the gnawing hunger of greed, lust, and gluttony. Vampires are said to be under the sway of Eater-of-Souls. The [[Sadhana#Practitioners:_raktasadhu|''raktasadhu'']] of India call upon this Weaver-aspected Wyrm by the name ''Vamadeva'', which they say translates as "pleasing devil"{{cn}}. These ''sadhus'' sometimes refer to their thirst for blood as "Vamadeva's thirst"{{cn}}. Eater nearly manifested in [[North America (cWOD)|North America]], but was banished by the sacrifice of an [[Croatan|entire]] [[tribe (WTA)|tribe]] of [[Garou]]. This Triatic Wyrm is analogous to the Weaver's desire to unify, but the method here is unification via consumption and digestion.
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* '''[[Eater-of-Souls]]''', the ''Wyrm of Consumption'', paragon of the gnawing hunger of greed, lust, and gluttony. Vampires are said to be under the sway of Eater-of-Souls. Eater nearly manifested in [[North America (cWOD)|North America]], but was banished by the sacrifice of an [[Croatan|entire]] [[tribe (WTA)|tribe]] of [[Garou]]. This Triatic Wyrm is analogous to the Weaver's desire to unify, but the method here is unification via consumption and digestion.
* [[Defiler Wyrm]], the Wyrm of Corruption, a scheming entity of corruption and decay. The [[Sadhana#Practitioners:_raktasadhu|''raktasadhu'']] of India call upon this self-referential Wyrm by the name ''Aghora'', which they say translates as "the uncaring one"{{cn}}. Most [[Pentex]] operations are likely under the sway of the Defiler Wyrm. This Triatic Wyrm is analogous to the original Wyrm's purgative function, but here it is being restricted to only being able to eat away at the intangible from the inside.
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* '''[[Defiler Wyrm]]''', the ''Wyrm of Corruption'', a scheming entity of corruption and decay. Most [[Pentex]] operations are likely under the sway of the Defiler Wyrm. This Triatic Wyrm is analogous to the original Wyrm's purgative function, but here it is being restricted to only being able to eat away at the intangible from the inside.
   
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Other [[Fera]] know different Aspects of the Wyrm: The Rokea know of ''[[Qyrl]]'', while the Bastet speak of ''[[Cahlash]]'' and ''[[Asura]]''. It is not known if these are separate aspects of the Wyrm in itself, or just other names that are used in cultural context. It should be noted that the Bastet can take Cahlash as a [[jamak]] in the form of the [[King_of_Cats_(totem)|King of Cats]] without registering as Wyrm-tainted, and the Bastet conception of Cahlash is quite close to the Balance Wyrm.
Even its base desires are powerful enough to take on forms of their own, becoming the powerful [[Urge Wyrm]]s of Hate, Lust, Fear and other dread sentiments, as well as the [[Elemental Wyrm]]s who represent perversions of the classical elements. With so many heads, the Wyrm is more Hydra than serpent - and each head is all but impossible to sever.
 
   
 
Even its base desires are powerful enough to take on forms of their own, becoming the powerful [[Urge Wyrm]]s of Hate, Lust, Fear, and other dread sentiments, as well as the [[Elemental Wyrm]]s who represent perversions of the classical elements. With so many heads, the Wyrm is more Hydra than serpent - and each head is all but impossible to sever.
==Creatures of the Wyrm==
 
   
 
===Creatures of the Wyrm===
The Wyrm counts many different creatures in its employ. Some serve knowingly, some unknowingly. But their actions all serve to bring the Apocalypse ever closer and drive the Garou ever closer to extinction. As such, all creatures who cause misery, depravity and destruction, either willingly or unwillingly, knowingly or unknowingly, are servants of the Wyrm and are considered deserving of death and damnation by the Gorou.
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The Wyrm counts many different creatures in its employ. Some serve knowingly, some unknowingly. But their actions all serve to bring the Apocalypse ever closer and drive the Garou to extinction. As such, all creatures who cause misery, depravity and destruction, either willingly or unwillingly, knowingly or unknowingly, are servants of the Wyrm and are considered deserving of death and damnation by the Garou.
   
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====Deliberate servants====
* [[Bane]]s: These foul spirits of the Wyrm are thankfully usually confined to the spirit world. Unfortunately, some of the strongest can possess mortal hosts and use them to affect the real world. Even strong men can be overwhelmed and made the puppet of a Bane. No man or beast is safe from these spirits of pure evil and corruption. When confronted however, Banes will frequently give up their mortal shells and burst forth in the full horrifying glory, displaying razor sharp fangs, tentacles, hundred of fascetted eyes, or a thousand other horrors, each worse than the last.
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* [[Bane (WTA)|Banes]]: These foul spirits of the Wyrm are, thankfully, usually confined to the spirit world. Unfortunately, some of the strongest can possess mortal hosts and use them to affect the real world. Even strong men can be overwhelmed and made the puppet of a Bane. No man or beast is safe from these spirits of pure evil and corruption. When confronted, however, Banes will frequently give up their mortal shells and burst forth in their full horrifying glory, displaying razor-sharp fangs, tentacles, hundreds of faceted eyes, or a thousand other horrors, each worse than the last.
   
* [[Black Spiral Dancers]]: The Wyrm's greatest triumph, the Dancers are foul twisted reflections of the Garou. Just like the Garou, they consort with spirits and can gain [[Gift (WTA)|gifts]] from them, except they gain their gifts from Banes. Everything the Garou do, they do in service to the Wyrm. They are fond of capturing normal Garou and torturing them until they too become Black Spiral Dancers.
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* [[Black Spiral Dancers]]: The Wyrm's greatest triumph, the Dancers are foul twisted reflections of the Garou. Just like the Garou, they consort with spirits and can gain [[Gift (WTA)|gifts]] from them, except they gain their gifts from Banes. Everything the Garou do, they do in service to the Wyrm. They are fond of capturing normal Garou and torturing them until they too become Black Spiral Dancers. Most Fera have similar corrupted counterparts, but the Spiral Dancers are the most numerous among them.
   
* [[Fomori]] are created by binding a bane into a mortal host, either a human or animal. However, these are less powerful spirits than most Banes, so are more firmly bound to the flesh of their hosts, producing much more obvious deformities. Fomori are usually created by Pentex.
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* [[Fomori]]: Binding a bane into a mortal host, either human or animal, creates a Fomor. However, the Banes used, less powerful than most, are more firmly bound to the flesh of their hosts, resulting in many more obvious deformities. Fomori are usually created by Pentex.
   
*[[Pentex]] is a shadow corporation with its fingers is every pie it can think of. It taints everything it touches, all beneath a veneer of 'business as usual'. Oil spills are just a 'part of business' not part of a master plan to corrupt the world. Violent video games and movies are there just to satisfy the demands of customers, not to corrupt the hearts and minds of the young. Pharamceuticals with soul crushing side effects are hailed as miracle cures. Pentex has one purpose: bring on the Apocalypse and then step in as the savior, to be church and corporation all in one.
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* [[Pentex]] is a shadow corporation with its fingers in every pie it can think of. It taints everything it touches, all beneath a veneer of "business as usual". Oil spills are just a "part of business", not part of a master plan to corrupt the world. Violent video games and movies are there just to satisfy the demands of customers, not to corrupt the hearts and minds of the young. Pharmaceuticals with soul-crushing side-effects are hailed as miracle cures. Pentex has one true purpose: to bring on the Apocalypse and then step in as the savior; to be church and corporation all in one.
   
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* [[Cult (WTA)|Cults]] of [[Mortal (cWOD)|mortals]] dedicated to the Wyrm. Their influences range from those isolated to a single town to global conspiracies. One of the most prominent and vile cults was the [[Seventh_Generation_(WTA)|Seventh Generation]], a cult of child abusers who defiled children in order to fuel cycles of abuse, but others like the [[Enlightened Society of the Weeping Moon]], the [[Pretanic Order]], the [[Mouth of Vorax]], the [[Free Earth Armed Resistance]] and several others have risen and fallen throughout history.
*The [[7th Generation]]: Perhaps the worst of all the factions of the Wyrm, the 7th Generation was a cult of knowing human servants of the Wyrm. They defiled children and sacrificed them to dark gods to achieve power for themselves. Their organization has been broken however, and there are only a few scattered survivors now. The Garou, led by King [[Jonas Albrecht|Albrecht]], worked together for once to eliminate this vile cult... but if they are not wary, it may reform soon enough.
 
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*[[Kindred (VTM)|Vampires]]: The descendants of [[Caine]] are creatures of the Wyrm in that they are creatures of darkness cursed by God to feed on the blood of humans. Regardless of a vampire's [[Path of Enlightenment]], the Gorou will sense the taint of the Wyrm within any vampire they encounter.
 
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====Unwitting servants====
*[[Demon (DTF)|Demons]]: The Fallen are creatures of the Wyrm in that they are creatures condemned by God who now hail from the Abyss.
 
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* The [[Yama Kings]]: The Yama Kings are a spiritual phenomenon of the [[Middle Kingdom]]. Rogue elements of the [[Celestial Bureaucracy (KOTE)|Celestial Bureaucracy]], the Yama Kings seem to overlap with the Wyrm (they are certainly in a close alliance); however, their actual goals differ. While the "''Centipede''" strives to undo the [[Wheel of Ages]], the Yama Kings want to trap it in stasis during the [[Sixth Age]]. Their methods often reek of Wyrm-taint, but the exact relation is often depending on the Yama King in question.
 
* [[Kindred (VTM)|Vampires]]: The descendants of [[Caine]] are creatures of the Wyrm in that they are creatures of darkness cursed by God to feed on the blood of humans. Regardless of a vampire's [[Path of Enlightenment]], the Garou will sense the taint of the Wyrm within any vampire they encounter, save for the most humane (Humanity 7+). Of course, a lack of Wyrm taint is not going to give the Garou reasons to be friendly toward a leech.
 
* [[Demon (DTF)|Demons]]: The Fallen are creatures of the Wyrm in that they are creatures, condemned by God, who now hail from the Abyss.
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* [[Mummy (cWOD) |Mummies]]: The Reborn see themselves as striving toward the cosmic balance Ma'at, but they're unholy creatures that have cheated death through a foul ritual that tricked the Wyrm of Balance into allowing them to exist in their accursed state. The Undying may be the most unwitting servants of the Wyrm, even lacking Wyrm-taint, but they exist outside of the natural order of Gaia and serve as minions of powerful entities dwelling in the Dark Umbra.
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* [[Mortal (WOD)|Humans]]: Many mortal humans aid the Wyrm through their everyday actions in furthering the destruction, corruption, or perversion of human society and the natural world. The vast majority of these Wyrm agents have no idea that any such spiritual principle exists.
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==Gallery==
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<gallery>
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Wyrm.jpg
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Wyrmish_invocation.jpg
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</gallery>
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==References==
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* {{b|WTA|Book of the Wyrm|pdf=2386}}
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* {{b|WTA|Book of the Wyrm Second Edition|pdf=2390|nip=1}}
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* {{b|WTA|W20 Book of the Wyrm|pdf=138407|nip=1}}
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* {{b|WTA|Hengeyokai: Shapeshifters of the East|pdf=153|page=27, 29}}
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[[Category:Spirit beings (WTA)]]
 
[[Category:Wyrm|*]]
 
[[Category:Wyrm|*]]
[[Category:Spirit beings (W:tA)]]
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[[Category:Werewolf: The Apocalypse glossary]]

Revision as of 22:11, 31 May 2020

The Wyrm is one of the three incalculably powerful spirits comprising the Triat.

Overview

File:Wyrm.gif

Garou glyph for the Wyrm.

In the theology of the Garou, the Wyrm is one of the higher Celestines. The Wyrm's purpose is the cleansing and rectification of Creation, furthering its descent into Entropy. He achieves this by eliminating that which the Wyld creates and the Weaver structures.

According to the general consensus among the Garou theologians, the Wyrm was the second member of the Triat to go insane. Once the Weaver went mad and began encasing everything in Webs, the Wyrm was progressively constrained until he was driven mad as well, hellbent on destroying everything. Consequently, the Wyrm is now a spirit of destruction, chaos, darkness, and corruption, the essence of everything the Garou oppose. Most Tribes have their own myths that describe the Wyrm in their own specific cultural nomenclature.

Triatic Wyrm

As part of a resultant dissociative identity disorder on a universal scale, there are three main "heads" of the Wyrm, each representing a different part of its personality. As mentioned in the Book of the Wyrm, the three heads also represent the Triat and the original balance Wyrm trying to figure out what went wrong, and as such the main three heads are called the Triatic Wyrm.

  • Beast-of-War, the Wyrm of Calamity, a monster of senseless rage, ready to destroy all in its path. It is said by some that Frenzy and Rage are this Wyrm's blessings. This Triatic Wyrm is analogous to the Wyld's love of chaos, but here it is a chaos achieved via destructive terror.
  • Eater-of-Souls, the Wyrm of Consumption, paragon of the gnawing hunger of greed, lust, and gluttony. Vampires are said to be under the sway of Eater-of-Souls. Eater nearly manifested in North America, but was banished by the sacrifice of an entire tribe of Garou. This Triatic Wyrm is analogous to the Weaver's desire to unify, but the method here is unification via consumption and digestion.
  • Defiler Wyrm, the Wyrm of Corruption, a scheming entity of corruption and decay. Most Pentex operations are likely under the sway of the Defiler Wyrm. This Triatic Wyrm is analogous to the original Wyrm's purgative function, but here it is being restricted to only being able to eat away at the intangible from the inside.

Other Fera know different Aspects of the Wyrm: The Rokea know of Qyrl, while the Bastet speak of Cahlash and Asura. It is not known if these are separate aspects of the Wyrm in itself, or just other names that are used in cultural context. It should be noted that the Bastet can take Cahlash as a jamak in the form of the King of Cats without registering as Wyrm-tainted, and the Bastet conception of Cahlash is quite close to the Balance Wyrm.

Even its base desires are powerful enough to take on forms of their own, becoming the powerful Urge Wyrms of Hate, Lust, Fear, and other dread sentiments, as well as the Elemental Wyrms who represent perversions of the classical elements. With so many heads, the Wyrm is more Hydra than serpent - and each head is all but impossible to sever.

Creatures of the Wyrm

The Wyrm counts many different creatures in its employ. Some serve knowingly, some unknowingly. But their actions all serve to bring the Apocalypse ever closer and drive the Garou to extinction. As such, all creatures who cause misery, depravity and destruction, either willingly or unwillingly, knowingly or unknowingly, are servants of the Wyrm and are considered deserving of death and damnation by the Garou.

Deliberate servants

  • Banes: These foul spirits of the Wyrm are, thankfully, usually confined to the spirit world. Unfortunately, some of the strongest can possess mortal hosts and use them to affect the real world. Even strong men can be overwhelmed and made the puppet of a Bane. No man or beast is safe from these spirits of pure evil and corruption. When confronted, however, Banes will frequently give up their mortal shells and burst forth in their full horrifying glory, displaying razor-sharp fangs, tentacles, hundreds of faceted eyes, or a thousand other horrors, each worse than the last.
  • Black Spiral Dancers: The Wyrm's greatest triumph, the Dancers are foul twisted reflections of the Garou. Just like the Garou, they consort with spirits and can gain gifts from them, except they gain their gifts from Banes. Everything the Garou do, they do in service to the Wyrm. They are fond of capturing normal Garou and torturing them until they too become Black Spiral Dancers. Most Fera have similar corrupted counterparts, but the Spiral Dancers are the most numerous among them.
  • Fomori: Binding a bane into a mortal host, either human or animal, creates a Fomor. However, the Banes used, less powerful than most, are more firmly bound to the flesh of their hosts, resulting in many more obvious deformities. Fomori are usually created by Pentex.
  • Pentex is a shadow corporation with its fingers in every pie it can think of. It taints everything it touches, all beneath a veneer of "business as usual". Oil spills are just a "part of business", not part of a master plan to corrupt the world. Violent video games and movies are there just to satisfy the demands of customers, not to corrupt the hearts and minds of the young. Pharmaceuticals with soul-crushing side-effects are hailed as miracle cures. Pentex has one true purpose: to bring on the Apocalypse and then step in as the savior; to be church and corporation all in one.

Unwitting servants

  • The Yama Kings: The Yama Kings are a spiritual phenomenon of the Middle Kingdom. Rogue elements of the Celestial Bureaucracy, the Yama Kings seem to overlap with the Wyrm (they are certainly in a close alliance); however, their actual goals differ. While the "Centipede" strives to undo the Wheel of Ages, the Yama Kings want to trap it in stasis during the Sixth Age. Their methods often reek of Wyrm-taint, but the exact relation is often depending on the Yama King in question.
  • Vampires: The descendants of Caine are creatures of the Wyrm in that they are creatures of darkness cursed by God to feed on the blood of humans. Regardless of a vampire's Path of Enlightenment, the Garou will sense the taint of the Wyrm within any vampire they encounter, save for the most humane (Humanity 7+). Of course, a lack of Wyrm taint is not going to give the Garou reasons to be friendly toward a leech.
  • Demons: The Fallen are creatures of the Wyrm in that they are creatures, condemned by God, who now hail from the Abyss.
  • Mummies: The Reborn see themselves as striving toward the cosmic balance Ma'at, but they're unholy creatures that have cheated death through a foul ritual that tricked the Wyrm of Balance into allowing them to exist in their accursed state. The Undying may be the most unwitting servants of the Wyrm, even lacking Wyrm-taint, but they exist outside of the natural order of Gaia and serve as minions of powerful entities dwelling in the Dark Umbra.
  • Humans: Many mortal humans aid the Wyrm through their everyday actions in furthering the destruction, corruption, or perversion of human society and the natural world. The vast majority of these Wyrm agents have no idea that any such spiritual principle exists.

Gallery

References