Changes: Wyrm

Latest revision as of 01:02, 13 March 2024

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

Overview

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, eager to destroy anything 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 through destructive terror.
Eater-of-Souls, the Wyrm of Consumption, embodiment of the gnawing hungers 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 that which is done here is little more than unification through consumption and eventual digestion.
Defiler Wyrm, the Wyrm of Corruption, a scheming entity of corruption, perversion 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 in the mortal world it is a being that is restricted to only being able to eat away at its victims intangibly, (usually) subtly, and from within.

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 or simply other names that are used within 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 among its servants. Some serve knowingly, some unknowingly. But their actions all serve the Wyrms greater purpose of bringing about the Apocalypse; the end of Gaia. As such, all creatures who cause misery, indulge in depravity and or partake in destruction, either willingly or unwillingly, knowingly or unknowingly, are servants of the Wyrm and are considered deserving of death and damnation by all 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 changes on the material world. Even strong willed 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 Black 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.

Malfean Nephandi: A specific subgroup of evil Mages who consciously venerate the Wyrm. Whilst other Nephandi and indeed all Awakened may empower, invoke or otherwise interact with it's aspects these are generally actions that unconsciously benefit the Wyrm, but the Malfeans are very much aware of it's nature and choose to direct their venerations and supplications to it specifically.

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.

Cults of 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, 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.

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 dependent 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

WTA: Umbra: The Velvet Shadow, p. 16, 69, 125
WTA: Book of the Wyrm First Edition
WTA: Book of the Wyrm Second Edition
WTA/cMET: Mind's Eye Theatre: Book of the Wyrm
WTA: W20 Book of the Wyrm
WTA: Hengeyokai: Shapeshifters of the East, p. 27, 29

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+The '''Wyrm''' is one of the three incalculably powerful [[Spirit (WOD)|spirits]] comprising the [[Triat]].
-[[File:Wyrm.gif|thumb|[[Garou]] glyph for the Wyrm.]]
-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]].
 ==Overview==
-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.
+[[File:GlyphWyrm.png|thumb|[[Garou]] glyph for the Wyrm.]]In the theology of the [[Garou]], the Wyrm is one of the higher [[Celestine (WOD)|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 (WOD)|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 insane, hellbent on destroying everything. Consequently, the Wyrm is now a spirit of destruction, chaos, darkness and corruption, the essence of everything the Garou oppose.
+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.
 ===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, eager to destroy anything 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 through destructive terror.
-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 ''[[Triatic Wyrm]]''.
+* '''[[Eater-of-Souls]]''', the ''Wyrm of Consumption'', embodiment of the gnawing hungers of greed, lust, and gluttony. [[Vampire (WOD)|Vampires]] are said to be under the sway of Eater-of-Souls. Eater nearly manifested in [[North America (WOD)|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 that which is done here is little more than unification through consumption and eventual digestion.
+* '''[[Defiler Wyrm]]''', the ''Wyrm of Corruption'', a scheming entity of corruption, perversion 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 in the mortal world it is a being that is restricted to only being able to eat away at its victims intangibly, (usually) subtly, and from within.
+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 or simply other names that are used within 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.
-* '''[[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. 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. 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.
-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===
+The Wyrm counts many among its servants. Some serve knowingly, some unknowingly. But their actions all serve the Wyrms greater purpose of bringing about the Apocalypse; the end of Gaia. As such, all creatures who cause misery, indulge in depravity and or partake in destruction, either willingly or unwillingly, knowingly or unknowingly, are servants of the Wyrm and are considered deserving of death and damnation by all Garou.
-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.
 ====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 faceted eyes, or a thousand other horrors, each worse than the last.
+* [[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 changes on the material world. Even strong willed 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.
+* [[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 Black 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.
+* [[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.
+* [[Nephandi|Malfean Nephandi]]: A specific subgroup of evil [[Mages]] who consciously venerate the Wyrm. Whilst other Nephandi and indeed all [[Awakened (MTAs)|Awakened]] may empower, invoke or otherwise interact with it's aspects these are generally actions that unconsciously benefit the Wyrm, but the Malfeans are very much aware of it's nature and choose to direct their venerations and supplications to it specifically.
-*[[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.
+* [[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.
+* [[Cult (WTA)|Cults]] of [[Mortal (WOD)|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.
-*[[Cult (WTA)|Cults]] of [[Mortal (cWOD)|mortals]] dedicated to the Wyrm. Their influences ranges from being isolated to a singular town to global conspiracies. One of the most prominent and vile cults was the [[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.
 ====Unwitting servants====
+* 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 dependent 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.
-*[[Demon (DTF)|Demons]]: The Fallen are creatures of the Wyrm in that they are creatures condemned by God who now hail from the Abyss.
-*[http://whitewolf.wikia.com/wiki/Mummy%3A_The_Resurrection Mummies:] The Reborn are creatures of the Wyrm, in that while not undead, they're creatures who return from the dead after a time. While most don't carry the taint of the Wyrm, their existence is still a corruption of Gaia's will that the dead should remain dead.
+* [[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.
+* [[Mummy (WOD) |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.
+* [[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.
+==Gallery==
+<gallery>
+Wyrm.jpg
+Wyrmish_invocation.jpg
+</gallery>
 ==References==
+* {{b|WTA|Umbra: The Velvet Shadow|page=16, 69, 125}}
-(...)
+* {{b|WTA|Book of the Wyrm First Edition|pdf=2386}}
-[[Category: Spirit beings (cWOD)]]
+* {{b|WTA|Book of the Wyrm Second Edition|pdf=2390|nip=1}}
+* [[WTA]]/{{b|cMET|Mind's Eye Theatre: Book of the Wyrm}}
+* {{b|WTA|W20 Book of the Wyrm|pdf=138407|nip=1}}
+* {{b|WTA|Hengeyokai: Shapeshifters of the East|pdf=153|page=27, 29}}
+[[Category:Spirit beings (WTA)]]
 [[Category:Wyrm|*]]
-[[Category:Spirit beings (W:tA)]]
 [[Category:Werewolf: The Apocalypse glossary]]
-[[Category:Classic World of Darkness]]
+[[Category:Werewolf: The Apocalypse]]