NWoD Player: Give Me A Rundown of the Wyrm and It's Minons

Well, I have never played either Werewolf game and I never will-although I might pick up Blasphemies in the Forsaken line to learn how the Maeljin work-but I am interested in Apocalypse, specifically the Triat and how they work.

Well Werewolf was pretty... inconsistent in how they approached the Wyrm. Its not that it wasn't important. Far from it; the Triat was always part of the W:tA back story and the Wyrm (and to a lesser degree the Weaver) made a covenient default antagonist for the game. But the problem was that early material - even into 2nd edition - could be a little... "cartoony" in how the Wyrm was portrayed. It was made out to be the be-all-end-all of big bad eeeevvvviiiillll.

Later material balanced it out. Especially as they got away from the western setting and gave some different background. The Wyrm became more of a being of balance slightly corrupted. Still bad and destructive but not really the same evil it was in earlier portrayals. If you plan on using the Wyrm (or even just going by the canon) those are the depictions you will be more interested in I think.

All of this only holds true for Werewolf and related gamelines. The Wyrm isn't a default part of Vampire's mythology at all and is basically an animistic personification of cosmic forces as far as Mage is concerned. It gets tied in with some gamelines (as Apep for Mummies) and ignored by others (like Wraith). All of this is more or less werewolf-centric.

But basically the Wyrm (also associated with Shiva by some Indian supernaturals and known as the Centipede or Dragon in the east) was the original spiritual force of balance... a force of nature or even a God represent part of a three fold process of creation-preservation-destruction. Except that it has no real sentience or goals. Just entropy breaking down the old and allowing it to be reborn into new forms and potential.

EXCEPT... somewhere along the line the Triat got out of order. The Wyld was always crazy and off doing its thing of wild creation and formless chaos. The Weaver became sentient (sort of) and began to ensnare the Wyrm so that nothing new could be created and nothing old could be destroyed. Perfect stasis. The Wyrm reacted by turning to corrupting the Weaver's static world... like a cancer or parasite. But elements of the old Wyrm of Balance also exist in its fractured conscious (if you can call it that).

The Wyrm has several aspects and it is sort of implied that even Werewolves aren't aware of them ALL and that they are at cross purposes with each other. The Eater-of-Souls represents blind consumption. Gluttony. That sort of stuff. The Defiler Wyrm represents corruption itself literally debasing everything that is wholesome in the world for self-pleasure. And the Beast-of-War is pure destruction. Then there are countless smaller heads representing other aspects like lying apathy lust etc.

Of the Wyrm's servants:

* The Maeljin - Spiritual embodiements of these various lesser aspects like lust or violence or apathy. These demon-like princes of sin are essentially lesser gods now but were once (very corrupt) mortals. Like the worst serial killers and war criminals in history. IIRC they become more like stereotypical embodiments of their sin and can be replaced if they "die" or an appropriate heir comes along.

* Corrupted Elements - The Wyrm also has corrupted elements (toxins instead of water; balefire instead of fire; smog instead of air and filth instead of earth). These elements have their own spiritual hierarchy from the lowest spirits to the highest embodiments of those elements which essentially rank as lesser gods.

* Totems - Several powerful totems serve the Wyrm. Some like whippoorwill and green dragon were already corrupt. Others like bat fell after suffering some great tragedy. The Wyrmish totems recognize different renown than their Gaian kin (Cunning Ferocity and... ummm.... something else iirc).

* Banes - Actually a wide variety of evil-spirits the term is pretty vague and describes quite a few nasties. Some of the more powerful ones would be equivalent to demons or what have you. Others are pretty weak and can only feed off things others do and maybe nudge them in the right way.

* Fomori - Humans (or animals) who have been possessed by a Bane spirit which then fuses with them. They gain freakish abilities from it but also flaws. Mostly short lived and not subtle at all they are the Wyrm's disposable foot soldiers. Pentex (see below) makes use of artificially created Fomori. The Native American Tribes call them 'Mockeries' while in Asia they are known as 'Bakemono' (and are sometimes created by Asian vampires!).

* Pentex - Really a giant conglomerate with interests ranging from cosmetics and RPGs to arms dealing and oil to fast food and God only knows what else. Pentex is really a front for Wyrmish activity. Not every worker or product is tainted but the company higher ups are all in thrall to the Wyrm (and often trying to kill one another too). They work to strengthen its various aspects as part of the inevitable end.

* 7th Generation - More organized this secret society is dedicated to the Defiler Wyrm. To that end they indulge in rape snuff and worse focusing on women and children. Many are rich and politically well connected mortals with only a few supernatural traces. They are like a sort of evil old boys network with lots of clout in mortal society to discredit their enemies.

* Enlightened Order of the Weeping Moon - Mostly defunct now the Order was a secret society in the Old West much like the Freemasons. They included rich and well connected men in various towns across America and Europe. But unlike the Masons these guys practiced ritual magic based around the moon and hunted werewolves (who they saw as primitive savages defiling the moon). They wound up falling apart and most of the members drifted elsewhere. Or did they...

* Other Wyrm Cults - Smaller Wyrm cults exist here and there. Some are just families of backwoods cannibals or small town hate groups. Others are tribal societies in distant lands worshipping evil spirits or secret societies following elaborate mystery rites. These groups tend to be less organized and mostly mortal but with the occaisonal supernatural power here or there.

* Thunderwyrms - Gigantic worms that burrow through the earth eating everything in their path. These things are nasty. Think Godzilla level monsters. Originated at the Trinity test site allegedly.

* Skull Pigs - A sort of prehistoric taipir-like scavenger that was corrupted when their species began dying out. The older ones now eat human (and Garou) flesh and begin to develop a sort of sentience. Some even know strange magic rites according to rumor.

* Black Spiral Dancers - An entire Tribe of degenerate werewolves. They were corrupted when they tried to take on the Wyrm directly and driven mad.

* Vampires - Most vampires don't know (or care) about the Wyrm though they are subtly tainted by it. This is much more true with vampires with low Humanity and the Sabbat. A few Setites and others might follow the Wyrm but most do its work passively. It seems that Set himself has an interesting relationship with the Wyrm. The Asian vampires are a little more... aware of the Wyrm. The Devil-Tigers in particular often try to usurp its minions for their own causes.

* Bane Mummies - Created by Set these ancient immortals became fused with evil spirits and thus gained certain monstrous traits. While they return from death and possess magic like other mummies they also become more corrupt with each lifetime. Their connection to Apep makes them dangerous and unstable. They have drifted away from Set for the Wyrm itself though the two will cooperate when their goals meet.

* Malfeans - Some Nephandi (that is Mages whose souls are completely corrupted) worship the Wyrmish pantheon and even cooperate with Pentex or the BSDs when it suits them. They are quick to betray their 'allies' though. More than a few corrupt shamans (called Vision Mockers) also follow the Wyrm.

* Ananasi - About a third of the breed are Hatar and serve the Wyrm albeit more in its role as balance than corruption. The Hatar are loyal first and foremost to their Queen and not the Wyrm but they do its work and cooperate (begrudgingly) with Wyrm creatures to try and restore balance. Not a pleasant task. The Kumo - were-spiders of Asia - are entirely fallen to the Wyrm of corruption and instead follow its various aspects (by local names though).

* Carrion Crows - Corrupted were-ravens. Their eggs are found and raised by other Wyrmish critters usually BSDs. They are mostly spies and decoys more than anything.

* Plague Lords - Ratkin are creatures of the Wyld. The Plague Lords (a group who specialize in spreading disease) flirt with the Wyrm but always throw off its corruption within a lunar month. Its part of their inherent gifts.

* Yama Kings - The Yama Kings are various Asian devils who rule over their respective corners of hell (or hells). Most are pretty selfish truth be told but a few of the smaller or more open minded Yama Kings will cooperate with the Wyrm and its minions when appropriate.

* SPD - The Special Projects Divison of the Syndicate has some ties with Pentex. They work on designing new devices for the Technocracy but have come to value money over ideals. As a result they... look the other way when it comes to spiritual corruption. They are some of the few Technocrats talented in Spirit magic.

* House Balor - These Changelings claim blood with the ANCIENT Fomorians and work somewhat with the modern Fomori and BSDs. While they are increasingly aware that the Fomori are not their kin they still share enough goals to make it worth while for both groups

Now this is what I call Werewolf badguys 101! Thanks for the contribuition Zakaryia Bey!

Zakariya Bey:

* Black Spiral Dancers - An entire Tribe of degenerate werewolves. They were corrupted when they tried to take on the Wyrm directly and enlightened.

Great, although that raises another question:

Leliel:

Great, although that raises another question:

What the heck is Pentex getting out of this? What use is it to humans to destroy the world?

Well... most of the company do not know that they work for such a lofty goal, they are just normal workers like in any major company. The leadership of the company is hardly something that could be called humans allthoug hthere are few amongst them. There are Vampires, BSD's, Fomori and perhaps odder things in the actual board.
But what about the humans that do know? Their in it for the money and power, they might know that the company has project that can make you more than human. But like said most have no idea, they just work to make a living selling or manufacturing tobacco, alcohol, rpg's, computer games and cosmetics to meantion a few.

Also, in the case of the Pentex board, they have their two top-secret plans. Operation: Moonbase, and The Omega Plan. Ultimately, Pentex wants to create a controlled crash, sending humanity into a downward spiral, then swoop in to take over, ruling over the mortals. Basically, they're more world domination rather than destroy everything...although if pollution, ethnic tension, and funding Neo-nazis destabilizes the world enough for them to look like viable leaders by comparison, the better.

Also, as a small note. Thunderwyrms are more like Shai-Hulud from Dune, and Mokole 2nd ed implies that the Skull Pigs are the result of the Grondr (wereboars) giving themselves to the Wyrm in desparation after they were brought to near-extinction during the War of Rage.

Another intereting note in The Book of Auspices implies that Rage may be a gift from the Wyrm instead. While the Garou canonically accept Rage as coming from Luna, some other Garou ask "Wait...why does Rage scare away plant-spirits, the blessed of Gaia? And why do those with excess rage tend to eat/rape/rip and tear at random?"

As for Spirals and Nephandi, they are quite fond of pretending to be innocents/losts/a shoulder for uninitiated/unappreciated to cry on. Not all of them are dumb grunts.