Last time when I discussed vampires I talked about treating parts of the vampiric condition like a disease. This time rather than a specific aspect, lets look at the degeneration of a vampire into something less and greater than it: the devolution of the wyrm.
The material for this article draws from the characters Butcher Worm, also known as Holger Kochfleischer, from Night Horrors: Immortal Sinners and Zmai the Worm from the Werewolf: the Forsaken book Predators. What both of these books have in common is a bloodthirsty almost limbless thing that once might have been a vampire.
The Butcher Worm is an intermediate case of this disease. Holger was once a seemingly normal Nosferatu. For the past two centuries though he has been degenerating into an obese maggot. Every century he grows larger, fatter, and less human thanks to a special Devotion.
Zmai is an extremely advanced case of this disease, what Holger might someday reach in a thousand years. While not called out as a vampire, this vast eyeless worm possesses blood that is addictive and empowering to mortals and a vulnerability to sunlight. The possible connection is clear.
Wyrm Sickness
The condition called Wyrm Sickness seems to strike only Elder vampires, particularly those of the Nosferatu and Gangrel clans. Other clans claim their degenerate ways are the cause but the truth might lie with an unexpected side effect of mastering the Nightmare and Protean Disciplines.Those that succumb begin to slowly mutate into serpent-like monsters. The progression is different in every case but the following transformations are universal.
The subject's mouth mutates and becomes more dangerous and inhuman. One vampire's mouth might become full of needle like fangs while some like Holger see their teeth turn inward like fishhooks. An elder named Kyros has seen his jaw distend as it fills with shark's teeth.
The body stretches and grows. Some put on layer after layer of fat while others grow taller and thinner. At some point the body is unable to support the added weight and the vampire is forced to crawl and slither along the earth.
Limbs slowly atrophy. Arms and legs vanish under layers of undead flesh or wither away to uselessness. Shoulders collapse and hips melt away.
Other odder mutations can occur. Eyes can seal shut. Tails can sprout. Some victims are encased in armored scales while others retain smooth soft flesh. The progression is slow taking centuries in most cases.
Mechanics
Only those vampire with at least 3 dots in both Protean and Nightmare can contract the disease and only if their Blood Potency is 4 or higher.Each time they would gain a dot of Blood Potency, they must roll Composure + Resolve vs. their own Stamina + Blood Potency + Protean. For each success they fail by, some part of who they were is lost. Options include:
- Increased Size by 1 as they stretch and grow but their Species Factor bonus to Speed decreases by 1 (Minimum 0).
- Their Strength increases by 1 but they suffer a -1 cumulative penalty to Dexterity rolls using their hands or arms as they wither away.
- They gain armor 1. However they can no longer pass as human.
- They gain a horrific bite dealing 2 Lethal. Their voice however ceases to sound human in any way.
Example Afflicted: Kyros
Concept: Scary Elder
Background: Kyros currently reigns as Prince in the City of Norfolk, Virginia having recently ousted the prior Prince thanks to the help of the local Ordo Dracul and their allies. Kyros has been steadily growing his power base since his awakening in the mid 19th century. His torpor left him quite addled and he found his affliction greatly advanced.
Kyros's origins are a mystery even to him. Records and recollections in nearby Portsmouth suggest he may have been one of the first vampires in the Virginia colony. Most accept his belief that he was an established vampire by the time of the Hundred Year War, suggesting that he was embraced in 13th century or earlier. His Greek name suggests either a Byzantine connection or perhaps ties to an even earlier time.
Background: Kyros currently reigns as Prince in the City of Norfolk, Virginia having recently ousted the prior Prince thanks to the help of the local Ordo Dracul and their allies. Kyros has been steadily growing his power base since his awakening in the mid 19th century. His torpor left him quite addled and he found his affliction greatly advanced.
Kyros's origins are a mystery even to him. Records and recollections in nearby Portsmouth suggest he may have been one of the first vampires in the Virginia colony. Most accept his belief that he was an established vampire by the time of the Hundred Year War, suggesting that he was embraced in 13th century or earlier. His Greek name suggests either a Byzantine connection or perhaps ties to an even earlier time.
Description: An inhumanly tall thin man, Kyros wraps his voluminous form in black silk. In particular he wears a veil to hide his hideously deformed mouth which has become permanently unhinged as it filled with chisel-like teeth. He speaks with difficulty, his words obscured by the clattering of his monstrous teeth.
Embrace: 13th century?
Apparent Age: 64
Clan: Nosferatu
Faction: Invictis
Mental Attributes: Intelligence 5, Wits 4, Resolve 5
Physical Attributes: Strength 5, Dexterity 3, Stamina 5
Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 5, Composure 4
Mental Skills: Academics 3, Crafts 2, Investigation 3, Medicine 2, Occult 4, Politics 4, Science 3
Physical Skills: Athletics 4, Brawl 4, Drive 2, Firearms 3, Larceny 3, Stealth 4, Survival 3, Weaponry 4
Social Skills: Animal Ken 2, Empathy 5, Expression 3, Intimidation 5, Persuasion 5, Socialize 5, Streetwise 3, Subterfuge 4
Merits: Allies (local government) 3, Allies (police) 2, Haven (defense 4) 3, Herd 2, Language (French) 2, Language (Greek) 2, Language (Latin) 2, Resources 5, Status (City) 4, Status (Nosferatu) 3, Status (Invicitis) 4
Willpower: 9
Humanity: 3
Virtue: Prudence
Vice: Greed
Initiative: 7
Defense: 3
Speed: 11
Size: 7
Health: 12
Blood Potency: 6
Disciplines: Auspex 4, Dominate 4, Nightmare 6, Protean 4, Resilience 3, Vigor 4
Notes: His inhuman mouth gives him a bite that deals lethal damage with a +3 bonus (or 2 Lethal if using the GMC rule update). He has gained 2 dots of size and lost 2 dots of speed. He suffers a -1 penalty to Dexterity with any thing requiring manipulation.
Custom Discipline: Nightmare 6: Kyros can control nightmares inflicting them on anyone he has mental contact with (such as through Auspex 4 telepathy) or even such arcane connections as Scrying. His Presence + Intimidation + Nightmare is opposed by the victim's Resolve + Blood Potency. For every success he beats the victim by the victim suffers 1 sleepless night. This restricts them from regaining Willpower through sleep and imposes a cumulative -1 penalty to all rolls until they can rest.
Embrace: 13th century?
Apparent Age: 64
Clan: Nosferatu
Faction: Invictis
Mental Attributes: Intelligence 5, Wits 4, Resolve 5
Physical Attributes: Strength 5, Dexterity 3, Stamina 5
Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 5, Composure 4
Mental Skills: Academics 3, Crafts 2, Investigation 3, Medicine 2, Occult 4, Politics 4, Science 3
Physical Skills: Athletics 4, Brawl 4, Drive 2, Firearms 3, Larceny 3, Stealth 4, Survival 3, Weaponry 4
Social Skills: Animal Ken 2, Empathy 5, Expression 3, Intimidation 5, Persuasion 5, Socialize 5, Streetwise 3, Subterfuge 4
Merits: Allies (local government) 3, Allies (police) 2, Haven (defense 4) 3, Herd 2, Language (French) 2, Language (Greek) 2, Language (Latin) 2, Resources 5, Status (City) 4, Status (Nosferatu) 3, Status (Invicitis) 4
Willpower: 9
Humanity: 3
Virtue: Prudence
Vice: Greed
Initiative: 7
Defense: 3
Speed: 11
Size: 7
Health: 12
Blood Potency: 6
Disciplines: Auspex 4, Dominate 4, Nightmare 6, Protean 4, Resilience 3, Vigor 4
Notes: His inhuman mouth gives him a bite that deals lethal damage with a +3 bonus (or 2 Lethal if using the GMC rule update). He has gained 2 dots of size and lost 2 dots of speed. He suffers a -1 penalty to Dexterity with any thing requiring manipulation.
Custom Discipline: Nightmare 6: Kyros can control nightmares inflicting them on anyone he has mental contact with (such as through Auspex 4 telepathy) or even such arcane connections as Scrying. His Presence + Intimidation + Nightmare is opposed by the victim's Resolve + Blood Potency. For every success he beats the victim by the victim suffers 1 sleepless night. This restricts them from regaining Willpower through sleep and imposes a cumulative -1 penalty to all rolls until they can rest.
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