Metawyrms

Basic Information

Anatomy

Metawyrms are among the largest known beings in the Multiverse, with lengths ranging from hundreds to thousands of kilometers, depending on their age and the environment they inhabit. Their bodies are cylindrical, tapering slightly at both ends, and are proportioned to maximize both flexibility and strength.
The skin of a Metawyrm is covered in thick, overlapping scales that vary in color from deep black to iridescent hues, depending on the light and energy sources in their vicinity. These scales, though not indestructible, are incredibly resilient, providing protection against the corrosive energies of the Interstice and other cosmic hazards. Metawyrms shed their scales every thousand years, with each new layer being stronger than the last, reflecting an evolutionary adaptation to their long lifespans and the harsh conditions they endure.
The musculature of a Metawyrm is dense and powerful, consisting of interlocking bands of muscle fibers that run the entire length of their bodies. These muscles provide the Metawyrm with the ability to constrict with immense force, allowing them to crush even the most durable of cosmic structures. The powerful musculature also enables their unique mode of locomotion, allowing them to propel themselves through the vacuum of space and the Interstice with a fluid, serpentine motion.
The skeleton of a Metawyrm is both massive and flexible, composed of numerous vertebrae connected by strong, yet pliable ligaments. This skeletal structure allows for the extreme length and flexibility required for their serpentine movement. The bones of Metawyrms are classified as Uru, a rare and potent material that enhances the flow of Magical Energy. These Uru bones not only provide structural support but also serve as conduits for the immense magical power that Metawyrms wield.

Genetics and Reproduction

Little is known about the reproductive process of Metawyrms, as they are solitary creatures that rarely interact with others of their kind. It is believed that Metawyrms reproduce asexually through a process similar to parthenogenesis, where a portion of their energy is condensed and given physical form, eventually developing into a new Metawyrm. This process is extremely rare, and new Metawyrms are only born under specific cosmic conditions that align with the creature's immense magical power.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The digestive system of a Metawyrm is designed to process the remains of entire Realms, breaking down both physical and metaphysical matter into energy that sustains the creature for millennia. The ingestion begins with the unhinging of the jaw, followed by the gradual consumption of the Realm's remains, which are then broken down by a combination of powerful digestive acids and magical enzymes. These enzymes neutralize any harmful substances, ensuring that the Metawyrm is not adversely affected by the consumption of potentially toxic materials.
Waste byproducts from the digestive process are minimal, as nearly all consumed matter is converted into energy or stored as potential magical power. Any remaining waste is excreted in the form of dense, crystalline structures composed of inert materials. These crystals, often found floating in the Interstice, are sometimes harvested by other cosmic beings for their residual magical properties.

Behaviour

Unlike their less intelligent descendants, the Eudotheric Wyrms, Metawyrms are exceptionally sentient and possess a level of intelligence that rivals, if not surpasses, most beings within the Mortal Multiverse. This heightened intelligence stems from their lineage as descendants of the Olde Dragons, giving them a natural curiosity about the cosmos and its inhabitants. Metawyrms are not only aware of their immense power but also of the vastness of the Multiverse, which fuels their desire to learn, explore, and understand everything they encounter.
Metawyrms spend much of their time in a state of rest, coiled around a living Realm with their tails in their mouths. However, during these periods of physical inactivity, their minds are far from dormant. Metawyrms possess the ability to astral project, allowing them to traverse the domains of mind and dreams. This activity serves two primary purposes:

Metawyrms are driven by an insatiable curiosity. Through astral projection, they enter the dreams of both mortals and divine beings, gathering information, emotions, and experiences. This exploration allows them to continuously expand their understanding of the Multiverse, making them living repositories of knowledge.

Despite their solitary physical existence, Metawyrms are highly social beings on a mental level. While astrally projecting, they frequently interact with other Metawyrms, exchanging stories, information, and emotions. These exchanges form the basis of their social currency, creating a complex network of shared knowledge and experiences that connects all Metawyrms. This mental interaction is so profound that it has given rise to the Psychogarðr, a unique mental realm created from the collective memories and emotions of all Metawyrms. Within the Psychogarðr, Metawyrms store the histories of lost kingdoms, forgotten civilizations, and all they have ever encountered, effectively preserving the legacy of the Multiverse.

Metawyrms, despite their immense power, display a surprising degree of empathy and restraint when interacting with weaker beings. They do not engage in mindless destruction, even though they are fully capable of it.

Metawyrms are known to respond to the pleas of mortals who beseech them for aid. However, they do not grant such aid freely. In exchange for their assistance, a Metawyrm requires information or experiences that it does not already possess. This could be a memory, a unique emotion, or knowledge of something previously unknown to the Metawyrm. This exchange ensures that their curiosity is continually satisfied, and their vast mental repository continues to grow.

Even when consuming dead Realms, Metawyrms demonstrate mercy by passively teleporting any remaining living beings to safety. These beings are either relocated to the surface of the Metawyrm, where they coexist with the Wyrmen, or transported to the nearest Realm. This act of mercy is a choice, showcasing the Metawyrms' ability to empathize with lesser beings and their preference for preservation over destruction.

Although Metawyrms possess the ability to consume living Realms, they choose not to unless absolutely necessary. Their immense power allows them to do so without contest in the Mortal Multiverse, but they prefer to maintain the cosmic balance by only consuming dead or dying Realms. This restraint highlights their understanding of the delicate equilibrium of the Multiverse and their role as its guardians.

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In the Psychogarðr, Metawyrms engage in frequent mental exchanges, sharing stories, knowledge, and emotions with each other. These interactions form the core of Metawyrm society, with each Metawyrm contributing to and drawing from the collective repository of experiences that define their species. These exchanges are not just for socialization but are integral to their identity, as they continuously enrich the Psychogarðr with new memories.
The Psychogarðr serves as both a mental refuge and a collective memory bank. Metawyrms who grow tired of their physical existence may choose to discard their physical forms and reside permanently within the Psychogarðr. These beings, now known as Mnewyrms, become part of the collective consciousness, their memories and experiences adding to the vast mental and emotional archive of the species.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Metawyrms possess multiple eyes arranged in symmetrical rows along the sides of their head, each eye capable of perceiving a wide range of electromagnetic spectra, including visible light, infrared, ultraviolet, and even magical auras. These eyes provide the Metawyrm with unparalleled vision, allowing them to detect threats, prey, and other cosmic phenomena across vast distances. The eyes are also capable of projecting energy beams for both offensive and defensive purposes.
Extending from the sides of the Metawyrm’s head are pairs of long, flexible tentacles equipped with specialized sensory organs. These tentacles are highly sensitive to energy fluctuations, gravitational shifts, and other cosmic anomalies, providing the Metawyrm with detailed information about its surroundings. The sensory tentacles also allow the Metawyrm to interact with objects and beings at a distance, making them versatile tools for exploration and combat.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

The Wyrmen, also known as the Men of the Wyrms or Children of the Worms, are a serpentine race of beings that live on the vast bodies of the Metawyrms. Resembling Gorgons in appearance, Wyrmen have a serpentine lower body, which they use to traverse the massive, undulating surface of their Metawyrm hosts. Unlike Gorgons, however, Wyrmen lack snakes in their hair, instead possessing a humanoid upper body with a distinctly otherworldly beauty.
Wyrmen are a byproduct of the Metawyrms' immense cosmic presence, making them distant relatives of the Dragons of Olde. This symbiotic relationship is crucial for both species. The Wyrmen rely on the Metawyrms for survival, as they cannot exist in the hostile environment of the Interstice without the protective atmosphere that the Metawyrms maintain around themselves. This atmosphere, while minimal, provides the necessary conditions for Wyrmen to thrive, allowing them to breathe and sustain life on the surface of the Metawyrm.
In return, Wyrmen perform a vital role in maintaining the health and well-being of the Metawyrm. The immense body of a Metawyrm is constantly exposed to harmful debris, cosmic parasites, and other interdimensional hazards that could drain its nutrients or cause damage over time. The Wyrmen actively patrol the surface of the Metawyrm, removing or neutralizing these threats. They do so by using their powerful magical abilities to cleanse and protect the Metawyrm's scales, ensuring that their host remains strong and healthy.
The Wyrmen sustain themselves on the interdimensional fungal growths, algae, and flora that naturally occur on the Metawyrm's body. These organisms, while potentially harmful to the Metawyrm if left unchecked, provide a rich source of nutrients for the Wyrmen. The Metawyrm’s body produces these growths as a byproduct of its immense energy and interactions with the Interstice, creating an ecosystem on its surface that supports the Wyrmen.
Wyrmen are nomadic, moving across the surface of the Metawyrm as needed to follow the growth cycles of their food sources and to attend to different areas of the Metawyrm's body. Their technology is limited, but they possess exceptionally high magical capabilities, which they use to communicate, defend their communities, and perform their duties in maintaining the Metawyrm.

As Above So Below As Within So Without Logo by Khali A. Crawford

Grandmaster SixPathsSage

Khali Crawford

   

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Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Tyrannosdraco Rex

Genetic Descendants

• Eudotheric Wyrm

Scientific Name

Domain: Eukaryota, Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Draconicus, Order: Wyrmiformes, Family: Metawyrmidae, Genus: Metawyrmus, Species: Metawyrmus interstitialis