Creature:Worm

SERPENT SHIELD - Threat Analysis Summary [2R6.K2U.ANA.8K7]

Tuuros Expeditionary Initiative / Security / Intelligence / Threat Analysis and Prediction

Product of Javelin Terminal Office

The following is a Threat Analysis Summary of SERPENT SHIELD -- the so-called 'Worm' -- based on all currently known and available evidence [appended, see section 5].

Overview
The Worm is an extrinsic parasitoidic biological neural network teleonomically adapted for the infiltration and destruction of civilizations. The appearance of the Worm in a civilization is hereby referred to as an "iteration." The Worm is believed to have been present in Tuuros for well over █ billion years. Over that time, Worm iterations have occurred in an estimated ████ civilizations. Each iteration consists of two components: a species and a religion. These components are inseparable. The Worm species promotes the Worm religion, and the Worm religion propagates the Worm species.

As a species, no two iterations of the Worm are exactly alike, but all share common functionalities, archetypes and goals. All Worm organisms are telepathically linked, forming a superorganism; the overall intelligence of this superorganism increases as the Worm population grows, particularly the number of hosts. Its origins, in terms of both location and evolution, are unknown and likely unnatural [possible Discontinuity source hypothesized].

As a religion, the Worm is as mutable as the species. This is because the Worm typically piggybacks on existing, widely accepted religions, adopting their appearances and practices for its own. However, at its core, the Worm cult inevitably features three constants: the worship of three god-figures RHAA, ZUOR, and QARNH [or linguistic variants], the belief that an eschatological event can be brought about manually through the actions of the faithful, and the need to convert as much of the population as possible [leading directly into the second constant].

The culmination of each Worm iteration is the total destabilization of society in advance of an Immanence event [see section 3]. This appears to be incidental, being the natural end result of the widespread emergence of titanic exofauna, corresponding massive hostile mutations in civilian populations, subversion of influential figures by the Worm parasite to serve its interests, and the actions of the Worm cult in worshiping, protecting, and facilitating these disasters.