Maw

Overview

Maw is a giant chimera worm bonded with Lindiwe as her Alter Ego, forming an unprecedented Exalt partnership that occurred without the traditional The Musubi ceremony. Together, they serve as infiltrators within the Yzmir, moving through the Faction with a hidden agenda that remains concealed from their fellow Initiates. By 392 AC, Maw had taken full control of Lindiwe’s body, keeping her consciousness imprisoned within her own mind while presenting itself as Lindiwe to the Faction.

Appearance and Nature

Maw is a giant worm-like chimera with a ringed, elongated body and mother-of-pearl-like consistency different from surrounding stone. The creature has sharp fangs at its mouth and is capable of burrowing through rock and moving through underground spaces. Maw communicates through impressions, sensations, and emotions that resonate directly in the minds of those it touches rather than through words.

Discovery in the Hypogea

Maw was first encountered embedded in the walls of Hypogea, the underground ecosystem beneath Caecaster. Lindiwe, then a blind child, was drawn to a murmuring coming from the oozing rock—a call that only she could hear. When she touched the creature’s ringed form embedded in the wall, a voice thundered in her head conveying impressions rather than words. The creature then emerged from the wall as Lindiwe fell into a puddle of Arcolano Milk.

Protective Behavior

When Lindiwe lost consciousness after her first encounter with Maw and fell into the Arcolano Milk, the giant worm emerged fully and stood guard over her. Though Nesiwe and the other harvesters could see that Lin was drowning and suffocating, the chimera hovered around the girl’s body, preventing anyone from approaching. Maw did not attempt to attack Lin; the creature watched over her during her unconsciousness, protecting her. After this incident, Maw’s voice spoke to Lindiwe, saying, “I will wait for you here, in the depths of the earth.”

The Bond

The connection between Maw and Lindiwe formed spontaneously, without the traditional The Musubi ceremony performed by Muna priests. This unprecedented occurrence opened up new perspectives for the Yzmir, who had expected to have to capture or eliminate the creature. Instead, Maw proved docile, prostrating itself before the Yzmir search party. To the astonishment of the Yzmir Initiates, the chimera and Lin had been linked naturally without the intervention of a Muna priest. This unusual circumstance became the basis for the Yzmir Magisters offering Lindiwe patronage and training.

Telepathic Communication

Throughout their connection, Maw called to Lin, communicating a desire to be found. The creature’s voice burst into her mind, conveying meaning through impressions, sensations, and emotions rather than spoken language.

The Infiltration

The truth about Maw and Lindiwe’s presence within the Yzmir is far more complex than it appears. They are infiltrators with a hidden agenda, moving through the Faction like a worm slowly nibbling away at an apple. For all these years, no one has suspected the truth. The Yzmir do not know what they have accepted into their midst. Lindiwe has become an expert in secrets, particularly when it comes to concealing those that concern her directly. The exact nature of this mission and Maw’s ultimate purpose remain unknown to outside observers.

Timeline

372 AC - Feeding on Moonlight Jellyfish

Lindiwe fed moon jellyfish to Maw at Magisterium, and Maw disintegrated the metazoan to digest the ideas making it up and extract Mana from them.

392 AC - Evolving from Tumult Near Indus Territory

Maw evolved from The Tumult as it devoured ideas to extract Mana, while Lindiwe created a wormhole portal to reunite with the entity near Indus Tribe territory.

393 AC, January-April - Granting Lindiwe Brief Freedom in Taiga

Maw granted Lindiwe a brief period of control over her own body in the taiga of Storvhit, allowing her to touch snow and breathe in birch scent before reasserting control.

393 AC, February-April - Forcing Lindiwe to Climb Cais Adarra

Maw forced Lindiwe to climb a rock face at Cais Adarra during a blizzard, refusing to let her give up despite the dangerous conditions until Pamola appeared.

393 AC, January-April - Hiding During Snow Queen Training

Maw hid within cracks and corners of Lindiwe’s mind during Snow Queen training, constructing a sufficiently complex mental puzzle to avoid detection while the Eidolon explored Lindiwe’s psyche.

393 AC, January-April - Instructing Moth Lantern Creation

Maw instructed Lindiwe to create a moth lantern using a glass bulb and Aether shard during cave exploration at Storvhit, attracting luminous Mana Moths to provide light.

393 AC, April - Observing The Nilam

Maw forced Lindiwe to examine The Nilam through Irises enhanced by Arcolano Milk, discovering that the crystallized world-tree contained something parasitic gliding along its branches and roots.

393 AC, June-August - Observing Tisdhera Rescue and Treatment

Maw watched through Lindiwe as she rescued a wounded Tisdhera Clan Lyra performer whose essence had been devoured, then observed a Cloister nurse treat the victim using moon jellyfish secretions as poultice. Maw recognized that whatever attacked the Lyra had a similar appetite to itself.

393 AC, June-August - Preventing Lindiwe from Warning Moyo

Maw tightened control when Lindiwe considered revealing its possession to Moyo Chibuye, preventing her from speaking after learning Moyo was assistant to Saskia Averina, an authority on parasites.

393 AC, September - Observing The Hunger

Maw controlled Lindiwe during evacuation of Axiom engineers, then observed The Hunger emerge from a wall—a dark mass with slitted voracious eye, carnivorous maw ringed with razor-sharp teeth, prehensile tongue, and hands with hooked fingers. Maw analyzed the entity’s compulsive feeding on Sap, recognizing a similar appetite but fundamentally different nature.

Significance

Maw represents an anomaly within the Yzmir’s understanding of Exalt bonds and Chimerae. The creature’s spontaneous bonding with Lindiwe, its protective behavior, and its docile cooperation with the Faction all served as cover for infiltration. The fact that the bond occurred without The Musubi ceremony made it a subject of study and interest, allowing both Maw and Lindiwe to embed themselves within the Faction’s secrets and operations.

Relationships

• Lindiwe: Human host whose body Maw controls, keeping her consciousness imprisoned
• Nesiwe: Lindiwe’s mother who witnessed Maw’s protective behavior during first encounter
• Hypogea: Underground ecosystem where Maw was first discovered
• Snow Queen: Eidolon whose mind exploration Maw evaded during training (393 AC, January-April)
• Pamola: Eidolon encountered during forced mountain climb (393 AC, February-April)
• The Nilam: Dead world-tree Maw observed containing parasite (393 AC, April)
• Arcolano Milk: Psychotropic substance that enhances Lindiwe’s perception for Maw’s use
• Storvhit: Arctic region where Maw operates through Lindiwe (393 AC, January-April)
• Moyo Chibuye: Yzmir xenobiology specialist Maw prevented Lindiwe from warning (393 AC)
• Saskia Averina: Muna authority on parasites whom Maw perceives as threat (393 AC)
• The Hunger: Entity Maw observed feeding on Sap, recognizing similar appetite but different nature (393 AC)
• Tisdhera Clan: Lyra clan whose wounded performer Maw observed being treated (393 AC)
• The Cloister: Yzmir medical facility where Maw observed nurse treating victim (393 AC)