Entity

The Entities are a race of multiversal creatures the size of planets and the source of parahuman powers.

Background

The Entities originally lived on a planet of gray sludge before they evolved the ability to move between universes to the different versions of that same world. Over time, this ability allowed them to breed until they choked out almost all other life on their world in every universe. Over and over, the Entities fought against one another in an attempt to avoid starvation - bringing life back to some versions of their world while others were left barren.

In time, one of the Entities realized that there was only so much time left before every version of their world had been rendered barren, and proposed the species leave their planet. One last war was fought, and in the end there were only two entities left, each so large their bodies covered numerous worlds. They formed their bodies into numerous fragments that were themselves smaller entities, then leeched away all the heat and energy from all versions of their world and used it to shatter their planet and launch their fragments into space like the seeds of a dandelion.<ref>"Worm" Web Serial, Interlude 26.x</ref>

They travel through space as multi-dimensional organisms comprised of both organic matter and inorganic matter known as shards/fragments. Typically traveling in pairs, these titanic beings exist in forms as large as moons or planets, with the sole goal of finding a means of preventing the entropic death of the universe. The pairs can be broken down into the Warrior and the Thinker. The Warrior is presumably more powerful than the Thinker, whereas the Thinker is capable of abstract thought, imagination and planning. It is stated by the entity known as Scion that 'he' is incapable of completing his cycle without his partner, as he is incapable of refining shards by himself. The validity of this statement is suspect, as a third entity is known to travel independent of a partner (although it is smaller), and Scion implies some degree of individual growth when initiating the Golden Morning. <ref>"Worm" Web Serial, Interlude 26.x</ref>

To prevent the cold death of the universe the entities disseminate 'shards' across worlds with sapient life. Shards are fragments of the entities capable of retaining information and maturing as a means of learning and are distinctly alive. This process is known as their life cycle and is the basis of the super-powers seen in Worm. Similar shards exist in the entities in clusters with similar attributes or functions. When a superpower is given to a human all of the shards necessary to form the superpower are sent as a group. <ref>"Worm" Web Serial, Interlude 26.x</ref>

As the entities approach new planets they look into the future to observe how shards shed from their mass will interact with the local life-forms. Modifications are then made to the shards in response to the observed future, in order to make them compatible with their soon-to-be hosts. This is the origin of the Manton effect. Modifications are also made to prevent the shards from being used against the entities. One such alteration is the inability to remember the entities following a trigger event and was done using Imp's shard. Another inhibits Contessa's power from affecting Scion or the Endbringers. <ref>"Worm" Web Serial, Interlude 26.x</ref>

The shards are spread across Earths in many dimensions and are targeted towards specific individuals. However once the shards are cast off from the Entity they are largely independent, capable of finding a host most suitable for them, this is shown when a shard intended for Aisha's father hops over to her instead. Once a host is chosen the shard is sequestered in an alternate, barren, Earth where it processes the complexities of the power and serves as an energy source. By doing so the Shard remains safe from damage, with its only connection to the host exisiting through the Cornona Pollentia. <ref>"Worm" Web Serial, Interlude 26.x</ref>

The shards are capable of maturing and grow through experience and use. Given time and enough new information the shards can split to form sub-shards, as demonstrated by Taylor. These sub-shards will allow access to new powers but retain similar features to their parent shard. Sub-shards may be the origin of secondary trigger events. However, as Taylor experienced a second vision of the entities when Grue had his second trigger event it is more likely that secondary trigger events are a result of additional, different, shards binding to the same host. <ref>"Worm" Web Serial, Interlude 26.x</ref>

Dimensions are separated into groups according to their similarity to each other, with shards capable of accessing para-humans across these similar dimensions. By grouping them like this the entities maximise the amount that can be learned without re-hashing the same experiences over and over. <ref>"Worm" Web Serial, Interlude 26.x</ref>

Life Cycle

The entities' life cycle is like that of a virus, infecting planets and converting them to more entities, then destroying them to launch themselves to a new planet to they can do it again.

References