#behemoth worm

[whereserpentswalk]

Ok. So it's cannon that Behemoth's third attack was on New York. This isn't a plot hole, but there is a lot we don't know about it. And it was almost certainly a major turning point, the first city in the global north to face an endbringer attack. Yes the cape death count had been high before, but Behemoth's previous attacks were in Iran and Brazil, places where the average American doesn't give thought to.

Now, the reason why I'm making this post is mostly because I've lived in NYC my entire life, so it's interesting to speculate on what the one confirmed enbringer attack was like. I know enough about New York to know what a Behemoth attack on here might be like. If anyone else lives somewhere with a confirmed enbringer attack that isn't elaborated on I'd love to see your theories on what happened.

So, this is what I think the attack was like:

First off. We have cannon information on Earth Bet's New York during Weaver/Skitter's career. So we get an idea of how it effected the city. We know that New York still is the most populated city in America, and we know that it's still the center of a lot of the American economy. That is to say; we know that whatever Behemoth did it didn't completely destroy New York, neither as a population center or an economic center. So my theory for what the attack was like has to take into account that this is something that the city bounced back from by 2011.

We also know that Behemoth (and the enbringers as a whole) gain new tactics over time. This is his third attack, he's not going to be as advanced as he was when we see him during his final attack on New Delhi. We also know what enbringers want: to cause devastation upon humanity and to act as a worthy foe for capes. He's not a rampaging monster who doesn't know where he's going, and he's not a millitary weapon trying to destroy the tactically optimal target. He has a plan, but it's a plan that's based on fighting capes and causing terror.

So I don't think Behemoth emerged in Manhattan. We'd see more of its effects on the city if he did. And more importantly, it's an island, and he's the land based enbringer. He might be able to emerge on a small island is he really wants to, but this is his third attack. However, there is a part of New York that's attached to the mainland, and that's the Bronx, and that's a much better target for him for several reasons, not just the land thing.

Now, the Bronx, being the only mainland borough of NYC, has suburbs right next to it (also, to make some of what I say make sense later, I should probably clarify that the Bonx is NYC's northern edge). The Bronx is also New York's poorest and highest crime borough, and the suburbs just to the north of it are some of the richest suburbs in the state. You basically have a low income urban area, and a high income suburban area right next to eachother. This is important to what I think Behemoth's attack did, he knows about humans, and he's actively designing his attack around class division, and how humans react when people of different classes die.

So, on March 26th, 1994, nearly a year after Behemoth attacked São Paulo, Behemoth emerges just north of NYC, somewhere around Yonkers. Americans dismissed his earlier attacks on Brazil and Iran as third world problems, and now he's just emerged in a wealthy suburb. He's emerged on a Saturday when most people are in their homes getting a higher kill count then he otherwise would. If anyone does work weekends they likely lose their spouse and children in the attack. This is probably the first time the enbringers are really taken seriously by the American public.

He then moves downward ti the city proper, attacking the Bronx. Legend is probably the first cape he's up agaisnt, but others quickly join in. Either this is the first time the enbringer truce is really utilized, and we get villains in the enbringer fight for the first time, or it isn't a thing yet and we get villains profiting off of the endbringer fight. Behemoth makes it pretty far into the Bronx, possibly crossing the Harlem river, but the northern tip of Manhattan is similar enough to the Bronx that the difference isn't that important for the scope of this theory. Most of the Bronx and northern Manhattan is evacuated by the time he gets there, possibly with cold war era fallout shelters and subway stations being used in place of the shelters that would later be built. There's a lower death count in the Bronx, but he's going for property destruction here more then anything, especially as the capes don't have all that much knowledge as to how to minimize dammage. Eventually Behemoth is fought off, possibly being dunked in the Hudson or East River (if so that's probably where the High Priest shard got the idea for Leviathan).

Now the more important part is the after effects:

On Yonkers; the suburbs in that area just don't exist anymore, it's just a massive black pit north of the city. The exact demographic of Americans that Americans tend to mourn died, and the economy is hurt by the fact that the only way to access New York is either by water or through Jersey.

On the Bronx or Northern Manhattan the effects are far longer lasting. The best comparison I can think of is post leviathan Brockton Bay. Countless of the poorest in the city have lost their homes and business. Many who have nowhere to go end up homeless, and many who don't have work after the attack turn to crime. Villains who used to have territory in the effected areas move elsewhere in the city, likely ending up intruding on either previously safe areas, or areas that other villains have claimed, so there's a lot of gang wars in certain areas of the city. There's also a lot of places in the Bronx and/or Northern Manhattan that don't have things like water or power, and/or are effected by Behemoth's ash and radiation. There's probably certain neighborhoods that are considered uninhabitable that are resettled anyway that have residents die due to the environmental effects. And other neighborhoods that are abandoned due to the destruction but that fill with squatters.

Basically in conclusion Behemoth's effect on the Bronx is similar to that of Robert Moses.

[elcuervoborracho]

A commission for the beautiful Toku11, humanized Endbringers (and Taylor)! From left to right: Bohu, Tohu, Behemoth, Taylor, Simurgh, Leviathan and Khonsu. It's been such a long time since I made them (3 years, and it was just a practice sketch back then!), but revising this was a ton of fun!

[ganurath]

Shouting feels inadequate to get the attention of an Endbringer. I suspect that, simultaneous to that, Alec attempted to use his power on Behemoth, like he said he could to Leviathan during Tattletale's Interlude.

[dagda-the-doodler]

The Behemoth Rises.

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Behemoth was incredibly fun to do! Working with dynamic lighting, different textures, all incredibly fun! I hope you enjoy!

[senhor-do-escuro]

Eidolon wanted something that could fill his life with purpose.

So the shard gave him three very destructive kids who throw temper tantrums every few months and cause massive destruction across the globe.

And Eidolon didn't know he was the father until much later.

[germesthegenie]

The Return of Alexandria(?)

Another comic based on 24.1, since I did most of the funny scenes might as well do the ending of the chapter some justice. Also wanted to do a Behemoth design + updates to my Triumvirate designs

[lettuceisnotreallyacabbage]

any questions? behemoth and leviathan.

[tj-crochets]

Hey y'all! Weird question time, I can't remember a word and am hoping y'all will know what word I am looking for I feel like the words leviathan and behemoth are part of a set of three words, and that the third word maybe starts with the letter V? But I can't remember the third word. Do you know what word I mean?

[bodegadulac]

Next pokemon gen just dropped

[numbersareimaginary]

Endbringer icons, for a thing I'm working on. Criticism very much accepted!

[cairavende]

Worm Arc 23 thoughts:

So much happened in so few chapters, how do I even break this down?!?

First off, Colin had better stop fucking bonding with my daughter! And apologizing and making amends for past wrongs! I'm a huge fan of redemption arcs and second chances and that is being used against me! JUST LET ME HATE THIS MAN!!!!!!

My bug daughter is in prison but that's almost like, a minor side thing? It barely matters right now except that it gives some background structure. Compared to everything else the prison bit is just . . . a thing.

I'm in tears over bug horse. I'm bawling. I may never recover. RIP Atlas, you were the best of us.

TAYLOR GOES TO THERAPY!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS EVERYTHING I EVER WANTED!!!!!!

I love Jessica so much! She does such a good job. I want to bake her cookies as thanks but I'm not sure if that would trigger some type of conflict of interest.

Fucking Glenn. I want to hate him and love him all at the same time.

Is he an artist? Absolutely! He has a vision and it is beautiful.

But also if it comes down to "letting the world end or compromising said vision" he might be the kind of person who would watch the world burn with a tear running down his cheek, because at least it was beautiful.

Look I get it. My daughter is terrifying. But that isn't because bugs are scary. It's cause my daughter is terrifying. Making her use butterflies just means a bunch of people are gonna start having butterfly phobias.

Like come on, Clockblocker gets to break fundamental forces of the universe and cause people to question their very existence!

Do not try to tell me that someone getting time frozen and just . . . skipping a chunk of time because their mind is not part of the time stream for a few minutes would not provoke some deep thoughts of existential dread! Sure not in everyone, but not everyone is scared of bugs either! I just think it's very unfair.

The Adepts are fun. Sure powers aren't "magic" but might as well have fun with the idea! Besides it seems to be working and if I had powers I'd absolutely love to lean into a magical focus idea.

I am quite upset about the fact that during the whole Thirteenth Hour thing Weaver didn't get to shove bugs down Clockblocker's throat to save him. It would have been so poetic. Saving the day by shoving bugs down throats was still super amazing, I just wanted it to be Clockblocker.

It was the most extreme level of active awareness and minor "control" while being disabled that we've seen from Taylor so far though! Really curious to get more into that, the nature of passengers/shards, and all those things. I have so many thoughts, but they're all just speculation right now (I don't think writing 75 pages of theories that all end up being wrong is really gonna be very helpful).

“If anyone asks, you kicked their asses with butterflies.” Clockblocker gets it!

It was really cool to get more into different vibes of the world with the Vegas section! I love me some thinkers and strangers.

I'm very glad The Number Man used a sniper rifle. I would have been a little disappointed if he didn't after getting into his head in his interlude - it is just the perfect weapon for him. Motherfucker over here just bouncing bullets.

Finally got to see more Bambina after the little bit in arc 8. Her power is wild, I love it! Also Bambina's mom just shot right into the top contenders for "worst parent in Worm". Like, WTF lady.

August Prince is wild. Sucks when the most effective use of your power is "human shield" though.

Considering she had an interaction with The Number Man and Contessa, Taylor actually came out of it pretty good! Sure they lost the target they were trying to bring in, but I don't know that they really had a chance of keeping Pretender. Contessa isn't easy to stop.

The only problem I have with the Las Vegas Wards actions is hiring Bambina to break Pretender free. Otherwise ya, fucking ditch the Protectorate. Given the information they have it makes sense.

TAYLOR HAS FAN MAIL!!!!!!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Grue's letter was way to heartfelt. Tattletale clearly wrote most of it.

Like come on: "I could hit you, hug you, yell at you and hold onto you for hours all at the same time. It’s fitting that I want to kiss you and throttle you at the same time because that’s what you were to me for a long time. You drive me crazy and I can never understand what’s going through your head." This is totally Tattletale! She couldn't flirt with Taylor in her own letter, she had to be sneaky about it!

"You’re an idiot. I want you to know that. You’re an idiot, Skitter. You’re brilliant and reckless and I’m betting it makes sense to you to do this but you’re an idiot." - also Tattletale.

LOOK I'M GONNA MAKE THIS SHIT GAY AND THERE ISN'T ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP ME!!!!!!!

Imp's letter might be my favorite.

Tattletale's actual letter ends with "See you there, hun?" Just. So fucking gay. Sorry I don't make the rules.

Speaking of gay, Rachel's letter!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wolfspider wolfspider wolfspider!

Like I mean come on

"Being around you wasn’t simple or quiet but things made more sense.  Your minion with dark hair said we need to be around people but I’m around people and still feel somethings missing." GAY

"Going to take puppies to your place again soon. Show the kids to them. Might help." SO GAY

"You have plan, okay. But if your plan means you’re thinking about fighting us you should know I am getting very good at hunting and skinning things." HOLY SHIT IT'S THE MOST LESBIAN THING EVER

"We both stay alive. Try hard." TOP-TIER GAY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!

GGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY

AND THE SCENE WITH THE CHILDREN!!! AND THE BUTTERFLIES! AND THE DICE!!!!!!!!!!!

dies of joy

Seriously, 23.4 is the most beautiful chapter in Worm so far and it'll be very hard for it to be outdone.

I could talk about just that chapter for pages. It was perfect in every way. Even if I knew it had to end with Behemoth pretty early on. There was too much hope in that chapter for it to end any other way.

But in the middle of all that downward "oh fuck it's Behemoth" stuff we got an Undersiders reunion! With so much gay!

Like - “But you guys mean a lot to me.  I’m sorry I didn’t say it before, but I couldn’t without letting on that something was going on.  You’re my family, in a way.  As lame as it might be, I love you guys.” My head turned from Grue to Rachel to Tattletale as I said it.

SO FUCKING GAY

She starts at Grue sure but ends with Rachel and Lisa when saying "I love you". Certified gay.

So gay that even Imp agrees! Though I've been doing the long drawn out “Gaaaaaaayyyyyyy” since like arc 2. So Imp is a bit behind the curve here.

TAYLOR WANTS TO GO ON A DOG PARK DATE WITH RACHEL! IT'S THE MOST LESBIAN DATE POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!

Weaver's new flight suit is pretty neat. Dragon is a pretty good big sister.

Cody Interlude thoughts:

THIS motherfucker! I was waiting for him to show up again.

I am so mad. I'm so fucking mad.

Cody is the worst. He's pathetic and dumb.

And Accord just has to go and get killed by him in the dumbest way! GOD DAMMIT ACCORD I SIMPED FOR YOU SO HARD!!! AND THEN YOU DIE TO CODY! OF ALL PEOPLE! YOU CAN'T BE COOL IF YOU DIE TO CODY!

Chevy too! I thought he was cool and all, but he had to die to Cody. God. The worst.

ALSO MY BABY GIRL HE TRIED TO HURT MY BABY! THE ONE WHO ISN'T MY DAUGHTER!

SOMEBODY HELP TATTLETALE!

I did like seeing more of the mechanics of the Yàngbǎn after getting hints about how they work in the Lung interlude.

The power sharing plus the power amplification is a pretty broken combo tbh. Feels like there is some pretty neat stuff that could be accomplished with that.

Fuck this man though. Simmy just had to whisper to him and just dove right in. Cody can't even conceptualize what fighting back means, that would require him to grow as a person in literally any way.

Sucks for the Behemoth fight though. I guess my daughters are going to have to save the day. Again.

[estavionpira]

in the world where the simurgh is sparkly they would call her the shimmergh

in the world where behemoth is a chill guy they would call him brohemoth

in the world where leviathan is short they would call him lowviathan

in the world where khonsu is into sci fi movies they would call him tronsu

in the would where tohu is bohu they would call her bohu

in the world where bohu is tohu they would call her tohu

[aching-joints]

Some mistakes get made That's alright, that's okay You can think that you're in love When you're really just in pain

[zizbombs]

chevalier really was that fucking guy huh.

[depresso36]

Did a thing