The Newcomers

 

The Imbued:

Given that the events of the 6th Great Maelstrom were part of what gave birth to the new crop of mortal Hunters - those Imbued with the awful truths of their world, and powers to try and deal with them - there would a neat symmetry if they could help stave off the eventual disaster that event led to. Why else would the world make new champions against the darkness, only to have them stand by hopelessly while a greater darkness devoured mankind?

However, much like the Changelings, mortal Hunters' understanding of what's going on is too unclear to be of much service, and their powers are too weak for them to do more than mop up messes on their side of the Shroud.

They might be able to buy humanity some precious time while the Wraiths work against the greater threat, but that's about it. And given that a lot of them can only see Wraiths as a threat, in and of themselves, trying to parley with the Imbued could be almost as dangerous as trying to talk peace with a Spectre.

On the other hand, some of the more far-sighted amongst the Hunters may gain some final, insane comprehension that allows them to help in a more concrete way. That idea could then be transmitted over hunter.net within seconds, and those willing to go through with it - whatever it is - could synchronize their movements and see it through.

 

The Amenti:

The Amenti have a very clear connection to the Underworld, seeing as how they spend a good deal of time as wraiths of a sort, themselves. They also have a varying degree of control over the land of the dead, both pertaining to their own souls and the spirits of others. So if anyone was going to be able to find a way to repair the Shroud, it would be them.

In fact, a few of the scenarios for Mummy: The Resurrection in World of Darkness: Time of Judgment have the Amenti {and their fellow Reborn} doing just that. However, Wraith Storytellers should be wary of letting them "steal the show" with some great sacrifice or incredible ritual, as detailed there. It would be really cheap and cheesy to have the bandage cavalry come out of the desert just like that.

On the other hand, there is an intriguing crossover element between Wraith and Mummy: Anubis.

Anubis is credited with having taught the Ferrymen about the different parts of the soul, which they used to their advantage. He's also the one who asked that they manipulate events in order to see Enoch destroyed, thus setting the 6th Great Maelstrom into motion. And since that time he's been tending to the newly-Reborn Amenti, who are - like the Imbued - another byproduct of the Maelstrom's rage.

Admittedly, there is some question as to his role in things, given that his actions have helped bring about the current disaster in the Shadowlands. But as he has undeniably immense knowledge about the Underworld and souls {and a great deal of power, besides} Anubis may hold the key to stopping the Darkness, or at least slowing it, somehow.

Going to find the mysterious "God of Death," and getting some answers from him, could make for an amazing Adventure Chronicle. Storytellers wishing to do that should check out Mummy: the Resurrection, and pay particular attention to how their bit of the Underworld works.

 

The Fallen:

The Imbued and the Reborn weren't the only new players to come out of the 6th Great Maelstrom. The explosion had the effect of cracking open the Abyss, and letting loose the long-jailed Fallen Angels. Now they are back on Earth - linked to mortal bodies, and playing new games of power, divinity and damnation.

Having just escaped from The Abyss, very few Demons should be thrilled at the notion of it - or something even worse - climbing back out to get them. And given how so many of them fell while defying God's plans for the world, the majority of their political factions would be loath to cede it over to the primal, devouring Darkness.

One of the Houses, the Slayers, have powers that give them command over the forces of death. They might just be able to find some way to fortify the Shroud, just as the Neberu House - who have command over portals, including those into the Shadowlands - could find some way to stop tears from coming. And all Demons might be able to direct human belief in such a way that the barrier between worlds is strengthened.

On the other hand, some wish to break it all down. The Ravener faction's bitterness and anger has stewed in the Abyss for untold ages, and they now wish nothing more than to see this world destroyed. So having Oblivion spill up out of the Underworld, through the Shroud and across the entire planet would be a foully elegant solution. And there are no shortage of Slayers on their team.

And there may even be those Demons who will aid Oblivion for their own, personal gain. These ones could somehow be confident of their surviving the coming Storm, and becoming the kings of whatever new world is born from the black tide.

Who knows? They may even be right...

 

Greater Voices - Greater Forces

Finally, there's God, the Gods, or whatever deities rule over your vision of the World of Darkness. What role might He, She or They take in things?

It really depends on how the Storyteller sees Oblivion going down. Maybe this is supposed to be the way the world ends, and nothing anyone does will help because the Gods have willed it. Maybe it isn't time, yet, and everything that's been seen thus far is just a spookshow done by the Gods to get people back in church. And maybe this some kind of divine test to see if this dark and shadowy world has any business continuing, and the Gods will sit on their hands to see whose will be done.

So, at the last moment, a miracle could occur, and despite all likeliness of Oblivion reigning over all, the Shroud would yet hold. However, that's really cheesy, and likely to make players feel that they've been cheated out of a meaningful resolution.

Alternatively, maybe it's time for this all to end, and no matter how well the characters do at stopping The End from happening, it occurs anyway. While that would be in keeping with the World of Darkness' pessimistic milieu, it's also likely to make players wonder what the damn point of it all was.

So it's probably better - or at least more fair to the players - for the Gods to be sitting this one out. They might make small miracles here and there, or arrange a few important coincidences, but for whatever reason they will not get directly involved to the extent that they could.

Other Voices