Wraith the Oblivion Lore: The History of Stygia

A video on the history of Stygia from the White Wolf tabletop game, Wraith the Oblivion.

[@Lambach-Ruthven]

Still one of my favorite channels. No frills, no extensive editing, just straight WoD lore with good humor.

[@coleallard3884]

Well done, well done! No publicity, simple well researched talk about roleplaying. Thank you so much!

[@lazarofstygia2241]

You're welcome. I prefer content to production value myself. Glad there's an audience for it.

[@coleallard3884]

Wraith was always imho the best rpg made by WW, it never got a traduction into german since it didnt sell well compared to its flagship Vtm, that and the fact that you need players willing to play the others shadow, the same time they play their characters and try to survive and say yes to a complete undiscovered afterlife with all its depth resulted in me never mastering nor playing it...but reading the books was a pleasure in itself. Closest I came to it was playing a Cappadocian necromancer that was able to enter the shroud.

[@shaftlamer]

Publicity? 😂 What are you talking about??

[@TUA99]

5510 she k

[@fernmiranda]

So why don’t you have a Wraith playlist. We need more Wraith!!!

[@Breakfst4dinner]

This was a wonderful listen! Damn wraith is so cool. Also that sign off was poetic, fantastic content

[@lazarofstygia2241]

I agree, Wraith is pretty cool. Glad you liked it.

[@Sarcastic_Sophist]

Possibly my favorite variant of the world of darkness. Amazing video and I hope there will be more on wraith. Honestly I am reminded a bit of changeling when I read it. The tones for each game are in stark contrast to each other with wraith having overt melancholy with undertones of hope while changeling is hopeful with undertones of melancholy.

[@lazarofstygia2241]

That's pretty accurate.

[@Sarcastic_Sophist]

I thought so, thanks for these history videos they have been very helpful.

[@thomastakesatollforthedark2231]

Sooooo, I've always been a Changeling guy myself. I like whimsy, I like magical, I like dragons, knights, and everything nice paired with a good old smudging of old fashioned hope. But this video, especially Charon's sacrifice, made me get the W20 book and... Dear gods is it great. Its scratching that same itch changeling does, that no matter what there's always some path forward and out of the dark. In Changeling, its carrying a candle in a storm, but in Wraith its definitely more about introspection, but both are so uplifting when you get down to it. Just beautiful

[@Jerimyhawks]

I will not lie. When bro said “The Grand Maw” I did snicker

[@SkullCowboy333]

Great and you posted this on my last birthday, This is really cool and hints of the atmosphere of the Stygia in Conan, as though that became the world of the dead. Just my thought.

[@lazarofstygia2241]

I'll be doing something more about the Underworld relatively soon.

[@GhostVolta19]

Hope to get more Wraith videos! I'd really enjoy a video on the events of the end of Wraith.

[@lazarofstygia2241]

Ends of Empire can only come after Great War and Dark Kingdom of Jade.

[@GhostVolta19]

Lazar of Stygia hey I’m 100% cool with that!!! Especially The Great War! Would love those videos. Keep it up!

[@nathankail8561]

I like how Gorool is basically WOD Godzilla

[@jamestown8398]

I'm seeing a lot of parallels between Charon and the Emperor of Mankind from 40,000.

[@brentwitmer1144]

I love all your stuff for the World of Darkness, and your channel! What do you think about "plot device" about Abel being the first wraith? The first slain by Cain?

[@lazarofstygia2241]

There are several candidates for that title of first wraith including Abel (assuming he didn't Transcend immediately on death), the Lady of Fate, or Anubis.

[@PAX---777]

Anubis-- is my guess.

[@FaustCrowley]

Wraith is, of the main 5 World of Darkness games, one of my LEAST favorite (close call between W:TO or C:TD). However, I love that it's your favorite and agree with most of the reasons you present it as such. I am curious how you feel about the relationship between Wraith and Orpheus. Great presentation, and thank you for sharing.

[@lazarofstygia2241]

Orpheus was a solid follow-up to Wraith, especially with respect to the evolution of wraiths and spectres after the Sixth Great Maelstrom.

[@thehoodybadger3402]

Subscribed. Please continue this channel, and keeping variety with the gamelines. Excited for more Hunter :)

[@colbybackman439]

It would be really cool if you did some Demon: The Fallen videos. I'm trying to get into the game, and there aren't many videos (or books) about Demon, so it would be really helpful.

[@lazarofstygia2241]

Give it one more week. DtF is en route.

[@colbybackman439]

@@lazarofstygia2241 Thanks, man. You make some good stuff BTW.

[@dustinmitchell2669]

Just found your channel and I’ve been enjoying all of your content

[@lazarofstygia2241]

Thanks!

[@joshvon8495]

I’m late to the party but I’m glad I found this.liked and subscribed

[@gadgetronking4255]

Well done on the video. One thing I never got about Wraith though is why they call the inhabitants of the labyrinth Malfeans when there is a real within the Dark Umbra called Malfeas even though they have nothing to do with each other and are part of 2 completely different cosmic entities, why not call the Malfeans, Labyrinthians or something, it would make for a lot less confusion imo.

[@lazarofstygia2241]

Some Malfeans are also called the Neverborn, indicating that they were always Spectres, unlike the Onceborn Malfeans who were mortal, then Wraiths who fell to Oblivion.

[@enzoventurieri8671]

What amazing 40 minutes those were

[@ReallyBrandi]

I think you and I should have a chat. I'll look to see if your contact info has direct communication options. This was a blessing for me, very well done! Thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you!

[@lazarofstygia2241]

You're welcome.

[@jeffbrownstain]

I'm only watching this because it seems like your entire vibe. Personally don't care about you guys much but I like your passion.

[@Buffaloguy1991]

I'd love a video on the mechanics of this game in particular. In fact has anyone shown this one to a therapist as it more so than most seems rather... therapeutic in potential

[@Jamhael1]

In fact it is - but the purpose is Transcendence, or the real acceptance that you lived enough, did enough, and it is time to let it go, ASCENDING TOWARDS THE HEAVENS IN AWESOMENESS!

[@walruslolbertarian5586]

Cool breakdown

[@RobertOgilvie]

Wonderful job... Wraith is about (existential) courage

[@thomaslancaster4223]

Love Wraith the Oblivion.

[@big3ye378]

I love WOD novels. Caravan of Shadows is my favorite in the Wraith series

[@VirtualAdept777]

I really love this fucking game.

[@lazarofstygia2241]

And you should. Because Wraith is an awesome game. It's not easy to play, but it's fun. Unless you get soulforged. Then it sucks.

[@vladt7150]

KZbin suggested your 'History of the Underworld' vid first, and this vid was a subsequent recommendation - both were top quality, and I think I'll be referring my players in any future Wraith Chronicles I run to both of these vids to help prime them on the setting and in game history 👍 The only thing I'd take marks off for was the constant mispronounciation of 'Charon'.. yeah, it's small detail, but it irked me all the same... 👎😅

[@ArdannaL]

I didn't really get Wraith before, now I love it.

[@TheKagar]

Thank you for Upload :)

[@Dinker27]

I happened to hear about Wraith through Geist, and from what I could figure out with brief descriptions, likened it to the MarioParty of Depression. It's so damn bleak, and I love it. I'll have to look into getting a few books for it now.

[@lazarofstygia2241]

It takes a special type to like Wraith and moreso to actually play it.

[@Dinker27]

@@lazarofstygia2241 I do enjoy my suffering. 😌

[@BunjiKugashira1990]

You sir are awesome

[@ikariyabiollante867]

33:24 * industrial death metal cover of the Ghostbusters theme song starts playing *

[@andresuzart2766]

All I know about stygia is that it seems to be where our narrator is from

[@mfiore71292]

Do you have a video on tbe great war I'd love to hear more about it

[@Demolitiondude]

RIP AND TEAR!

[@lazarofstygia2241]

Until it is done.

[@marysmith4909]

You should expand on more Wraith. Does Wraith have a list of notable characters like the other oWoD/CoD games? I would like to hear about that.

[@lazarofstygia2241]

Wraith has its notables, though not as many as Vampire or Changeling. Some are horrifying, some are tragic, some are just funny.

[@madsatyr]

Just a head’s up, Charon is pronounced with a hard K sound not a Ch sound. Love the channel.

[@scientistx5717]

Sacrifice perhaps that fool achieved redemption in the end after all he has done? At his last moments a ferryman once more he was one last time......

[@fastgav]

I'm a big fan if the concept of Demon 9f you are looking for suggestions. I like tr PTSD warrior awakening/returning from war to try and cope with the hell they went through. I HATE what COD did to it by turning it into a variation of the Matrix and ripping the supernatural horror out of it. To me there is no greater sin to commit against the WoD.

[@fastgav]

@@ChestofGold I can see mages doing that though, with their reality warping abilities and all. That is the nature of their magic, and it doesn't take away from their supernatural abilities or basis of their abilities. It is my opinion turning demon into a cyberpunk setting is an aggregious error and a missed opportunity to really explore what demons truely are. If they wanted to move away from the judao-christian lore that's fine, whatever. Have the basis be Arabic, asian, African or South or Central American polytheism. I'd be cool if they even went with Austrialian aboriginal mythology. The main problem is they didn't use any mythology. They went molders day fiction with it. To remove ANY kind of supernatural belief is unacceptable to me. If they wanted to do modern day fiction then they should have done Lovecraft IMHO. Sorry I'm a little passionate about my beliefs in SUPERNATURAL horror games.

[@fastgav]

@@ChestofGold if white wolf wants to go sci-fi with their horror then they should make Alien: invasion or explore it in changeling!

[@lazarofstygia2241]

Descent is a fresh twist on the typical idea of a Demon as an escapee from Heaven, rather than from Hell. The God-Machine is a very Gnostic idea which makes it very weird, counter-intuitive and difficult to digest. As for DtF, I haven't decided whether to add it into this series, or do Demon lore in one big chunk, since there aren't a lot of books.

[@fastgav]

@@lazarofstygia2241 do what most interests you, of course, and what is best for your channel. Whether it be a one shot for DtF or a series. I really appreciate all the stuff you have put. So If you want to wait on this one that is cool. I know you have more plentiful content you can dive into like werewolf. Next to vampire DtF is my favorite splat, and it has so much untapped potential since it was kind of slap-dashed together due to various circumstances. I would love to see anyone do a deep dive of this setting. There is relatively little I can find on KZbin for it at this time.

[@gadgetronking4255]

I assume that by COD you are referring to Chronicles of Darkness correct ? If so i can't say I know much about the lore i think like most people I prefer the lore of WoD with one exception, I prefer Changeling the Lost over Changeling the Dreaming, The lost feels much more appropriate for a dark, grim setting with the changelings being escaped slaves changed by their unknown years of servitude to godlike beings and even after escaping still living in fear of being taken again and trying to adjust to mortal world again. Granted it is pretty easy to screw up a changeling campaign though as it is very easy to get lost in the whimsy of everything and losing and as you said losing the supernatural horror aspect, though is more up to the storyteller more than anything.

[@gamrr_NERD]

Could there be smaller versions of Stygia. Like if I wanted to make my own connected to my own chronicle and town setting?

[@lazarofstygia2241]

Absolutely.

[@Breakfst4dinner]

More Wraith pls

[@lazarofstygia2241]

Yes.

[@superdude681]

Hey I got a question, what is the name of the songs used in this video?

[@lazarofstygia2241]

Unfortunately I forgot. I deleted the old music files to save space.

[@ND9007]

I think it is Diamond is Unbreakable OST - The Alley kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHOxapt3i6ubrsk&ab_channel=zettairyouiki just heard it and had to come back to comment section

[@Buffaloguy1991]

Serious question. Where is Santa in WOD?

[@lazarofstygia2241]

Good question. I'll have to check on that.

[@thomastakesatollforthedark2231]

He's probably a changeling

[@thomaslancaster4223]

Old World of Darkness. Wraith the Oblivion, Veil, death, rpg, d20, humanity, death, ghosts, haunted, dice, tabletop, White Wolf, DM, ST, Lore.

[@Sara3346]

Is the maw the same as the wyrm?

[@zacdonovan8544]

its left up to the ST but they generally treated as seperate the Wyrm is destruction Oblivion is nothing

[@jacobmeeler1256]

What music is this?

[@keng7178]

Find the end Charon.

[@lazarofstygia2241]

???

[@skeletonking4119]

VTMB ??

[@lazarofstygia2241]

Well yeah. Ocean House Hotel.

[@styxdragoncharon4003]

it's always nice to hear a story about my namesake :D