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Factions > Wormriders
Written by Solo Wing Dragon, April 2003
The newest, but certainly one of the most interesting factions in the Panzer Dragoon world, are the Wormriders, or as they are sometimes unlovingly called, "Bug Herders". This primitive tribe of people have learnt to co-exist with the mutated biomonsters of the Ancient Age and because of this they have been labelled as uncivilised by more advanced civilisations such as the Empire. However, the fact that the Wormriders have successfully managed to tame creatures that were created to lust for human blood is a technological marvel in itself. This piece of writing looks at who the Wormriders are, their culture, and some theories suggesting how they have been able to live alongside such creatures as Baldors.
  The appearance of the Wormrider varies from person to person. Let's look at Mobo, the Wormrider that Orta meets soon after she escapes from her capturers. Mobo is first seen above the Forest of Mutation hunting a large Yondo-Worm on the back of his worm-like Baldor, Hamah-hamah. Mobo's head is covered by a helmet of ancient material, not unlike the armour that protects the skin of many biomonsters and drones. Behind the helmet, Mobo has bright red hair that is cut into a Mohawk, which gradually forms into a long ponytail that descends past his waistline. His garments are made of rough materials and are brief, portraying the primitive nature of the Wormrider's lives.
As I stated before, the Wormriders do not only live alongside the Baldors but they have actually succeeded in learning how to ride them. It is thought by some that it is the Baldor controlling the rider, but this is groundless superstition. The Wormriders have placed basket-like structures and decorations over the Baldors back which they stand in, showing that they have been fully domesticated by this tribe of humans. Two Wormriders stand in baskets overhanging either side of the Baldor and the leader is placed on a bigger basket, which is placed in the centre of the Baldor's back. The staff in the leader's hand possibly controls the said Baldor's movement. Since the highly scientific Panzer Dragoon world isn't known to have 'magical' items in it the most likely explanation is that the Baldor is attracted to the light, which the stone in the top of the rod emits. It is unlikely however that the Wormrider has complete domination over the Baldor since Mobo and his mount Hamah-hamah were life-long friends and shared a close bond, not unlike that between a dragon and its rider.
The Baldors that the Wormriders use as steeds differ in several ways from their valley dwelling cousins. The Baldors in Panzer Dragoon Saga, which lived near Excavation Site 4 and in the Deep Canyon Gulch areas, were much more like wild animals. They would gather under the influence of a Baldor Queen and hunt in pairs. In Panzer Dragoon Orta the Baldors are far more domesticated. We never see them firing spinal arrows or inflicting a terrible bite, which was their chief method of hunting in Panzer Dragoon Saga. The physical appearance of these creatures is different as well. No longer does the new style of Baldor bear the two large crests that stood upright across the old Baldor's back, suggesting that this is in fact a different subspecies of Baldor that the Wormriders have somehow trained to fight in a more civilised manner. The purple orbs that the new, more worm-like, Baldors shoot out of their mouths are almost like bullets, proving that the Baldor was once a war beast in the Ancient Age. Whether these Baldor are stray creatures from a fallen Baldor Queen, or they have chosen a lifestyle involving humans remains unknown. However since the Wormriders have succeeded in using these creatures almost as a man would ride a coolia, it does give the impression that they are perhaps becoming more and more like natural creatures of the Panzer Dragoon world, possibly a plan of the Ancients all along.
 
The village of the Wormriders is perhaps the most fascinating of all the settlements within the Panzer Dragoon world. The Seekers hidden waterfall stronghold and the Empire's flying fortresses are nothing compared to the fantastic 'den' of the Wormriders. These people, thought of as savages by the Empire, have actually managed to settle on the back of a giant Lathum. The vast creature possibly allowed the tribe of humans to create a settlement on its back since they are not in continual conflict with the monsters, unlike other factions such as the Empire. Amongst the volcanic vents and oozing slime that covers this beast, there is a surprising amount of living organisms. Nanyds patrol the outer edges, scavenging for the remains of the worms, which the Lathum digests. However, past the steam and slime a wide range of vegetation can be seen growing, with a clear blue stream flowing down the centre of the creature. The Wormriders have built a sturdy village by the waterside consisting of oddly shaped rock-like formations, almost like shells. Into these white structures, doors and windows have been carved and the insides turned into Wormrider homes. Amazingly, the Wormriders seem to be able to live with the almost unbearable smell of the fumes, which the Lathum emits (possibly even stronger than the baby Lathum from Panzer Dragoon Saga). The stale green of Mobo's skin easily suggests that the air around where he lives has stained his skin that colour, much like the sun will tan a person's skin brown.
 The Wormriders are not a favoured tribe of the Empire, mainly due to the fact that they live alongside the monsters that the Empire loathes so much. In Imperial Year 156, the Empire destroyed the Wormrider's settlement and they had to abandon the base. However, soon after the Wormriders, with the help of the dragon, attacked the Empire's dragonmare production facility 'The Cradle' and were victorious against the Imperial fleet. The fact that an army of Baldors could battle and win against the imperial ships shows just how much of a force the Wormriders actually are.
It is unknown what part the Wormriders will play in future Panzer Dragoon titles, but I believe this faction will not be overlooked due to the amount of detail we could still learn about them that simply couldn't be implanted into a shooter. A member of Smilebit stated in an interview that they wanted to place a longer side quest in Panzer Dragoon Orta telling the story of a Wormrider but it was removed due to time constraints. Although nothing has been confirmed, the team would like to incorporate that side quest into the next Panzer Dragoon game (if there is one).
The above information came from Panzer Dragoon Saga, Panzer Dragoon Orta, and the interview with Play Magazine, only.
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Destroy the mutant stealing habits; it is the village's code. The Will of the Ancients is an unofficial fansite that is in no way supported or associated with SEGA or Smilebit. Panzer Dragoon, Panzer Dragoon II Zwei, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Panzer Dragoon Orta and all other official Panzer Dragoon content is © SEGA, 1995-2003. Everything else on this website was made or written by Solo Wing Dragon unless otherwise noted. Please ask me first before using any content on this website for fan or commercial purposes.
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