Blights of New York

A Blight is an area of the Penumbra damaged by the struggle between the Weaver and the Wyrm. These urban areas are thick with Banes and choked with the Weaver's webs; in some ways they represent all the negative aspects of a city, reified and squeezed down into a small area.

Some Garou use Blights as a training ground, where cubs can engage with dangerous spirits while still staying close to their elders in case something goes wrong. Other Garou see Blights as the ultimate future of all cities, and may even begin to perceive all cities as Blights-in-progress as they become more jaded.

These wormholes go deeper into the Dark Umbra, connecting the Shadowland's Penumbra with realms beyond. That is the role of the Nihils, natural events in the Underworld, and are viewed by most wraiths as a form of hazardous waste. Spectres can exploit these portals into the Labyrinth, and creatures from Oblivion can step out of them. In addition, they have a hypnotic effect on wraiths, who often hear sounds of moaning or odd songs leaking out of them. Nihils often appear in sites of great suffering or pain - places where Oblivion is strong. One of the largest known nihils is the Sheol nihil of Auschwitz, centered over the former SS barracks at Birkenau; theory dictates it may extend into the heart of the Void itself.

Nihils and Blights are intimately related as Nihils only occur in Blighted zones.

Nihils appear as black pools without bottom where only darkness emerges calling all those around it to sink into it and travel to the deepest part of the Wyrm's womb.