Let me see if I can piece this together.

The Werediran were an ancient hive mind that sent out a powerful psionic signal out across the galaxy. The Werediran wanted all who heard the signal to come to them.

Pre-FTL civilizations who were susceptible to psionics were compelled to construct a radio tower (even if their civilization had no concept of radio towers) to enhance the signal's effects. Shortly following the tower's construction, the civilization would collapse and go extinct for seemingly unknown reasons. These same events would repeat across many unrelated pre-FTL civilizations.

But once you locate the Werediran Signal's origin, you discover the final remnant of the Werediran is completely decrepit and barely awake. It's just a weak ball of light / psionic energy, not even a drone.

When questioned, it simply states the signal "was bait." But then it asks if you "took the bait?" Why would it ask that if physically going to the signal's source wasn't the purpose of the signal (despite the contents of the signal explicitly demanding the listener go to it)?


... So my guess is... the Werediran were incapable of leaving their own planet and they wanted biomass to come to them, so they sent out the signal as a lure. But unfortunately for the Werediran, everyone who heard the signal either:
1) couldn't achieve spaceflight and wasted all their planet's resources trying or
2) realized they couldn't comply with the psionic signal's demands and committed mass suicide because of the stress

And so, the Werediran futilely waited for prey and starved to death's door.



..... Or perhaps the Werediran Signal was just a reference to internet rage-baiting and nothing more. Who knows?