GoCorral

Physical Description

Lycanthropes are humanoids of any kind that possess the natural power to turn into an animal. Typically the animal is a mammalian predator such as a wolf, bear, or tiger, but all sorts of lycanthropes have been observed. Sharks, eagles, rats, and boars are frequent. While in animal form, lycanthropes feel the urges of that animal to hunt and stalk prey as if they were a natural predator. Experienced lycanthropes also have a hybrid shape that mixes their animal strength with human intelligence and opposable thumbs. Additionally, all lycanthropes are resistant to physical attacks unless the weapon is made from silver.

Lycanthrope transformations are not always at will. The three nights of a full moon can trigger transformation into the animal form of a lycanthrope. Inexperienced lycanthropes can only transform under the full moon while those with experience are able to resist the moon’s power. Experienced lycanthropes can transform at any time they wish.

Lycanthropy is a disease that can be transmitted by biting. A bitten victim must find a cure before the end of the first full moon. Lycanthropy is defeated by a potion brewed from the wolfsbane flower. Lycanthropy is also transmitted to the children of lycanthropes.

Culture

Lycanthropes match the culture of their humanoid race. They have to hide, for most Cimmerians would kill a lycanthrope as soon as it’s discovered. Lycanthropes are able to find each other based on scent. Smaller lycanthrope groups can form within cities and towns due to this detection method. These groups provide a shared space for lycanthropes to bond and discuss their natural gifts. No matter where they are lycanthropes have a healthy respect for the wild. After all, they’re a part of it. Lycanthropes also tend to favor a might make right mentality, which often benefits them personally as they are physically superior to their non-lycanthrope fellows.

Different animal varieties of lycanthropes have different personality types. Werewolves are protective of their family and friends. Weretigers are loners. Werebears are protectors of justice. Wereboars are indulgent slobs. Wereeagles are honest to a fault. Wererats are sneaky and crafty. The personality tendencies often match what one might expect an animal’s personality to be, but not always.

History

Demonic rituals in the Orc Lands created the first lycanthrope. The orc Wild Choir tribe summoned a demon that possessed one of their members. The demon allowed its host to transform into a wolf to defend the tribe from enemies. In exchange, the demon forced all the women of the tribe to marry it. Through these unions, the lycanthropes were born. This event led to the Wild Choir changing its name to the Nightsoul tribe. Other lycanthropes were also born from the death of Baelund’s Wolf.

The first lycanthropes were all sorts of animals. Their power passed to their children and to anyone they bit. The children of the Nightsouls stayed mostly within the Orc Lands, but a few of their bitten victims left the region, spreading lycanthropy across the world.

Despite the ubiquity of lycanthropy, the disease is a hidden one. If their affliction is discovered, they are quickly eliminated or ostracized. Thus, lycanthropes must live their lives in the shadows, never being truly honest with the people around them. Due to this, lycanthropes have played no known major part in Cimmeria’s history. There are no lycanthrope historical figures, at least none that we are aware of. But perhaps there is some famous king, queen, or hero that bore the disease as their private curse.