Difference between revisions of "Werewolf"

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[[File:Werewolf_Pack.png|thumb|450px|A pack of werewolves showing two of their different forms.]]
 
[[File:Werewolf_Pack.png|thumb|450px|A pack of werewolves showing two of their different forms.]]
  
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As in [[Shifters|the past]], werewolves remain among the most powerful types of [[Shifter-kin|Shifter-kin]], though they now bear a unique and horrifying curse ("lycanthropy"), which is spread by bite. They cannot control their transformation, shifting to a man-wolf form at the whim of the moon or at times of extreme emotion.
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Among the most feared of all monsters are shapeshifting beasts of emptiness and desolation, their howls heard by the full moon. This horror goes by many different names, but perhaps it is best known as the werewolf or the lycanthrope: a [[Men|man]] who bears the [[curse]] of lycanthropy. Not much is known of them, and they are incredibly rare, so much of the information included here could also be taken as speculation, as the levels of their power and the unpredictability and degree of their transformations have yet to be fully understood.
  
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Werewolves are among the most powerful and feared monsters in all the mortal realm. Not much is known of them, so much of the information included here could also be taken as speculation, as the levels of their power and the unpredictability and degree of their transformations have yet to be fully understood.
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This article is taken from an ancient text, ''[[Of Man-Beasts and Those That Eat Human Flesh]]'', by an unknown author.  
 
==Names and Terms==
 
==Names and Terms==
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Werewolves are called many names across the mortal realm. Terms for a werewolf include, but are by no means limited to: werewolf, wolf-man, lykanthropos (or lycanthropos, plural lykanthropoi; this is an Old Achaean form), garwal or garwalf, varulfr (or simply varulf), vǎrkolak, and garou.
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There exist many terms for the monstrous werewolf. Such terms, from all across the lands, include werewolf, wolf-man, lycanthrope, lykanthropos or lycanthropos, plural lykanthropoi; this is an [[Old Achaean]] form, garwal or garwalf, varulfr or simply varulf, vǎrkolak, and garou. Although some may have previously been used to refer to a variety of shapeshifters, some terms now refer only to werewolves today, such as ''versipellis'' in [[High Imperial]], ''hamrammr'' in [[Northrim|Nordling]] tongues, and ''eigi einhamir'' also in Nordling tongues.
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==Curse==
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==Curse & Nature==
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When the Shifters fell, werewolves - formerly the lords of their domain - were given a unique curse among all others. Instead of merely being stuck in a beast-man form, they lost control of their transformation by having their man and wolf spirits split asunder, with each one vying for control.
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Cursed to become a monster by the whims of the moon, or - some say - the whims of their own hunger or rage, werewolves are capable of untold slaughter. They live among men, wearing their false human skin. But when the full moon rises, they are overtaken by their true nature, and they devour all in their path. Those whom they do not maul, they often swallow whole and even alive, so desperate is their gluttony. Their hunger is impossible to sate, and they will eat in a single night as many men as they can find.
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===Shifting and the Moon===
 
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The greatest god of the ancient wolf shifters was a lunar deity, and thus the gods apparently saw fit to enslave werewolves to the influence of the moon, though some stories claim other reasons as the cause. Whatever the reason, if the moon is weak or hidden, werewolves may be able - in some cases - to control the beast within, but if the moonlight touches them, their urge to transform increases. On nights of the full moon, the transformation is impossible to resist, even if the moon is not visible. Some very unstable werewolves will even give into the beast even during the day, usually in times of extreme emotional stress, such as rage. All werewolf transformations are extremely painful, and so much as witnessing - or even just hearing - a werewolf undergo the transformation from man to beast traumatizes most people for life.
 
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===Memory===
 
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When a werewolf returns to his or her human (or elf or dwarf, as the case may be) form, the individual has little or no memory of what he or she did while in werewolf form. Werewolves remember nothing of the transformation itself, making it a new experience every time it occurs, and they have no recollection of the terrible pain and trauma. It is not unusual for a werewolf to spend his or her entire life unaware that they are cursed; in fact, this may be the most common state in which werewolves live. Some individuals might recall very vague visions and sensations from when they were transformed, but these are strange and difficult to understand, and they fade quickly after they awaken, as if it was all a dream.
 
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===After Death===
 
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A deceased werewolf will transform back to his natural (human, elf, or dwarf) form come daybreak and remain that way as long as the body exists. Any dismembered body parts also shift back to human shape. For instance, fur skinned from a werewolf becomes mere flesh, and a werewolf body part taken for a trophy will transform into a human part by sunrise the next day. It is, in a sense, true that the only real cure for lycanthropy is death.
 
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===Permanent or Extended Transformations===
 
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There have been numerous tales of werewolf transformations lasting years at a time (usually 7-10 years, especially in association with certain [[Arcadia|Arcadian]] rituals) or being permanent, in which an individual will turn into some kind of wolf-man or - much more commonly, for these kinds of tales - a large wolf, and never change back. Some even claim this is how [[Varg|vargs]] came to be. However, most of these tales are very old. Whether this is true of any werewolf or their kin is unknown.
 
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==Infection/Reproduction==
 
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===Bite===
 
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A werewolf's curse is spread by bite. Any human, elf, or dwarf bitten by a werewolf who manages to live through the attack will become a werewolf on the next night of the full moon, unless some action is taken to cure them (other races, such as the [[Chaos races]] and all types of [[beastfolk]], are immune to the curse). After an infected individual transforms for the first time, they can no longer be cured of lycanthropy. The exact conditions of when a werewolf's bite can infect an individual remains unknown, but the risk of contracting the curse may be increased or decreased depending on the phases of the moon. More often than not, a bitten individual does not survive to discover whether they acquired lycanthropy.
 
  
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It is claimed that some werewolves may pass on their curse by delivering a bite - with this conscious and intended purpose, and no other - to another individual even in their human form, thus making them at least capable of choosing those they infect, not unlike [[Vampire|vampires]]. However, any proof of these claims remains shaky at best.
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Some werewolves, it is said, can pass their curse on to others through a bite. Surviving the attack of a werewolf, however, is very unlikely. Should someone survive a werewolf’s bite, they may become a werewolf themselves on the next full moon.
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===Offspring===
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==Powers & Abilities==
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If a werewolf has a child with another infected individual, that child will be a born werewolf and will begin transforming upon reaching puberty. All born werewolves have heightened senses even while in human form, as well as improved strength and speed beyond that of an ordinary human, as do bitten werewolves. Legend claims born werewolves to be more powerful in human form than are bitten ones, but this has yet to be "proven," and thus remains nothing more than hearsay among groups like the [[Venatori]].
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They have many powers in addition to their shape-changing, such as being impossible to kill and healing from all wounds. It is impossible to tell whether a man is a werewolf by merely seeing their human shape, though it is said their eyes may appear brighter than an ordinary man’s. Like many monsters, the only way to possibly kill a werewolf is with silver, one of the weakest metals. This is perhaps why werewolves seem invincible. Even with [[silver]], a mortal blow must still be struck.
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==Memory & Behavior==
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Some say that these man-beasts do not recall the atrocities committed while in their monstrous form. They awaken in the morning ignorant of their crimes. Thus, they continue their ordinary lives and trick those around them with their human appearance, instilling undue trust and behaving as though their soul has not been devoured and replaced by a wrathful beast. In spite of this, they are human no more, and they cannot be trusted; a werewolf will do whatever is necessary to preserve its own life, including lie. This leads to question whether the claims are true that they retain no memory of their transformations.
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==Appearance & Cunning==
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Werewolves are capable of many types of transformations. While they generally appear as men and behave as such, they may also gain animal features such as claws, sharp teeth, and some fur. On the full moon, they become much like wolves but with some attributes of men such as hands and arms, capable of performing actions as a man would. This is their greatest and largest form, much larger than any man and even most other monsters. Some werewolves may even take the shape of giant wolves, some the size of horses. Werewolves of all shapes may easily outrun the best of steeds. They are the fastest of beasts and never tire. They can leap city walls in a single bound, as they can jump so high one might think they had wings. They can communicate with others of their own kind without using words like men.
  
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Rumors claim that half-werewolves exist, but any truth behind this - as well as any properties of half-werewolves themselves, including whether or not they ever transform - is a mystery.
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The eyes of werewolves are sometimes said to glow like lanterns in the night. The truthfulness of this is disputed, for they are also known for their ability to come unseen upon their prey. In spite of their size, they are capable of making hardly a sound. They leave no tracks and have no distinctive scent. It is impossible to track a werewolf. They retain the intelligence of a man even when they become beasts and are overtaken by their rage. They are the ultimate predator. They may snarl, growl, roar, or howl, but they cannot speak like a man when they are in their bestial form.
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===Berserkers===
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==The Six==
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Another way in which a person can become a werewolf is through [[Berserker|berserkergang]]. The warriors who bond their soul to that of a wolf can become werewolves if they give in to their berserk rage too often and lose themselves to their animal spirit.
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There are many legendary werewolves of which we still tell tales, in particular [[the Six]], also known as the Lords of the Werewolves. They are impossible to slay and have devoured legions of [[Achaean Empire|the Empire’s]] [[Venatori]]. They are capable even of using magic, able to summon fire and ice and shadow and to bend the spirits of nature to their will.
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===Rituals, Potions, and More===
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==Recent History==
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According to rumors and many ancient legends, there are truly many ways in which one can become a werewolf. These include, but are not limited to, performing or undergoing certain rituals, drinking a specially prepared potion, or donning certain cursed artifacts. But, like so many aspects of lycanthropy in general, no one knows whether these are true.
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[[File:Bestiary_Tom_s.png|thumb|300px|The Beast of Illikon devouring a man whole.]]
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==Behavior==
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''An addition by Zacynthos of Arcadia, author and compiler of Emperor Doraius I's The Imperial Bestiary:''
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Werewolves are beings of a split personality: man and beast. These two personalities are separate entities sharing the same (transforming) body, and may even hate each other, depending on various factors. One personality has no control over the other.
 
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===Werewolf Form===
 
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Despite common belief, werewolves are not all inherently angry and violent creatures. Ultimately, werewolves vary in personality depending on the individual, just as humans do; some werewolves may be aggressive, while others behave more as ordinary wolves and prefer to be left alone. Whatever their personality, werewolves - whose terrifying cunning is never to be underestimated - are driven by their animal instincts. They are neither good nor evil, but unpredictable and extremely dangerous beasts. Also, it is noteworthy that werewolves will never eat another werewolf, no matter how hungry they may be. Like wolves, werewolves communicate with various sounds, the most famous of which is their howl. Unlike wolves, however, werewolves are capable of roaring; also, werewolves do not bark. Some werewolves live in packs, but lone werewolves are more common. Werewolves that manage to find one another while in werewolf form will often hunt together, rallying around the strongest werewolf in the group. But since their human and werewolf personalities are split, the humans generally have disagreements, and packs may disband after daybreak.
 
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===Human Form===
 
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A man becoming a werewolf will have no bearing on the human's personality, besides how they react to the fact that they are a werewolf (if they ever learn). Just as a werewolf's human side is dormant and has no control over his actions in werewolf form, the werewolf's beast side has no control over the man's actions while in human form. In spite of some tales, a werewolf in human form is no angrier or more violent than anyone else, whether he was born or bitten: their temperament depends entirely on the person in question. However, an individual who is emotionally unstable will be more likely to give in to his transformations, regardless of the moon phase.
 
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==Appearance==
 
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Werewolves are extremely mysterious creatures. No one knows exactly how their transformations work or what results in a more or less dramatic transformation, save for the fact that the most dramatic werewolf transformations will always occur on the full moon. Their transformations vary in degree: sometimes a werewolf will undergo an extensive transformation and become enormous beastmen with the head, legs, and tail of a wolf. However, they will also often shapeshift less dramatically, gaining only a few wolfish features, including bright (or sometimes entirely wolfish) eyes, fur, sharp teeth, pointed ears, and claws. Sometimes, transformations may be even less dramatic, resulting only in a select few animalistic features, and they may even recede fairly quickly.
 
  
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Every lycanthrope’s werewolf form bears some resemblance to their human form, including relative height, facial features, and hair styles such as braids and beards that may still be visible in the werewolf's fur. The coloration of the werewolf's eyes remains the same, though they turn far brighter than in their human form. Some eyes, such as shades of brown, will turn golden, orange, or even red. Though some eye colors undergo stranger and more dramatic changes, this similarity is one of the most certain methods to determine a werewolf’s identity. Even in human form, a werewolf is said to have brighter eyes than a normal human.
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Very recently, the city of [[Illikon]] came under siege by barbarians from Northrim, and one of the most heroic knights of the Northwest became a great werewolf of black and crimson. [[The Beast of Illikon]], as the monster has thus been named, decimated the attacking armies with its insatiable bloodlust. With a howl, it summoned the aid of many other werewolves and wolves, sparking transformations and thus loyalty even among the enemy, creating its own army of wolf-beasts.
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===Non-Human Werewolves===
 
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Although many legends associate werewolves with humans, [[Alfar|elves]] and [[Dvergar|dwarves]] are capable of contracting lycanthropy as well. However, despite what some may claim, elves and dwarves are all but impossible to distinguish from human werewolves while transformed. Generally speaking, human werewolves are often the largest, and dwarven werewolves are often the smallest, but all werewolves are far larger than [[Men]]. Even a dwarven werewolf will stand well over a mortal man and be far larger of build. In short, a werewolf's race cannot be determined by the appearance of their werewolf form. Likewise, elf and dwarf werewolves share all the same qualities of a human werewolf.
 
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==Powers==
 
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All werewolves share these various abilities; however, as with most creatures, the level of a werewolf's power varies from individual to individual.
 
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===Physical Superiority===
 
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All werewolves have strength, agility, and senses far superior to an ordinary man's. Even in human form, werewolves are physically "better" than humans in these respects.
 
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===Regeneration===
 
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Werewolves heal exceptionally fast in both forms, and they are legendary in their ability to shrug off most all wounds, though the latter applies doubly to their werewolf form. They can quickly recover from nearly all types of injuries, including those that would be fatal to an ordinary man, which has helped them earn their place among the most feared of all monsters. Some legends claim that the most powerful of werewolves can regenerate fingers or even limbs, though any truth behind this remains unknown. However, a wound inflicted by silver inhibits all of these healing abilities. The only way to be certain a werewolf will not recover from a mortal wound is to use a silver weapon (though some legends say that a werewolf can regenerate even from silver wounds, if proper, ancient rituals are applied), otherwise it is very likely they will "return to life." This has led some stories to speak of werewolves as if they are [[undead]], but they have no relation whatsoever with such creatures.
 
  
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A werewolf's lifespan is unknown. Some say that human werewolves die of old age, like ordinary Men. However, others claim that lycanthropy brings with it cursed immortality.
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Breaking the siege and escaping the city, this terrible werewolf now roams the land. Lycanthropy has once again returned to the Empire, perhaps greater than ever before. Whereas, in the past, what few werewolves remained in the world hid or fled into the wilderness, werewolves inspired by the Beast of Illikon now bravely arise to take their hunger and rage out upon innocents.
  
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===Intelligence===
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Dear reader, please do not imagine the act of hunting a werewolf. Though the Venatori are now few in number, it is a job for which only they are capable, and it will otherwise end only in death.
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It is noteworthy that werewolves remain highly intelligent in their werewolf form. Some tales tell that werewolves can speak, but this seems to largely be hearsay - or, at least, if such a thing is possible, it is limited to a select few individuals who have achieved an almost unheard of amount of control over their lycanthropy.
 
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===Howls and Other===
 
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Werewolves have the ability to summon wolves to their aid with a howl, and it is said that the Six themselves can summon vargs and other werewolves in the same way. There are many other abilities that men have claimed werewolves possess in both or either form, but many of the specifics remain a mystery. Werewolves may have far more abilities than it seems, as most who encounter a werewolf do not live to tell the tale.
 
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==Weaknesses==
 
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Like all descendants of the Shifters, werewolves are sensitive to [[silver]]. Anyone infected with lycanthropy or bearing lycanthropic blood will recoil from the touch of silver and become burned if it is pressed against their skin for too long. Wounds caused by silver take longer to heal, are far more painful, and are capable of being mortal wounds, whereas wounds inflicted with any other type of weaponry will very quickly regenerate.
 
  
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Other than silver, werewolves bear no particular weaknesses. Rumors about werewolf sensitivity to plants like belladonna and wolfsbane are largely untrue, although it is claimed that plants may be used to mix potions that can help a werewolf control his lycanthropy for short periods of time. Whether or not these potions exist remains unknown, save by a select few very knowledgeable individuals.
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[[Category:Monsters]][[Category:Curses]][[Category:Wolf-kin]]
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[[Category:Monsters]][[Category:Shifter-kin]][[Category:Curses]][[Category:Wolf-kin]]
 

Latest revision as of 18:27, 9 October 2022

A pack of werewolves showing two of their different forms.

Among the most feared of all monsters are shapeshifting beasts of emptiness and desolation, their howls heard by the full moon. This horror goes by many different names, but perhaps it is best known as the werewolf or the lycanthrope: a man who bears the curse of lycanthropy. Not much is known of them, and they are incredibly rare, so much of the information included here could also be taken as speculation, as the levels of their power and the unpredictability and degree of their transformations have yet to be fully understood.

This article is taken from an ancient text, Of Man-Beasts and Those That Eat Human Flesh, by an unknown author.

Names and Terms

There exist many terms for the monstrous werewolf. Such terms, from all across the lands, include werewolf, wolf-man, lycanthrope, lykanthropos or lycanthropos, plural lykanthropoi; this is an Old Achaean form, garwal or garwalf, varulfr or simply varulf, vǎrkolak, and garou. Although some may have previously been used to refer to a variety of shapeshifters, some terms now refer only to werewolves today, such as versipellis in High Imperial, hamrammr in Nordling tongues, and eigi einhamir also in Nordling tongues.

Curse & Nature

Cursed to become a monster by the whims of the moon, or - some say - the whims of their own hunger or rage, werewolves are capable of untold slaughter. They live among men, wearing their false human skin. But when the full moon rises, they are overtaken by their true nature, and they devour all in their path. Those whom they do not maul, they often swallow whole and even alive, so desperate is their gluttony. Their hunger is impossible to sate, and they will eat in a single night as many men as they can find.

Some werewolves, it is said, can pass their curse on to others through a bite. Surviving the attack of a werewolf, however, is very unlikely. Should someone survive a werewolf’s bite, they may become a werewolf themselves on the next full moon.

Powers & Abilities

They have many powers in addition to their shape-changing, such as being impossible to kill and healing from all wounds. It is impossible to tell whether a man is a werewolf by merely seeing their human shape, though it is said their eyes may appear brighter than an ordinary man’s. Like many monsters, the only way to possibly kill a werewolf is with silver, one of the weakest metals. This is perhaps why werewolves seem invincible. Even with silver, a mortal blow must still be struck.

Memory & Behavior

Some say that these man-beasts do not recall the atrocities committed while in their monstrous form. They awaken in the morning ignorant of their crimes. Thus, they continue their ordinary lives and trick those around them with their human appearance, instilling undue trust and behaving as though their soul has not been devoured and replaced by a wrathful beast. In spite of this, they are human no more, and they cannot be trusted; a werewolf will do whatever is necessary to preserve its own life, including lie. This leads to question whether the claims are true that they retain no memory of their transformations.

Appearance & Cunning

Werewolves are capable of many types of transformations. While they generally appear as men and behave as such, they may also gain animal features such as claws, sharp teeth, and some fur. On the full moon, they become much like wolves but with some attributes of men such as hands and arms, capable of performing actions as a man would. This is their greatest and largest form, much larger than any man and even most other monsters. Some werewolves may even take the shape of giant wolves, some the size of horses. Werewolves of all shapes may easily outrun the best of steeds. They are the fastest of beasts and never tire. They can leap city walls in a single bound, as they can jump so high one might think they had wings. They can communicate with others of their own kind without using words like men.

The eyes of werewolves are sometimes said to glow like lanterns in the night. The truthfulness of this is disputed, for they are also known for their ability to come unseen upon their prey. In spite of their size, they are capable of making hardly a sound. They leave no tracks and have no distinctive scent. It is impossible to track a werewolf. They retain the intelligence of a man even when they become beasts and are overtaken by their rage. They are the ultimate predator. They may snarl, growl, roar, or howl, but they cannot speak like a man when they are in their bestial form.

The Six

There are many legendary werewolves of which we still tell tales, in particular the Six, also known as the Lords of the Werewolves. They are impossible to slay and have devoured legions of the Empire’s Venatori. They are capable even of using magic, able to summon fire and ice and shadow and to bend the spirits of nature to their will.

Recent History

The Beast of Illikon devouring a man whole.

An addition by Zacynthos of Arcadia, author and compiler of Emperor Doraius I's The Imperial Bestiary:

Very recently, the city of Illikon came under siege by barbarians from Northrim, and one of the most heroic knights of the Northwest became a great werewolf of black and crimson. The Beast of Illikon, as the monster has thus been named, decimated the attacking armies with its insatiable bloodlust. With a howl, it summoned the aid of many other werewolves and wolves, sparking transformations and thus loyalty even among the enemy, creating its own army of wolf-beasts.

Breaking the siege and escaping the city, this terrible werewolf now roams the land. Lycanthropy has once again returned to the Empire, perhaps greater than ever before. Whereas, in the past, what few werewolves remained in the world hid or fled into the wilderness, werewolves inspired by the Beast of Illikon now bravely arise to take their hunger and rage out upon innocents.

Dear reader, please do not imagine the act of hunting a werewolf. Though the Venatori are now few in number, it is a job for which only they are capable, and it will otherwise end only in death.

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