The Six
The Six are the mysterious, powerful Lords of the Werewolves spoken of frequently in tales. They go by many different names. They are the largest and strongest of their kind. They are said to be among the most powerful beings in the mortal realm.
The following article is composed of excerpts from the ancient text Of Man-Beasts and Those That Eat Human Flesh, by an unknown author.
Contents
Nature
The Six are some of the most mysterious, cursed beings of evil that walk the mortal realm. They are werewolves, each of a different color and of different natures. Whatever one may believe about them, there remains a constant theme in tales throughout all history in all lands of werewolves bearing these particular colorations. The Six are said to be immortal or to pass their powers on at death, for they must always exist, though no one knows why that would be the case. Some of those infected with the curse of lycanthropy have taken to venerating the Six. However, most folk today barely acknowledge the existence of the Six or simply do not know about them at all. Some say the Six do not actually exist and they are only fairytales and allegories told for other purposes, that werewolves of these particular colors and appearances are coincidental and may refer to any variety of various large, powerful werewolves.
Power
The Six bear power beyond mortal understanding. They have always existed and perhaps they always will. Whether they are like all werewolves and are cursed to change shape remains unknown, for they have only ever been known in legend to appear in their monster forms. Some say they have no human form, cursed always to walk as man-wolves. Some call them the archwerewolves. They bear many other monikers, as well, such as Lords of the Night. Legends tell of how a howl from one of the Six will summon to them all werewolves and wolves and other wolflike beings across half a realm or more, compelling them into the form of beasts to fight alongside the Werewolf Lord, their will as powerful as that of the full moon. Even wargs answer such a call.
The Six possess power over magic itself. Through direct eye contact, they stir unimaginable fear into one's soul. This fear cannot be resisted, like black magic. These beings of darkness can even steal souls through direct eye contact, as well as voices, causing one to fall entirely mute. Many legends tell of each of the Six having different magical powers, such as the ability to summon ice or shadow, and tales of the most violent of their number speak of an endless need for murder and butchery and to devour the flesh of mortals.
Members of the Six
Though the Six bear almost countless different names, both together and individually, they will be referred to here by the simplest of these monikers.
The Whitewolf
The Whitewolf has the fewest names among the Six, despite being one of the most commonly depicted. He is said to be a white werewolf with black claws and pale blue eyes. He wears an armband of feathers, necklaces of fangs, and other shamanistic ornaments. He appears often in the visions of shamans, for unknown reasons, interpreted as a portent of evil and death. He is also sometimes depicted as a giant white wolf of the same coloration and appearance, said to appear to travelers lost in the frozen North and those who would dare hunt alone. He is the last thing they see.
The Earthwolf
The Earthwolf, also called the Brownwolf, is said to be an earthen-brown werewolf with green eyes. He is usually shown wearing tattered cloth. The Earthwolf is worshipped by some clans of wood elves, who call him the Forest Father, equating him with Cernunnos. He is sometimes depicted with antlers. Elves claim he is a guardian of nature, but Men know of his wickedness. Many woodcutters, hunters, and travelers have fallen victim to him.
The Blackwolf
The Blackwolf, also known as The Shadow and many other names, is described as a solid black werewolf with red eyes. He is sometimes depicted wearing rich ornaments and other marks of nobility, generally whatever the local nobles wear wherever his legends are retold. He is said to dwell in darkness. He is sometimes equated with Ahriman or said to be Ahriman's most powerful servant.
The Greywolf
The Greywolf, also called the Wolf Father, is said to be a grey werewolf with orange eyes. Whenever depicted, he wears the ornaments of a Northrim warrior, such as a wolf-headed torq on his arm. Some Nordlings still pay tribute to him, as it was he who first inspired the Aesir god Odin to create the berserkers. All Nordling warriors strive to even approach the Greywolf's impossible strength and ferocity. Many wolf depictions throughout Northrim exist to pay homage to the Wolf Father, wicked and violent yet respected for his power.
The Goldwolf
The Goldwolf, also called the Daywolf, is said to be a golden werewolf with deep blue eyes. She is depicted wearing shining golden ornaments and sometimes even pieces of metal armor. Her legends often tell of her appearing in broad daylight, unlike the other members of the Six. She appears at times to those weary from long travels under the beating sun to pretend to chase them for amusement, at least until they collapse in exhaustion. She often devours them afterward.
The Bloodwolf
The Bloodwolf, also called the Redwolf or the Crimson Devourer, is depicted as a crimson red werewolf with bright, golden-yellow eyes. Unlike the rest of the Six, who generally have ornamentation relatively consistent across their tales, the Bloodwolf wears little to nothing. She is nothing more than a savage animal, but more cunning than any beast, a mistress of the hunt and most vicious of all her kind. She is said to hunt both for flesh to eat and for sport. No one ever sees the Bloodwolf and lives.
