Felzmuž

Part of Folklore of Juhnvechteya
Anthropomorphic animals are a common trope of Joran folklore. Sometimes called the Felzmuž, False Men, these animals take on the appearance and mannerisms of humans, and blend into society in this way. 
There are numerous stories of different animals becoming Felzmuž, from foxes to wolves to corvids to bears. These faux-people typically either strip their fur as though it were clothing, revealing a human form beneath, or otherwise use magic to morph their appearance. 
Felzmuž typically retain certain characteristics of their animal form; for instance a fox might have narrower eyes, high cheekbones, and cunning, while a swan might retain its beauty and grace. Most fear fire more than the average human. 
Felzmuž might fall anywhere on the spectrum of morality; some characters are described as good and faithful, others as savage and treacherous. 
There are three common threads in folk tales involving the felzmuž. The first is that a respected person, such as a man of wealth, will turn out to be a false-man, typically a fox. Another is that the animal anthropomorphizes itself so that it might get revenge for a wrong done unto it by a human. The final thread is that the creature will fall in love with the human, and will become humanoid that it might marry them. 
It is unknown how the Felzmuž came into being, but some scholars speculate that they originate in the unholy origin of man and beast. However, most learned men disregard this theory, rather taking the mainstream view of all creatures possessing spirits, therefore these false-men must have spirits of greater intensity than others of their kind, and are thus able to take the form of a man. 
In summary, the Felzmuž are an extremely prevalent trope in Joran folklore, and some nearby cultures have adapted the stories into their own libraries of folktales.
Category:Folklore of Juhnvechteya