Werewolf

==History and Hierarchy==
Derived from the Old English term meaning 'wolf-man', many theories have been tossed around as to how werewolves were first created and brought into the world. Everything from the long exhausted and disproven theory of a transmitted disease, the rituals of pagan shamans, and even to the cursing of individuals by priests and gods who were damned by their misdeeds.
The reality depends on the region, and goes farther back than most can trace, with some European and Slavic werewolves being traced back to the twice-damned King Lycaeus of Arcadia after he was cursed by Zeus for sacrificing a child along with those bearing the blood of the cursed Scythians; However, it has been found that most Western European werewolves can be traced back to the rituals of pagan shamans and the anger of vengeful priests, with the art of werewolf creation long lost to madness of the `16th and 17th century witch hunts. Today, the werewolves of Europe pass it down through genetics, as their pack bloodlines can trace their lineage back to those souls who had been damned. 
In North America, the modern origin most likely from those werewolves who had crossed the ocean to escape the persecution of Vatican-sponsored hunts, and usually sticking to the packs they created before they left and passed on the trait of lycanthropy to their families. However--amongst the numerous Native American tribes--it has been proven that the causes are just as diverse as those in Europe, and often depends on tribal mythologies. Many myths and treatises from the respective regions began floating these ideas about, with the earliest case of a string of reported werewolf attacks being the infamous 'Beast of Gévaudan', the incident now being labeled as the first contact and instance of a Primal werewolf.
But werewolves took long to garner media attention of their existence, as popular media shined the proverbial spotlight on vampires, being content to stalk in the shadows...with a short story by Bram Stoker telling of a pack's origins first bringing them to minor notice. However, they really started to come out of the shadows as Hollywood began making films about werewolves, along with a written account coming out about an incident in Finland. 
As they slowly began to come out of the shadows, many packs began to prepare for the inevitable clash with the Catholic and Orthodox churches, as many elder werewolves retained vivid memories of faith sponsored hunts. Their greatest enemy, however, would increasingly become the mass of ordinary humanity as they began to realize the dangers and violence werewolves were capable of became clear as attacks and clashes became commonplace, and tales of their penchant for violence against animal and person alike began to become public knowledge. 
As humanity renewed and revitalized the hunts of old, packs in each region of the world began to form their own multi-pack organizations and pacts that--in the eyes of many pack leaders--could guarantee their safety. These organizations span across various regions of both Europe and the Americas, and only a few suffered near extermination during World War II at the hands of not just infamous Einsatzgruppe, but also at the hands of equally murderous SS Shatten Gruppe...particularly Hungary and the Balkans. However these groups and pacts would survive, along with those that remained intact throughout the madness of World War II. 
In these organizations and pacts, certain rules were established to keep them from the prying eyes of the public, as they were deeply scarred by the events of the two World Wars. One of these agreements was to never purposefully attack a human or other supernatural unless otherwise provoked or if violence was the only recourse to get out of a disagreement. Another was to share methods and tools that helped to control and mitigate the pain of transformation whenever it either occurred naturally or was willed by the individual werewolf. These helped to keep any violence to a minimum, but also to improve relations between certain packs. 
Along with staying in packs, werewolves also share many other traits with wolves around the world. Many of these shared traits include enhanced eyesight--often said to be orders of magnitude better than normal humanity--along with a tremendously potent sense of smell and a sense of hearing to rival their lupine cousins. Their most visible lupine traits are much more pronounced canines, which often become much more visible when angered; said canines also tend to elongate over time, with the oldest werewolves having such elongated teeth as to give them a touch of a lisp to their speech. And--like their lupine cousins--they will more often than not eat dishes of red meat or wild game, usually either cooked or raw depending on the tastes of the individual werewolf. Lastly, post-transformation, the fur of the werewolf will often match that of their hair color...leading to some interestingly colored werewolves. 
However, they do share a couple of traits with Vampires in a few respects, but one to a much less potent extent...along with a few other notable traits. Those two traits that they share are a much less potent form of healing factor along with immortality, with many elder werewolves being many centuries old; however, this immortality does not need the help of human blood to help sustain it. Other notable traits that define werewolves include superhuman speed, strength to surpass even some of the world's best strongmen, incredibly potent reflexes and endurance to put even mortal special forces troops to shame. However, these strengths are also matched by weaknesses that their long-time enemies have learned to master and craft. 
Much of the weaknesses of werewolves are listen in archives of religious or organizations sponsored by religious authorities, and kept in archives to ensure they can still be used. The most prominent weakness of theirs that is listed are weapons that have been sanctified and thrice-blessed by priests or higher religious authorities schooled in such practices and thoroughly screened for Earthly or demonic corruption, along with thrice-blessed ammunition by those same religious authorities. Ultrasonic noise has also proved to be quite effective against them as well, stunning them as their ears are ravaged by the sound. Certain poisons have also found to have been of some use, but the formulas for werewolf killing have been kept a secret for millennia by not only the Papacy, but also the High Patriarch...with use of such methods having to be vetted by the individuals themselves. 
As stated before, most werewolf families tend to stick to structure of the pack that is prevalent in their lupine brethren. These pack structures generally follow the same hierarchy, with a dominant Alpha at its head, and a Beta as his second, and so on. Any other ranks can be added or removed by the Alpha upon either their personal preference or as necessity demands. Most of these packs form in either villages or towns, sometimes meeting and living in established subcommunity to those mortals that they live alongside. Again, how they live and are generally structured depends on the region, and can be quite variable. However, matters of pack business are often discussed and settled during the night, where they can sort out any disputes that get violent without receiving scrutiny. 
==Types==
=== Pup: ===
=== Bipedal ('Greater') Werewolf: ===
=== Bestial ('Lesser') Werewolf: ===
=== Elder Werewolf: ===
=== Lone Wolf: ===
=== Primal Werewolf: ===
=== Playability: ===
=== Extra: ===
== Packs ==
Werewolf pack structure tends to follow to a very rigid system and rank structure, though the packs will have different names for the subordinate ranks according to differing pack idiosyncrasies. Each rank's duty within a pack is listed below, with a council of the most elder werewolves in a pack existing outside of normal structure if the Alpha choses to have one...though it is a rarity to have one.
Pack Hierarchy: 
* Alpha: This rank is largely self-explanatory. The Alpha is the head of the pack unless they are challenged by a werewolf from the lower ranks and move down in the ranks if they lose their Alpha rank. The loss is an especially tremendous shame for long-established Alphas. 
* Luna: This rank is largely subject to the status of the reigning Alpha, as this rank is solely reserved for an Alpha's wife/husband. The loss of status for those long established ones are also sources of great shame. 
* Beta: The beta is the Alpha's second in command of the pack, and is largely responsible for the maintenance of pack discipline. Also serves as a pack advisor and mentor for lower ranking werewolves. How pack discipline is maintained is largely up the the individual personality of the Beta.
* Gamma: Gammas are largely in charge of maintaining the pack's stockpile of armament, as well as training and commanding the pack's military arm. The import of this rank often comes down to the individual packs, but each Gamma will take to their role with often great relish and zeal.
* Delta: This is a rank that is often flexible in its importance, as Deltas are the caretakers and doctor of the pack, helping to raise and nurture the younger werewolves of the pack. Deltas are often picked to have this role and stay there, as they are often the most level-headed of pack, which is quite a suitable personality for such a role in the pack structure.
* Omega: This is the lowest rank in the pack, and is reserved for the average werewolf within the pack. Much of the Alpha's potential challenges will come from this rung of the pack structure, as while they are supposed to be subservient to the higher ranked werewolves, they can be quite resentful of being at the bottom of the hierarchy. 
=== Notable Packs: ===
===== The Night Hounds: =====
==== The Grey Barbarians: ====
==== Pack of Bitter Iron: ====
==== Les Nobles e la Nuit: ====
==== Koshmarnite Zhivotni: ====
==== A Székely őrzői: ====
==== Balkanski Lovci: ====
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=== Multi-Pack Organizations and Pacts: ===
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== Inherent Magical Abilities ==
Category:Lore