Hexenbeast

A subtype of Therianthrope, these Shapeshifters are able to take the forms of animals through the use of mystical pelts. For this, they are also known as Wearbeasts. Individual species usually have their own specific names (and often regional variants), but truthfully, most are simply born or transformed into one type and can then become others through magical rituals involving the use of animal pelts, skins, hides, or insect husks, or by using the pelt of another Hexenbeast.

# Origins

The exact origins of Hexenbeasts are subject to debate. Accounts of Men donning the pelts of wild animals to take on those creatures' forms and abilities is older than the recorded history of the 4th Age. However, whether these are tales of magic or the true origins of Hexenbeasts is impossible to know. What *is* known is that, early in the current Age, the Overlord Circe was a powerful practitioner of Witchcraft who used her abilities to transform Men into animalistic Monsters, especially Therianthropes and Entothropes, whom she could then command. She's known to have created a number of unusual Monsters in this vein, afflicting enemy and ally alike with such conditions. One such condition she reserved for her allies was the status of Hexenbeast, allowing them to retain greater control of their faculties in exchange for their fealty. Such individuals would be transformed into animals under a full moon by Circe and would claw their way free of their animal skin in order to transform back at dawn, supposedly after being subjected to depraved rituals with the witch. They would be left with their pelt, and with it the ability to transform at will. These Hexenbeasts would serve as captains, lieutenants, and generals in Circe's armies. After her defeat by the Hero Odysseus, Circe's followers fled and went into hiding, slowly reproducing and spreading.

Hexenbeasts usually come into existence through one of three methods: birth, affliction by curse or ritual, or by donning an existing Hexenbeast's pelt for the night of a full moon.

Hexenbeasts born to their abilities appear to be normal members of a Race of Man, usually Human, Elf, Half-Elf, Halfling, Dwarf, or Half-Orc. Soon after beginning puberty, the young Hexenbeast begins to experience vivid dreams of being an animal, usually during the mating season of their future animal form, and culminating with the first phase of Cynthia after the dreams began. On this night, the Hexenbeast actually transforms while asleep and runs wild, but with their human mind conscious of their body acting on the instincts and behaviors of their animal self. When dawn approaches, the Hexenbeast instinctively tears through their animal skin, leaving them naked and bloodstained, but human once more, their animal form, and the animal spirit that is part of their soul, lying beside them. It's said that those Hexenbeasts who reject this pelt become human, or something very close to it, but most take it back up and use it to return home, embracing both their human and animal spirits and the ability to change between.

Those afflicted by curse or ritual tend change immediately and don't revert back until the next dawn. Such victims are usually subjected to a modified form of *Beast Shape* that included Taint and a casting of *Bestow Curse.* As such, only reasonably powerful casters can use it. Those subjected to a ritual are usually bound first and then anointed with the blood of a freshly killed and skinned animal that will serve as their alternate form. The bloody pelt is laid atop them, transforming them as with the first transformation of a natural Hexenbeast. This ritual normally must be presided over by another Hexenbeast, who uses some of their own blood or sexual fluids in the process, though there are rumors some Monstrous beings can perform it as well.

The last category are those who wear a Hexenbeast's pelt during the night of Cynthia's full phase. Such individuals are said to be "ridden by the beast," as the pelt subjects them to the same experience as a Hexenbeast's first transformation, except that they find themselves ripping through two pelts rather than one; the one they donned, and one of their own. It's important to note that wearing a Hexenbeast's pelt only has this effect on the night of a full moon, specifically Cynthia. Wearing it at any other time allows for a temporary transformation, but does not inherently corrupt the wearer otherwise... though many find the experience addictive and may gain Taint if they perform certain actions while transformed, such as eating, resting, spending extended periods in animal form or having sex while in animal form. Those corrupted in this way usually become Hexenbeasts themselves in the same manner as one born naturally. Where precisely the animal spirits of this last category come from is uncertain, but it's thought that the pelt temporarily transforms part of the soul of the wearer into that of an animal while in use, and that some quality of its Mana and that of Cynthia at its peak interacting causes this change to become permanent.

# Characteristics

Hexenbeasts resemble the Races of Man from which they originated, with few, if *any* tells that they're anything else. The few tellls they do possess are usually behavioral; Hexenbeasts are often restless during full moons and when kept away from nature for extended periods. They also often have minor behaviors reminiscent of their animal form, though these are seldom obvious. They experience noticeably heightened Libido during the mating seasons of their animal forms, and often have a fondness for a similar diet in human form to that of their animal aspect. Beyond that, they otherwise appear to be normal humans.

In animal form they are usually almost indistinguishable from a natural animal, save that they may seem to be unnaturally intelligent. Some Hexenbeasts *do* learn a ritual that allows them to adopt the forms of less natural animals such as Beasts, but this is a relatively uncommon trait. Most simply appear as a normal creature. This makes them highly effective at infiltration and spying, and at concealing their true nature. In fact, many learn to hide the fact that their Mana is Taint, making them even harder to detect.

Less commonly seen is a Hexenbeast's anthropomorphic form, which can be considered its *true* form. Hexenbeasts in this form resemble bipedal animals with animal heads (though they may choose to reveal their human face for convenience or personal reasons if they so choose), making them quite visually distinct from Turnskins and most other Monsters with animal features. This hybrid form is rarely used, as it affords few benefits and revals the Hexenbeast's nature.

While Hexenbeasts resemble other Therianthropes, such as Werewolves and their kin, they are noticeably weaker than such Monsters; they lack any significant protections from harm, can't infect others with their condition through battle, do not enjoy special healing capabilities, any innate ability to control similar animals, and have relatively weak natural weapons. They also must be in direct physical contact with their pelt to assume either of their non-human forms, and their clothing generally doesn't change to adapt to their new shape. This isn't a problem for their hybrid form, normally, but it causes most of their clothing to fall away or be torn to shreds as their body changes and makes wielding their previous weapons effectively impossible when in animal form.

# Nature

The nature of a Hexenbeast is threefold; they are Man and animal, and by being both of these at once they are also a Monster. Hexenbeasts possess two distinct Souls that are bonded into one; that of a Man and that of an animal. These are spiritual twins, entwined as one being, with one inhabiting the human body and one separated into the Hexenbeast's pelt. When the two are combined, the creature is whole. This makes the Hexenbeast an unusual creature that straddles the boundaries of conventional life and grants them perspectives on the world and the behaviors of others that are relatively uncommon. They can see the world, and themselves, in ways that others cannot.

# Role in Antiquity

Hexenbeasts are thought to have originally served as spies, liaisons, and more level-headed commanders of more powerful but less *restrained* Monsters under Circe's command. They were able to operate with greater precision than their wilder counterparts and to negotiate peacefully with conquered Men, making them suitable military governors. Further, as most were originally human, they were often in possession of more diverse skills and tactics than their natural Monster peers, making them excellent trainers and more capable overall when pitted against Men, for they were better able to understand and predict human tactics and techniques, and could meet them with a similar level of aptitude.

Hexenbeasts would generally not fight in their animal forms historically, preferring to use them as a means of surprise and escape when overwhelmed or as a means to stealthily spy on others. Most Hexenbeasts have relatively weak animal forms in the grand scheme of things, though some, such as Bruins, are formidable in their own right.

Their natural abilities made Hexenbeasts adept infiltrators and the knowledge, wealth, and influence they gained under Circe allowed some of them to turn her downfall into a personal advantage by traveling and claiming to be displaced nobles, Adventurers, and other individuals who've been disrupted through the subsequent cycles of the Everwar. This allowed them to slowly establish themselves in various communities around the world, often as nobility thanks to the secret knowledge they can obtain through their animal forms. Families of Hexenbeasts often pass as Men for multiple generations, and when one is discovered, they are more likely to hunt their own claiming them to be a better-known sort of Werebeast in order to keep the family secret alive. These lineages have been known to seek to undermine the works of Men during Everwar cycles, sabotaging war efforts, misleading or seducing Heroes, funding bandits and brigands, fomenting rebellions, and otherwise causing havoc as deep cover operatives. Their unusual nature tends to make them somewhat resistant to the influences of Overlords, meaning that they've actually changed very little since Lilith rose to power and will likely remain the same should she perish.

# Courtship, Mating, and Development

Hexenbeasts are very human in terms of their courtship practices, though far more likely to indulge in relationships for love and pleasure rather than pragmatism, due to the current Overlord's influence. They pursue partners based on their personal preferences and needs and tend to favor individuals who want large families and appreciate nature, animals, and spending time in the wilds. This is partly due to the tendency of Hexenbeasts to transform their chosen spouses into Hexenbeasts if they aren't already another sort of Monster. Hexenbeasts tend to carry on romances as humans do, with a preference for the airs of nobility; they write or recite poetry and music, present gifts and flowers, offer invitations to parties, dances, dinners, or drinks. They seek opportunities to compliment their prospective mates, to assist them, to defend them. If their prospective partner is in need, they'll try to find ways to help. Hexenbeasts are not usually keen on waiting, however, and are prone to wandering eyes... and hearts. They'll often try to woo multiple prospective mates simultaneously, or find it difficult to resist the attempt, though once they've begun to have sex this usually stops, especially for females. Males, unfortunately, have something of the male Monster imperative to spread their seed, and so are likely to have flings or one-night stands while trying to romance their desired partner. Once their interests *are* reciprocated, most become much more dedicated, especially if their partner is willing to have sex before marriage; Hexenbeasts, like most Monsters, have difficulty restraining their sexual impulses for long.

Though most Hexenbeasts are prone to promiscuity, they tend to avoid dalliances with humans they consider untrustworthy or likely to out them as a Monster, for even if they can hide their nature and contain their Taint to prevent it from corrupting their partners, their offspring will certainly be another Hexenbeast. Despite this, young Hexenbeasts are often careless with their lusts, sometimes necessitating the kidnapping of their newborn offspring by family members in order to raise the child among its own and protect it from possible persecution.

Hexenbeasts are, to a lesser extent Breeders, though not to a sufficient degree that they truly qualify for the description. They possess a human sex drive and Fertility cycle combined with that of their animal form, causing them to overlap intensely during their animal form's mating seasons and giving them an aversion to contraceptives. Though they don't produce as many offspring as most other Breeders or recover as quickly, they most commonly give birth to twins. Their natural reproductive cycles more closely resemble those of their human appearance save for having a mating season that often leaves them in Rut until impregnated and having a higher chance of getting pregnant during this time than humans experience. Pregnancies normally last around nine months and follow the same trimesters and basic physiological changes. Hexenbeast children are initially indistinguishable from those of human children until they reach puberty, during which they experience their first transformations as described above.

It is important to note that Hexenbeasts are somewhat unusual among Monsters in that they frequently also mate with natural Animals, especially when young and just developing their abilities, and particularly since Lilith's rise caused their transformation to take on a more sexual nature that leaves them aroused for much of their time in inhuman form. Hexenbeasts feel a call to the wild that leaves them restless if they spend too long in human form, but their transformation sexually excites them, and most wild animals can't tell the difference between a Hexenbeast and one of their own. This results in Hexenbeasts engaging in bestiality fairly frequently, especially during puberty. This kind of activity can result in pregnancy, be it of the Hexenbeast or the animal, and is sometimes thought to be the origin of Animalweres by some. In the case of female Hexenbeasts becoming pregnant in this way, they usually give birth to twins who superficially appear human, but are in fact Hexenbeasts as normal... but with a dramatically accelerated pregnancy that normally matches that of their animal counterpart. Such sexual activities are sometimes continued past puberty and into adulthood in cases of Hexenbeasts that never find suitable life partners. Even after, they often take great pleasure in engaging in mating while in animal form; far more than most natural animals should be biologically able to do, leading many to try turning their human mates into Hexenbeasts in order to satisfy the impulse. In the end, though they appear to be animals, they are ultimately Monsters. What they consider to be sexually normal and desirable is often not to Men. Similarly, they are quite fond of engaging in sex in their hybrid form, which tends to prominently feature a nearly-animal face that can be highly distressful for those not fond of muzzles.

Just as Hexenbeasts are sometimes thought to be the source of Animalweres, they are also thought to be the ancestor of Turnskins by some. It's thought Hexenbeasts who reject their pelt at puberty become indistinguishable from normal Men, but still carry a bit of the essence of the animal. It is a part of their soul, after all. Some argue that this spirit manifests in their offspring, who are born as Turnskins instead of Hexenbeasts.

# Variants and Mutations

Hexenbeasts have a huge number of variations, from the animals that they can naturally become to the Therianthrope abilities they can acquire, to their ability to learn additional forms, manipulate their Taint, and more. Most specific Hexenbeasts have names, such as Renards for vulpines, Tybalts for felines, Kywards for rabbits and hares, Baldwins for equines, Grimbalds for mustelids, Noblions for big cats, and Ysengrims for canines, though they can adopt the forms of other animals through additional rituals.
The most common Hexenbeasts are those whose animal forms can serve as common Familiars or similarly weak animals.

Another common variant, especially among those Hexenbeasts who despise their association with bestiality, are unable to adopt an animal form, a hybrid form, or have more humanoid features in hybrid form.

# Public Perception

Hexenbeasts are often not well understood by the people of Gaea due to their secretive nature and ability to conceal themselves. Many are unaware they exist at all, save for scholars of Monsters or those knowledgeable of history. Even those whose families worked against human interests in the past often aren't outed as Monsters. Instead they are often seen as misguided, shortsighted, petty, selfish, jealous, corrupt, or depraved. When they *have* been discovered, they're usually misidentified as better-known and more powerful shapeshifters, or even simply as evil Witches. Which is to say Hags, which are *far* more powerful Monsters.

In places where people *are* aware of Hexenbeasts, they often have a curiously popular image. A series of tales spread through much of Meropis and Thule depicts a fictitious kingdom located somewhere in Austrasia in which all of the population are Hexenbeasts in their Monster forms and go about life as would be expected of their human counterparts. These tales star characters named from the specific types of Hexenbeasts they are, with Renard the Fox, a trickster knight, taking the central role in most stories. These tales are popular with children and have helped to place Hexenbeasts into a more benevolent light in the eyes of many, who see them as funny creatures rather than particularly dangerous or insidious. Still, few Hexenbeasts are liable to reveal themselves, and certainly not their families, for what they truly are, so most remain hidden in the guises of respectable human citizenry.