Werewolves

## Overview

**Werewolves** (also known as **lycanthropes**, **wolfman**/**wolfwoman**, **skinwalkers**, and **children of the moon**) are human beings that have the ability to shapeshift into a large wolf-like creature. This is caused by the effects of Lycanthropy; a mystical curse that turns a person into a werewolf.

### Lycanthropy

Lycanthropy (also known as the Werewolf's Curse) is a supernatural disease created from an unknown origin that transforms its victims into vicious, uncontrollable wolves: Werewolves. The infection is in the saliva of a Werewolf, one bite from a transformed or a transforming werewolf will turn its victims into werewolves and will be left with a lifelong scar.

Once the disease infects its victim, the person will have to wait until the next full moon when the person experiences his or her first transformation. Once a werewolf fully transforms, he or she will no longer remember who he or she is, as their conscious mind is no longer in control, instead their body is taken over by the Beast, a feral "wolf-spirit" parasitic entity which was transmitted into their soul when they were first bitten. This entity then bonds to their soul, gestating for a period of no less than twenty days and no more than fifty, before being 'born' on the night of a full moon.

Most younger werewolves, upon resuming human form, will be left confused and will have no memory of what he or she did while transformed. Over time, a werewolf may learn to balance the needs of their human soul and wolf spirit, giving them the power to transform at will and retain some control over their wolf-form. A wolf spirit can never be truly tamed though.

### **Spreading the Curse, Turning a Human**

There are 3 ways to spread the curse.

* Sexual transmission
* Biting / Scratching / Blood transfusion
* Birth

Becoming a werewolf heals previous damage to an extent, taking you back to a more perfect form. There are some things it cannot heal (like magical curses). Alcohol and such don't affect wolves the same, as it takes 5-10x more of the same content to give them even a slightly intoxicated state. They can smell chemicals created by others that let them read their emotions to an extent (those who can manipulate this obviously wouldn't be affected by this).

## Powers and Abilities

* **Lycanthrope Physiology:** The potency of a werewolf's powers wax and wane during the lunar cycle (being at their most potent the closer it is to the full moon and at their weakest near the new moon).
	+ ***Immortality:*** While werewolves may continue to age for a time after they've been bitten, most tend to stop aging somewhere between the age of twenty-five and forty-five. Regardless of when they stop aging, werewolves possess bodies that are not affected by common disease or ailments associated with aging (such as joint pain or poor eyesight).
	+ ***Regenerative Healing:*** Werewolves regenerate rapidly, recovering lost limbs or removed organs within a day of rest. This is their only ability more powerful in their human form.
	+ ***Supernatural Senses:*** Werewolves are supernatural creatures thus their senses are attuned to perceive ghosts and astral beings.
	+ ***Werewolf Transformation:*** Experienced werewolves can force a brief transformation at any time, including during daylight hours, Younger, inexperienced have little to no control or even awareness in this form while experienced werewolves do limited self-control while transformed.
	+ ***Cursed Venom:*** Werewolves' bite secretes an infectious venom.
	+ ***Enhanced Resiliency:*** Werewolves cannot be harmed by conventional weapons. Only a silver bullet or magic can pierce a werewolf's flesh.
	+ ***Enhanced Running Speed:*** Werewolves are incredibly fast with great reflexes and agility. Werewolves can run at around 100 MPH for hours on end without exertion. Under a Full Moon, some werewolves have been known to even break the sound barrier (~700 MPH) in very brief sprints (but enough to cover three city blocks in the blink of an eye or dodge a few bullets. Under a New Moon, a werewolf's top sprinting speed is between 200 to 300 MPH. Werewolves can also jump incredibly high and are capable of climbing at speeds roughly equal to their running speed.
	+ ***Enhanced Senses:*** Werewolves have incredibly acute senses of sight, smell, and hearing even outside of their transformed state. When in their wolf form, werewolves can see part of the infrared spectrum and detect the heat signatures of objects or people in total darkness. They can smell other living creatures within a mile (when upwind) and follow a scent regardless of terrain. Werewolves can hear the sound of a heartbeat within 100 feet in a quiet environment.
	+ ***Enhanced Strength:*** Werewolves are immensely powerful beings. In their un-transformed state, werewolves possess Classes 0-2 Enhanced Strength. The strongest werewolves have been noted as having Class VIII Enhanced Strength while transformed under the Full Moon and Class IV Enhanced Strength under a New Moon, but most average werewolves range from Class II to Class V.
	+ ***Magic Fangs and Claws:*** Werewolves' claws and teeth can rend just about anything: fabric, wood, cinder block, and even steel.
* **Intimidation:** When angry, werewolves can show off their glowing eyes, fangs, claws by partially shifting.
* **Immunity to Vampires:** Werewolves are immune to vampiric infection. Regardless of this, most vampires find werewolf blood to be intoxicatingly delicious.
* **Animal Respect:** Animals don't attack a werewolf. Wolves and other canine creatures even bow down before werewolves, even in their human form.

## Packs

*Revision Needed*
There is little to none known about the various werewolf families or packs. They are incredibly secretive, especially after lycanthrope hunting grew in popularity back in the early dark ages. Between false legends about supposed healing benefits, evil traits and aggressive behavior they were all but hunted to extinction in Europe by the time Columbus headed for the Americas.

## Known Werewolves

* Markus W. Jäger
* Margo Hanson
* Josh Hoberman
	+ Enid Clarkson