Lycans

#### **Werewolves:**

Lycanthropy is usually linked to the classic werewolf. i.e., turns into a beast at the light of a full moon. and in truth, that is only half of it. Lycanthropy can manifest in two ways Werewolves: As above, this is the most common. mindless beasts during the full moon. Usually remembers the change. skills: enhanced speed, strength, senses, and a minor enhanced healing factor. This is your typical lycanthrope; most usually never make it past this.

#### **Garou/Lycans:**

However. There is a group past this. By no means do they think themselves superior, they do exist, but in smaller numbers. Only after taming their wolf, after contracting lycanthropy, or after being born with it, can one call themselves Garou.

**Garou** stand at the pinnacle of their kind, but they are also the most likely to come under scrutiny and retain the need for the most control of themselves and their emotions. They can exist in five forms, depending on their needs and wants, each with their own skills and uses. They exist as follows:

**Homid**: Human form, sneakiest of the forms Enhanced healing and senses. But mostly seen in combat.

**Glabro**: midpoint between Homid and Krinos Human with beastial features. Enhanced strength, speed, senses, and healing factor.

**Krinos**: war form Resembles the Hollywood or typical werewolf. most powerful of the forms, but lacks the ability to speak. Can occupy at will.

**Hispo** is bigger than a normal lupus wolf. Faster than Krinos and weaker than it. Still gets the healing factor and resembles a dire wolf.

**Lupus** is a typical wolf. Fastest of the forms. There is no strength to speak of, but it has the healing factor. Smallest of the forms.

Thus, it forms the basis of the Garou, or Lycanthropes.

Of course, with their enhanced healing, they age half as fast as humans, some living to easily 200.

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#### **Religion**

While most claim no religion, nearly all Lycans pray to Maprh and work to keep her planet safe from the influence of the Wyrm, a dark spirit. Without Maprh, there is no Garou, so all worship her In their own way.

Of course, for all their strengths, they have weaknesses.

**Silver:** Sticks them in their current form until removed, nullifies the healing factor, and weakens the strength.

**Emotions:** While they are masters of emotion control, they are susceptible to them as well.

**The Rage:** Most commonly seen as a Garou reverting to a werewolf like state of mind. Mindless slaughter. All Garou have this fear. If one succumbs, they can either die or, should they come out, face exile. Others will avoid a Rage-afflicted Garou.

**Sensory overload:** Let it be said, 'Too much of a good thing is a bad thing'. While immensely adept at using their senses, too much information from those senses can be harmful. Sharp noises or too many, too many smells, etc. All dangerous.

All that said, one last thing needs to be said: contrary to popular belief, silver is not the way to kill a werewolf. It is a way, but not the way. If you want to kill a werewolf, then kill it if it can kill a man or the races the Werewolf came from then I can kill it.

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#### **Characteristics**

The most common sign of a Lycan is lighter eyes in humid form. I.e. Fenris gaining his signature eyes the color of the pale moon. A Lycan's fur color is determined by the humid form's natural hair color. Depending on the race of origin, Lycans gain other traits. Tusks in the case of orcs, longer ears for elves, thicker fur for humans, etc. Also dependent on the race of origin is other bonuses a Lycan May gain. I.e.: more strength but less speed fir an orc, opposite fir elves, more speed and agility with less strength.

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#### **Relations**

Lycans cannot mate with other Lycans successfully. They have to mingle with other races. Any resulting offspring have a chance to gain The Wolf of their own albeit a very small chance.

A Lycan may choose to bite their mate. This is never infectious and will never spread the curse to their mate. This is simply a marking to tell other Lycans that this one is claimed.

Speaking of other Lycans, one Lycan can tell the presence of another; it is an instinctual thing. No matter what one may do in the presence of another Lycan, they will be found out.

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#### **Other skills**

Every Lycan and werewolf is born to or sworn to a group, pack, and bound by Maprh to a place of home and camaraderie known as a cairn.

Cairns are home to a guardian spirit that is a manifestation of Maprh herself. Because of this, the most devoted werewolves and Lycans can sense and speak to these Guardian spirits.

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#### **The Wyrm**

The Wyrm is born of humanity and its desire to destroy the world around it. While originally werewolves were seen as the Wyrm's influence, this was quickly dissuaded as Maprh had told otherwise.

A few notable forms of the Wyrm influence come in the form of the likes of vampires, goblins, demons, and anything that can be considered a dark entity.

If a guardian Spirit of Maprh does fall to the worm, it can infest its pack through their connection. The only way to reverse this is for the most devoted of another cairn to put down the guardian spirit and allow it to reconstitute.

(Credit: Fenris Aza'raak, ty!)