Lycanthrope

An artist's rendition of a Lycan by moonlight

**Lycanthrope**, also known as the **Werewolves**, are a species of mythicals created in ancient times around 750 BCE descended from the bloodline of Romulus, an ancient Roman. They are Animagus with the ability to transform into different, powerful forms in which they gain inhuman strength and enhanced capabilities. They are noted for their connection to **Gaia**, or Gaea**,** the primordial personification of Earth and nature. They are also generally followers of **Luna**, the moon goddess.

## Description

Lycanthropes in their human form possess unnatural strength and speed comparable or even greater to that of other mythicals, with retractable claws and canines strong enough to be able to slash through a chain-link fence or bite through a padlock. They also appear particularly healthy and vibrant.

In their lupine form, their bodies change rapidly into a fitting definition of predators: once transformed, the lycan resembled a large wolf. While they still bear the slightest bit of resemblance to their human selves while transformed, particularly in the eyes and facial structure, each lycan's distinctive color and characteristics have little to no correlation with their human appearance. No real explanation for this phenomenon is known.

The change between the two forms is very dramatic and often painful, as it requires the movement and changing of shape of the lycan's bone structure in just a few moments. Lycanthrope are capable of choosing when to change into their lupine form; however, the shift is also triggered by full moons and extreme change in emotional disposition. Sometimes, the lycanthrope cannot choose whether to shift and does so on instinct. A great deal of discipline and training throughout a lycan's life is necessary to avoid shifting by accident.

While their skin is much more durable than that of a human being, it is not granite hard like a vampiric's. In their lupine form, their fur acts as a barrier against extreme weather, environments, and most weapons. The lycanthrope bear a primal, animalistic scent that makes them unappetizing to most species.

Ancient lycanthrope had another, much more violent form in which they did not entirely resemble actual wolves: their forelegs were more powerful than their hind legs, and they still had usable hands with opposable thumbs and long claws. In addition, their stance was more upright, making their movement somewhat ape-like, rather than entirely canine. In this form, their fur acts as a shield against all but the most damaging of attacks, known to be able to withstand even a nephilim's holy fire. Their primal minds are also impervious to telepathy and hypnotic suggestion for the duration of their transformation. As a drawback, however, this form can only be maintained for a short while before the lycan loses all sense of self; this condition is known as "Lunacy".

## Reproduction

New lycanthrope are created when an existing one bites or scratches a human. Approximately half of the time, a bite will spread lycanthropy in its victim. In modern times, many safeguards against lycanthrope attacks are in place, and much organizational work has been done by the nephilim and by lycanthrope themselves to prevent unexpected attacks. As a result, rogue bites are a rare occurrence in the modern day.

Aside from being bitten, lycanthrope can also be born from two lycanthrope parents, but at least one must be pureborn. Two pureborn lycan are guaranteed to produce a pureborn lycan offspring, which is the most common form of reproduction today.

Humans that are turned into lycans are often left to their own devices, with most progenitors unaware that they've even created one. These "newborn" or "pups" must learn to master their new primal urges and instincts or be consumed by them. With self-possession and proper training to control themselves, a lycanthrope can easily adjust and live among mortals peacefully without detection, more so than other mythicals. After the first transformation, it takes a lycan some time to be able to resist the effects of the moon in its different phases. Many lycanthropes are able to train themselves to be impervious to these effects, but even well-trained ones are still forced into their lupine forms during a full moon. Most lycans prefer to wander into forests and other natural environments on nights of a full moon in order to remain isolated from humanity during their unavoidable shifting.

Sometimes, a pureborn lycan reproducing with either a half-blooded lycan or a human will produce an offspring that does not possess the lycanthropy dominant gene, but a recessive one. These "wolf-blooded" humans are incapable of shifting, but may take on certain traits of their ancestors such as elongated and powerful canines, thick body hair, or other physical characteristics. They may also behave more animalistic and have stronger natural instincts. These humans are immune to the conventional weaknesses of lycans, and often have an increased average lifespan compared to regular humans.

## Abilities

A lycan's abilities are granted to them by their connection to Gaia, or the Earth spirit, and every lycan manipulates and channels this connection whether they're aware of it or not. In the modern days, some lycans have forgotten how to properly wield this natural magic. Gaia is what allows lycans to shift into their powerful forms, and is what provides them with their supernatural robustness, physical condition, and senses. A masterful wielder of Gaia can use the Earth's energy to achieve a variety of effects.

Lycans have a unique ability in that they are able to communicate with other animals in both their human and lupine form. They are allergic to silver; coming into contact with it burns them and these burns may become fatal.

Overuse of Gaia will cause a lycan's connection to it to falter, but this connection is restored rapidly when the lycan immerses themselves in nature once more.

**Common abilities include:** Canine Physiology, Accelerated Healing, Zoolingualism, Telepathy *(within their pack)*, Night Vision, Enhanced Senses, Enhanced Speed, Enhanced Strength, Shapechanging

**Weaknesses include:** Metallurgy *(can be fatal, especially silver)*, Wolfsbane

Lycanthropes age similarly to humans and have a similar life-cycle, with the exception of alphas, whose aging processes often halt until they abdicate from their pack or are killed.

## Culture

### Pack Life

A lycan pack (also referred to as a tribe, clan, or unit) is a close-knit grouping of at least two dozen lycanthrope who follow and depend on one another for protection and companionship. The pack does almost everything together, from hunting, to celebrating, and beyond. Betas within the pack are expected to accept and support their contemporaries in all things, and disagreements are usually settled through simple contests of strength or wit. When one member of the pack falters, the rest fall back to help them; thus, disability and injury are not viewed with disdain or contempt, but rather sympathy. To leave behind or abandon your fellow lycan in times of duress is considered a great and grave dishonor, and is usually grounds for exile.

Cultural norms within a pack usually revolve around celebrating namedays (birthdays) and other days of significance among lycan. The winter solstice is a particularly important day for most packs, as it represents the time of the year when the days are shortest and Luna's light shines brightly. The week leading up to the solstice is usually marked by a great celebration; most lycan are skilled singers, dancers, or musicians in their own right. There exists also four Great Hunts throughout the year, one for each turning of the season into the next. During these Hunts, the pack generally all shift together and immerse themselves in their primal forms for a day.

Within lycan culture, age and experience play a great role. Young lycan offspring are referred to as "pups" until the time of their first shift, which generally happens at or just after the onset of puberty. Shortly after this, the pup engages in a series of meditations and other trainings to master and control their impulses to ensure they don't lose their minds to Lunacy, or lunar fury. After the Rite of Passage, the pup is assigned a role in the pack based on their strengths and is considered a full Beta and an adult. On the other hand, lycan ancients are generally revered with great respect and admiration by all in their pack; a lycan who has reached a venerable age generally doesn't do so without immense difficulty due to the inherent dangers of the lives they lead. Elders, while perhaps not in power to the extent of an Alpha, nonetheless hold a great deal of sway in their packs and usually offer much-needed council to the Alphas in times of need.

"Turned" lycans, or humans who were afflicted by the lycanthropy virus and thus became lycans themselves, are generally viewed with distrust and must work twice as hard to become accepted within lycan packs. However, Betas that were once human are not unheard of.

Some packs inhabit a certain territory for long periods of time, sometimes as long as centuries. Others are nomadic, such as the *Gaia Legionis* led by Romulus himself, and roam from place to place at their leisure. Territory disputes are common between rivaling packs, though all-out war is generally rare.

While most of the above information is consistent with the vast majority of packs, there do exist other, more malicious subgroups of lycanthrope who relish in their predatory instincts and discard with the ideals of honor and family. These packs are often referred to as "Blood-Crazed", and are considered to be some of the most dangerous mythicals in the world today. While their numbers are relatively few, tribes must always be on the lookout for signs of their activity to ensure they're not caught off-guard. These more malicious lycanthrope are known for conducting mass initiations of humans into turned lycans to indoctrinate as fodder in their packs.

### Hierarchy

> Omega
>
>

The Omega is the lone wolf, a lycan who has either abdicated or been exiled from their pack and now exists by themselves. These lycan are often looked upon with disdain by others and are generally considered weaker than their contemporaries due to their status as pariahs. Many Omegas exist in the world, living either in isolation in the wilderness or as wanderers. A lycan without a pack will invariably never be accepted into another, unless extraordinary circumstances arise to necessitate it.

> Beta
>
>

Betas are the most numerous and common of lycans, and are the individual members of a pack that follow the Alpha. Betas assume many roles in a pack; some are Loremasters who pass down the stories of their ancestors. Others are healers who use Gaia to accelerate the recovery of wounded packmates. There are also Warriors that serve as the chief defenders of the pack in times of conflict. Whatever their position may be, the Betas answer only to the Alpha and operate as a cohesive unit.

> Alpha
>
>

An Alpha is the leader of a pack of lycans. Alphas earned their position through a combination of might, wisdom, and wit, with only the strongest and most intelligent among the pack capable of holding their leadership. The Alpha may be challenged by a Beta at any time; some particularly virulent challenges end in death. Besides this, however, a pack Alpha has the final say on all matters involving the tribe.

### Law

Within lycan packs, law and order vary wildly; they are unique among mythicals for not following any one set of rules or regulations, and for this reason, they are often viewed as savage or unruly. The only core tenants that almost all lycan abide by are the Rites of Passage (the time between the onset of a pup's first shift and their acceptance into the pack proper) and the Rites of Leadership (the process by which an Alpha may be challenged by any Beta for leadership of the pack). Beyond this, any particular laws are restricted to the pack within which they are enforced.