Lupine Cancer

## Description:

Lupine Cancer, also referred to as Lycanism or Lycanthropy, is a form of mutative cancer which induces a series of physiological changes in the victim. The illness has no known cure if allowed to progress past the initial stages, and has a number of benefits associated with it that some consider to compensate for its horrific cost. Infected individuals are referred to as Lycans, Lycanids, Lupines, Garou, etc.

Lupine Cancer dates back millennia, but can be traced back to the legends of werewolves common amongst the tribal peoples of Breit in ancient times. Originally thought to be little more than folklore or scary stories, Lupine Cancer was categorized in the 15th Century PW, after a King of Truseau was met with a series of brutal "animal" attacks in the countryside; after an investigation, a hunting party was sent out to find and kill the wolves responsible, only to find that a victim of the Cancer was ultimately the cause, driven mad by the illness and by what he had done to his fellow villagers. Later, a different Truseauch King was met by a victim of the Cancer in his court who came to ask for alms and a job; this event helped rationalize Lupine Cancer and worked to bring it out of the realm of fantasy and into reality. After the Truseauchs began studying the illness, similar cases were revealed and investigated across Breit, including in Birmingham, Nolina, Monzia, and the Jexan frontier. Proper scientific inquiry into the nature of the Cancer would not begin until the 14th Century PW, when the RCPPS began its research into the illness.

### Structure:

Lupine Cancer is, as its name implies, a form of genetic disorder, an unnatural mutation of human DNA. This mutation is derived from the alteration of DNA and the introduction of lupine (wolf) DNA via unknown means, which begins causing intense physical changes in an infected victim. Lupine Cancer functions similarly to other forms of cancer, in that it begins at a single site before spreading throughout the body. Lupine Cancer can occur "naturally" at birth, thanks to a child or parent's exposure to certain chemicals or Aether whilst in-utero; these "natural" born Lycans often have far greater control over their abilities than conventionally affected individuals, and are known to possess amplified versions of the standard Lycan mutations with far fewer drawbacks, believed to originate from the child's bodily adaptations to the Cancer during pre-birth development.

#### Signs and Symptoms:

Lupine Cancer is contracted in 1 of 3 ways: exposure to mutative substances or gene-splicing/grafting procedures, mutation obtained from birth, or as a result of a bite from someone else who is infected with the Cancer. The Cancer does not spread through physical contact, and being a form of mutation does not exist outside the host; the most common form of the Cancer is spread primarily through bites, which involve direct transferal of saliva from the infected attacker into the victim's bloodstream. Given this very particular means of spreading the Cancer, infectivity is relatively low but can be spread purposely, as was the case with the [REDACTED]; outbreaks can happen and, among large or cramped populations, can prove quite deadly. Moreover, the Cancer's later stages and the observed divergence in outcomes of the Cancer have led researchers to believe that personal genetics play a part in the illness's track. After a victim is exposed to the proper combination of chemicals and substances, and if the victim has the right genes and circumstances to evolve the Lupine mutations, the onset will be between 1 and 3 weeks; victims bitten by a Lycan will exhibit symptoms as early as 1 to 3 days after the bite, although this process can be sped up considerably due to other factors. The Cancer has no known duration, since it can perpetuate a victim's life indefinitely; however, most victims succumb to insanity or mutation after 1 to 3 years of suffering with the affliction.

Lupine Cancer has a wide range of individual symptoms which comprise the whole of the illness, almost all of which are mutative in nature. In the days immediately following a bite, the victim will develop a fever, pains in the joints and muscles, increased hunger, an decreased need for sleep, swelling and itching of the body around the bite area, etc. This is when the Cancer is localized to only 1 limb; in some cases, the first transformation may occur before the Cancer as metastasized, which means that only the area immediately surrounding the bite site will transform. Once the Cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it is no longer curable.

Early on, the victim will exhibit the beginnings of the Lycan mutations, including rapid hair growth, a deepening of the voice, increased hunger and a faster metabolism, keener senses and faster reflexes, rapid muscle development, and increased testosterone levels which induce mood swings and violent tendencies. After the first month or so of the affliction, the symptoms will worsen; hair will begin growing thicker all over the person's body, including on the palms of their hands, their nails will grow in faster, sharper, and tougher than normal, until their first proper transformation, which occurs after at least 1 month of infection. This transformation is fairly limited in its physiological changes, inducing only an increase in height, hair thickness, a slight elongation of the ears and nose, an increased density of the bones, etc. Most importantly, the first transformation brings permanent physical changes; the victim is now highly durable and, in some cases, bulletproof. Furthermore, victims will develop increased adrenaline production and an advanced regenerative ability; this regenerative ability also decreases aging, making victims effectively immortal. Due to the illness's nature as a Cancer, the more that the victim heals, the faster the Cancer spreads; similarly, every time the victim transforms, the Cancer gets worse. Transformations occur every 3 weeks or so, although this can vary considerably; transformations will also grow more frequent as the Cancer progresses until the victim can change their transformations at will. As time progresses, physiological changes as a result of the transformations will become more severe and the lupine traits more pronounced, with an elongation of the snout, significantly increased height and weight, a development of keener senses and Night Vision, and a conversion of the leg structure to digitigrade all occurring one after the other; the more mutations that develop, the tougher, stronger, faster, and hungrier the victim will become. Eventually, the transformed victim will appear more like a bipedal wolf than a human; in these final stages, the victim loses the obvious symptoms in their human forms, regaining the ability to perfectly blend into human society.

Hormone production is also affected by the Cancer, which influences both physical mutations and the psychology of victims. Recently infected individuals will notice their keener senses and the heightened detection of pheromones and chemical signs of those around them, which can lend bonuses in social situations; however, this has the side effect of allowing older Lycans to exhibit control over the younger of their kind. Older Lycans produce pheromones which can help Lycans communicate with one another wordlessly, in addition to wolf-like body language adjustments too subtle for normal humans to detect. These pheromones produced by elder Lycans can also forcibly induce transformations in lesser infected. These hormones are pleasurable to Lycans, which further encourages the "pack behavior" of infected victims and discourages separation of "packs." Older Lycans will have an easy time persuading, intimidating, or bossing around more recently-turned individuals as a result, and can even influence the feelings and biochemistry of uninfected people.

The early stages of the mutation are dangerous for their psychological symptoms. The victim's preference for meat will increase dramatically, and other psychological effects like psychosis, hallucinations, etc. will begin and worsen over time. During the first transformation, and for most transformations after the first, the victim will lose all humanity and rely only on their most basic instincts, which, when combined with human brain capacity and an over-active metabolism, will inevitably lead to trespassing, destruction of property, and, likely, the murder and consumption of human beings. Victims do not remember their early transformations, but will slowly come to recall their own actions as the transformations increase in strength. After the first transformation, victims will begin to exhibit so-called "pack activities," which involve a seeking-out of other Lycans and lupine animals with whom the victim spends their time; this "pack" instinct drives Lycans to band together into communities, making them considerably stronger when hunting and defending themselves in a group. With each transformation, however, victims will obtain more and more control over themselves and their actions; once the victim gains the ability to consciously control themselves during a transformation, the final stage of the Cancer sets in, at which point the victim can induce a transformation at will. The psychological toll of these transformations and the traumatic memories they bring to the fore deal permanent damage to the victim's mind, often driving them mad or to psychopathy by the time they reach the final stages of the Cancer. Some Lycans suffer a total mental break which confuses the victim's perception of their human and transformed appearances until the victim can no longer differentiate between the 2; in these cases, victims become animalistic and feral even in their human forms, little more than actual wolves in a man's clothing.

##### Illness Progression:

1. Initial Infection: The victim comes into contact with the correct mutative substances, or is bitten by another Lycan, and is infected. Early symptoms begin to show, including early psychological alterations and behavioral changes. The Cancer has not metastasized, and can still be treated at this point; some physical symptoms will manifest only around the bitten area. Each time the victim experiences a release of adrenaline, a grievous injury, or recovers from an injury/illness, there is a chance a transformation will be induced; each time one of the aforementioned events occurs, the Cancer will spread further, hastening the transformations and the mutations. Transformations can also be induced by hormonal release of other nearby Lycans, a side effect of the "pack activity" exhibited by infected victims.
2. First Transformation: After 4 weeks (on average) of infection, the Cancer has spread through the target's body and permanently altered their DNA; the Cancer becomes incurable. The target's first transformation permanently alters their human form in a number of ways, and grants them the ability to become a wolf-human hybrid for 1 night every ~3 weeks. Psychological changes become more pronounced and memory issues develop preventing the victim from remembering their actions.
3. Middle Transformations: For a minimum of 3 months, the victim's transformations will continue to occur, increasing in duration, potency, and intensity each time. During this time, memories of transformations begin to return and awareness of control begins as a result of the psychological changes.
4. Later Transformations: At an unspecified time following initial infection, the victim will "master" their illness and come to control their advanced stages of the transformations; psychological impacts are pronounced and often permanent. Lycans at this stage are capable of superhuman feats of physical ability, and most that reach this point will live for centuries.

Lupine Cancer creates mutants which, with their excessive fur, high internal temperatures, and fast metabolisms, are adapted best to colder environments. As such, Lycans fare very poorly in hot, dry weather, and are found most commonly in Northern Breit.

Lupine Cancer is not a fatal illness in and of itself. Infected individuals are known to die of the Cancer if their bodies cannot handle the transformations, or if they starve to death as a result of a lack of caloric intake to sustain the transformations and/or their enhanced metabolisms. However, Lupine Cancer's mortality rate stems from the danger posed by infected individuals towards those around them. If left untreated, 80% of victims survive into the latest stages of the illness, and if left unbothered, 100% of victims kill at least 1 other human being during their transformations.

##### Lycan Life Cycle:

1. Pup: Those victims in the early stages of the Cancer; even in their transformed appearance, they still retain mostly human traits but with greatly enhanced physical capabilities and greatly diminished mental faculties. When not transformed, these victims possess heightened senses, increased strength and speed, superior durability, and limited regenerative abilities; when transformed, those traits are increased even farther, and their predatory instincts kick in. These victims lose the ability to speak, read, and write, and act on the whims of their ravenous instincts; they are subject to the wills of older Lycans via pheromones.
2. Adult: Those victims in the middle stages of the Cancer who exist on the border between human and animal; in their human forms they exhibit some of the physical traits of their transformed appearances, like greater durability, faster hair growth, faster metabolism with a greater need for food and drink, keen senses, heightened aggression, etc.; but when transformed, these victims are a pure monstrous mix of half-human-half-wolf, with a full coating of hair over their entire bodies, elongated faces with sharp fangs, a digitigrade leg structure, etc.
3. Elder: Those victims in the latest stages of the Cancer who have mastered their condition and come to live with it; they appear more wolf than human when transformed, but are indistinguishable from humans otherwise. Similarly, their strength, speed, and durability greatly outmatches most humans even when these Lycans are not transformed; when transformed, these powerful mutants are capable of tearing men limb from limb and rending steel with a swipe of their claws.

##### Types of Lycans:

1. Eutierrian Lycans: People who have separated themselves from society in order to find peace with their condition and avoid harming other people, these Lycans develop as a result of exposure to forested environments and the consumption of only plant life during transformations; they are very attuned to nature, can communicate with any animal (as opposed to just other lupines), and are excellent farmers/hunters/gatherers. Their fur takes on a grayish-green color to blend in with forest environments when transformed, and they live solitary lives. Despite their dominant place in local ecosystems, they hunt only when necessary. They have an aversion to all metals, and fire.
2. Aether Lycans: A rare type of Lycan sub-mutant found among the Sky-Islands which is created when a Lycan is exposed to large amounts of Aether during their first transformation; they lose their sanity regardless of their age, but obtain Aether-based abilities that make them incredibly dangerous. They can become partially invisible, blend in with Aetheric Fog, most faster than the eye can see, become partially intangible, etc. These Lycans are more prone to aggression due to their insanity, and are fiercely territorial, often taking over small Sky-Islands as their own domains. Their fur takes on a bluish-grey hue which seems to fade into the air around them, and make strange noises when moving fast that prevent them from being very stealthy. Because of their diminished intellect, they are easily fooled and best fought with that in mind.
3. Paranox Lycans: Lycans whose bodies have mutated a melanistic disorder that allows them to fade into shadows and disappear easily; they are extremely stealthy and incredibly hard to find at night, but their condition makes them mute while transformed and almost perfectly silent. To compensate for this increased agility and stealth, however, these Lycans have lost most of their extra muscle mass and are notably weaker than normal Lycans. They fear light of all kinds, and will live underground or in abandoned buildings during the day; while not transformed, these Lycans prefer to move about at night, but can handle being in light.
4. Brobdingnagian Lycans: The largest mutation observed in Lycans are gigantic beasts almost 2x the size of normal Lycans; victims who develop this strain of the Cancer were large to begin with, or took steroids or growth stimulants prior to/during their infection. These Lycans's enhanced sizes make them dumber and prone to bouts of berserker rage, during which time they are practically unstoppable. They can bend steel with their jaws and rip men limb from limb, but are much slower than normal Lycans with worse reaction times.

#### Diagnosis & Treatments:

Diagnosing Lupine Cancer comes in a variety of forms, but depends primarily on the means by which someone is suspected to have contracted the illness. If someone is not looking for the Cancer, it is unlikely that they will find it; the illness does not show up on most medical tests, save for the person's exposure to the elixir known as Wolfsbane, which is poisonous to Lycans. If someone may have contracted the Cancer due to an encounter with a Lycan, it should be easy to identify the presence of the Cancer in the patient by examining the body for any signs of bite wounds or saliva; if there is a bite, then the person is likely infected, and should be kept under quarantine for signs of early symptoms so an operation can occur to excise the infected body section. If the person is suspected to have contracted the illness via exposure to mutative chemicals, the application of Wolfsbane or genetic testing is the only way to diagnose the Cancer prior to the demonstration of symptoms.

Lupine Cancer has only 3 known treatments: excising infected tissue before the first transformation, the application of Wolfsbane over an extended period of time to kill off the Cancer, or patient termination. It is true that once the victim's first transformation, the Cancer becomes incurable; by that point, it has spread too far through the victim's body to be surgically isolated and removed, and is spread too far for Wolfsbane to completely eliminate the illness. However, a consistent dose of Wolfsbane will reduce or outright stop the spread of the Cancer, prevent transformations, and reduce symptoms; this is only a band aid for a terminal condition, however, as the Wolfsbane taken over a period of many years will weaken the patient and ultimately kill them.

#### Prevention & Epidemiology:

The only means to actively prevent the contraction and/or spread of Lupine Cancer is to avoid coming into contact with its sources; avoid mutative substances, limit Aether intake as much as possible, and avoid those who are known to be Lycans to the best of one's ability. These limited options are all that researchers can offer, besides community awareness and recognition of the signs of an outbreak before it can spread too far.

Lupine Cancer spreads, as mentioned before, primarily through the bites of infected individuals. As such, outbreaks of Lupine Cancer will spread quickly through tightly packed populations of cities before anyone begins to show symptoms; in this way, it is imperative that local authorities remain on the alert for any signs of Lupine Cancer in their populace. The Cancer spreads through saliva contact with the bloodstream, so reports of bite victims should be observed and their attackers brought in for examination. In the case that an outbreak is occurring, a quarantine should immediately be put in place, increased police presence should be enacted, and a curfew should be enforced to prevent unnecessary socialization or intermingling of households, thereby limiting the number of people anyone can come into contact with. Rural cases are easier to identify, usually through reports of strange animal mutilations, animal attacks on humans, break-ins, food thefts, trespassers, missing livestock, etc. that occur primarily at night and with some sign of human intelligence behind them (e.g. broken locks, signs of stealth/camouflage, strategy and misdirection, etc.). Rural cases are easier to remove as well, as local communities and farmers are commonly willing to aid local authorities in hunting and dispatching infected individuals; furthermore, the separated nature of rural life makes it difficult for Lycanism to spread among populations.

### Cultural & Religious Impact:

Lupine Cancer has a considerable cultural impact, primarily in Breit and especially in Truseau and Birmingham. Myths about the mutants infested with the Cancer go back millennia, and are originally of a brutal and violent nature, with an emphasis on keeping children and people away from strangers, away from the dark parts of the woods, and near to home. Later stories begin to take a less monstrous approach to the mutants, until Catollianism heard of these mutant degenerates and sought to criminalize and hunt them. Lycans experience discrimination even into the modern day, which has forced many long-lived Lycans to flee to other parts of the world, primarily Westerland, where they feel they can live alone or with others of their own kind undisturbed.

## History:

### The Beast of Devauden:

The first recorded and confirmed instance of a Lycan mutant occurred in [REMOVED], when a series of serial killings occurred across Devauden, a section of the Truseauch countryside. Initial thoughts claimed that a rabid wolf or pack of wolves were attacking and eating humans, and a reward was offered to anyone who could kill the beast responsible; after a group of hunters went missing, only to be found some days later by women washing their clothes in a now-bloodied river, local peasants gathered a militia and stalked the nearby forests until they cornered a middle-aged man who had somehow contracted the Cancer and had gone insane. After capturing the "mythical" beast and burying the dead who fell during that battle, the peasants brought the Lycan before the Truseauch King in Leris, who sentenced the man to death. He was beheaded a week later, after giving his account to the priests who arrived to grant him his final sacraments.

According to the Lycan, he had been in his field one night when a massive wolf, easily larger than he was, attacked and savaged him; when he awoke in the middle of his field, surrounded by blood and his own shredded clothes, he went on with life as if nothing had happened and paid it no more mind. But, a few days later, he began showing the initial symptoms associated with Lupine Cancer and, eventually, transformed; after killing his neighbors and pinning it on a pack of roaming starved wolves, he found that he could not keep his transformations or strange urges under control. So his rampage of terror began until he was eventually cornered, beaten unconscious, and captured.

### The Case of Biscavette:

Some centuries after the Beast of Devauden terrorized the Truseauch countryside, the reigning King and his court were approached by a "domesticated wolf" who was allowed to stay in the castle and serve as the king's pet. After some days of treatment, the "wolf" transformed back into a human man, a local knight named Sir Biscavette, who explained that he was a Lycan who had been forcibly infected with the Cancer by his treacherous wife. The King, being merciful and believing what this brave noble said, drew the wife into court and found her with a new husband-to-be; outraged, Sir Biscavette transformed before he was revealed and rampaged through the King's castle hall, which prompted the wife to transform into her lupine form as well. The former lovers fought one another for several minutes before Sir Biscavette slew his wife and, for good measure, ran the lecherous new husband down and tore out his throat. Sir Biscavette was allowed to remain in the King's employ as a loyal vassal, nicknamed the "Dog of Lavret," after the region he controlled as a minor noble, and did so until the King's death; Sir Biscavette was exiled from the kingdom by the prince-turned-King for being a mutant and a crime against the Church, and so the hero left after many decades of unwavering service to the Crown. Sir Biscavette's whereabouts after this are unknown, but many believe he fled for Birmingham, where he changed his name to Sir Mevere and joined the Order of the High Table.

### War of Vile Men:

Lupine Cancer had a very limited impact on the War of Vile Men, mostly due to the drafts enacted by most participating parties, which either saw most Lycans killed or sent into the armed forces. While stories of patriotic Lycans fighting for their countries exist, most are thought to be fabrications or propaganda; instead, more credible stories tell of supposed Lycan soldiers fleeing their units, abandoning their posts, and seeking refuge from officers, Commissars, or the RCPPS/High Table by hiding out in ruined buildings or in untouched forests across Breit. Several of the so-called "No-Pats" of the War are believed to have been Lycans, and while their numbers were and remain small, their sightings always made for big news.