Weres

Much like Vampirism, Lycanthropy is another curse originating from the Lower Realm. The curse itself transforms those afflicted into beasts, their sanity lost during this transformation, as a savage predator is unleashed onto the world. Despite being a curse, most regard it as a form of disease due to the infectious nature of a Lycanthropy, a small scratch being enough to turn one in some cases. In their original form there is no way to distinguish between a Lycanthrope and a normal member of that race. Their transformed state is much easier to recognize, resembling a more monstrous and humanoid version of a certain animal.

While the most common Lycanthropes or Wares are wolves, there are other types of them. To become a Lycanthrope the character must adhere to the following:

* The character must possess the Cursed One Feat.

* Or must have been infected during an IC session.

Lycanthrope is a template that can be added to any humanoid or giant (referred to hereafter as the base creature).

**Size and Type:**

The base creature’s type does not change, but the creature gains the shapechanger subtype. The lycanthrope takes on the characteristics of some type of carnivorous or omnivorous creature of the animal type (referred to hereafter as the base animal).

This animal can be any predator, scavenger, or omnivore. Lycanthropes assume a hybrid shape that combines features of the base creature and the base animal. A lycanthrope’s hybrid form is the same size as the base animal or the base creature, whichever is larger.

A lycanthrope uses the base creature’s statistics and the special abilities of both the base creature and animal, in addition to those described here.

**Hit Dice and Hit Points:**

Lycanthropes gain an additional 20d6 Hit Dice.

**Speed:**

Lycanthrope’s base speed increases by 20ft.

**Armor Class:**

The base creature’s natural armor bonus increases by +20.

**Base Attack/Grapple:**

The base creature’s base attack bonus gains a bonus of +30.

**Attacks:**

Same as the base creature. A lycanthrope that is transformed gains two claw attacks and a bite attack as natural weapons. These weapons deal damage based on the hybrid form’s size. It may attack with a weapon and a bite, or may attack with its natural weapons. The bite attack is a secondary attack.

**Damage:**

Same as the base creature. When transformed its natural weapons deals damage as indicated below:

 Small
 Medium
 Large
 Huge

**Special Attacks:**

A lycanthrope retains the special attacks of the base creature and also gains the special attacks described below.

* **Curse of Lycanthropy (Su)**

Any humanoid or giant hit by a lycanthrope’s bite attack in animal or hybrid form must succeed on a Fortitude Save (DC 10 + Character Level + Con Modifier) or contract lycanthropy.

**Special Qualities:**

A lycanthrope retains all the special qualities of the base creature and the base animal, and also gains those described below.

* **Alternate Form (Su)**

A lycanthrope can assume the form of a specific animal. If it contracted the curse from another lycanthrope, it assumes the animal form they did. Changing to or from animal or hybrid form is a standard action. A slain lycanthrope reverts to its humanoid form, although it remains dead. Separated body parts retain their animal form, however.

* **Damage Reduction (Ex)**

A lycanthrope in all forms has damage reduction 30. Silver negates this.

* **Lycanthropic Empathy (Ex)**

In any form, lycanthropes can communicate and empathize with normal or dire animals of their animal form. This functions just as a Druid’s Wild Empathy, except the lycanthrope has a +5 bonus on checks against the animal it can turn into.

* **Low-Light Vision (Ex)**

A lycanthrope has low-light vision in any form.

* **Scent (Ex)**

A lycanthrope has the scent ability in any form.

**Abilities:**

All lycanthropes gain +6 to Wisdom. In addition, a lycanthrope’s physical ability scores improve as follows: Str +18, Dex +10, Con +16

* **Animal Form**

In its animal form, the lycanthrope retains its statistics and gains the special attacks/qualities of that animal. Example, a werewolf would gain bite and claw attacks when transformed, same for a werebear, etc. Animal form is as the name implies, the lycanthrope changes into the animal its curse is linked to. In animal form, weres are unable to cast spells, use their weapons or other items that require hands. It also cannot speak or do things a normal animal wouldn’t be able to do, however, it still retains its intelligence.

* **Hybrid Form**

On the other hand, hybrid form is a humanoid mesh of features between the lycanthrope’s original form and its animal form. Hybrid form allows the lycanthrope to utilize weapons, spells and all other items or things that require it to be in humanoid form. Furthermore, it has the special attacks/qualities of its animal and base forms. In other words, hybrid form allows the lycanthrope to do all it could in its original and animal form.

In hybrid form, the lycanthrope gains Fast Healing, restoring 20 Hit Points each turn as long as it has at least 1 Hit Point. Its physical stats (Str, Dex, Con) become twice its current value.