Werewolf

A **werewolf** (Old English: *werwulf*, "man-wolf") or occasionally **lycanthrope** /ˈlaɪkən θroʊp/ (Greek: λυκάνθρωπος *lukánthrōpos*, "wolf-person") is a race of partially-human supernatural creatures, able to morph into a combination of human and wolf. It has been stated that werewolves and skinwalkers are cousins.

## Dictionary

A werewolf is a ferocious wild beast-like monster. Normally it is in human form, however, on moonlit nights, it transforms into a werewolf. The relationship between the werewolf and the moon has been known since the 16th Century, with its power increasing based on the strength of the moonlight.

A beast of western origin. In exchange for its lack of a unique ability, its physical power towers above the rest. Especially in terms of agility, it is said that there is no equal. It possesses a deep connection to the moon, where its strength increases proportional to the intensity of moonlight.

## Appearance

Depending on the time and date, a werewolf is in either Human form or in its true form. In its true form, a Werewolf appears as a powerfully built humanoid creature, with double-jointed legs, a wolf-like tail, and a hairy, muscular body. The head and face take possess a wolf-like form, which is accompanied by an impressive mane of hair, not that dissimilar from a lion or a horse.

However, a werewolf can become a partial version of themselves bearing wolf ears and a tail, but keeping their humanoid body.

## Names

The word *werewolf* continues a late Old English *wer(e)wulf*, a compound of *were* "man" and *wulf* "wolf". The only Old High German testimony is in the form of a given name, *Weriuuolf*, although an early Middle High German *werwolf* is found in Burchard of Worms and Berthold of Regensburg. The word or concept does not occur in medieval German poetry or fiction, gaining popularity only from the 15th century. Middle Latin *gerulphus* Anglo-Norman *garwalf*, Old Frankish *\*wariwulf*. Old Norse had the cognate *varúlfur*, but because of the high importance of werewolves in Norse, there were alternative terms such as *ulfhéðinn* ("one in wolf-skin", referring still to the totemistic or cultic adoption of wolf-nature rather than the superstitious belief in actual shape-shifting). In modern Scandinavian also *kveldulf* "evening-wolf", presumably after the name of Kveldulf Bjalfason, a historical berserker of the 9th century who figures in the Icelandic sagas.

The term *lycanthropy*, referring both to the ability to transform oneself into a wolf and to the act of so doing, comes from Ancient Greek λυκάνθρωπος *lukánthropos* (from λύκος *lúkos* "wolf" and ἄνθρωπος, *ánthrōpos* "human"). The word does occur in ancient Greek sources, but only in Late Antiquity, only rarely, and only in the context of clinical lycanthropy described by Galen, where the patient had the ravenous appetite and other qualities of a wolf; the Greek word attains some currency only in Byzantine Greek, featuring in the 10th-century encyclopedia *Suda*. Use of the Greek-derived *lycanthropy* in English occurs in learned writing beginning in the later 16th century (first recorded 1584 in *The Discoverie of Witchcraft* by Reginald Scot, who argued *against* the reality of werewolves; "Lycanthropia is a disease, and not a transformation." v. i. 92), at first explicitly for clinical lycanthropy, i.e. the type of insanity where the patient imagines to have transformed into a wolf, and not in reference to supposedly real shape-shifting. Use of *lycanthropy* for supposed shape-shifting is much later, introduced ca. 1830.

## Characteristics

Werewolves are humanoid carnivores, the ultimate combination of wolves and humans. They feed on prey found nearby, which, due to the increase of urban areas, are mostly people. When they devour the flesh of victim they leave a recognizable trace on the prey: they always eat the heart, although they do sometimes eat more of the body. The transformation only occurs after one bites a victim, the way werewolves continue the spread of lycanthropy. However, they are also capable of having children who are born werewolves.

In their form, their bodies change rapidly, changing into a fitting definition of predators. Their nails increase to sharp, long claws, fangs increase in size and eyes resemble those of a wolf rather than of a human.

Some of those who are bitten don't survive the change and the timing of the change can range from the next full moon to anytime at all with purebloods.

## Powers and Abilities

Werewolves are ranked firmly in the top-tier level of Demons, the vaunted S-Class. This classification is shared with few other monsters, namely the Phoenix, the Japanese Yōko, and the Vampire. Werewolves are so strong, in fact, that they are the only species of monster that is readily powerful enough to engage and even rival Vampires in battle, though Phoenixes may possess a similar capacity as well.

Befitting their status as S-Class Demons, the Werewolves possess tremendous physical strength and demonic power, which allows them to easily strike their opponents and the environment with pulverizing, cratering force. Though not in possession of the Vampire's unique energy-to-strength conversion/augmentation process, the Werewolf nevertheless has combat abilities that considerably compensate for that inherent disadvantage.

* **Super Speed** - The Werewolf's signature ability is its incredible speed and agility, which no other monster is capable of matching when the Werewolf is at its full capacity. This ability is tremendously powerful, easily enabling a Werewolf to strike with effectively invisible speed, landing a withering barrage of blows upon an opponent practically instantaneously. This ability also translates into a Werewolf inflicting incredible damage, for the tremendous speed combined with a Werewolf's hardened, fearsome physique generates formidable kinetic impact.
* **Full Moon Power Boost** - The greatest ability of the Werewolf is its influence under the light of the Moon, especially a full Moon. The moonlight boosts the Werewolf's power, depending on the strength and level of the moonlight, and the abilities of the Werewolf in question. When under a full Moon, a Werewolf is powerful and swift to the point that they can match a Vampire in combat, and even outpace their vampiric opponent. This speed and agility is enough to make a Werewolf difficult to hit even for a Shinso-class Vampire. This culmination of the Werewolf's power is potent enough that it is often compared to the Vampire's energy-to-strength conversion/augmentation ability, described as the Werewolf being the 'monster of speed', and the Vampire the 'monster of power.'
* **Shapeshifting** - Werewolves transform into a wolf-like creature only under a full moon.
* **Infectious bite** - While in beast form, a werewolf can turn another person into a werewolf through a bite.
* **Claws and Fangs** - Werewolves have powerful claws and are able to cut through solid walls. Their fangs can tear human flesh and can rip out a human heart right out of their chest cavity. Pureblood werewolves are able to transform just their claws without transforming fully.
* **Super Stamina** - Werewolves do not tire easily.
* **Super Senses** - All werewolves are able to see better than humans in darkness, similar to actual wolves, their sense of smell and hearing is equally enhanced.
* **Invulnerability** - Werewolves can't be killed by conventional means and weapons. Silver however, can kill them.
* **Regeneration** - Werewolves can regenerate all non-lethal damage, purebloods are even able to completely heal their original bites. Werewolves can even heal damage that would be fatal to humans such as injuries from a car wreck. Even if they are turned into a werewolf after suffering such an injury, they can heal.