Werewolves

Werewolves are one of the most common humanoid species in the world, and have existed since the beginning of the human race. They are also the first humanoid species to be acknowledged in the law. Werewolves are most often the offspring of at least one werewolf parent (known as pups), however new werewolf bloodlines can be created when a child is born at exactly midnight on the night of a full moon (known as moon-born). It's unknown exactly how the moon causes lycanthropy.

## Appearances

For a large part of their life, werewolves will look and act like humans, though they may have longer, thicker head and body hair than others. After their transformation, werewolves look very similar to wolves, but much larger and often with longer limbs. Their fur colours come in the typical natural range for both wolf fur and human hair, and include patterns such as ticking and banding.

## Abilities

### Biology

Werewolf transformations happen in two ways: conscious and full moon. Conscious transformations happen by choice up to and after the full moon and are much less physically demanding than full moon transformations. Often, conscious transformations are used to communicate and bond with other werewolves, particularly between members of a pack, and as a result werewolves spend about as much time in their wolf form as they do their human form. Full moon transformations are involuntary and more physically demanding. In both cases, werewolves are aware of their surroundings but behave like other canines. It is rare for werewolves to become aggressive and violent unless threatened.

Even in their human forms, werewolves retain the physical strength and heightened senses of their wolf form. They are typically able to exert themselves more than other humanoids. Their heightened sense of smell also allows them to smell hormone changes in those around them, allowing them to detect emotions like stress and joy, as well as sicknesses and pregnancy. As a result, werewolves are typically more empathetic than others.

## Culture

Werewolves are a naturally social species, and their strong familial bonds result in groups called packs, similar to other wild canines. Contrary to popular belief, there isn't an alpha-beta-omega hierarchy. Instead, because of the family structure of packs, the matriarch and patriarch of the family are in charge. In urban areas it is also common for super-packs to form, including multiple local family packs. These super-packs typically get together for full moon journeys to less populated areas, and are also vital in helping local moon-born werewolf children and their families. Werewolf children are typically able to transform from a young age, so the families of moon-born children are generally aware of their child's nature from early on in their life. Because of werewolves' social nature, moon-born werewolves are easily adopted into super-packs and many non-werewolf friends of werewolf children are welcomed into packs also.

Because research has shown that feral werewolves are caused by a severe calorie deficit after transforming, it is also customary for packs and super-packs to gather before the full moon for feasts and cookouts. This often also includes non-werewolf friends and relatives of the packs.

While werewolves celebrate holidays associated with the country and community they live in, they also have a few unique holidays that they celebrate. Of particular importance, Maddison Day celebrates the birth of one of the most influential werewolf rights activists in history, and Reconciliation Day commemorates the day the British Parliament apologised for werewolf hunts in Great Britain, the first country in the world to do so. Many werewolves around the world also celebrate at a national level for significant law reforms and reconciliations in their country. These holidays typically involve many large parties and gatherings, most often involving food.

While many werewolves partake in the same religions as other humanoids, they also have a strong connection to the moon.

Other cultural aspects come from the country and community in which werewolves live. As werewolves are found in every country around the world, culture can differ widely between packs.

## History

Werewolves are believed to have originated around the same time as the human race, about 40,000 years ago, and evidence of werewolves have been found everywhere there have been humans. The earliest evidence of werewolves come from cave paintings in Spain depicting a full moon transformation. Fossil evidence suggests that werewolves lived in isolated communities away from human populations, and ancient werewolf populations were believed to be large in number.

By the early 1700s in Europe, werewolves were a primary target for hunters and full moon hunting parties were common among the upper class. At this time, there was little research about how transformations worked and feral werewolves were common. However, the abundance of werewolf cadavers due to hunting allowed scientists to conduct extensive research during the early 1700s. It was discovered that werewolves turn feral due to the large amount of calories the transformation burns. As this information spread, instances of feral werewolves decreased and werewolves slowly moved back into urban areas. There was a positive shift in the public perception of werewolves, though many farmers still viewed them as pests.

1757 was the first year without any recorded human deaths by werewolves, and also the first time werewolves were acknowledged in the British Parliament. Some governors hoped that the use of werewolves as soldiers could help turn the tide of the Seven Years’ War, as they were opposed by many world powers. While there were some that wanted to fight for their country, there was a general reluctance among werewolves to be used as weapons.

The 1770s were a key period in human-werewolf relations. Having had several years to rally together in an urban setting, werewolves were able to express their discontent about their place in society. One of the main issues was the killing of werewolves was still considered legal. While werewolf deaths as a result of hunting were uncommon at this time, injuries and deaths did still occur in rural areas. The campaign to consider werewolf killing murder was the first major socio-political action by non-humans in early modern history. It caused some upset among farmers, who still believed they had a right to protect their livestock. William Maddison, one of the most outspoken werewolf advocates at this time, appeared in front of the Parliament in support of pro-werewolf law reforms in early 1776, and the laws were passed later that year. This is referred to as the beginning of the Werewolf Reconciliations.

The Werewolf Reconciliations would continue for several years after, featuring many reforms to include werewolves in the law, and the first werewolf community group was also formed during this time. Prussia and Portugal, Great Britain’s allies in the Seven Years’ War, also began implementing similar law reforms. The end of the Werewolf Reconciliations in Britain is marked by the formal apology by the British Parliament for organised werewolf hunts in 1784, however it would continue worldwide for several decades.

## Hybrids

Werewolves are only known to be able to reproduce with humans and shapeshifters. Werewolf genetics are complex and as a result, hybrids do not have a blend of their parents traits and abilities. For werewolf-human hybrids, there is a 50% chance of being a werewolf, and a 50% chance they are human. Werewolf-shapeshifter hybrids are only ever werewolves. The reason for this is unknown.