Therianthropes and Entothropes

A category of Monster, frequently known as Werebeasts or Beastkin, that is extremely widespread throughout the world of Gaea, they were originally Men who have become corrupted and transformed into shapeshifting Monsters capable of adopting the forms of Animals or Vermin. A dangerous affliction in antiquity, since the rise of Lilith they have become less prone to violence and slaughter. However, they continue to be an aggressive and contagious form of Monster in most cases. Historically, the majority of these creatures possessed the forms of predators, but after the attempt at Gaean conquest by the Overlord Circe, a wide range of non-predatory Therianthropes and Entothropes began to appear.

Werebeasts fall into two primary categories; natural and afflicted. These determine the manner in which they became Werebeasts, with the former category being born that way and the latter having acquired it at some point during their lifetime. The former are more powerful, more resistant to harm, are freely capable of controlling the forms they shift to, and are capable of adopting more forms naturally (being both that of their counterpart animal or insect and a hybrid form that combines the traits of their human shape with those of their animal). Afflicted Werebeasts are less resistant to harm, though still more than a normal person, possess only limited control over their transformations, and normally possess only one alternate form; either the full animal form or their hybrid form. However, afflicted Werebeasts *can* develop the abilities of a natural Werebeast over time and by embracing their nature. However, this makes curing them more difficult, and eventually renders it impossible to accomplish.

There are a wide range of ways that one may become such creatures, but most have a specific process by which they can infect others; usually a bite or sting, the consumption of some product of the creature (such as an egg, a Tulpa larva, poison or venom, or the like), or sexual intercourse in one of their alternative forms (most commonly seen in Werebeasts with herbivorous forms). Others can spread their condition through their tracks by infecting those who drink water from their footprints (whether intentionally or not). It is also possible to become one through a range of Curses, including as a form of Divine Punishment, or through the use of certain magical objects (either permanently or temporarily).

While this condition is normally seen as a terrible curse, some cultures and forms of the affliction are instead seen as blessings associated with certain Divinities or the desirable result of certain types of beneficial magic. The most iconic examples of this are probably Odin's Berserkers and Ulfhednar, who were said to transform into bears and wolves, respectively.

While not incurable, it is often very difficult to revert someone back to their original humanity, and outright impossible to do so for someone born as a Therianthrope or Entothrope, as that is their natural state.

Monsters are generally immune to the condition, though there *are* exceptions, particularly among Monsters with humanlike traits, such as many Giants. However, some versions of Therianthropes, known as Teratothropes, possess alternate forms that are those of other Monsters, such as Hellhounds, Manticores, Chimeras, or Dragons. Virtually any Monster may suitable for such a transformation, but the vast majority are animalistic in their original forms, if not in their behavior. These variations are much less common than other Therianthropes. Similarly uncommon are Bestiathropes, Werebeasts that have the traits of Beasts. Though theoretically possible to naturally occur, most of these are mutations of existing Werebeasts.

The alternate forms of these shapeshifters are often chimerical in nature, possessing the traits of multiple species of the same broader family of animals. For example, a Werelizard may possess color-changing abilities and long tongue of a chameleon, the ability to cling to surfaces like a gecko, a venomous bite similar to a gila monster, and the ability to spray blood from its eyes and possession of a spiked hide similar to the horned toad. Others might possess an especially powerful, spiked tail akin to that of a green iguana, the ability to run for short distances on the surface of water similar to a basilisk, and the ability to glide through the air similar to a draco. Some females might even be able to spontaneously clone themselves, giving birth to perfect copies of themselves without needing to mate. The exact combination of such traits can vary wildly, with many Werebeasts initially resembling a single species. However, over time they may gain additional properties as they become more powerful... or as they encounter and consume or kill new species that align with their alternate forms. This even extends to Beasts with similar traits, allowing the Werebeast to take on truly horrific additional forms and properties. This appears to be in part due to the nature of the malady that creates Werebeasts in some way binding the Mana, a portion of the spirit of the animal, Beast, or Monster, to the host. When a Werebeast kills or consumes part of a compatible creature, a fragment of its Mana binds to the Werebeast's own, granting the Werebeast new properties or forms. This is often not well understood by the Werebeasts themselves, but has been known to be exploited; some Werebeasts learn this and use it as a means to acquire new capabilities intentionally, including gaining the ability to transform into a swarm.

Therianthropes and Entothropes have an unusual relationship with natural animals, and even Beasts, that resemble their alternate forms; they can, to a degree, communicate with such creatures and command them, though in the latter case full control is virtually impossible without the concerted effort of multiple Werebeasts of the compatible type or a powerful individual with strong willpower. This means that Werebeast territories are often shared with animals and Beasts of the same type as the Werebeast that can serve as spies, defenders, or even simply companions. Werebeasts mating with such creatures is not unheard of, though reportedly uncommon and usually attributed to individuals who were isolated for extreme periods of time or who were otherwise mentally unstable prior to their infection. Such Werebeasts are prone to spending all of their time in animal form and integrating with the local animal population rather than seeking out civilization and may mentally degenerate over time.