Werewolves

Lycaon, the first werewolf

Mutts

Weres

Dogs

**Werewolves,** also known as Weres or Lycanthropes, are a race of humans that can transform into bipedal wolf beasts during the full moon.

## History

The first werewolf was Lycaon, a Greek king who believed that he could defy the gods, particularly Zeus. One day, Lycaon slaughtered one of his sons and puts his remains in a bowl. He then covered the remains up with freshly slaughtered animal meat and invited Zeus down to his home for dinner. Zeus knew right away that he had been tricked and in his fury, he transformed Lycaon and his sons into monstrous wolf beasts. Lycaon and his sons were forced to flee from their kingdom. Lycaon begged Zeus for forgiveness and Zeus felt some slight pity. He didn't take away Lycaon's curse but he made it so that they could transform from man to beast, thus creating the first werewolves.

## Characteristics

When in human form, werewolves are practically indistinguishible from normal humans and there's no real way of knowing if someone is a werewolf or not.

When a werewolf transforms, they take on a bipedal wolf/human hybrid form. Their fingers become slightly longer and their nails turn into claws. Their feet become paws and their legs become more lupine in shape. They also become taller, with some werewolves standing in at seven feet in height. Their heads go from human to wolf and they grow a tail. A werewolf's fur color usually depends on what color the werewolf's hair is in human form.

## Powers

* **Lycanthropy:** All werewolves possess the curse of Lycanthropy, a curse brought on by the god Zeus.
	+ **Transformation**: Due to the Lycanthropy curse, werewolves must transform into wolf beasts. These transformations are usually triggered by the full moon but can also be triggrered by intense feelings of fear or blinding rage.
	+ **Supernatural Strength**: In werewolf form, werewolves possess enhanced phyisical strength. They're far stronger than humans and can go toe-to-toe with vampires. They can easily rip a human in half with their claws or fangs.
	+ **Supernatural Speed**: While not as fast as vampires, werewolves are exceptionally fast and can easily outrun a human.
	+ **Supernatural Agility**: Werewolves are very agile and can dodge attacks within seconds.
	+ **Supernatural Senses**: Due to being half wolf, werewolves have exceptional senses. They can smell a human who is two miles away and can also pick up scents that no ordinary human can.
	+ **Supernatural Stamina**: Despite their transformations being quite long and painful, werewolves never seem to run out of stamina in their wolf forms.
	+ **Supernatural Durability**: Werewolves are incredibly durable and it's usually very difficult to injure one.
	+ **Regenerative Healing**: If a werewolf were to get injured, they can usually heal any wound in a few minutes.
	+ **Supernatural Leaping**: Due to their lupine legs in werewolf form, werewolves can jump much higher than an ordinary human can.
	+ **Claws**: Werewolves have very sharp claws that can be used for ripping flesh.
	+ **Fangs**: Werewolves have extremely sharp fangs that can tear through human flesh with ease.
	+ **Venomous Bite:** Like vampires, werewolves possess a special venom. If a human is infected with this venom then they will gain the curse of Lycanthropy, becoming a werewolf as well.
	+ **Immense Size**: When a werewolf transforms, they grow in height. Some werewolves stand in at seven feet, making them formidable oppenents.

## Weaknesses

* **Feral Mind**: Though werewolves are good fighters, they sometimes lack co-ordination due to the feral mindset that they enter when they transform. Once they transform, they seem to forget who they are and attack things without warning.
* **Emotions:** If a werewolf's emotions get too unstable in human form, they run the risk of accidentally transforming.
* **Silver:** The most famous werewolf weakness. Silver weapons (bullets, daggers, etc) are capable of harming and killing werewolves.
* **Wolfsbane**: Wolfsbane can repel and sometimes wound a werewolf. Concentrated wolfsbane water has a similar affect on werewolves as holy water has on vampires in that if a werewolf is splashed with wolfsbane water, it will cause stinging and skin irritation.
* **Magic**: Werewolves, like many supernatural beings that aren't witches, can be harmed and even killed by certain magical spells.
* **Vampires**: Vampires are one of the few supernatural species that can match werewolves in physical strength.
* **The Werewolf Cure**: A special cure manufactured by David Hallows himself. If a werewolf is injected with this cure, it will free them of the curse of lycanthropy and make them human.
* **Higher Beings**: Higher beings like deities, angels, demons, and the Primordials can easily wound and kill werewolves.

## Trivia

* Due to their immense strength, werewolves are considered one of the strongest supernatural races in the Hallows Universe.
* Them being able to transform if their emotions become unstable is a reference to how the Marvel superhero Hulk's powers work.