Protector Lycans

The Lycanthropy status can be spread through an intended bite wound by others with this affliction. However the phases of the moon can also cause it to be spread through an accidental or combat related bite from a Lycan. Twice a year, during the blood moon, Lycans have the slim chance to unintentionally spread the curse to others when they are bitten.

When one is bit and the curse begins to warp their soul, body, and mind - They will fall incredibly ill in three weeks time, this sickness typically ends on the night of a full moon when the new Lycan will transform for the first time. Symptoms of one gaining the affliction of Lycanthropy include: fatigue, high fevers that often result in fever dreams, vomiting, blurry vision, pain and aching throughout the body, sensitivity to sound, paranoia, and irritation around the bite wound. As mentioned the illness will end on the night of a full moon three weeks after the bite had been received. The new Lycan will feel compelled to at the very least be outside to do this. For reasons that cannot be explained, the moon seems to ease the transformation.

Shifting to and from Lycan form is a painful process, taking approximately thirty seconds normally or 15 seconds in dire situations (or 2-3 turns in combat) to complete. The process usually starts with one’s legs and feet, causing them to fall onto their knees from the unnatural snaps and turns into digitigrade legs. Next the curse will make its way up the torso, along the arms, and finally the head. Even the oldest Lycans find themselves snarling, gasping, or even crying out in pain during their transformations, but once it is completed they are a force to be feared. Newer Lycans are likely to be frightened, sobbing, or vomit after their first shift. It can take several nights of transforming to truly adapt to this curse. Thankfully, these transformations are not forced unless it is the night of a Blood Moon and/or certain stressful conditions are met. It is up to an individual Lycan to practice their new abilities and form. The call they feel at night time during Full and Blood Moons can be described as a spike in paranoia, the desire to be outside to guard what they care for. It is easier to ignore this call most of the time, and completely possible to resist the urge to shift unless it is the night of a Blood Moon.

## Characteristics

Protector Lycans are wolf like beings when transformed, and they nearly always gain about an additional foot in height from their human forms. Their legs are digitigrade legs and are the cause of their increased heights. They also have a the head of a wolf which is complete with sensitive nose, attentive ears, and most importantly of all: sharp and ruthless teeth. Their hands still hold some ability to grasp at objects and other beings. The tips of their “fingers” will have sharp claws that emerge when turned. Due of these claws, despite their grasping abilities, it is impossible for them to wield weapons. They walk and run with ease thanks to the slim tails that assist in their balance and movements, finding it easier to do both of these on all fours. Lycans may choose to stand on their hind legs in an attempt to seem larger or more human, but it is difficult for them to do so for long, and they will always end up hunching over sooner rather than later. Their transformations manage to keep their clothing intact so long as it is fairly loose fitting. This means they still wear their outfit when turned, making it easy to know who they once were. Tighter outfits such as corsets or full armor would prevent them from safely turning. Some who have longer hair while in human form, will still have that extra hair in their lycan form. The bite they received to obtain the curse will never fade and is clearly visible in their human form. This wound will always look as if it had been received recently, some even say it looks as if it were still bleeding. A highly convincing tattoo almost, with a very slight dip that only adds to the illusion.

All Lycans upon their first transformation will realize a “bond” or a “tie” they have they want to protect. These bonds may be a person, a location, an object, or even an organization of some kind. They will always be something the Lycan already cared about beforehand, the curse just increases their reaction to that bond being in danger. Nights of a full moon will raise their paranoia on the safety for this tie they have, urging them to turn or at the very least attempt to guard what they care for in some way. Blood moons will force them to turn the instant they step out into the moonlight, and they feel called to defend their bond in some way or another. This feeling can be described as the moon calling for them, or as if something is warning them to protect the significant person, area, or other ties they are bound to. Even if they should lock themselves away for the night, they will be restless and need to spend the following day catching up on lost sleep. The pack mentality Lycans may have will be towards those who share similar goals or ties to them, making it entirely possible for a pair of protector Lycans to be on opposing sides.

Lycans tend to be more volatile and emotional in that their feelings are harder to completely ignore, even in human form. This is only amplified during full moons and blood moons. There are many ways to role play such a character’s emotions being more easily influenced than before such as being more likely to make a snarky comment, doing petty actions such as causing another to trip, struggling to resist crying in heartfelt or stressful situations, increasing various nervous ticks such as tapping, pacing, or fidgeting, and so on. These things may make it more difficult for them to lie on certain nights, but it will not be entirely impossible if others have not learned these patterns a Lycan may have.

One way for a Lycan to find some peace on nights of a blood moon, is to go hunting for large beasts to hunt and kill. Usually, they’ll be happy to settle for something they can safely eat to calm their desire for meat such as a deer or a moose, giving in to the more wolf-like side of the curse. However, more confident Lycans may try to go for a much more dangerous hunt…

## Strengths

* Can speak (though painful) and can understand commands while transformed
* Excellent at tracking
* Capable of teamwork
* Clawed hands capable of grip and slashing attacks
* Wounds are healed significantly upon shifting back into human form and can at times be life-saving
* Increased strength (This strength varies based on the situation)
* Faster running speeds, but only on all fours
* Heightened senses (more sensitive to sound and smells)
* They feel no negative side effects from consuming devil blood

## Weaknesses

* Transformations are forced if it is the night of a blood moon or a very highly stressful situation
* Are forced to shift back if injured too severely out of the curse’s attempts to keep them alive, very dangerous in cases where they may still be in the middle of combat
* Difficulty in spreading the curse to others, keeping their numbers small
* Find it a challenge to transform during the day or on nights of a New Moon
* Very loud sudden noises can disorient them briefly in their Lycan forms due to their sensitivity to sound
* Complex potions do more harm to them than good
* Their bodies have a harder time fighting against poisons as their blood flows through their body swiftly to keep up with physical demands
* Harmful potions and brews will affect them sooner and for a longer duration of time
* Silver and obsidian weapons
* Can be very volatile and emotional on full or blood moons
* Blood moons cloud their judgement and tend to make them excessively paranoid and leave them sleepless

## Frequently Asked Questions

**What counts as a “threat” to Protector Lycans?**

They have an understanding that domesticated animals (including cats and dogs) and humans (both capable and incapable of magic) are “not a threat.” However, non-human creatures that are not labeled otherwise in their “programing” will count as a threat regardless of how much or how little damage they do. For example: Doppelgangers, pigeon wyverns, dragon opossums, a majority of sprites, and devils will all count as threats a Protector Lycan will feel irritated and hostile towards. This means they will be unlikely to be willing to allow them to approach the significant person, area, ect. they have their "bond" to.

**How does the curse react with people marked with magic (mages)?**

The curse is an especially frightening affliction for mages as it will undo their attunement and connection to magic temporarily. Their marks will go dark green or black, as if infected while the curse tries to replace the effect magic has on the soul. The Will and Spirit of a mage makes them incapable of turning into a Lycan, but they will still endure the dreadfully painful sickness if bitten on nights of a Blood Moon. This is if and only if the curse even tries to take hold of them, as general spread of the curse is a bit unpredictable. Attempting to do this to a mage purposefully must either be done with consent or through moderation.

**How do Lycans react to Seraphs?**

Seraphs tend to fall under the “threat” territory for Lycans. However it is unclear to them if it is only because of the suit of armor, or because of what lies beneath it.

**Can Lycans tell what a Doppelganger is when they are disguised as a human?**

No. However Doppelgangers will naturally smell more woodsy to them than normal, giving Lycans a minor advantage in figuring things out.

**Do Vampires count as a “Threat” to Lycans? Can Lyans detect vampires?**

No they cannot detect vampires. However, a vampire in beast form will count as a “Threat” and it will be highly difficult for them to work well with vampires in this inhuman form.

**Do wights count as a “Threat” to Lycans?**

Yes; wights specifically count as a 'threat' to lycans and a lycan will always be very uncomfortable in the presence of a wight. If the wight was someone they knew before they became a wight, they may be able to manage their discomfort better but should the wight lash out/act dangerously around the lycan, the lycan would feel very threatened. Note: It is consent to death to attempt to kill a wight, as they are allowed to defend themselves. However, you may decide the level of consent you are willing to go to but the wight will then consent only to that same level. You may not use this consent rule to avoid punishments if you continue to seek out a wight and staff may intervene and adjust consent accordingly.

**The Blood Moon's effect. Does it just make you more paranoid or does it make you outwardly aggressive?**

The Blood Moon forces a Lycan to turn as soon as they step outside into the moonlight. How they act from there will depend on the individual Lycan, but most will feel the need to guard or patrol around to ensure their “bond” is safe. Some will feel the desire to hunt or devour fresh meat, but will not be more violent than they might have been before.

**Do Lycans have better senses/strength or anything in their human form?**

The increase is too mild in their human form for it to be anything noticeable or significant, it is typically reserved for their Lycan form.

**Does high stress overrule turning in the day?**

Yes. They could potentially learn to shift during the day purposefully as well, but they will always find it easier to shift at night.

**Can Lycans have unique fur like Vampires are able to decide what their Bestial form looks like?**

In some ways, yes! Lycan transformations the fur pattern could be any natural fur colors the player desires with streaks (or maybe even patches) of their original hair color showing through. The texture of the fur is likely to be influenced by the character’s usual head of hair as well. Curly hair would mean they’d have curly fur. The colors and pattern of the fur however, are entirely up to you!

**Do WWs get drunk easier?**

Yes. This is because of poisons in general affecting them sooner and for longer periods of time.

**Do werewolves naturally heal faster or is it only upon turning back that they get a speedy heal?**

The healing factor of Lycanthropy tends to focus on more severe wounds. Wounds can take 2 to 3 turns in a combat situation to heal, naturally taking more time depending on the severity of the wound. The curse will completely ignore minor injuries in favor of ensuring fatal wounds are shut. If one only obtained minor wounds and chose to shift back, it would only take 1-2 turns/emotes for these to shut. They only benefit from this healing when they transform back into their human form.

**How young could one obtain the Lycanthropy Curse?**

The curse can take hold of someone as young as sixteen years old. Any younger and they may develop the sickness when bitten, but the curse will refuse to complete itself as a transformation could be deadly.

**When exactly can a Lycan transform?**

They can transform in several situations, the moonlight just makes it easier. So they /could/ transform inside at night, but being in the moonlight eases the transformation. The moon doesn't force a transformation except for the first night and then blood moons basically call a Lycan to go outside and turn.

**How strong are Lycans in human/wolf form?**

In human form, a Lycan will only have the strength that they’ve worked for, nothing beyond what is naturally possible. When transformed, their strength is about that of the average bear (or beast form Vampire) in most situations. However, if they are in a very dire combat situation, it can be comparable to that of 1.5 bears. These situations would include rescuing others from dangerous areas (burning buildings or collapsed bridges), from larger or more threatening creatures such as a powerful devil, actively hostile Wights, and so on. It is easiest to tap into this extra boost in strength when a Lycan is attempting to protect its “bonds” or “ties.” After these “threats” are over however, a Lycan is likely to fall unconscious and need a number of days to fully recover their strength from pushing themselves so far. This would mean no transformations whatsoever and potentially being entirely bedridden during their recovery time.

**What are some examples of how their senses are increased in human form?**

Their senses are increased just slightly better than the average human if they are not transformed. This would potentially mean sounds given in emote range would be able to reach them without needing to transform. Conversations through a wall, however, would still remain impossible.

**You say corsets and armor prevent them from turning safely- does that mean they could wear those sorts of clothes to stop themselves from turning easily, as their body recognizes that to complete it would be dangerous?**

If they choose to wear these sort of clothing, they can and will hurt themselves if a forced transformation situation occurs. It may be a good personal way to try to learn control, but in the end the transformation would destroy these outfits.

**How do the moon phases influence lycans beyond the blood moon?**

Blood and Full moons are the easiest nights for a Lycan to transform, allowing the number of turns it takes to be the minimum of 2 or potentially only 1 depending on the situation. New moons however make it increasingly difficult to transform, if they’re able to achieve it at all, it would take a minimum of 3 or 4 turns.

**How do potions affect Lycans?**

Due to the flawed transformation, the abilities meant to be granted to one by intaking enhancers, its positive effects entirely fails to take hold on a Lycan. Unfortunately, the negative side effects will still take place - transformed or not. Healing potions, thankfully will still work mostly as intended, but the negative effects are still slightly more intense.

**What happens if a Vampire is bit?**

Just like with mages, a vampire being bit and having the curse’s affects take hold would require it to be moderated or consented. However it is much less drastic for it to happen to them, they usually just find themselves hungrier for more blood after these bites. Which it is difficult to determine if it might be because of the fighting that likely occurred or the bite from the Lycan itself.

**Can a Lycan be pregnant? What happens to the baby? Can the baby be born a Lycan?**

A Lycan can become pregnant in her human form, however she will find herself unable to shift until the baby is born or unless she experiences a miscarriage. Babies from a Lycan will not be born with the curse.

**So, just how conscious are the lycans of their actions when in wolf form? Do they sort of have a moralistic understanding on what they're doing, or is it moreso just instinct based? (Aka how much of the character personality and personal morals will ride over the lycan's anxiety and hostility? Will they at all, if they feel threatened?) And- How much do they remember after transformation? Is it sort of a haze, or do they remember everything?**

They are fairly conscious but, not as intelligent as they might have been in their human form. It could be comparable to that of a smart dog, but still instinctive as well. So a character’s personal morals could get in the way in calm situations, but it is likely that they will defend themselves and their ties if they feel that they are truly threatened. They are capable of remembering the transformations with the exception of blood moon nights. These nights are more hazy, since they're more "wolf-like," perhaps only leaving them the memories of hunting something with fur or getting into a fight with something sharp.

**About the never-healing bite wound; Will it begin to rot and look bad if it isn't treated or washed regularly? Will it continue to bleed, or is it looking "fresh and new" just an aesthetic thing? This being more of a, does it need to be covered up/bandaged for it to not stain clothes, and, would it be constantly painful to touch, as wounds are?**

The never-healing bite wound is only in a very convincing appearance. It is not truly a constantly bleeding wound unless a Lycan fails to do what is required to keep the curse. This acts like a silent warning that they need to shift. Other than the original bite and potential occasions of it bleeding when the curse is neglected, it does not require any special treatment. The mark can be sensitive to the touch, like a bruise more than anything else.

**What exactly happens when a Lycan bites someone and manages to have the curse take effect on them?**

When intentionally, or even unintentionally, spreading the curse the Lycan’s mark will begin to bleed. It will continue to bleed in human form even after they shift back and will require cleaning and tending to. Keep in mind that biting with the intent to spread the curse must be moderated if the effects of it aren’t consented by the player so that we may inform you of further negative side-effects

**Can Lycans spread the curse by biting people in their Human form?**

No.