Were-'Possums

Overview

Patient, Kind, and Wise. Not three traits you typically think of when the word "Lycanthrope" is mentioned. The Were-'possums are an ancient and exceedingly rare group of creatures who spend their entire lives hiding in forests and on the outskirts of villages. These creatures, in were-possum form seek to hide themselves away instead of experiencing the hunting frenzy of some other lycanthropes. Were-possums have a tendancy to avoid bright lights, scary sounds, and dangerous situations. When confronted most are more likely to run away, or play dead, though some will lash out as a last resort or in fear. Were-possums value comfort, good food, music, friends, and shiny objects. Were-possums, once befriended, can be jovial and inspiring companions. It is thought that due to their curious nature involving shiny objects that over time the Were-'possums lost their immunity to standard weapons as well as their weakness to silver. Due to their tendancy to get in bad situations and still be able to recover, they are tougher than some.  

In-Game Stats

• + Feign Death - Once a day you may negate the last damage taken and fall prone, pretending to be dead.
• +1 Max HP in Were-'Possum form
• +/- may not attack or be attacked by natural animals. (Wolves, bears, etc.)
• - Unwillingly transforms into 'Possum Form under the light of the full moon of {Silvan Ri?}
• - Can be immobilized by seeing a new interesting shiny object - snaps out of this "trance" if damage is taken. Any given object can only invoke the trance once daily.
• - Must retreat or play dead from bright light sources after nightfall. May approach a campfire or equivalent after a count of 30 "to see if it is safe".

 

Popular Rumors (May or may not be true)

• The Cult of Possumundius was founded by Were-'possums.
• The Pouching Ceremony spreads the Were-possum curse.
• The Were-'possums are secretely the head a lycanthrope council that makes decisions for all were-kind.
• The Were-'possum can be stunned by showing it a shiny thing.
• Animals will not harm a Were-'possum.
• The Were-'possum can be spotted by a having an extra long nose in human form.
• A Were-'possum can be spotted in human for by their unusally red ears.
• A Were-'possum in human form still has extra long nose hairs because their whiskers can't transform.
• A Were-'possum is more likely to spread the plague.

   

Origin

There are many rumors reguarding the origins of the Were-'Possum. The following are the two most accepted ones.  

The Were-'Possum and the Sacred Fellowship of the Marsupial Order

The werepossum’s origin within the Sacred Fellowship of the Marsupial Order is steeped in mystery and cautionary legend. It is said that long before the Oposstles gathered under the guidance of Possumundus, there was a devout yet solitary follower who lived deep within the wilderness. This individual, known only as Thistleclaw, longed to serve the fellowship more closely and believed the opossum’s abilities to evade danger and live between worlds were a divine gift. In an attempt to bridge the gap between himself and the sacred marsupials, Thistleclaw performed an ancient, forbidden ritual under the light of a rare blood moon. Using herbs from the deepest forest and invoking Possumundus in an unapproved manner, he sought to embody the opossum spirit fully. However, instead of gaining divine favor, the ritual altered him in a far more primal way, forever binding him to the opossum form—but only at night, when the moon is at its zenith.   By day, Thistleclaw remained a mortal bobcat, but under the full moon, he would transform into a werepossum, a creature that shared the traits of both opossum and human. While he gained the opossum’s resilience and stealth, the curse made him an outcast, unable to fully return to either his community or the sacred marsupial fellowship. Some say this transformation was a punishment from Possumundus for tampering with sacred forces, a reminder that the power of the marsupial spirit must be respected and not manipulated.   The werepossum, though rare, became a symbol in the fellowship’s lore—a warning to followers about the dangers of overreaching ambition, while also representing the resilience of the opossum, even in unexpected forms. Today, stories of Thistleclaw and the werepossum form part of the teachings, reminding the faithful to seek guidance through proper channels and maintain humility before the Eternal.  

Rolinard, The Beggar and the curse of the Opposum

  The were-'possum curse, legendarily, began when a thief named Rolinard the Beggar stole a bejeweled necklace. Rolinard found himself in a poor village on the riverside one day. He tied his gray cloak tight around himself to stave off the bitter biting cold. Desperate for food, he had no choice but to rummage through the town's refuse pile in search of morsels that might sustain him a bit longer. He found nothing but a handful of earthworms. It was then, as he was staring at the writhing contents of his hands and stroking his long thin mustache, that a red haired woman of the village saw Rolinard and thought to take pity on him. She invited the beggar into her home for a meal. While the lady was busy preparing dinner, Rolinard's eyes landed instead on a bejeweled necklace she had displayed in a fine cabinet. He could not help but imagine that all of his troubles would ease if only he had the money that one necklace would fetch. In a moment of weakness, he reached out to take the necklace but stopped when the lady's shriek sent shivers through his spine. In her rage she revealed her nature as a fae, as her wings displayed behind her and she began to scold the beggar.   "This is how you repay my hospitality?" she screamed. "Then so be it. I curse you so that you will never shed your ugly gray cloak, and you will be reminded of the worms you will eat every time you look back on this day. Your thin mustache will grow ever more pitiful. You will forever suffer from that you covet, and on the light of the full moon, you will know the true extent of your crime."   Rolinard ran from the cottage and down the hill, as the villagers, hearing the comotion and seeing him running away, took flight after him. Rolinard in his haste found a loose stone and began to fall and tumble down the hill where he landed face down in the river below. It was then that Rolinard had the thought that the villagers would think he had died in the fall if only he held still in the icey waters. There he waited, holding his breath, and hoping the villagers would not bother to check. The villagers decided that whatever had happened the beggar was not worth their time descending the hillside to check on him, and left him to what they assumed was his frozen fate.   Once some time had passed and Rolinard could no longer keep up the facade he drew himself up and breathed. He had escaped the villagers, and perhaps he had even escaped the village lady and her wrath. He did still have a pocketful of earthworms after all, and he had eaten worse in the past. Perhaps he thought, things are not so bad. Perhaps, in fact, they were not so bad, but Rolinard would not know until the full light of Silvan Ri had risen the next time.  

The Curse

The curse of the Were-'Possum can be spread in the following ways:

• Stealing a Were-'Possums truly prized posession
• The bite of a Were-'Possum
• Through very powerful curses

  In the lore of the fellowship, the werepossum condition is not seen as something to be “cured” in the traditional sense, but rather as a transformation that carries both challenges and blessings. However, the condition can be managed, and one can regain control over their dual nature through spiritual guidance and self-discipline. According to the teachings of the Sacred Fellowship of the Marsupial Order, Thistleclaw, the first werepossum, learned to control his transformation not by seeking a cure, but by embracing his inner duality. This lesson is passed down to others who experience the werepossum curse, emphasizing balance rather than eradication. Management of the WerePossum condition:   *Moonlit Rituals of Balance: The fellowship practices rituals during the full moon, the time when the transformation is strongest. These rituals involve meditation, grounding exercises, and invoking the protection of Possumundus to help werepossums maintain their sense of self during their transformation.   *Sacred Marsupial Salve: A herbal salve, made from a blend of nightshade, burdock root, and other forest herbs, is applied to calm the physical symptoms of the transformation. While it does not prevent the change, it helps ease the shift from one form to another, reducing the pain and allowing for clearer thoughts during the werepossum state.   *Community Support: The Sacred Fellowship plays a key role in guiding those affected. Other members of the order, including the Oposstles, offer counsel and support, ensuring that werepossums do not feel isolated or overwhelmed. The belief is that through fellowship and understanding, the werepossum can find harmony between their two forms.   *The Path of the Curled Tail: This is a spiritual journey undertaken by those seeking to fully control their transformations. By following the “Curled Tail,” a metaphor for the winding and complex path of self-mastery, a werepossum can eventually learn to control when and how they transform. This path includes a series of trials involving patience, humility, and adaptability—virtues dear to Possumundus.   *Embracing the Possum’s Wisdom: Werepossums are encouraged to learn from the ways of the opossum—adaptability, playing dead when necessary (symbolically representing the mastery of impulses), and the ability to survive in harsh conditions. By internalizing these teachings, many find that they can live in harmony with their condition.  

The Cure

There is one cure but it’s been so long since anyone has seen it, it’s unsure whether it was ever really seen at all. The Moonpeach is one of the most enigmatic and rare artifacts in the lore of the Sacred Fellowship of the Marsupial Order. It is said to be a fruit of immense power, growing only under a specific alignment of stars and celestial events that happen once every century. Its rarity and mystery have made it the subject of numerous tales and legends within the fellowship, though few claim to have actually seen it.  

Origins of the Moonpeach:

  According to the ancient Opossum Tales, the Moonpeach was first discovered by a wandering Oposstle during a time of great need. The land was suffering from a prolonged drought, and many creatures were struggling to survive. This Oposstle, who was unnamed in most versions of the tale, ventured into the deepest parts of the forest, far beyond where most creatures dared to go. There, in a hidden grove, illuminated by the light of a rare celestial event—possibly a lunar eclipse—he found a single tree bearing the Moonpeach.   Possumundus appeared to him in a vision and explained that the Moonpeach was not meant to be consumed by the greedy or the selfish, but only by those who truly needed its power. It was not a fruit of indulgence but of transformation, intended to help those who faced impossible odds or were burdened with curses they could not manage on their own. However, it could only be picked when the stars aligned and the moonlight shone directly on the fruit.