lycanthrope

Lycanthropy spreads most often through a were-beast’s bite. If the victim survives, the curse takes root. Rarely, deliberate blood exchange or ritual curses may also transmit the affliction.

The origins of lycanthropy are usually curses laid by witches, warlocks, or other arcane users. The purpose varies: sometimes to reveal the “true ugliness” of a person’s humanity, sometimes to unleash untamed beast power. Once born, the curse spreads most often by survival those bitten but not killed by a were-beast risk inheriting the affliction.

In rare cases, scholars and alchemists have attempted to reproduce lycanthropy through viruses crafted from the original curse. These artificial strains are dangerous, unstable, and thankfully scarce.

The first week before the first full moon of Leonardo the infection reveals telltale signs: a gnawing hunger for raw meat and restless energy. Regardless of the creature they will eventually become, all victims show carnivorous cravings.

On the night of the first full moon of Leonardo, the body breaks. Fever, chills, aching muscles, pounding headaches, and sharpened senses mark the onset. When transformation comes, it is agony bones splintering and reshaping, muscles tearing and rebuilding. Victims endure every moment of this metamorphosis, though its outcome varies:

Some retain fragments of their mind and recall the entire transformation.

Others lose themselves fully to the beast, waking with only lingering pain and the aftermath of their rampage.

For three nights, the afflicted remain in this form. With time, the worst of the cravings diminish, but on the days surrounding a full moon of Leonardo, heightened senses, animal instincts, and hunger for raw flesh always return.

Types

• Werewolf: Common
• Werebear: Common
• Weretiger: Uncommon
• Wereboar: Uncommon
• Werecrocodile: Rear
• Wereshark: Rear

Lycanthropes are uniquely vulnerable to silver and Mithril , metals prized for their purifying nature. Though not all strains are identical, nearly all carry this weakness from the original curse. Preventative measures for the afflicted include:

Confinement in reinforced stone chambers during the full moon.

Shackles of silver or Mithril on both arms and legs to slow transformation and restrain the beast.

A ready supply of raw meat to reduce bloodlust during containment.

As for a cure there is no universal remedy. Each strain is distinct, tied to the method of its creation. To purge lycanthropy, one must know the precise curse or origin of the infection. Skilled healers, ritualists, or mages may succeed if they possess this knowledge. Without it, the curse is nearly impossible to break.

All sentient races are susceptible, with the exception of Beast Folk , whose innate animal natures appear to grant resistance.

All afflicted are both hosts of the curse and carriers capable of spreading it further.

Never draw the attention of one who can cast the curse of lycanthropy. Those who do so usually act out of revenge, cruelty, or grim satisfaction. Should you encounter such a spellcaster, or worse, survive an attack from one of their creations, know that your chances of escaping untainted are slim. The wisest course is to avoid anyone known to wield such curses and to keep your distance from those already bearing the disease.

One story tells of a small town that suffered a bitter harvest. Around the same time, a witch moved into the nearby woods, and the townsfolk quickly laid blame upon her, claiming she had cursed their fields. At first they tried to drive her away with hunting dogs, but when their troubles only worsened, they resolved to kill her.

On the night of a full moon, they gathered their hounds and marched to her hut. To their surprise, the witch was already outside, waiting. When they loosed their dogs, the animals turned on them instead. In that same instant, a blinding white light struck the ground, leaving the men sightless for several minutes. When their vision returned, the witch was gone along with their hounds. Believing her magic had backfired, they set fire to her hut and left, certain they had ended the threat.

All seemed well until the next full moon. That night, the men twisted into wolves and tore apart their own families, victims of the curse they had sought to destroy.

Most people fear those afflicted with lycanthropy. In most cases, the transformed are hunted down and killed, as both cure and containment are difficult. Society at large has deemed this a grim necessity, for a single were-beast can endanger many lives. While some healers and idealists attempt to find cures or show mercy, the common consensus remains: better to end the threat than risk the devastation it may bring.