Lycan

Stories of lycanthropy have been woven into the majority of cultures across Lutherios since mortals first pressed their quills to paper. The existence of the condition is heavily debated in the modern age due to the prevalence of transmutation magic in some societies. Those afflicted with lycanthropy seldom integrate into modern society, choosing to live in small, insular communities with others of their kind. If they live in close proximity to non-lycans, they keep their true nature to themselves for personal safety. Their truth could lead to them being ostracized or, in the worst case scenario, killed.   The most common means of contracting lycanthropy are through curses and other dark magic. Hags that live deep within forests and mountainous regions enjoy using lycanthropy as a means of punishing those around them when they don't get their way. Lycanthropy earned through magical means has a tendency to spell doom for anyone afflicted with it. A cursed lycan is at risk of developing a heightened level of aggression that leads into an insatiable lust for blood. They may be forced to live in isolation to avoid giving into violent tendencies. Rituals to break the curse can be done easily enough if the condition is noticed early. The longer a person is afflicted though, the harder these rituals become, both from a mental and physical standpoint.   Lycanthropy is also a hereditary condition, one that is seen in a favorable light to those afflicted with it. Whole families can exhibit this supernatural gift and as such, those born into it are able to gain control of their primal forms through extensive training. While naturally born lycans are aggressive by nature, they're not prone to violence like their cursed counterparts. Lycanthropy as a whole is more common than anyone thinks, but due to a lack of direct contact with these individuals, they're treated as creatures of fiction.   Another common way of catching lycanthropy is through the aforementioned direct contact with a lycan. If a person is bit or interacts with the bodily fluids (namely blood) of a lycan, they're guaranteed to change by the next full moon. Naturally born lycans are able to shapeshift freely, but the victims of a curse are unpredictable and shift through their forms at any given moment. In some lycan communities, they take in cursed lycans in an effort to help them learn how to control their newfound gifts. Unfortunately, a cursed lycan is a lost cause without the intervention of a divine or primal magic.