Lycanthropy from Greek lykoi, "wolf" anthropos,
"man", a psychiatric state in which the patient believes he is a
wolf or some other nonhuman animal. Undoubtedly stimulated by the once widespread
superstition that lycanthropy is a supernatural condition in which men actually
assume the physical form of other animals, the delusion has been most likely
to occur among people who believe in reincarnation and the transmigration
of souls. However within the Anitaverse it is a Disease that can be passed
form Animal/Lycan to another human.
Strong Lycanthropes have the ability to shift into their respective creature
whenever they wish. However, if they shift to animal form and then human form
too soon, it drains their energy and they fall into a coma-like sleep for
at least 12 hours. Normally, shapeshifters stay in animal form 8-10 hours
and collapse back into human form. If the lycanthrope is young or it is too
close to the full moon, the scent of blood can cause them to shift into their
animal form, also fear, and sex.
Their healing powers are extraordinary, all wounds eventually close, limbs
that were ripped off are remade the next time they shift into animal form.
An old wives tale about lycanthropes is true, namely, after shifting, they
must feed. Lycanthropes are controlled by the full moon. During that time,
they are forced to change into their animal form and hunt.
Alpha lycanthropes are the leaders of the respective packs, pards, etc. They
are much stronger than the other lycanthropes, and often possess other powers
that normal lycanthropes do not. The way to tell if a human is a lycanthrope
is to cut off a limb and then look on the inside of the skin. If there is
fur, then they are a lycanthrope. They will grow the limb back upon their
next shift. However, it's not a good idea to cut the limb if he/she is merely
a human.
The cat-based lycanthropy is less contagious than the rat and wolf forms,
though no one knows why. Lycanthropes can not get infections, if they are
seriously injured, the most danger they are in is shock from blood loss. Lycanthropes
can still be legally shot in six states, as long as a blood test afterwards
proves what they were. It is illegal to give lycanthropy to a minor and it
carries a death sentence. In New York, there used to be shape-shifter gangs
but New York's Finest and the military wiped them out.
Usual Lycanthropes
Werewolves: are the most feared of the lycanthropes,
men who can transform into wolflike beasts. The human forms of werewolves
have no distinguishing traits. The werewolf form is equally varied. Many have
a bipedal form that is a hybrid of human and lupine features. These creatures
are about 1-foot taller and stronger than their human forms. The bodies are
fur-covered and have short tails, wolflike legs, and heads that are combinations
in varying degrees of human and lupine features. A second form of hybrid is
more wolflike, and may be mistaken for a large wolf when it runs on all four
legs. This hybrid can also walk erect and has humanlike hands.
The pack hierarchy is established as follows:
Ulfric: Wolf King
Can be a female, but rare
Lupa: Mother of the pack
Usually the girlfriend/wife of the Ulfric
Sex is integral to the union
Freki: Second to the Ulfric
Fenrir: Challenger to the Ulfric
Geri: Also second to the Ulfric
A pack can have two seconds
Sköll: Head Enforcer
Also doubles as bodyguard for Ulfric
Hati: Second Enforcer
Also doubles as bodyguard for Ulfric
Wererats: also called ratmen, are humans who can transform
themselves into three forms -- human, human-sized ratman, and giant rat. They
are sly and evil, and usually inhabit tunnel complexes beneath cities. The
wererat's human form tends to be a thin, wiry individual of shorter than average
height. The ratman form is somewhat shorter than the human form. The head,
torso, and tail are identical to those of a rat. The third form is that of
a giant rat 4 feet from nose to rump. This form is identical to that of the
giant rat (q.v.).
Clan hierarchy is established as follows:
Leader is the Rom or King
Queen or Romni
Second in comand is the Dura
Werehyenas: are humans, usually male, who can transform themselves into hyenalike
forms. The human form tends to be tall and sinewy, with long, shaggy hair
usually tied back over their neck. Werehyenas tend to be gregarious and charismatic,
many possessing a loud, resounding laugh. The canine form appears to be a
large hyena, over 6' long from snout to tail, with golden fur on its back
and black fur on its belly and feet. While in this form, they can pass without
trace.
Clan hierarchy is established as follows:
Leader called the Oba
Wereleopards/panthers: The Leopard Lycan has been often confused with the Jaguar. In reality this is not true.. The leapard is more gracefully lined and the sized a bit larger in beast, Though their body is not as tightly compacted as the Jag. They are still a dangerous foe. Their grace though is unequaled by any but the Cheetah.
Pard hierarchy is established as follows:
Leader: Nimir ra (female) Nimir raj (male)
Leopard Leonne
Leopard Passant
Weretigers: are humans that have the ability to transform into tigerlike forms.
The human form tends to be sleekly muscular, taller than average, and very
agile. The voices of weretigers are husky and they tend to roll their r's.
The weretiger form is a hybrid between a human and a tiger. It is about 25%
larger than the human form, and is covered by tiger-striped hide. A 3-foot
tail extends from the spine. The legs are more feline than human. The third
form is that of a fully grown tiger without any trace of human features.
Werelions: are humans able to assume lion form. They are efficient, communal
predators, dangerous not only because of their individual skill but also because
of their ability to stalk their prey as a singleminded group. In their human
form, werelions tend to be thin and sinewy, with a whiplash speed and agility.
Their voices are deep and melodious. They are always deeply tanned and muscled.
In their lion forms they lose all vestiges of humanity, appearing as preternaturally
large lions with unusually bright eyes and a deeper roar than most normal
lions.
Werefox: These Lycans are definitely a unique breed. Their human form tends
to be lean and wiry. Their beast form stands between 4-6 foot depending on
sex. The short fur is a russet-crimson color, with a cream colored belly again
this depends of the breed of fox that is infected. They are compact and have
the traditional fluffy foxes tail. The Humans that tend to be infected by
this kind of lycan tend to be thieves and con artists that seem to fit into
the mind set of the fox' ways.
Weredog: Mild mannered and slightly submissive, these Lycans can be house broken. With that aside, much like the other Canine Lycans these domestic animals can range in size depending on the domestic breed. The Were Dog is rare, briefly mentioned in one of the books. Think German Shepard on steroids, or Lassie on PcP.
Werebear: These Lycan are huge in stature. Ranging in beast form from 6-9
feet in height depending on the breed of Bear, the fur color also depends
on the breed. These well muscled lycan make the ripped body builders look
small in stature. Their temperaments can very from laid back and playful to
down right deadly. The beast form resembles a furred Arnold Swartzneiger with
a bear head and claws that range from 3-8 inches in length and their jaws
alone can bite through 1 inch steel.
Weresnake: There are three classifications of were snake. Vipers, constrictors,
and none harmful. Vipers include rattle snakes, cotton mouths, asps and any
snake that has a poisonous bite, Constrictors are consisted of anaconda's,
pythons and any that uses its body to crush the breath and bones of its prey.
None harmful are such as garter snakes, mole snakes, racers, your basic bug
eater breeds. As with Most lycans the size and shape of the beast form varies
with the breed of snake. For the most part they look like a serpent with arms
and the chest of a homid or human. Size can very from 4 foot for a none harmful
male to 12 foot for a anaconda Female. The fangs on the Viper class can very
in size from 2 inches to 6 in the gaboon which has the largest fangs in the
snake kingdom even in the natural form. On the constrictor class the arms
and body are much like iron bars of muscle, used to crush and well constrict.
Remember with snakes it is the female who is the largest of the sexes.
Werejaguar: This Lycan tends to be a bit stocky for a cat. Resembling a leapord but more toned and compact then a leopard. The faces are stockier as well. The Size of the Jag beast is from 5 and half for a small female to 7 and a half for a standard male. Claws are retractable and can range from 2-5 inches in length and have the strength to cut light metals easily.
Werecougar: One of the smaller of the lycan cats this beast can get to 6 foot in beast form, They weigh about 220 pounds as well in this form. Though for the most part they look like the rest of the cats in basic features. Their colors tend to be browns and tans.
Allowed in Circus or Desires:
Were coyote: These scrappy and agile lycans are perhaps one of the smallest
of the breed of Canine non-domestic lycans. Do not let their smaller size
fool you. The coyote has taught many that what they see is not really what
they get. Standing in Beast form anywhere from 4 and a half to 5 and a half
foot tall, the coyote has taken many larger animals due to sheer trickery
and ferocity that was not seen inside the supposedly timid animal.
Were cheetah: Perhaps the Most stream lined of the Lycans, the cheetah was
built for speed. Their beast is no different. Deep barrel chests and wasp
like legs. Their speed is legendary, and their attacks swift and sure. These
lycan tend to be between 5' and 6' in beast form. They have short fur that
covers their bodies resembling their spots. Perhaps one of the most beautiful
Cats to watch in action, though the beauty tends to be misleading in this
one at least.
Lamia: are immortal, yet have been listed as extinct in St. Louis for 200 years. They are half human and half snake. A bite from a Lamia is deadly. Once bitten, the wound swells and becomes purple. Internal bleeding follows, where blood flows out of every orifice, until the victim dies.
Naga: are also immortal. They are part of Hindu legend and are often portrayed as snakes, specifically cobra. Sometimes, they are shown in snake form with a human head. In human form, they possess a single pearl between their eyes. They are the guardians of pearls and raindrops.
Cobras: Cursed, not natural these lycans were not infected and as such they cannot infect others to create more. Physical description in beast form: Males:5-7 feet in length, colors very with breed of cobra. Females: 4.5-6 feet in length, colors predominantly breed of cobra. Both have no legs as they join to form the tail. The arms and chest are of a human but bigger proportioned. Clawed hands finish the look. Scales cover from head to toe. Face looks like the Cobra of breed, the hood extends from the brow to the base of the neck when open.
Wereswans: The males are wereswans and the females are weremanes. The only one made magically was Kaspar, whose shifting ability was a curse by a witch, and not an inherited condition, nor a disease that was passed on.
A Panwere: is apparently a lycanthrope with multiple animals infecting them. This can only be achieved when the vicitm has not yet shifted, and has been infected by multiple animals before their first full moon. Only one has been known to exist, Orlando King, also known as Chimera.
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