Lycanthrope 101

What is a Lycanthrope?

Lycanthropes can assume at least two forms - human and animal. Powerful shifters can also assume a "hybrid" form that is bipedal with animal characteristics or even transform a small part of their body at will (for example, "growing" fingers into claws).

Changing between forms takes a great deal of energy; most lycanthropes must feed immediately after changing to animal form and collapse into a comatose state for several hours after returning to human form. Stronger lycanthropes do not need to feed immediately or collapse, but are extremely tired. The lycanthropes you encounters most frequently can change shape almost at will.

Lycanthropes who spend too much time in animal form may not be able to shift back completely. As a result, some of the lycanthropes you meets have fangs or voices or eyes resembling their animal form, even when in human shape.

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Physical abilities

All lycanthropes are extremely fast, strong, and resistant to damage. Lycanthropes' strength appears to depend somewhat on their actual size and somewhat on their level of supernatural power, though it is significantly stronger than that of a human in any case.

Lycanthropes can recover from almost any wound other than that caused by silver weapons or fire.

Lycanthropes have extremely acute senses, even in human form.

Lycanthropes are effectively allergic to silver and feel physical pain from even skin contact, although some seem to enjoy the pain of silver jewellery.

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Alpha weres

Some shapeshifters reach "alpha" or "master" status, a power level similar to that of a master vampire. Alpha shapeshifters may display some of the following traits:

An ability to resist shape shifting, although none have so far exhibited the ability to prevent shift during the full moon without the assistance of another lycanthrope.

Resistance to psychic gifts that would control, influence, or take energy from them, such as a vampire's gaze and at least some forms of the rarer vampiric emotional feeding gifts.
The ability to finely control the speed, violence, extent and/or the time length of their shapeshift. For example only a very few (e.g. less than 1% of the Thronos Rokke werewolf clan) can shift hands into claws without a complete change to hybrid or full animal form. The most powerful may exhibit the ability to shift forms quickly, painlessly, or nearly at will without feeding or the recovery coma required of less powerful shifters.

The ability to force other shapeshifters to change form, or to prevent them from doing so.Some shapeshifters can share their power with others by allowing them to feed on the shapeshifter's blood.

The ability to heal others, by a variety of means.

Alpha weres who are also the leader (or one of the leaders) of their animal group (such as Rex/Regina for the lions, Ulfric/Fenrir/Lupa for the wolves, or Nimir-Ra/Nimir-Raj for the leopards) also appear to have a metaphysical relationship with the entire group that owes them allegiance. This bond is both a strength and weakness, allowing the leader to make use of the group's collective energy and account for its membership remotely, but also exposing the entire group to being controlled or fed upon through the leader. It can also expose the leader to some measure of control or influence if one of his followers is sufficiently subverted.

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Transforming

Body temperature spikes before the transformation occurs. For non-alphas, the change is generally slow, painful, and graphic. Bones visibly change shape as the new form splits the skin and emerges from inside. A large quantity of clear, hot, sticky fluid is produced, and any clothing on the body is generally damaged or destroyed in the transformation. The body of the transformed animal is generally dry and clean afterwards, but the violence of the change can throw the transformation fluid and viscera left from the old form all around the lycanthrope. Transformation to animal form brings on hunger for flesh (of any kind). Non-alpha lycanthropes, remain in animal or hybrid form for 6–8 hours, after which they transform back to human form and fall into a sleep coma (from which they cannot be wakened) for 6–8 hours.

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Lycanthrope social organization

Dominance

Dominance is a key element in werewolf social organization. The pack is structured in a clear hierarchy, and pack members move up or down by winning or losing challenges against other pack members.

Werewolf terminology

The werewolves have a variety of private terms, primarily borrowed from Norse mythology although a few stem from Greco-Roman myth as well.

Bolverk

The Bolverk, named after Bolverk of Norse mythology, is the "evil-doer" of the Ulfric. The Bolverk carries out punishments or performs duties the Ulfric find unpalatable but necessary.The Bolverk is allowed three helpers called Baugi, Suttung, and Gunnlod. The titles Baugi and Suttung are based on the two giants Bolverk tricked to get the mead of poetry; the Gunnlod is named after Suttung's daughter, who Bolverk seduced for the mead of poetry.

Eranthe and Eros

Erata, and Eros, the god of love or lust. For the werewolves, these roles are held by other werewolves who help the new werewolves learn to control themselves and their physical form during sex, usually to prevent the change from human to wolf during sexual release.

Hati and Skoll

These are the Ulfric's primary enforcers and bodyguards; their role is unrelated (and their rank is unclear in relation) to that of Bolverk, Baugi, Suttung, and Gunnlod. They must win their right to this position, but are ultimately chosen by the Ulfric based on loyalty. Hati and Skoll rank after Lupa, Freki, and Geri, but are generally alphas. Notably, they do not have to fight the Freki or Geri for their position. They are named after the Jotun's that transformed into wolves in order to chase the Sun and the Moon in Norse mythology.

Fenrir

An official challenger to the Ulfric, named after Fenrisulfr or Fenrir, the wolf that is destined to kill Odin in Norse mythology.

Freki and Geri

The Ulfric's second and third in command. Named after Odin's wolves of Norse mythology.

Freyja

A lupa who declares herself independent of the Ulfric and challenges the Ulfric to reclaim her. Any male wolf may win her by having sex with her. The male wolves will do anything, including kill each other, to win her.

Lupa

Named for Lupa, the mother of Romulus and Remus, the position is reserved for the Ulfric's chosen mate. Although the lupa need not fight for her/his position, the position of most dominant female (or male in the case of male Lupas) is determined by conflict. The term is Latin for "she-wolf" and "prostitute."

Lupanar

A meeting place for the werewolves, possibly their place of power.

Ulfric

The ultimate alpha male of the pack. The Ulfric will be replaced by whoever defeats him in combat. In theory it does not have to be a death fight, and the Ulfric can in fact step down, but the new Ulfric will usually kill the old one to prevent a dominance split. Theoretically, female weres may become Ulfric, but female Ulfrics are rare because the strongest males normally have a significant strength advantage over even the strongest females. The term is a derivative of the Norse "ulfr," meaning "wolf."

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