Lycanthropes
Winter is a perilous time..
There have always been stories of were-wolves, folk with cursed blood that forces them to turn into a wolf every full moon. Whether or not there is any truth to the stories is, however, irrelevant to the existence of wolf-men.
The Wolf-Man is not a cursed thing but rather a species unto their own, born in the midwinter years of the Dark Age by the corruption itself as a counter to Bulverks offensives into the forests of doom. These hybrids of elves and wolves were lanky, sinewy creatures at first. They hid in the trees and attacked patrols from above. Later a more brutal strain emerged of human-wolf hybrid, though it is believed that these are in fact descendants of the first ones mixed with the genetics of captured humans, rather then a new creation of the darkness. This belief is not based on idle supposition but documented fact.
As such, Lycanthropes are hunted mercilessly. They tend to make their homes on the outskirts of civilization, ranging in when they feel the need to taste humanoid flesh again. They lair in caves and ruins, and have been known to burrow into hillsides. No race is safe from their aggression, not even goblins and orcs, who are in fact pursued more so, due to their aggressive natures. There have been recent documented cases of Hob-Goblin and Orc tribes approaching human settlements in Frewoldt, proposing an alliance against their mutual enemy. This has fostered a strange but effective partnership between the tribes and Frewoldt settlers. In one instance, The town of Casperlan in the northern fringes of Frewoldt incorporated a decimated Hob-goblin tribe in the year 382 RA.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Wider shoulders then a wolf. Padded hands and feet with digits pulled back to preserve claw sharpness when running. Long arms and forward facing hips for quadrupedal running.
Males possess a coarse beard hanging from the jaw, as well as wolfish sideburns, while alpha males actually bald from the brow to back of their head.
Females possess sideburns to a lesser extent, with short hairs covering most of their face. When nursing whelps, their breasts enlarge, but when weaned, they shrink back to their regular size.
Biological Traits
Ranging from lithe and lanky (if they have hunted elves), tall and broad (human and hobgoblin prey), small and slinky (goblin prey), hulking and brutal (orc prey), and last, least, but probably the most feared, the large and stealthy (bugbear prey).
Genetics and Reproduction
Lycanthropes are in estrus throughout the late fall and winter months. It is also the time when they are most aggressive towards humanoids.
Lycanthropes are drawn to humanoids with a hunger that is two-fold. If its prey is weak or flighty, they will kill it without a second thought, however, if its prey stands and fights, the hunger shifts towards a vile lust. They will draw back and toy with their prey until the prey is tired. Then they capture their prey and bring it to their lair. If the captured humanoid is a male, then the females will rape and eventually devour him. Female humanoids are not so lucky. They are marked by the male which captured them, bitten on a daily basis, but never outright killed. Each bite introduces a portion of the plague that made the first lycanthropes. They are careful to bite only when she is not feverish, so as to not overwhelm her immune system. It may take months, but eventually she will begin to look similar to her captors, lose her ability to think and reason, and eventually give in to her new instincts.
The offspring of these unions will possess the dominant genes of their lycanthrope parent and some of the genes of their victims, ensuring a net improvement in their gene pool.
If no captive is taken, they will breed among themselves in the late winter. These unions produce midsummer whelps who have a tougher go at it in the fall, especially in northern or alpine climes.
Growth Rate & Stages
Whelp for the first six months of their life. Juvenile after that for two years. Maturity reached at three years of age.
Ecology and Habitats
Lycanthropes prefer biomes that feature solid ground and forest of varying type and density. They avoid open plains and swamps for this reason. They lair opportunistically in ruins, goblin warrens, natural caves or dens they dig for themselves.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Carnivorous, although they will eat berries when available.
Biological Cycle
They tend to avoid domestic society during the spring, summer and early autumn. As winter approaches they begin to attack individuals or small groups.
They have winter lairs and birthing lairs in the spring and summer.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Packs are loosely oriented around an alpha and his mate. This pair is the only pair to breed in the late autumn. The pair will likely be challenged in the early fall. Fights are to the death, so a challenger only attacks when he has a clear advantage. Females will then vie to be his mate, with less aggressive disputes, resulting in the most capable female gaining his attention. Later in spring when she is near to delivering her whelps, it is she who decides on the birthing lair site.
Domestication
Undomesticatable and dangerous to keep in a pen. They have been known to pick locks.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Sometimes kept as fighting monsters in an arena.
Facial characteristics
Wolfish with some humanoid traits.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Throughout the north eastern portion of Wosterhiem. Recent reports of sightings and attacks in northern Stygland
Average Intelligence
Bestial intelligence, with excellent tactical pack logic. They do not have a spoken language, relying mainly on body language.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
80' Darkvision. Powerful scent glands in nose. Excellent hearing.
Scientific Name
Lupus Umbra Plaga
Lifespan
40 years.
Conservation Status
Not rare enough.
Average Height
1 - 3 meters in height
Average Weight
80- 220 lbs.
Average Physique
Dense wiry muscles.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Dark brown and black in the southern forests, tan and even white in the north and alpine ranges.
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