Lycanthropy
Throughout Laurentia and the known world of Edda, one may encounter an array of strange and mysterious things. Legends of shapeshifting creatures bearing a hybrid animal appearance have existed since the mortal races had tongues. But these legends are more than just fanciful camp fire tales. They are facts. These beings do exist, inflicted with a curse as many would put it. A curse to where under certain conditions, an individual forgoes their regular mortal form, donning and mixing their appearance with that of a wild creature. These beings eventually came to be known as lycanthropes, and their condition, lycanthropy. Lycanthropy can emerge in many different forms, with the known lycanthrope forms being that of werewolves, werebears, weretigers, wererats, and wereboars. If any other such forms exist they have yet to be discovered.
Transmission & Vectors
Lycanthropy is transferred through the bite of another lycanthrope. Not all lycanthropes can transfer their lycanthropy on to other beings, and sometimes it is genetic. Werewolves, werebears, and the elusive weretiger can all transfer lycanthropy through their bite. If they have children, their children become afflicted with lycanthropy as well. Wereboars are another variant that passes it on genetically, and their bite can sometimes pass on the lycanthropy, but it is not 100%. As for wererats they cannot transfer the lycanthropy through their bite. Only through genetics and their offspring.
Causes
The beginning stages of lycanthropy begin when an individual has been bitten and succumbs to the bite of a lycanthrope. The lycanthropes that can pass on the curse of lycanthropy through their bite are werewolves, werebears, and weretigers. Lycanthropy in the form of wererats and wereboars can only be passed on genetically. That is to say, if an individual has a lycanthrope as a parent, they usually succumb to its affects at some point later in life.
Symptoms
When lycanthropy has been passed from the lycanthrope to another party, the change can be quite grueling and excruciating. The change into a lycanthropic form varies from lycanthrope to lycanthrope, but many of the stages before the full turn generally remain the same. Those afflicted with lycanthropy will first begin to suffer from a lack of sleep or full on insomnia. This is accompanied by a mood change where they become a lot angrier and aggressive. Depending on the lycanthropic form that they assume, those afflicted with lycanthropy will generally become harrier on certain parts of their bodies, and hair may grow faster than it has in the past. The last symptom to take place, is that they develop a craving for raw meat. They can still eat regular food, but it doesn't seem to satisfy them, and they will usually go out and hunt any animal they can find; eating it raw to placate the primal beast that is trying to take over.
Treatment
There are several ways to treat lycanthropy. One of the more direct--and most common ways--is to seek out a mage or magic user of some sort. They can usually give a potion, or cast a simple spell of "Remove Curse." This is usually the safest way to treat lycanthropy if someone has been turned and doesn't wish to bear the weight of the affliction. Even though this is the simplest, there are some more unorthodox and dangerous ways to lift the disease.
Among the several blood hunter orders is the Blood Hunter Order of the Lycan. These blood hunters imbue themselves with lycanthropic powers, through a concoction called "Hunter's Bane." The Hunter's Bane is different for each blood hunter order. It is hypothesized--and been attempted on more than one occastion--that the lycan hunter's bane can stop a lycanthropic transformation if afflicted. Since the lycan hunter's bane puts the user through a similar process and symptoms, there are many who believe the processes neutralize and cancel each other out due to their differences. This process is usually met with mixed results and has never been 100%. Some turn out completely fine, others start out fine, but begin to suffer from insomnia soon after. There are others who come out of the process mentally broken, becoming quite mad. Then there are those who don't make it out of the process and die.
A more ancient way to deal with a lycanthropic curse, is to find the animal spirit of one's lycanthropic transformation. The exact way to do this is unclear, due to the varying ambiguity of many texts and resources.
Prognosis
There is no medical way to stop lycanthropy once it has taken hold. Magical means may be used to halt it or get rid of it entirely, but once it has been contracted it will take its course. The only outcome is someone becoming a lycanthrope.
Affected Groups
Any and all can be affected by lycanthropy, with the exception of vampires, other undead, constructs, and elemental beings.
Hosts & Carriers
Carriers:
- Werewolf
- Werebear
- Weretiger
- Wereboar
- Wererat
Prevention
Magical wards are usually the best defense against lycanthropy. If one is bitten by a lycanthrope it is not a certainty that they will turn, but it is highly possible. No medicine, plant, or potion seem to do the trick in preventing it. Many who face lycanthropes do so with the utmost caution and use an array of good luck charms and armaments to protect their bodies. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't, but magical wards seem to serve as one of the best forms of defense.
Epidemiology
The only way lycanthropy can spread throughout a population is if it is spread through purpose. Either through a lycanthrope purposefully biting and spreading lycanthropy in a settled area, or if it is spread through magical means. The rare occurrence of this was in the spring of 1334 A.C., where a cult known as the Priests of Blight were forcibly turning people into wererats in the sewers of Clonabridge, Calanais.
History
Historians, scholars, and mages debate as to when lycanthropy made itself known in the material plane. Some argue that it is as old as Edda itself, while others say it was a condition unknowingly brought over by the elves when they left the Feywild. Even tracking down the very first case of lycanthropy is almost impossible. Some texts claim the first werewolf was an early Wendlas tribesman by the name of Ambadus, but even this is debated since the elves have claimed that their kind has suffered from its curse well before Ambadus' condition. The Skofnung claim to have had the first origins of the werebear through their hero-king Beow the Mighty. But even then, how did Beow contract his lycanthropy? The origins for wererats, wereboars, and weretigers are even more mysterious, as records on them are hardly kept. Whatever the case, lycanthropy was extensively studied and eventually given its name in the year 356 B.C. by the gnomish scholar Loston Brassspark, who lived in the Kingdom of Borith before its fall.
Cultural Reception
Many cultures and races throughout Laurentia tend to look down on those with lycanthropy. This is mainly due to local legends and superstitions which have overtaken facts presented by scholars and magic users who have studied the disease.
All cultures and races throughout Laurentia consider wererats to be nothing more than bothersome pests. Like regular rats, they're seen as nuisances and spreaders of disease. They're met with extreme prejudice wherever they're found or come across.
Like wererats, wereboars are seen as wild beasts that need to be put down. This probably stems from the fact that many wereboars join bandit troops and lay waste to the countryside. People only see them as destructive forces that need to be met with an equally destructive and violent end.
Depending on the kingdom and culture, werewolves are met with mixed results. In some regions of Dalraddia and Hebrides, certain werewolves are seen as spirit guardians and protectors sent by the gods. While others see them as afflicted and cursed beings who know nothing but blood and death. This is also a common view held through ought many Wendlas kingdoms as well. They're seen as dangerous, unpredictable, and to met with the utmost caution. When a werewolf has been discovered, the local community sometimes tries to band together and kill it, but if they're too afraid--as many are--they try to hire a professional to take care of business. In places such as Rheged or Skofnung, lycanthropy is sometimes seen as a gift. A gift to be used in battle if it can be harnessed properly. They're still met with caution in these areas as well. In more rural communities throughout these two cultures, they tend to hold the same fearful view throughout the rest of the continent.
Werebears are probably the only lycanthropes to met with open arms. They aren't as common as werewolves, wererats, or wereboars, but the presence of one is highly welcome in any town or community throughout the continent. They're seen as protectors, spiritual guides, and upholders of justice. Many of them are trusted members in their communities, but tend to keep their lycanthropy under the radar.
The rarest of lycanthropes are the weretigers. It is said they can be found in Gondwana and as far east as the mysterious continent of Altaia. They're few and far in between. Records and accounts in Gondwana seem to hold them in a mystical yet fearful respect of their power and capabilities.
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