Shifter's Curse
The malediction of lycanthropy
The Shifter's Curse is a rare lycanthropy that afflicts those who come into contact the corrupting essence of a malevolent divinity known as the Beast. Those suffering from the curse experience a gradual transformation into a bonded totem animal and begin demonstrating characteristics of their curse's bond animal. Depending upon the bond animal type, the effects of the curse can begin to present as enhanced senses, such as scent or hearing, and, over time, the subject becomes increasingly animalistic, experiencing uncontrollable animal urges and alienating, primitive behaviours.
Early in the curse, the subject develops the ability to shift form into an anthropomorphic hybrid form of their bond animal (a werewolf, a weretiger, a werebear, and so on). This transformation is initially triggered by severe trauma or distress, but the subject can thereafter attempt their beast shift through a voluntary act of will. Soon thereafter, the subject attains greater physical prowess, which is accessed and enhanced by voluntary shifting. As these dark gifts of the Beast become greater in number and potency, the subject begins to lose the capacity for human thought and feeling. Their mind ceases to operate through the familiar neural byways of higher cognition and begins to adopt the sub-rational instincts of their bond animal.
Every month, the transformation intensifies during the approach of the full moon. When the moon actually reaches fulness, the subject endures a night of trial as the primal urges of their bond animal threaten to take control of their conscious mind. If the subject's will falters, they experience a fugue state, during which they may act involuntarily and participate in a bestial ritual known as the Great Hunt, a rampaging frenzy of wanton blood lust. When lost in the mad reverie of the Great Hunt, those afflicted with the Shifter's Curse have been known to shift form and indiscriminately prey upon random victims (including other humans).
Falling under the influence of the Great Hunt has a permanent, deleterious effect on the mental health of the subject and accelerates their transformation. A subject who surrenders to the Hunt will enjoy more of the Beast's dark gifts, but suffer the accelerated decline of their humanity, as the horror of the hunt stains their soul. After participating in three Great Hunts, the subject is fully lost to the curse and their psyche embraces the will of the Beast to join a never-ending night of slaughter.
Mattheus Manheim was cursed by the Beast when he was bitten by a weretiger within Admenoth's sacrifice chamber (Moon Vault). To compound this feline fun, the Party also befriended a panther using Edmund's ring of animal friendship. He called this new companion, "Cuddles." Iconography within the vault indicated a blood ritual used to infuse human beings with the characteristics of animals. It is likely that acolytes of Admenoth's Cult of Exiles participated in these rituals as part of their perverse adoration of the Void empyreans. If this is true, it is likely that the Beast deity is actually an emanation of the Void.
When the Party visited Fort Kanto, they met a Pachucese jungle shaman by the name of Choedon. Choedon recognized Math's affliction and confirmed that Cuddles the panther was also a victim of the curse. He informed Math that he could lose his humanity in only three months or spend the rest of his life fighting to resist the Beast's influence. When pressed for a solution, Choedon offered a third choice. The curse could be lifted, but only if Math ventured to Mount Ahriman to imbibe a potion brewed from the leaves of the poisonous nightshade that grows near the mountaintop. To obtain this plant, however, he would have to confront the Beast and destroy it. So far Math has successfully resisted the maddening call of one Great Hunt. The next full moon arrives on March 25th.
Type
Supernatural
Origin
Magical
Cycle
Chronic, Acquired
Rarity
Extremely Rare
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