Werewolves

Overview

A werewolf is a savage predator that appears as a terrifying hybrid form - a furred and well-muscled humanoid body topped by a ravening wolf’s head. There are considered to be multiple types of Werewolves, all of them sharing the distinct features, as well as a ferocity only found in cornered wolves. There has been cases of werewolves wielding weapons in hybrid form, though it prefers to tear foes apart with its powerful claws and bite. (Do not ask how we got this information.) Just how many werewolves there are on Araska and in Iquria as a whole is unknown. And how they entirely work is also unknown, as no one has ever dissected a werewolf corpse.

Lycanthropy

One of the most ancient and feared of all curses, lycanthropy can transform the most civilized humanoid into a ravening beast. In its natural humanoid form, a creature cursed by lycanthropy appears as its normal self. Over time, however, many lycanthropes acquire features suggestive of their animal form. In that animal form, a lycanthrope resembles a powerful version of a normal animal. On close inspection, its eyes show a faint spark of unnatural intelligence and might glow red in the dark.
There are evil lycanthropes that hide among normal folk, emerging in animal form at night to spread terror and bloodshed, especially under a full moon. Good lycanthropes are reclusive and uncomfortable around other civilized creatures, often living alone in wilderness areas far from villages and towns.

Different Types

We believe there are multiple different Werewolves types out there. Therefore anyone who plans to meet them, it will be vital to stay informed on how they act and more importantly, how to survive an encounter. The following texts are summarised accounts from people who have had an encounter, and lived to tell the tale.

The Common Werewolf

Not quite a beast, not quite a man, the Common Werewolf is less so an animal and more a curse. Though considered the least dangerous type of Werewolf, one would be foolish to think of them as easily bested, for they cannot be harmed by anything but silvered weaponry or magic. Curiously they are the only Werewolves who can, transmit a curse of Lycanthropy through biting, turning the cursed into a Werewolf every night for a month, until they permanently suffer the affliction.
As backwards as it may sound, hunters and mercenaries have claimed that if you are on the back foot and want to survive a Werewolf attack, the best way is to shove your arm down it's throat to trigger a gag reflex. The gag reflex of Werewolves are supposedly much more severe than that of humans, and will cause the beast to recoil and freeze up for several seconds, potentially allowing the assailed to get to safety. Then of course, hope and pray they did not contract the curse.

The Demon Werewolf

What makes the Demon Werewolf scary is not just it's looks, but it's intelligence. While other beasts may maul you for survival or because they feel threatened, the Demon Wolf has been reported to do it with pleasure. Survivors have witnessed their comrades getting tortured in the middle of battle, it is for this reason many priests and demon hunters believe it to be a type of fiend, hence the name. Reinforcing this belief is their fear of holy light and same resistance to all but silvered weaponry, making it's true identity shrouded in uncertainty, fiend or just a weird Werewolf. Nonetheless, it is highly recommended that you hide or run if you ever encounter one. They can be recognised by their open maw twisted like a smile and their unusually elongated claws.

A drawing of the Demon Werewolf from one of the few survivors:

A Common Werewolf