Lycanthropy

1,200 years ago, a man named Aviticus Crasser was bitten by a starved wolf during a lunar eclipse. A fortnight later, he became the first lycanthrope, or 'werewolf'.

Transmission & Vectors

A parasite created by the god of the wolf star, Astrac, to spite man. 1,200 years ago, a wolf became a host for this parasite during a lunar eclipse, and was driven ravenous by hunger. Once the parasite infects the host, it multiplies rapidly, feeding on the stomach and liver, not for food, but to drive the host to starvation. During a full moon, the parasite will burrow into the brain of its victim and compel them to consume so the parasite spreads to more hosts.

Symptoms

There are several telltale signs that some is a werewolf. The most obvious is a dramatic increase and density in body hair, particularly the back of the neck and shoulders. Secondly, the inability to perspire through sweat glands causing them to pant like a dog when too warm or out of breath. Thirdly, an appetite for raw meat and if really hungry, they will tear apart game without tools and devour the whole carcass, bones and all.
During the actual transformation, the blinding hot trauma of rapid bone and muscle growth proves fatal for most. Those fortunate (or unfortunate as the case may be) to survive the grueling process, transform into a beast, ruled purely by instinct to feed and spread the parasite to as many hosts as possible.
As their name suggests, once in their beast form, they have the visage of a man crossed with a wolf, as though a cruel mockery of both forms. Amber eyes that betray a cruel intelligence, elongated limbs, dense fur and a long snout ending in a wet nose and a mouth full of crooked, bone-crushing teeth.

Treatment

There are two known treatments for lycanthropy; the first and most common is to simply remove the parasite through surgery. If the parasite has already burrowed into the host's brain, it is too late. The last option, is to ask a Divine to remove the curse. However, Divines almost never help mortals without a price being paid in return and due to the extortionate nature of many of these 'favours', it is only used as a last resort.

Cultural Reception

Most everyone rightfully fears lycanthropes and people who live in areas with more sightings will often be very vigilant, often to the point of being extremely mistrustful of strangers. Folk would spread tales about supposed ways to know if someone has lycanthropy, tragically leading to innocents facing persecution and ostracisation. Many believe that silver is effective at keeping werewolves away but these are unfounded superstitions, though there is a creature called the golden hind which they fear above all else.

Type

Parasitic

Origin

Divine

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Extremely Rare

Affected Species

• Praesem (Men)