Therianthropy
Therianthropy is a condition whereby a humanoid gains the innate ability to change into a particular animal. This condition may be inherited if both parents have it, it may be transmitted via a bite from an infected Therianthrope or inflicted as a magical curse. This does not cover cases in which an individual uses an item or spell on themselves to change into an animal or hybrid creature, though many of the side effects can be similar.
Transmission & Vectors
Therianthropy can be a very complicated condition, and at times it can seem unpredictable, but there are a number of consistent methods by which it may be transmitted.
Inherited therianthropy is typically passed to the offspring of two Therianthrope parents. In this case the child will typically start experiencing early symptoms of the condition around the onset of puberty, though these symptoms can vary greatly between individuals. If a child is born of one therianthrope parent and one non-therianthrope parent, the child will likely not develop therianthropy at all, but will be a carrier of the condition. Due to the nature of such magically-influenced bloodlines, the condition can hide in a bloodline like this for generations before manifesting again, either as a random therianthrope in an otherwise non-therianthrope family, or as a weretouched.
Infected therianthropy is transmitted via a bite or scratch from an infected therianthrope during a full moon. While it is uncommon to survive an attack from an infected therianthrope, those who do will need immediate treatment in order to prevent development of therianthropy before the next full moon. There have been stories about contracting therianthropy from an infected sexual partner, but thus far these have been unsubstantiated.
Cursed therianthropy is transmitted via a curse cast on an individual or, less frequently, an entire bloodline. The motivations for doing so vary wildly, but the effect is the same: under the curse, an individual will transform uncontrollably during the full moon and attack any creature they encounter. Some versions of the curse force the afflicted to transform every night, and others explicitly place the transformed therianthrope under the control of the one who cursed them, but these are relatively rare.
Symptoms
The first stage of infection is the development of rapid healing abilities, primarily around the site of the injury. After that, the afflicted will become feverish and delirious, and many cases have reported vivid nightmares and hallucinations. The afflicted may become more aggressive towards even friends and family, ranging from a shorter temper to full-blown violence, depending on the subject's initial temperament.
Treatment
Infected therianthropy may be cured before the next full moon with a preparation of wolfsbane, though the toxicity of the plant must be managed carefully to avoid killing the patient. After the full moon and associated transformation, it can only be cured with a combination of a wolfsbane preparation and a remove disease spell.
Cursed therianthropy can only be removed with a remove curse spell, but the symptoms may be managed with a preparation of wolfsbane drunk on the evenings of the full moon; the wolfbane potion does not prevent transformation, but it will allow the therianthrope to keep his mind intact and stay away from people
If these treatment options are not viable, a heavy-duty cage or structurally reinforced room may be used to contain the afflicted therianthrope during the full moon. The container in question must be checked frequently for structural faults outside of the full moon, and the afflicted is likely to be exhausted and possibly bruised in the morning from thrashing and fighting to escape.
Prognosis
Infected or cursed therianthropy is seldom fatal on its own, and can be managed safely or cured with preparation, but the uncontrolled transformations can be dangerous--in perception or in reality--to any people nearby. Many of the more dangerous types of therianthropes end up being killed, typically with the use of a silvered weapon or magic.
Hosts & Carriers
The therianthropy infection is carried and passed along by humanoids--typically humans or half-elves--who are themselves under the effects of infectious or cursed therianthropy.
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