Lycanthropy

"Cursecasting & Hexcraft: Lycanthropy – The Beast Within, The Battle Without"

Created & Written by Khali A. Crawford | Inspired by the Superpower Wiki article Werewolf Physiology

Effect

Lycanthropy is a supernatural affliction that grants individuals the ability to transform into a werewolf, a powerful hybrid entity that bridges the gap between human and beast. This condition is not merely a physical transformation but an intricate fusion of biological mutation and magical enhancement, tied deeply to the curse that first created it. Those afflicted by Lycanthropy inherit the traits, abilities, and instincts of both wolves and humans, gaining a unique evolutionary advantage that allows them to operate at peak efficiency in both forms.

A Lycan may be born into their condition or afflicted through transmission of the curse, typically via a bite, claw wound, or exposure to Lycan-infected blood. Unlike many other supernatural transformations, Lycanthropy is a permanent metamorphic state—it does not fade with time, nor can it be undone by conventional means.

While the myths of old speak of werewolves as creatures bound to the cycles of the full moon, modern Lycanthropy functions under a different set of biological and magical laws. The transformation is governed not by lunar phases but by the accumulation and regulation of magical energy within the afflicted individual's body.

Even when not in their transformed state, Lycans exhibit superhuman enhancements beyond the capacity of normal humans or even some other supernatural beings. These abilities include:

• Enhanced Physicality → Strength, speed, endurance, and reflexes greatly exceed mortal limitations, allowing Lycans to perform feats such as effortlessly leaping great distances, shattering stone with their bare hands, and shrugging off injuries that would be fatal to ordinary beings.
• Heightened Senses → Their olfactory, auditory, and visual faculties surpass those of both wolves and mortals. They can detect scents across miles, hear minute fluctuations in heartbeats, and track targets with unparalleled precision.
• Regenerative Healing Factor → Lycans heal at an accelerated rate, recovering from wounds ten times faster than a human. Minor cuts seal within seconds, deep gashes close within minutes, and even severe injuries can be mended within hours—though they are not invincible and still require sustenance and rest to maintain their strength.
• Combat Adaptability → Even without formal training, Lycans display instinctual combat prowess, able to react to danger with predatory efficiency. Their muscle memory, combined with heightened reflexes, makes them natural-born warriors.

However, these baseline abilities pale in comparison to what a Lycan is capable of when undergoing their Alpha Transformation.

Alpha Transformation: The Kaiju Phenomenon

All Lycans, regardless of lineage or experience, possess a dormant reservoir of power that gradually builds within their body. This phenomenon is facilitated by Lycells, specialized biological structures that act as magical energy capacitors, accumulating vast amounts of raw mystical force over time.

Once these Lycells reach their saturation point, the Lycan undergoes a violent Alpha Transformation, forcibly shifting into a colossal werewolf entity, growing several times their original size. This is not a mere transformation—it is an explosive evolutionary metamorphosis, where the stored magical energy is forcibly converted into bone, muscle, and nerve tissue, forging an apex predator form that is several magnitudes stronger than their normal state.

Mechanics of the Alpha State:

• The Kaiju Effect → A fully transformed Lycan becomes a massive, towering beast, dwarfing most humanoid entities in sheer size and power. This Mini-Kaiju form is unique to each Lycan, shaped by their genetic lineage, level of experience, and accumulated energy.
• Surge of Power → In this form, all physical attributes—strength, speed, durability, and endurance—are exponentially amplified. Even the weakest of Lycans, once transformed, can decimate entire battlefields with a single swipe of their claws.
• Instinctual Madness → Maintaining one’s sanity and self-control in this state is a battle of willpower. Those who cannot master their instincts succumb to primal rage, losing themselves to unrelenting carnage and destruction.
• Decay Cycle → The Alpha form is not permanent. After several hours, the massive body loses structural integrity, slowly breaking down into a decaying husk. This body evaporates over the course of several weeks, leaving only the original Lycan at its core—who must be surgically extracted from the corpse before suffocating within its mass.

A Lycan cannot prevent their transformation indefinitely—their Lycells will always reach critical mass over time. However, a trained Lycan can control the rate at which their Lycells charge, allowing them to extend the period between Alpha Transformations by utilizing stored energy in controlled magical applications.

Lycanthropy & Magic: The Self-Sustaining System

While many assume that Lycans are purely physical beings, they possess one of the rarest magical traits in the Hyperverse—the ability to function as a self-sufficient magical system.

Lycells, while primarily responsible for fueling their transformations, can also be redirected into the Lycan’s Mana Cells, allowing them to:

• Cast Spells & Enhance Physical Attacks → Channeling magic through their Lycells allows a Lycan to wield supernatural abilities without an external energy source.
• Extend Transformation Cooldown → By deliberately expending their accumulated energy before reaching the critical limit, a Lycan can delay their next Alpha State.
• Adapt & Evolve → The more a Lycan trains in magic, the more control they exert over their transformations, potentially allowing for partial shifts, hybrid states, or controlled Alpha releases.

However, no matter how skilled a Lycan becomes, their Lycells will inevitably fill, and they will transform—it is not a question of if, but when.

Side/Secondary Effects

The Wolfrenzy Phenomenon

Lycans possess an innate predatory drive, an uncontrollable biological and magical response that can trigger a state of heightened aggression and raw power known as Wolfrenzy. This is a berserker-like state of unrelenting bloodlust, where all limitations—both physical and magical—are temporarily overridden in favor of absolute destruction.

Wolfrenzy is not a conscious ability but rather an involuntary reaction to prolonged combat, severe injury, or unchecked aggression. Once triggered, the Lycan enters a hyper-adaptive combat mode, where:

• Their strength, speed, durability, and reflexes skyrocket to their absolute peak, allowing them to fight with unparalleled ferocity.
• Magic and Lycells operate at full capacity, with no energy conservation—every action is executed at 100% efficiency.
• Pain tolerance is nearly erased, allowing the Lycan to fight through mortal wounds as if they were minor inconveniences.

However, this unfiltered power comes at a tremendous cost. The Wolfrenzy state is not sustainable—while the body may become temporarily invincible, it is also burning itself out at an exponential rate.

Wolfrenzy is both a weapon and a death sentence. The longer a Lycan remains in this state, the more severe the aftereffects:

• Extreme Physical Deterioration → The Lycan’s muscles, tendons, and bones undergo rapid degeneration, tearing apart under the overwhelming strain. Once the frenzy ends, they are often left crippled or comatose for extended recovery periods.
• Cognitive & Emotional Collapse → Extended exposure to pure bloodlust damages the mind, potentially leading to permanent psychosis, loss of identity, or complete bestial regression.
• Energy Burnout → Lycells deplete all stored magical energy at an alarming rate, making a post-frenzy Lycan completely drained and vulnerable.
• Self-Sustaining Cycle of Violence → Bloodshed fuels the frenzy, meaning the more a Lycan kills, the deeper they sink into the madness. Killing cannot stop a Wolfrenzy—only restraint can.

Unlike the Alpha Transformation, which is an explosion of stored energy, Wolfrenzy is a state of continuous overexertion that will inevitably lead to self-destruction if left unchecked.

Exiting the Wolfrenzy

There is no external cure for Wolfrenzy—no spell, no potion, and no force of will from another being can forcibly stop it. The only way to end a Wolfrenzy is through internal self-control.

The afflicted Lycan must:

• Consciously suppress their instincts and reassert their rational mind.
• Disengage from combat, as any further bloodshed only fuels the rage.
• Anchor themselves to a stabilizing force, such as a trusted companion, a deeply held belief, or a sacred bond.

For young or untrained Lycans, escaping the frenzy is nearly impossible—they often have to be incapacitated or left to burn themselves out. However, elder or experienced Lycans can learn to control their bloodlust, using it as a tool rather than being consumed by it.

The Aftermath of the Alpha Transformation

When in their Alpha State, a Lycan becomes a living magical reactor, burning through every ounce of stored mystical energy their Lycells have accumulated. This process is so physiologically extreme that upon exiting the Alpha form, the Lycan’s body enters a critical recovery phase, leaving them weakened, vulnerable, and in dire need of nourishment.

Post-Transformation Recovery

• Extreme Fatigue & Physical Weakness → After the transformation, a Lycan is drained of all energy and typically collapses immediately. They often lose consciousness due to the sheer exhaustion caused by their body rapidly expanding and then collapsing back into its natural form.
• Hospitalization & Nutrient Infusion → In nearly all cases, a Lycan must be hospitalized or placed in an intensive care unit. They are typically fed nutrients via intravenous (IV) infusions, as their body is too weak to process solid food immediately.
• Metabolic Overdrive → A Lycan's metabolism operates at an extreme rate for several days post-transformation, requiring massive caloric intake to stabilize. On average, they must consume upwards of 50,000 calories per day during their recovery period.

The Alpha Feast – A Celebration of Survival

After a Lycan undergoes their first Alpha Transformation, it marks an important milestone—the moment they have survived the most violent and destructive metamorphosis their body will ever endure. To honor this, an Alpha Feast is held—a multi-day celebration of feasting, camaraderie, and ritualistic games, signifying the Lycan's emergence as a true force of nature.

Traditions of the Alpha Feast include:

• Endurance Games → Lycans engage in tests of strength, agility, and fortitude, proving that despite their weakened state, they are still warriors.
• Rite of the Elder Howl → The elder Lycans join in a ceremonial howl, recognizing the initiate’s transformation and welcoming them fully into the pack.

The Alpha Feast is more than just a celebration—it is a declaration. It is a moment of triumph over the curse that binds them, the hunger that drives them, and the beast that lives within them.

Manifestation

The first sign was the stillness. No wind, no breath of air, just an oppressive weight settling over the land, thick as tar. The Lycan’s breath hitched, sharp and ragged, his ribs rising and falling like a bellows on the verge of bursting. Then came the tremor—a low, gut-deep vibration that made the ground quiver beneath his feet. His veins bulged, muscles twisting under the skin, tendons coiling tight as if something beneath the flesh was trying to claw its way out. Then, the eruption. A sound like shattering stone cracked through the air as his spine snapped backward, vertebrae grinding and splitting apart, making way for something far larger. His flesh ripped, tore, and peeled away in steaming ribbons, the scent of scorched fur and boiling blood thick enough to choke. Then, a deafening boom—a sudden explosion of raw energy—shook the very ground, and from the heart of that chaos, the beast began to rise. The transformation was not smooth, nor seamless, but violent and visceral. His limbs elongated with a sickening pop, bones stretching beyond their natural limits before snapping into place, muscle knitting itself over newly formed joints. His back split open in a jagged line, and from the exposed sinew, blackened spikes jutted forth, each one slick with molten flesh, steaming in the frigid night air. His hands—no, his claws—thickened, curved like reaping scythes, tearing at the dirt as he fell to all fours, struggling against the sheer, unbearable force of his own growth. Then came the howl. Not the cry of a wolf, nor the scream of a man, but something ancient and terrible, a sound that rattled bone and curdled blood. The very air quivered, the wind screaming through the battlefield as the final surge of power ripped through him like a lightning strike. Another explosion of steam, another shockwave of raw force, and the transformation was complete. The towering monstrosity that remained stood like a living calamity, its spiked silhouette dark against the backdrop of a sky that seemed too small to contain it. Its fur was a shifting, seething thing, as though shadow and silver had fused into something unnatural, something that refused to stay still. The eyes, pale and luminous, burned with a hunger that was neither human nor beast, but something wholly other, something made for war and ruin. And then it moved—too fast, too impossibly large, and the world cracked beneath its weight.

— Unknown Account

Source

Lycanthropy is a highly infectious supernatural condition, passed through direct physical contact with an active Lycan. The most common method of transmission occurs when an individual is bitten, clawed, or exposed to Lycan-infused blood, introducing Lycells—the specialized magic-storing cells unique to Lycans—into their system.

Once infected, the transformation process is not immediate. Instead, the afflicted undergo a grueling seven-week metamorphic sickness, during which their body is forcibly reshaped at a cellular level. This ordeal is excruciating and often fatal to weaker beings. Only those with sufficient constitution, willpower, or magical resilience can survive the transformation.

If the individual endures the full seven-week trial, they emerge as a fully realized Lycan, now permanently bound to the curse.

The Irreversible Nature of the Curse

Lycanthropy is a physical and biological mutation, not a spiritual affliction. Unlike other supernatural conditions that may be tethered to an individual’s soul, karma, or metaphysical essence, Lycanthropy is rooted purely in the body itself.

This distinction means that:

• The curse cannot be exorcised, dispelled, or purified by conventional magical or divine means.
• A Lycan’s soul remains unaffected, allowing them to reincarnate without the curse persisting into their next life.
• The only known method of "removal" is total body replacement—if a Lycan transfers their consciousness into a pre-curse clone, a new vessel, or an artificial construct, the affliction does not carry over.

Aside from such drastic measures, Lycanthropy is permanent and inescapable—once the body has been rewritten by the curse, there is no going back.

Discovery

Long ago, in the ancient realm of Arcadia, there ruled a king named Lycaon, a man known for his cunning, ambition, and ruthless nature. His reign was marked by a hunger for knowledge and power, yet his skepticism of the divine led him to commit an act of grave blasphemy—one that would alter the fate of his lineage forever.

One fateful night, a divine being descended upon Lycaon’s court, veiled in mortal form, seeking hospitality. Doubting the entity’s omniscience and godhood, Lycaon devised a test: he commanded his fifty sons to butcher an innocent man, secretly incorporating the remains into a grand feast served before the divine guest.

The god, immediately aware of the deception, was horrified by the cruelty displayed before him. In an act of divine retribution, he unleashed a great and terrible curse upon Lycaon and his sons, warping their flesh and minds, and forcing them to take on the monstrous forms of beasts. Their very essence was twisted to reflect their predatory nature, turning them into massive, primal wolf monsters—an embodiment of their savagery and betrayal.

Thus, the first Lycans were born, condemned to roam existence as creatures of hunger, instinct, and uncontrollable transformation. From that day forward, the curse of Lycanthropy would spread across the realms, carried by those who embraced the beast within and those who fell victim to its bite.

The Cult of the Wolf – The Path of Atonement

The Cult of the Wolf was founded by King Lycaon in the aftermath of his divine punishment when he and his sons were cast out of Arcadia, and condemned to roam existence as beasts cursed by their sins. Rather than succumb to despair or embrace their monstrous nature, Lycaon sought redemption, interpreting their affliction not as damnation, but as a trial—a test of character imposed by the divine.

The doctrine of the Cult is built upon penance, restraint, and spiritual purification, teaching that Lycanthropy is a burden to be endured, not a gift to be indulged. It is believed that those who embrace discipline, reject their animalistic urges, and live a sinless life will be freed of the curse in the next existence—transcending their bestial fate and returning to a state of purity upon death.

Doctrine & Practices of the Cult

Denial of Violence & Instinct

Unlike most Lycans who see their power as a means of dominance, survival, or warfare, the Cult rejects violence entirely. They believe that shedding blood or embracing aggression strengthens the curse, trapping the soul in an endless cycle of suffering and reincarnation as a beast.

Instead, the Cult follows a path of absolute pacifism, striving to prove that a cursed soul can transcend its monstrous instincts through sheer willpower.

Rituals of Atonement: Pain as Purification

The Cult views suffering as a necessary form of cleansing, a means of purging past sins and resisting the call of the Wolfrenzy. To this end, they engage in self-inflicted penance rituals, including:

• Self-Flagellation with Unalloyed Silver Whips → Silver is the bane of all Lycans, and by enduring its agonizing touch willingly, Cultists believe they demonstrate mastery over the beast within.
• Fasting & Sensory Deprivation → Cultists deliberately weaken themselves, training their bodies to function without excess strength or heightened senses, further distancing themselves from their animalistic urges.
• Meditative Isolation → Many members retreat into long periods of solitude, reflecting upon their past deeds and strengthening their mental resistance against the hunger for violence.

These practices are meant to break the chains of instinct, reinforcing the idea that self-control is the only true path to freedom.

Recruitment & Redemption: Offering the Curse as a Trial

The Cult of the Wolf does not seek to expand its influence in the traditional sense. Instead, they offer sanctuary and a path to redemption for those who have fallen into depravity, sin, or violence.

• New initiates are often criminals, exiles, or sinners—people who have committed grave acts and seek to atone.
• Instead of mere repentance, they are afflicted with Lycanthropy as a divine test—if they can resist the curse’s pull and live a life of virtue, they may earn absolution in the next life.
• Those who fail and give in to their instincts are cast out, and seen as beyond salvation.

Unlike other Lycan groups, the Cult is not a danger to society—in fact, they are incapable of violence, bound by an unshakable code of pacifism. To outsiders, they may seem eccentric, pitiful, or even delusional, but to those who seek absolution, they are the last hope for escaping the beast within.

As Above So Below As Within So Without Logo by Khali A. Crawford

Grandmaster SixPathsSage

Khali Crawford

   

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Material Components

Lycanthropy, while granting immense power and resilience, is not without its vulnerabilities. Certain materials—either by divine decree or supernatural properties—are inherently toxic or disruptive to Lycans, acting as natural countermeasures against their transformative abilities and regenerative prowess. Among them, Unalloyed Silver and Wolfsbane stand as the most feared and universally recognized weaknesses of all who bear the curse.

Unalloyed Silver – The Metal of Absolute Purity

That piece of iron—one small stroke proves deadly, while a light tap proves fatal! The slightest touch cracks the skin, a small rap cripples the muscles!

— Journey to the West

Unalloyed Silver is an anomalous metal, existing in a state of absolute purity—101% silver. It is not merely a metal but a force of change, an element untouched by corruption, making it a universal disruptor of magical and shapeshifting entities. Its effects extend beyond simple physical damage, functioning as an anti-magic weapon, a banishment tool, and a purging catalyst across multiple supernatural domains.

Effects on Lycans:

• Immediate Contact → Even the slightest touch bruises and weakens the flesh of a Lycan, bypassing their natural durability.
• Prolonged Exposure → Causes excruciating burns, necrotizing tissue, and an overwhelming sensation of suffocation, as if their very essence is being forcefully ejected from reality.
• Forced Reversion → If a transformed Lycan is struck or impaled with Unalloyed Silver, their body is forcibly reverted to its base form, temporarily severing its connection to their Lycells and suppressing their magic regeneration.
• Psychological Aversion → Lycans cannot physically stand near Unalloyed Silver, experiencing severe discomfort and nausea even at a distance of several feet.

Religious and Mystical Uses:

• Ascetic monks and purity-seekers often implant small Unalloyed Silver rods into their skulls as a means of warding off sin and suppressing corruptive influences.
• Some arcane sanctuaries and divine temples incorporate Unalloyed Silver into their architecture, ensuring that Lycans and other supernatural entities cannot enter or manifest their abilities within those sacred spaces.
• Weapons forged from Unalloyed Silver are rare and priceless, as they are one of the few materials capable of inflicting irreversible wounds on a Lycan, preventing regeneration.

For Lycans, Unalloyed Silver is not merely a weakness—it is a death sentence.

Wolfsbane – The Cursed Bloom of Arcadia

Wolfsbane, a plant native to Arcadia, was once beloved by Lycaon’s wife, a symbol of peace and devotion. However, after Lycaon’s great betrayal of the gods, it was cursed by divine wrath, infused with the hatred and scorn of the heavens. Since then, it has become one of the most potent and insidious banes to Lycans, affecting them in both mind and body.

Effects on Lycans:

• Intoxicating Aroma → The scent of Wolfsbane overwhelms a Lycan’s enhanced senses, inducing dizziness, nausea, and disorientation.
• Physical Contact → Exposure to Wolfsbane oil or direct touch burns their skin like acid, creating painful welts that are slow to heal.
• Consumption (Toxicity Level: Lethal) → Ingesting Wolfsbane shuts down a Lycan’s nervous system, causing respiratory failure, paralysis, and death within minutes.

Ritual & Cultural Uses of Wolfsbane:

• Defensive Measures → Wolfsbane is commonly woven into barriers, placed around homes, or burned in ceremonial fires to keep Lycans at bay.
• Lycan Repellent → A simple bush of Wolfsbane is enough to ward off most sane Lycans, as even proximity causes discomfort.
• Alchemical Weaponization → Certain anti-Lycan factions craft Wolfsbane tonics and poison-laced weapons, designed to cripple or permanently incapacitate those afflicted by the curse.

Wolfbrew – The Warrior’s Poison

Despite its lethal properties, some Lycans—particularly warriors, gladiators, and battle-hardened veterans—willingly consume Wolfsbane in the form of a concoction known as Wolfbrew. This infamous alcoholic elixir is brewed from distilled Wolfsbane essence, mixed with various herbs, fungi, and fermented bloodwine, resulting in a drink that is:

• Dangerously toxic even in small doses.
• Extremely painful to consume, as it burns both going down and coming out.
• Said to "awaken the beast" within, inducing a temporary state of heightened aggression, sensory overload, and near-imperviousness to pain.

Wolfbrew is primarily consumed:

• Before battle, to "loosen up" and embrace the warrior’s spirit.
• Before marriage, as a symbolic ritual to prepare for the trials of lifelong commitment.
• As an extreme endurance test, separating the strong from the weak.

A single shot of Wolfbrew is considered a "safe dose," though what constitutes “safe” is highly debatable. Anything beyond that, and even the strongest Lycan risks immediate organ failure.

Related Discipline

Cursecasting & Hexcraft

Effect Casting Time

Seconds