Lycanthropy

Lycanthropy, often known euphemistically as 'the Curse', is a condition that causes an individual to transform into a hulking wolf-like creature, known as a Werewolf. While in this state, the afflicted loses any notion of rational thought and enters a bloodthirsty rage. The werewolf slaughters anything in its way, until either its life is ended at the tip of a spear, or the person it once was wakes up in the wilderness, blood-soaked, naked and alone. Those with extremely strong wills, or perhaps magical assistance, have been known to retain some of their higher faculties even in their beastly form. Such people can change back-and-forth between forms at will, and despite still experiencing an insatiable bloodthirst, will be able to avoid killing if they don't want to and may even be capable of speech.
A member of any race can become a lycanthrope, and it is found in many different populations independently. The size of a werewolf is loosely based on its former size. For example, Giants regularly exceed three metres in length when transformed. Dwarves, when in werewolf form, may be only slightly larger than an ordinary wolf albeit far more deadly.
The duration of a lycanthropic episode varies based on many factors, most notably the prey available to the werewolf. If a transformation occurs and no prey can be found, the werewolf will quickly become irate and may resort to attacking inanimate objects or perhaps even itself before changing back. Most lycanthropic episodes, however, end in blood. The werewolf will become more blood-crazed with each kill, and the more blood and raw, steaming flesh it consumes the longer its rampage can continue. Some werewolves kill so many that their transformation becomes irreversible. In such cases, the werewolf often escapes into the wilderness and lives as a feral beast, sometimes becoming the leader of a wolf pack or even joining a pack of other feral werewolves.

Transmission & Vectors

Individuals seem to be born with lycanthropy at random, and it often lies dormant for many years. There is no known factor that contributes to the chance of being born with the Curse. Expectant mothers sometimes wear a silver amulet during pregnancy in the hope that it defends against their child becoming a werewolf.
On the very rare occasion that a werewolf's victim survives, they might themselves become a werewolf. Those who take up arms in order to put down a werewolf are quite often exiled or even killed, on suspicion that they recieved a bite or scratch from the beast.

Symptoms

Before a person transforms into a werewolf, there are few obvious signs that they are afflicted with lycanthropy. Perhaps the most obvious is a strong aversion to silver or desire for gold, but even this cannot detect lycanthropy for sure. Those with The Gift or other supernatural abilities or conditions will also fear silver and be drawn to gold. (The Curse of Silver / The Gift of Gold)
A common folk belief is that lycanthropic individuals are unnaturally hairy or have hairs in unusual places such as the palms or under the tongue. Neither of these traits have ever been successfully used to diagnose a lycanthrope, however.

Treatment

There is no known cure for lycanthropy, and even if a lycanthrope survives their murderous rampage, they are likely to be killed.

Cultural Reception

Across Verrin, one of the only topics the races agree on is their hatred of werewolves. If suspected of being a lycanthrope, the individual is often killed, sometimes without evidence. Most 'civilised' societies will give the lycanthrope a chance to go into exile first, but not always. Towns and villages of the Men of Verrin traditionally have a single silver-tipped spear in their armoury to be used against supernatural threats including werewolves and the restless dead.
Some organisations take a harsher approach to werewolves: the Order of Oridain, although usually hunting down the undead, also exterminates werewolves and lycanthropes with extreme prejudice.
Conversely, the Feón Wildmen revere lycanthropes and have become experts at restraining werewolves rather than killing them outright. Using a unique combination of herbs, mushrooms and barks from various trees, they are able to brew a concoction that makes werewolves more docile and sometimes able to communicate. With practice, Feón werewolves learn to control their beast form and use it to great effect in battle. Lycanthropes are considered to be of high status among the Feón tribes, so many lycanthrope exiles seek out the Feón because they know they will not be persecuted or killed. They usually hope to be trained to control their beast form, although this is not always possible.

Type

Supernatural