Werewolf

Basic Information

Anatomy

In their humanoid form, they look identical to whatever species they were turned from or descend from. They may have a dwarf's stature or a fey's ears, or a human's face. They are indistinguishable from other humanoid races. However, they have two other forms, one called the "middle form" and the other called the "full form" or "wild form."

Anthropomorphic Wolf Hand Study by Russell Tuller

Middle Form

In the middle form, they are a anthropomorphic wolf-like creature. This is much like the monsters of legend, half wolf, half man. When in the middle form, they've grown in height, usually around a foot extra, have sprouted fur over most of their body, and have gained a significant amount of muscle. If pants have enough elasticity, they usually survive a shift into the middle form, but shirts usually do not, stretching enough to tear.
A tail is not grown in the middle form, but the ears do move up to the top of the head, becoming canine. The face partially elongates into a short snout, the teeth elongate and sharpen, and the eyes become canine. The majority of the fur that grows is on the head, which appears to lose its hair, shoulders, and lower body. There is also a significant coating of fur down the back, concentrated on the spine. The skin usually takes on a more grayish hue, but the coloration is dictated by the fur color, which matches that of the full form. The hands and feet are anthropomorphic and the hands can grasp and manipulate, however they are not as nimble do to the pads that form on them. The fingernails and toenails become clawlike and sharp.
Walking or running bipedally in this form is actually slower and clumsier than in the humanoid form, but moving as a quadruped is much faster. The speed of travel is only outpaced by what they can achieve in their full form. Those individuals who can successfully achieve both their middle and full form regularly tend to choose this one for strength or sheer intimidation.
It is difficult for a natural born werewolf to access the middle form as they usually shift straight to full.

Full/Wild Form

In their full form, they look much like an oversized timber wolf. There is little to distinguish them from a true wolf except for their size and their tendency to make slightly more humanoid expressions, to the extent their facial muscles are capable. They have the same range of patterning and coloration of a natural timber wolf, including the color of the eyes, although a green shade is far more common in werewolves than timber wolves.
Where a timber wolf might average 26" - 32" at the shoulder, a werewolf's full form could be anywhere from 3'3" to 5'0". Females average 3'6" - 4'4" at the shoulder and males average 3'10" - 4'9". This form allows for the greatest speed but is not quite as strong as the middle form of the same wolf would be. It is also impossible to manipulate objects with the hand or stand up on the hind legs.
It is difficult for a turned werewolf to access the full form as they usually stop at the middle form.

Genetics and Reproduction

Werewolves, both turned and natural, reproduce sexually. They can reproduce with any humanoid species, as lycanthropy is as much a condition as it is an independent species, with a theoretically equal chance the offspring would be born with or without lycanthropy. Gestation is the same length as a human's and they have live births. While the population is doing well, a statistically significant number of incidences occur where the act of transforming from humanoid state to middle or full state seems to trigger a miscarriage, lowering the successful birth rate compared to other humanoid species.
For turning via bite, see transmission in Lycanthropy.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

As a sapient species, werewolves are not domesticated or farmed. However, they have been hunted for their pelts, which must be removed while the werewolf is shifted as they revert to humanoid form upon death, and to be used as a power source for high level spells. The magic that allows them to shift is stored in their bodies and witches can tap into that. This has led to some crudely referring to werewolves as batteries. Werewolf blood and teeth are also rare ingredients in a handful of spell rituals and potions.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Even in humanoid form, a werewolf has enhanced hearing, sight, night vision, and smell. This is enhanced further with even just a partial shift (when the canine eyes are visible in the humanoid form). In the middle or full form, these senses are at their most extremely enhanced, outdoing that of an actual timber wolf. The also have enhanced strength, resilience, stamina, and healing abilities in any of their forms.
When shifted into the middle or full form, werewolves gain the ability to mindlink with a single individual at a time, telepathically communicating with them. The only wolf known to achieve the ability to do this during only a partial shift is Luna Greenspeaker. In humanoid form, wolves do not have this ability.

Civilization and Culture

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

What was written here was basic, almost elementary. Werewolves were humans that took on the form of a wolf at the full moon, although one book did outline they could shift at will, as well. The first two didn't say that. The wolf forms illustrated varied from something vaguely humanoid to something that looked like an everyday timber wolf. There was no consensus. It was said that a bite from a werewolf was fatal to most, but that some who survived would contract the curse. It called them monsters, savage things that attacked at will, even sometimes in their human form, the longer they lived with their curse.
The only thing that could subdue them was silver that was at least 60% pure or a potion made from the bud of certain varieties of wolfsbane, which in its natural form was merely an irritant or allergen to the werewolf. They had hunted witches for their hearts until a treaty in the 1600s, but many witches still feared them to this day for their savagery was not controllable. It was why so many pendants witches wore were made of silver.

— The Library

Scientific Name

Homo sapiens lycanus

Lifespan

400 years

Average Height

3'6" - 4'9" (shoulder)

Related Organizations

• Elk River Pack