Therianthropy

Therianthropy is the parent name to a variety of conditions. These conditions involve the common theme of humans turning into various animals. Therianthropy is an umbrella term, referring to all conditions of the "were-" variety. Common among these are lycanthropy, cynanthropy, and ailuranthropy.

Transmission & Vectors

Therianthropy can be transmitted through consuming the blood of a therianthrope, in most common forms. It can also be granted by a divine being, through a ritual, and by rare chance, birth.

Therianthropy, after the first stage of pain, can then be transmitted freely, on either accident or on purpose.

Depending on how one receives therianthropy also affects one's powers and status among others of their kind.

Causes

Originally, therianthropy was a condition given by hunter-based and warrior-based deities, to help with their fine hunters' and warriors' strength, speed, and tracking.

Symptoms

While not every condition under therianthropy has the same symptoms, they have similar patterns. Pain, various teeth according to the animal the victim will become, growing extra hair, sharper nails, and heightened senses are symptoms that tend to happen to each therianthrope.

Treatment

There are no true ways to heal the condition, but there are ways to subdue pain. Painkillers and the blood of one from the same theriantype may assist in the process, and generally caring for the body while it gets through the process of transformation helps.

Additionally, all therianthropes seem to have a high negative reaction to various metals, most common being silver, so this may be used to subdue the condition. Wearing the metals may cause some pain and discomfort, but it helps negate one's heightened senses, resistance to disease, and may prevent sudden risks of unwelcome transformations.
It should be noted, however, that not all therianthropes who wear negative materials for their theriantype wish to be human again, as wearing such and continuing to train abilities may increase the power when used.

Another way to lessen the condition is to become a different non-human creature. Commonly, one turns into a vampire, however there are risks in doing this surrounding the conflicts between therianthropes and vampires.

Prognosis

Therianthropy has many various fluctuations of pain and numb stages. The first pain stage is the body reacting to the condition, which may cause the victim to throw up. Then there is a small grace period where the body recovers and strengthens. However, during this period, the body is still weak and should not be allowed to participate in strenuous activities. Then after are various stages of pain and relief, depending on the theriantype.

Sequela

The results after the stages of changing have been completed is the ability for one to shift between human and animal forms, or participation in "half-shifting," which is when one shifts but stops somewhere between total human and total animal. Half-shifts can either be horrific, beautiful, unnoticeable, and/or useful.

There may also be the rare, but entirely possible, unfortunate result of turning "feral." Ferals, unlike civils, are wild monsters, taking the appearance of a half-shift. Ferals tend to happen after the first unwanted shift, and suddenly stop before they completely shift. A notable species of feral is The Bloodthirsters.
Additionally, Frozen Transformation Disorder may also occur.

Hosts & Carriers

Many animals can gift therianthropy, as such is used in rituals. However, these animals cannot shift themselves unless they have done their part in their own ritual.

While most therianthropes are human-to-animal and vice versa, there have been several reports of therianthropes that are animal-to-animal, though these cases are rare, as being part therianthrope usually prevents the ability to become full therianthrope by drinking non-human blood (besides that of a human-origin therianthrope).

Prevention

Not ingesting random substances, not performing random rituals in ancient books, and not making deals with deities in exchange for "great power and strength" often help in preventing one being affected by therianthropy.

Cultural Reception

Victims are often feared or thought to have a mental illness if one tells their story of shifting. It is best if the general public does not know.
Other therianthropes do not fear or revere each other, unless given reason to by one's actions.

Type

Supernatural

Children

• Frozen Transformation Disorder
• Lycanthropy
• Moon Madness

Origin

Divine

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Rare