Post by Trevor Williams on Jul 24, 2012 20:17:12 GMT -8
WEREWOLVES
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Rating
XXXXX
Lifespan
A werewolf's lifespan is typically about the same as a human's, though the roughness of werewolf life can sometimes lower this significantly.
Origins
The year, 1221. The month, February. The location, England. The place, Meredith's Apothecary. The time, 10:30 p.m.
For many months William Meredith had been slaving after hours in the supply room beneath his shop to find a way to polyjuice into a race of beasts which had been plaguing his region. The locals knew them as the "Garou," for the sound they made when transformed. It was nearing the the time of the month when these beasts seemed most likely to attack. For this reason, his wife, Elisabeth, made her way from their home a mile out of town to her husband's shop. What she found was not her husband nor the orderly store room which he usually kept but a deadly beast. Unable to recognize her, William killed his own wife.
The next morning, he awoke naked and blood-covered with no recollection of the night before. While at first he blamed the Garou for his wife's death, working steadfastly on his potion with no knowledge of his intended "success." However, over the next few months, memory lapses began to plague him along with aggression the locals blamed on his grieving, but William, ever the scientist, began keeping a journal. The month his suspicions were confirmed, he infected three others and killed four.
His saliva carried a mutated strand of the protozoan T. gondii and each bite passed it along. The potion, a variant of an early polyjuice potion, had caused the mutation when mixed with the hair of a Garou. Lycanthropy had been created and with it a new beast: the werewolf.
Packs
Packs aren't overly abundant amongst Werewolves. Legislation throughout the year has regulated that, but that doesn't mean there are the occasional packs. However, considering that werewolves lose any sense of pack mentality upon transformation, they really aren't as much of a benefit to werewolves as it might be to a Garou.
Personal feelings toward one's infection also prevents many from seeking out others.
There are exceptions, however. One of the largest Werewolf societies in existence was lead by Fenrir Greyback. The society was formed by those who hated society in general due to the prejudice they had faced as a result of being a Werewolf. Such groups must be careful to avoid being noticed, but there are rumors such a society is still in existence today.
Appearance & Transformation
Werewolves appear just as regular wolves. There are only slight differences in the werewolf's pupils, snout shape, and tufted tail.
Transformations are very difficult for the werewolf. Not everyone survives due to the stress it places on the human body. Should a werewolf not take Wolfsbane, he will undergo transformation with each full moon. The mood changes seem most prevalent in the week preceding the full moon but it varies from werewolf to werewolf depending on personality traits. Transformation occurs over a few hours after the full moon rises, which means it can begin during daylight or after nightfall depending on the time of year and the day. It is extremely painful as joints change, bones and muscles shorten or lengthen accordingly, a snout forms, the skull changes, teeth and nails sharpen, and fur begins to grow.
The resulting beast retains no memory of its human self. It is a beast, plain and simple with one motive: to sate its aggression. It kills without thought or remorse. It does not respond to reason; it would be laughable for a person to try, for death would result before the attempt was completed. A transformed Werewolf would attack or kill even his own family in a heartbeat. It seems to hold little regard to other animals, though in the absence of humans, animal companionship may keep a Werewolf from attacking itself and thereby prevent self-inflicted scars. Many werewolves suffer premature aging from the difficult monthly transformations.
Following an infection, a person might notice a craving for rare meat and other lupine tendencies.
Treatment
While there is no cure for lycanthropy, a potion known as the Wolfsbane Potion can be taken regularly to avoid transformation and lessen the effects of transformation. If one fails to take the potion consistently, he will transform regardless, but should he take it as directed, he will only transform beneath direct moonlight.
Considering the Wolfsbane Potion is difficult to make even for fully qualified wizards, it is hard to come across and can be fairly pricey.
Relations
Werewolf/Garou: All Garou hate those that are not of themselves, and werewolves are no different. They are a mutation formed by a human's failed attempt at becoming like them and far inferior to them. For this reason, Garou and Werewolves do not get along.
Werewolf/Nosferatu: To a Nosferatu, a Werewolf is like a dog or wolf in that they are less predictable and predatory than a human but still an animal to them. They have better relations with them than with a Garou, but that's not saying much.
Werewolf/Vampire: In general, the only time a Werewolf and a Vampire would hold issue with each other would be when a Vampire coven and Werewolf pack have a territory issue. As packs are not inherent to a Werewolf, in theory a Vampire and a Werewolf can get along without problem.
Werewolf/Wizard: The relations between a Werewolf and a Wizard depends upon the Werewolf's feelings toward the constant changes in Wizard legislation toward them. It also depends on the prejudice a Wizard might have toward Werewolves in general. Currently, regulation does not extend much beyond registration with claims it will help ensure they get treatment; however, it does open them up to more prejudice as their identities are more easily found out as a mark is made on their Bloodwork paperwork so their actions are more easily tracked. Such legislation is what made rumors of a revival of Fenrir's old society begin to spread like wildfire. The Williams Regime has sought alliance with them in lieu of their former alliance with Voldemort.
Strengths
A Werewolf's main strength lies in its indiscriminate aggression when transformed. It views humans as a threat and will attack and potentially without discrimination, often without regard to itself.
Unlike most muggle lore states, Werewolves do not have increased healing abilities.
Weaknesses
Werewolves can be killed and injured just as any normal wolf. Silver does not hold a particularly depressing effect on them and instead affects them as most everything else will.