Werewolves

Description

The lycanthrope virus is very rare, and normally has some origins in the tundra regions. It is said that a god of unknown name created the lycanthrope virus, the son of Ziga. This god wished for a very powerful minion that could be easily controlled, thus created the werewolves.

The virus is affected by the shifts of the moons. To become infected by the lycanthrope virus, one needs to either swear loyalty to this unnamed god, located in Nyxm, or to be bitten by an already infected werewolf. The infected have three days to cure the disease by normal means before it cannot be cured.

Because of the three moons to Aztersil, each moon affects the werewolves in a different way. (See Geography for full description of moons)

First Form: Beta Form Sunnu, the smallest moon, has little to no effect upon the infected. The teeth will sharpen, give the effected the smallest hint of a snout, pointed ears, yellow eyes, claws, and enhanced senses and abilities. When effected only by Sunnu, the infected will still keep their mental state as they were while human (or un infected) though they will crave a kill. This is the only form in which speech is capable.

Second Form: Luven Form Graten, the medium moon, enhances this shift slightly. When only Graten is full, the infected will have more of a snout, ears more pointed and protruding more from the skull and positioned more up the side of the head. The infected will grow much longer claws, and the feet will shift into more of paws, the knees will be slightly bent as they walk upon their toes. They will have a short tail, and grow short fur over their bodies. In this form, the infected will lose much of their mental state as they held while unchanged, but will be much more drawn into the life of the wolf.

Third Form: Hasser Form Vesk, the largest moon enhances the shift greatly. When only Vesk is full, the infected will be much more powerful. They will have a full snout, wolf proportioned head. Their body will be very muscular, with a long tail, and covered in fur. Their hands will still appear as human hands, with an opposable thumb and long fingers, however, they will have long claws, which deal fatal damage. Their legs are also powerful; they walk upon their toes with knees slightly bent. In this stage, the infected has lost all thought and understanding. Though they are still intelligent they are fully taken by the effects of the virus.

Fourth Form: Naten Form When both Sunnu (the smallest moon) and Graten (the medium moon) are full, the infected will be a much smaller version of the Vesk transformation. The ears will be fully pointed and positioned to the top of he head. The tail will be longer. The infected's body will be covered with fur, with a small snout, claws, and walk upon its toes, knees slightly bent. In this form, the infected has kept its mental state.

Fifth Form: Lupine Form When both Sunnu (the smallest moon) and Vesk (the largest moon) are full, the infected shift into a very lupine looking form. They move on all fours, their hands having morphed into much more of what could be considered feet paws. They are much larger than a normal wolf, but are completely appearing as a wolf would. The infected is able to keep most of their minds in this form, but often have the distractions of the world through the wolf's eyes attacking them.

Sixth Form: Ipen Form When both Graten and Vesk are full, the infected is in the second most powerful form. The form appears much like that of when Vesk is full, but is much larger and much more powerful. The fangs of this form are much longer, overlapping the bottom jaw only slightly. The senses are near perfect, and the fur is slightly longer around the throat and down the back. The tail is longer, and when the infected runs, they run on all fours. The hands possess an opposable thumb, and very long claws, which come paired with bone crushing strength. This is on of the most feral forms, of the werewolf. The infected does not keep their mind in this state.

Seventh Form: Alpha Form When all three moons are full, the infected is at its most powerful form. The infected will stand to nearly 8 feet tall if not slightly over. The top fangs will overlap the bottom jaw nearly an inch in a saber tooth fashion. The infected will run on all fours, but can run easily on two legs as well. They are in full changed form, and stand upon their hind legs on their toes, with knees slightly bent. Their eyes are very intense, and glow slightly. The fur is much longer, taking on a shaggy appearance. The infected has no hint of its original mental state in this form.

Gender Differences

There are no obvious differences in the werewolves when they have changed. Only in the beta form are they discernable, for this is the only form that clothes are truly needed. After the beta form, male and female werewolves are completely indiscernible.

Habitat

The werewolf virus originated in the tundra of Torrentor, created by an unnamed god, the son of Ziga. Most werewolves are found in the tundra and here they are used for the unnamed god's power against the barbarians and others that live in the lands. Often, when werewolves give themselves to the unnamed god, they will be given powers to have while they are unchanged during the daylight and during nights with no full moon.

Mannerisms

Werewolves are considered one of the most evil creatures in existence. There are very, very few good werewolves. Even if they are good because they were bitten instead of giving themselves to the unnamed god, his presence in their mind, pressing them to do his bidding will turn them into the most evil of creatures. Werewolves will wander the lands, depending on their personality and what they care to do, they are found all over Aztersil. However, most are clever and very careful to keep from being caught by hunting parties.

Strengths

In the un-shifted form, the infected has increased strength, agility, senses, and metabolism. When the werewolf shifts, depending on which form, they will have a dramatic increase in strength, agility, speed, senses, and all levels of physical prowess. Also when shifted, depending on the form, the metabolism will increase dramatically.

Weaknesses

When in certain shifted forms, the werewolf is unable to truly think about what it is doing. Because of this, the infected can kill his or her own family and not care or know. Blessed spells, blessed items, and silver are all banes to the werewolf. Silver creates a near un-healable wound.

Abilities

The only true abilities come in the non-shifted form, the werewolf has the ability (given by the unnamed god) to call upon another wolf in time of need. This is the simple form of howling to the air, and the nearest wolf will come to his or her aid. Whether it is just to help the infected find his or her way from the forest, or to aid in a fight. When in the non-shifted form, the werewolf also has increased strength, senses, hunger, and agility. They also have a strong regenerative ability in both the un-shifted and the shifted forms.

Life Span

The life span of the race is affected in an odd way by the virus. When infected by the lycanthrope virus, the race's lifespan will double from its current remaining life. If the infected is human, infected at age 20, they will have an average of 60 years left. The remaining years are doubled, making the remaining life for the infected human 120 years. They will also age slower.

Susceptibility

The werewolf virus can affect through the bite of another werewolf the following races:

Dresall- The werewolf form is dotted with feathers among the fur, just as the dresall themselves are.

Desislav- They shed their wings when they shift into any form but the beta. When in any form but the beta form, the werewolf will have a patch of feathers at its shoulders were the desislav's wings were. If the desislav has shed his feathers, there will be a spike like growth from the shoulders of the wolf.

Elves- Normal change, though the ears tend to be longer than the human werewolf.

Humans- Normal change.

Mysts- The werewolf in any form will have the white horns of a myst.

Kalus- The werewolf in any form will have the black horns of a kalus and its tail will be split like a snake's tongue if the kalus' original tail was split.

Half breeds are affected by this disease if the majority of their background has been disease susceptic races. If the race is half susceptible, and half immune, the race will have a fifty fifty chance of being affected.

If any race were to go to the unnamed god to pledge their loyalty, any race can be affected. He is not race specific to whom he infects, through magical means, with the virus that will make them his minions.