Werewolves

Overview & History
Werewolves (also called Lycanthropes, Loup Garou, Beasts, or even just Wolves for short) are a near-extinct supernatural shapeshifting species of individuals who transform into large, fearsome, and extremely hostile wolves. Even in their human form, werewolves possess superhuman physical prowess. Once transformed, however, their abilities are extremely powerful in comparison. These creatures are the most dangerous enemies vampires have due to werewolf bites being lethal to them. Werewolves are also hardwired to kill vampires on sight in their wolf form, though they still hunt human prey whenever there are no vampires to kill.

Werewolves have been around for over 2,500 years and predate vampires and the first generation of human chi users by a few hundred years. The werewolves are a direct descendant of the creature known as the Chi Wolf an inhabitant of the spirit world. Chi Wolves are rather peaceful animals until provoked and forced to defend themselves, which is what the humans of that time did. Whenever a Chi Wolf would go to the human world they had an 80% chance of not returning home, especially if they went into the area inhabited by the fearsome Azula Tribe. The tribe was known for hunting the most dangerous animals, and their favorite prey was the Chi Wolf. The wolf's blood was used by the tribe and all they sold it to as a sort of "medicine" unlike ones that cure sickness. It made people faster, stronger, and more durable similar to the animal.

After a few years the wolves grew tired of being hunted, and so they decided to ask the behemoths for help. The behemoths heard the wolves plea and decided to cast a curse on the Azula Tribe, a curse that would turn them all into beasts. The curse didn't take effect until the first full moon after it had been placed. The tribe leader became the Alpha wolf and everyone else became Betas. Many years went by wherein the Azula Tribe turned into wolves under the light of the full moon, loving the power it gave them. A curse meant to make them hate life made them enjoy it that much more, although they did hate that they could only transform once a month.

After about 60 more years the members of the Azula Tribe who were cursed died, causing everyone to think that werewolves were now extinct. However, this was false as the curse was a marker inside one's genes. And when the new generation of the Azula tribe picked an Alpha, he used his bite to create more of their kind...

Creation
Lycanthropy is an inherited condition/species, a person can be a werewolf if they are born to at least one werewolf parent; werewolves can also be turned by bite of an Alpha wolf. Furthermore, the werewolf gene must be "triggered" by taking the life of a human, either intentionally or by accident, in order to gain access to their enhanced abilities. It does not matter if the kill was accidental or intentional, premeditated or out of self-defense-- if a werewolf causes the death of a human, their werewolf gene will still be activated. Because difficult-to-control anger and aggression are common personality traits in even those werewolves who have not activated their lycanthropy, the likelihood of them losing control of their rage and inadvertently triggering their werewolf gene by accidentally killing someone is quite high; it is even speculated that the anger and aggression inherent in werewolves is intended to increase the likelihood that a werewolf will activate their lycanthropy. Werewolves turned from the bite of an Alpha do not have to trigger their gene as it is already activated upon bite. However there isn't a 100% chance you will survive the bite.

After the gene is triggered, the werewolf's eyes will turn black and gold, and their latent powers (such as increased strength and accelerated healing) will activate instantly. A werewolf who has yet to trigger his or her curse only exhibits one characteristic of lycanthropy: increased aggression and anger on a general basis. After they trigger their gene, werewolves are forced to turn on the 15th day of every month which is when the moon is full.

Physiology & Nature
Like normal humans, werewolves can eat human food if they wish. However, because they turn into ferocious beasts, they are carnivores. When in wolf form, they can feed on human or vampire body parts and organs, but they are not required to ingest them in order to prolong their existence, like vampires must do with chi. There are no known consequences from abstaining from human or vampire flesh while in werewolf form. It seems that most werewolves do not get to feed on humanoid flesh because most tend to not transform around people, or are scared or distracted away from their victim before they can eat them. Werewolves have not been seen to attack each other in human or lupine form, but have been known to hunt both human and vampire prey while transformed.

Werewolves in their wolf form are quite similar to natural wolves, although unlike natural wolves, werewolves have glowing yellow or orange eyes(red if they are an alpha), wicked fangs, and a much more feral and predatory appearance. They can also be distinguished from regular wolves by their displays of supernatural strength, blurred speed, and size which is comparable to fully grown humans. The fur color of wolf forms differs from one to the other. Werewolves appear the same as any other human when not transformed, aside from their enhanced abilities of speed, strength, and healing.

A werewolf is forced to turn on the 15th day of every month when the full moon rises. However through immense training(7500 word training topic) or by being an alpha, the wolf can learn to transform at will. The first transformation is quite slow, and the person is subjected to at least five or six hours of intense, bone-breaking pain before the actual transformation. After the first transformation, the experience does not last nearly as long, but it is still painful and something many werewolves come to dread. During the transformation, the body of the person is twisted in an unnatural manner as bones reshape and shift to form a wolf’s skeleton, causing the person immense physical and psychological pain. Later, the werewolf grows excessive body hair and becomes feral. Their irises turn golden-yellow, their sclera turn black, and their teeth elongate into canines before they finally transform into their wolf shape. A werewolf returns to their human form after a few minutes, sometimes sooner, sometimes later. After the first transformation, the werewolf will experience muscle aches. Older werewolves can control themselves to some extent when transformed.

Pyschological
Werewolves are known to be aggressive, strong and fast, even in human form. Those with the werewolf curse still latent can exhibit some supernatural traits which can be triggered by aggression, along with unusual physical strength for the person's given size and age, but they cannot fully transform, and they also have a tendency to black out when they become overwhelmed in fits of rage. Werewolves seem to have a strong sense of duty and loyalty to protect their own and feel a responsibility to help their fellow werewolves whenever they can. Also, werewolves have a higher body temperature than humans. Once a werewolf has triggered their gene, their eyes turn yellow (the eyes of a wolf) while enraged, or when feeling threatened. Activating the curse is also painful, as werewolves have been seen to double over in pain before their eyes change for the first time.

While some werewolves prefer to keep to themselves and keep their beastly natures hidden, most seem to aggregate themselves into packs and residing in areas isolated from general human society so they can run free without fear of hurting or killing anyone. Unlike vampires, werewolves have an unwavering sense of loyalty, and will often bond with other werewolves they meet. They form packs and work with each other as sort of an extended family. The bond of loyalty between werewolves is so strong that while transformed under full moons, the only beings they do not attack are other werewolves (regardless of whether or not they have activated their werewolf gene).

Beta Werewolf Powers and Abilities
Beta werewolves are werewolves who are turned from the bite of an Alpha, or are born with the werewolf gene. Below is a list of the powers they hold, organized by combat abilities and noncombat.

Super Strength- Werewolves possess supernatural strength that makes them far stronger than humans. There have been several occasions to suggest that untriggered werewolves possess more strength than any average humans, which would indicate some form of enhanced strength even before the activation of their curse. However, werewolves in their human form are not as strong as a vampire, and have even been shown to be far weaker on several occasions. But they've also shown to be strong enough to at least defend themselves. When they are in their wolf form, their powers amplify to a degree that excels that of the non-Original vampires, making them more powerful than non-Original vampires. In wolf form, a werewolf can overpower and kill any non-original vampire with ease. They can also defeat an Original vampire in small groups. In human form you gain a permanent plus 10 to strength. They gain an additional +5 when in wolf form.

Super Speed- Werewolves are much faster than humans. They possess this ability both in and out of transformation with an animalistic quickness. However, the power is faster at night than in the day, due to the moon's presence, and their speed increases greatly when the werewolf is transformed. Some werewolves are shown to become nearly a blur like their vampire enemies; others have not. In wolf form, however, while under the influence of the full moon, they can use their speed to swiftly chase down their choice of prey; even vampires, as their speed rivals that of most vampires or possibly even exceeds it. When in human form they gain a permanent +10 to speed. They gain an additional +5 when in wolf form.

Super Durability- Werewolves can take far more trauma than humans without nearly as much discomfort or injury, however, not as much as vampires. They can also exert themselves for longer periods without tiring. When in human form adds +10 to defense. They gain an additional +5 when in wolf form.

Superhuman Senses: Werewolves have the extremely keen and heightened senses of smell, sight, taste, hearing and touch inherent in all canines. Because they are supernatural and have powers that exceeds their wolf counterparts, they can hear, see, and smell better than that of regular canines.

Werewolf Bite: A werewolf's venom is extremely lethal to non-original vampires. While an Original vampire cannot die from the venom, they are not wholly immune to the effects of the bite. For non-Original vampires, the venom acts as a poison of sorts that will enter the bloodstream and deliver the toxin throughout the body, producing discomfort and weakness. All vampires who are bitten will ultimately develop uncontrollable hunger that progresses to delusions, hallucinations, rabid rage, and dementia. After that point, non-Original vampires will finally die, though many are "mercy-killed" before that point.

Werewolf Claws: Werewolves have claws which can deal damage equal to the rank of the wolf wielding them. Meaning if a rookie werewolf uses his claws the damage would be equal to a one-star weapon.

Werewolf Weaknesses
Werewolves are still mortals, and thus can be killed or incapacitated in various ways

Wolfsbane: When ingested, Wolfsbane causes a werewolf to become severely weak and feverish. Also, if a werewolf's skin is exposed to Wolfsbane, it will burn them.

Silver Weapons: Although these weapons are normally weak against humans, being a rank lower when used due to the metal's lack of combat properties, this is not the case when it comes to werewolves. Silver is actually quite potent against them in both human and wolf form, dealing two ranks higher damage than the weapon's rank to Beta werewolves but only one rank higher damage against Alpha werewolves. In addition to this, damage caused by silver weapons to werewolves cannot be healed normally; chi must be used to repair the wound using a technique. This means that the wound will continue to bleed, and can be fatal if not healed quickly.

Transformation: Werewolves are forced to transform on the 15th day of every month. The only way a wolf can avoid transformation is if they own a moonlight ring, are an alpha, or have learned to not shift.

Alpha Werewolf Powers
Alpha Werewolves are the leader of werewolf packs. Unlike their Beta counterparts, their eyes glow red instead of gold/yellow. The way one becomes an Alpha is by stealing the power from a wolf who is already an Alpha by killing them, or by being showered by the blessing of the wolf god. Aside from the ability to turn others into werewolves the alpha has the power to calm and rally his pack. The alpha also doesnt turn feral and predatory during the full moon as they dont shift. All alphas can transform at will and unlike betas their wolf form is monstrous and bipedal. Finally alphas gain a permanent +5 to all stats.

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