Werewolves

Werewolves are exciting creatures that lure in the dark and live among their prey.

A Werewolf is a predator moved by the ancient curse of lycanthropy. A bite from another werewolf (or similar Lycan) made them, and they now spread the curse.

This means that they can disguise themselves among ordinary people. They may be travellers to avoid capture, or even gain a safe position in their communities. They may be dangerous only once a month with a full moon, or every night from a strong curse, or maybe they gained full control and none at all.

One Lycan may be a threat to a community. Luring in the dark to hunt.

But a Shifter, for their own nature, is also highly attuned to nature. They may hunt for survival and animal instinct, but rarely for sport or vice. They might even be a protector of their ecosystem, or occupy a niche in their ecology. They may also keep other predators at bay.

Ancient packs are different to single individuals for many reasons. They imply sustainability and inner control. They might have patriarchal or matriarchal structures. Fatherhood and the curse giver may be parallel relationships, both as likely to take responsibility in the neonate Lycan.

A gipsy lifestyle might come naturally to the $Shifters$ as a community. Just as traditional gipsies were prosecuted for being both extraneous and familiar to sedentary communities along Europe. They may share other nomadic characteristics, such as music, artistic expression, language, or fraternal bonds among families. They differ from the legends of gipsies in that they have magical qualities that come from their animal characteristics.

Take a moment to think of the relationship of the animal core to the individual Lycan and communities of shifters.

A Lycan may convert others to gain strength as a Pack. Maybe to help save the life of the converted with the vigour of the curse. Or maybe in a rage, with lost control, a bite was placed unwillingly. Now the neonate must learn to control the curse, but convert many in the meantime.

Hunters

The presence of Shifters may imply the existence of Hunters. Both legendary knowledge and specialization may shelter communities from the dangers of lycans, but also inquisitor dogma may propel specialists to obsessively hunt the different and the dangerous alike.

Lycan Distribution

The curse of lycanthropy can spread on different ecosystems differently.

Forest

Mainly dominated by Wolves, bears, or boars, the forest biome is characterized by hard winters, rough conditions, and a balance of nature. Many Lycans may be part of it, coexisting in a balance of allyships and harmony.

Jungle

dinosaurs, tigers, panthers, apes, lizards and snakes, and many jungle animals can propagate a lycanthropic curse. The Jungle is a ferocious ecosystem where balance is achieved by conflict and victory, and where the weak are either sneaky or dead.

Desert and Sabanah

Foxes, Lions, Eagles, sabertooth, leopards, reptiles, scorpions, and other creatures from the desert can be the spirit animal of desertic lycans. Hardship and resource management is the norm. Many lycans live at night, under the starlight. Others keep important resources as part of their territories. A Lycan Lion may keep an Oasis or a well. A smart Fox, also called a Kitsune, may guide travelers for protection fees or assault caravans of those who refuse payment. Scorpionics may use venoms and isolate themselves, just as Fremen from Dune.

Arctic

Arctic deserts can contain polar bears, snow foxes, white wolves, mammoths, or even orcas...
Hardship is the norm, but the tundra is massively rich for those attuned to it. Lycans here live in great communion with the tundra and themselves. Lonely and dark, they treasure relationships that are positive and caring. Community is the key to survival. Traveling hordes may hunt and fish to care for the tribe, and cities may sprout occasionally. Ice castles build to survive winters keeping the night and the cold away.

Cities

Dogs, rats, and felines are the main city dwellers.

Crows may also coexist in cities, moved by the allure of shiny things.

Oceans

Sharks, Whales, Orcas... many animals can bear the spiritual curse in artic climates.

Other

The existence of monsters in your world implies a huge number of possible curses.

• Draconic
• Dinosaurs
• Sabertooths

The Weres

$Were$ comes from an old English word meaning men, or people.

Take a second to think about what humanoids are the base for a lycan curse.

• Goliath Polar Bears
• Lizardfolk Dinosaurs
• Halfling Foxes
• Elven Crows
• Orc Boars
• Elven Cats
• Draconic Dragonborn