Werewolf

Werewolves are one of many types of shapeshifters in this world. Several packs make their home in Carma City.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Like most shapeshifters, werewolves have a human form. Their human form is stronger than the average human. In both forms they heal about 60% faster than humans.
As werewolves, the only distinguishable characteristics from regular wolves is their larger size and the human intelligence lurking behind thier eyes. Some have the ability to partially transform based on the individual's Power Quotient. The higher the Power Quotient a shifter has the more control they have over partial body changes. Some werewolves can change in to a bipedal half wolf, half human form.

Growth Rate & Stages

Werewolves grow into adulthood similar to humans, although they tend to live longer and age slower than their mundane counterparts. They can live to be around 120 years old.
A naturally born werewolf or one turned at a young age will start to feel their first shift when they hit puberty. Most have thier first shift between ten and fourteen years old, but a few may turn before or after.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Werewolves are carnivores. They have to eat meat to sustain a healthly life. They prefer cooked meat when human and raw meat when in wolf form. If a werewolf were to abstain from eating meat they would start to lose some of their strength, fast healing, and their senses would be dulled.

Behaviour

Werewolves innately want to be close to other wolves so packs are tight knit communities. They have a "it takes a village" mentality for all the members of the pack and will help or find help for a wolf in need. Most pack members live in close proximity to each other. If they have to leave the area of their pack they are usually taken in by an allied pack. This can be temporary or permanant depending on the situation.
Lone wolves are usually wolves that have been banished from their pack. Banishment is reserved as a last result of bad behavior and mostly permanant unless they can find a pack to take them in. Other packs are intensely distrustful of lone wolves.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Each pack has a pack leader who is deterimined to be the strongest of the pack. The strongest is determined by the packs ideals. Some packs desire a strong fighter for protection, some a smart leader for healthy pack dynamics or mythic politics, and some a ferocious leader if they lean outside the law. Each pack has different ways to test these strengths to choose their leader.
Each leader has one or two right hands for delegation and personal protection. These wolves are chosen by the leader and can be replaced at any time.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Like thier wolf ancestors, werewolves have an advanced sense of smell and hearing. They can also see very well at night. Naturally born werewolves have these advanced senses at birth, but they get stronger just before their first shift during a full moon. Turned werewolves are usually overwhelmed with these senses just before their first shift and for a few months after.
Werewolves are also sensitive to the phases of the moon.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Werewolves follow first, sometimes middle, and familial last name conventions. If they are introducing themselves to a different pack or another mythic they may add their pack name. Example: Akemi Taine of the Lycanos Rua Pack

Courtship Ideals

Werewolf packs have a history of arranged unions to create alliances. The tradition is not as popular in modern times, but some leaders still choose a mate based on alliances and not love.

History

Werewolves were given their powers from the goddess of the night hunt. Her wolf child had been kidnapped at a very young age and hidden away. A group a five human friends came upon the cub when they were out hunting for their village. They heard the restrained cub crying and witnessed the men holding the cub being cruel. They killed the men and took in the cub for several months before the goddess found them. She bestowed upon them the power of the hunt which allowed them to transform into werewolves at will. Each of the hunters were given a different color wolf form. One black, one red, one gray, one white, and the last brown.

Lifespan

120 years