Therianthrope

A therianthrope, also known as a werebeast, weretype, or nightwalker, is an individual who possessed the condition of therianthropy.

Description

Therianthropes are shapechangers with at least two forms, that of a humanoid and that of a particular kind of animal. In humanoid form, they appear no different than a typical specimen of that type and their natural life expectancy is the same. Therianthropes can disguise themselves somewhat through their shape-shifting abilities, either taking on a form almost identical to a humanoid but with subtle details revealing their true nature such as pointed teeth or long fingernails. Similarly, therianthropes can assume an animal form, which would be a perfect disguise save for the unusual spark of intelligence in their eyes that sometimes gives them away. Some therianthropes can take on an intermediate "hybrid form", superficially resembling their humanoid form but with the head of the specific animal whose shape thay can also take.

Classification

There are several different categorizations of therianthropes in Elaris, and many related beings.

Therianthropes

Sometimes called lycanthropes after their most common of members, these are humanoids or giants that can transform into an animal or a monster. Therianthrope type names often have the prefix, were. One becomes a therianthrope in several different ways and, accordingly, they have different terms to describe them.

Natural

True

Therianthropes that contract their condition as a hereditary trait, and can breed with other true therianthropes to produce therianthrope offspring. This form of therianthrope has no cure, except occasionally a wish spell.

Infected

Infected

Therianthropes that contract their condition by being injured (usually bitten) by a true therianthrope.

Induced

A being affected by magical items, causing them to turn into a therianthrope. These beings can not transmit theranthropy to others. Cursed A being affected by a curse, either from a spell or other means.

Related Creatures

These beings have similar qualities, but are not technically therianthropes.

Antherions

Shapechanging creatures, but transformed into humanoids from their original animal state, instead of the other way around. Antherion type names often have the suffix, were. They hate therianthropes, as therianthropes hate them.

Entothropes

Entothropes are humanoids with the ability to turn into large insects and insect-humanoid hybrids.

Quasilycanthropes

Individuals who resist therianthropy after being infected, due to the latent power of their bloodline, and develop limited shapeshifting abilities instead.

Others

Other races that have similar qualities to werebeasts, or result from the inter-breeding of therianthropes with humanoids.

Society

Some therianthropes are in control of their ability to transform and others are not. Most therianthropes have some empathy with animals with which they share their form. Most therianthropes are humans, elves, or gnomes, but orc and goblin therianthropes also exist. Most natural therianthropes view their condition as a gift, whereas afflicted therianthropes are more likely to be horrified by it and attempt a cure, using belladonna or magical means. However, all therianthropes are usually secretive about their condition because of the social stigma attached to it and many end up as lonely adventurers.

Religion

No one deity in Elaris has the condition of therianthropy as a part of their divine portfolio, though priesthoods have conflicting claims on this topic as there are some gods often associated with the condition, particularly those connected with the moon.

History

Therianthrope is believed to have originated within Faerie, originally as a punishment from an Archfey long ago. Since then, however, the curse has naturalized within many species and the therianthropes have even built up societies within Faerie, such as Silvermoon Vale.

Therianthrope Organizations

WIP

Types of Therianthropes

Terrestrial

• Werewolves, also known as lycanthropes, the most common type of therianthrope in the wild.
• Wererats, also known as mysanthropes, are commonly found in urban environments and are often members of criminal organizations.
• Various feline therianthropes (collectively known as felithropes) including werecats (ratathropes), werecougars (oreinothropes), werejaguars (iagouthropes), wereleopards (leothropes), werelions (leothropes), werepanthers (pantirthropes), and weretigers, also known as tigrithropes
• Wereapes, also known as pithikthropes
• Werebadgers, also known as asvothropes
• Werebears, also known as ursuthropes
• Wereboars, also known as kaprothropes
• Werebisons, also known as vonathropes
• Weredogs, also known as skylothropes
• Werefoxs, also known as alepothropes
• Werehyenas, also known as yainathropes
• Werejackals, also known as tsakalithropes
• Weremoles, also known as eliathropes
• Wererabbits, also known as kounethropes
• Wereserpents, also known as fidithropes
• Wereweasels, also known as nyfitsathropes
• Werewolverines, also known as sarkothropes

Aquatic

• Seawolves, which can transform into a creature resembling a mix of seal and wolf.
• Werecrocodiles, also known as krokothropes
• Weresharks, also known as karcharithropes
• Weredolphins, also known as delfithropes
• Wereseals, also known as sfragithropes

Flying

• Werebats, also known as nychterithropes
• Weredragon, also known as drakothropes, are so exceptionally rare that it is often thought they may not actually exist.
• Wereraven, also known as korakithropes
• Wereowl, also known as koukouthropes

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Table of Contents

Genetic Descendants

• Shifter
• Werebear