Lycanthropy

Shifters of Clean Minds

Small villages tucked in the most hidden of places often hold dangerous secrets, people, or realities that the greater world should not know, but sometimes those places are hidden for their own protection, hiding against what the great world might do to those with the secrets. A life of hiding is the only way to survive when the outside thinks you are little more than monsters, little more than Werewolves when that is far from reality.
Those afflicted with Lycanthropy are a rare breed, often hiding themselves away in secret or lonely places to protect themselves from those that can't be bothered to understand the difference between Lycanthropes and Werewolves. The key difference is control, of being able to choose when to shift and retaining morality and reality when they become a creature. No different than Changelings or those that use magic to change into a creature, Lycanthropes are misunderstood and have suffered deadly consequences because of that.

Symptoms

People afflicted with Lycanthropy have the ability to shift into a creature that is determined by their original race. Humans often turn into different types of wolves, Elves turn into large cats to include lynxes and panthers, and Dwarves tend to become bears.
Lycanthropes can choose when and where to make their transformation and retain all sense of reason and morality as if they have not shifted at all. These people are true shapeshifters that are not cursed, allowing them to live normal lives that are not directed by things such as the full moon or monstrous cravings.

Affected Groups

Unlike other types of curses that cause shapeshifting, Lycanthropy tends to affect a rather small population of the world. Only those of the Elder Races can be afflicted with the gene that causes Lycanthropy, meaning that it is only possible to find this condition amongst Elves, Dwarves, and Humans. While a possibility to find this condition amongst Half-Elves because of their ancestry, it is extremely rare to the point where there has only been a singular instance in recorded history.

Cultural Reception

While considered a supernatural genetic condition, Lycanthropy is often considered by many to be a curse like Vampirism. Those that have Lycanthropy are extremely secretive about their condition as a lack of general understanding about the condition causes many to lump Lycanthropes in with Werewolves and other creatures with shapeshifting abilities.
In some circles, including amongst some of the Witches, Lycanthropy is seen as an interesting blessing granted by a god to a family line at some point during the past. These groups believe that Lycanthropes were given special abilities, much like the Witches or others that have received divine blessings, in order to serve a specific deity.

Type

Supernatural

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Congenital

Rarity

Rare

Affected Species

• Elves
• Humans
• Dwarves

Cause

The true cause of Lycanthropy is something that has been lost to history, but many believe it to be a blessing from a specific deity in the world instead of a curse like Vampirism. Many rumors about the true cause abound as only the Elder Races can be afflicted with the condition.