Therianthropy

Awakened Beast

Written by Endrise

Let me explain it one more time:
Lycanthropy is when wolves are involved.

You are a were-rat. Not a wolf.

— Doctor with afflicted patient

Therianthropy describes a broad term of curses and afflictions that cause animal-like transformations. Associated with shapeshifter and other forms of bodily transmutation, this ancient condition is unique enough to be part of its own category.

It forms the basis of several legends and monsters, of unwilling victims and malevolent horrors. But for others, it shapes the image of bestial heroes and guardians of the natural order.

Creatures of the Moon

Transmission

Every victim affected by Therianthropy has a method to transfer the curse. Either biologically or magically, they can infect others with the same symptoms as they have. Even certain items affiliated with the condition can carry the same effect as a patient itself.

The most common for of transmission is through an open wound, often that of a scratch or bite mark. Most take effect within days, if not hours of contact. Saliva also can carry it, although exposure to it has no effect unless it comes in contact with blood.

Treatment

One can treat Therianthropy early on like any other curse with the proper spell or ritual. Though one needs to act fast before the condition worsens.

After the first transformation, treatment becomes harder and only gets more difficult with each subsequent transformation as curse and body blend together. Only then can a miracle heal one from it, unless one wishes to cause permanent scars to body, mind and soul alike.

Symptoms

Symptoms can appear anywhere from within a few hours to several days depending on when the infection happens. Intense fevers and increased aggression are early signs and can last for a week straight, often accompanied by an extreme hunger even with a full stomach.

Afterwards, the condition goes dormant until activated by whatever trigger it works under. The moon is a well-known example, but other triggers exist, such as scents, sounds, bodily stimulations or intense emotions. Either as a conscious trigger or a forced reaction.

Transformation

Once a trigger happens, the person undergoes a rapid, if not violent, transformation into a bestial form. Entire bone structures and muscle tissue reconstruct itself, sometimes even losing skin or teeth to do so. It is why one may find loose hair or teeth where somebody transformed.

The form taken comes in two known variants:

• Hybrid forms take on a more anthropomorphic form, keeping things like poseable thumbs or bipedal posture. In this state, some can retain higher brain functions to think and rationalise, allowing them to speak and use their knowledge even while transformed.
• Animal forms are exactly what it says, turning a humanoid into a proper beast. The complete transformation reduces their mental capacity, making most purely animalistic, although they do retain some basic memory of people and environments.
  • This form may also appear in dire variants of animals, making them both larger and more powerful while transformed. Though these show even less mental capacity.

Such rapid changes burn through a lot of calories, causing extreme forms of hunger to kick in. Combined with the loss of mental focus, most will start hunting for food. If famished enough, they may eat about anything deemed edible, including other people.

The transformation back also takes a toll on one's body as well, leaving one to wake up dazed and unaware of their actions, with the only hint being remnants of their nightly stroll.

Beasts of the Night

There is a wide variety of forms amongst Therianthropes from across the animal kingdom. Everything from small rodents to larger creatures like bears and wolves.

Certain were-forms also appear to be exclusive to their environment, often encouraging forms that blend in with the local predators.

Everyone gets to be the terrifying wolves and beasts of the woods, and what do I get? Jeremy, the mighty were-domestic housecat.

— Jeremy, local farmboy

The most noticeable trait is that all forms a were-creature takes either are a carnivore or omnivore. Why the condition only manifests itself in creatures that consume meat is unclear, though it may be that herbivore versions could have died out ages ago.

Type

Magical

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Rare

But why the moon?

It is unclear why the Moon affects Therianthropes, with several studies trying to find a proper link to it. Seeing as the celestial object has close ties to certain forms of magic, it may also influence the condition as well.

Others connect it to the moon’s symbolism with change, with each phase making the transformation more complete. Reports speak of multiple sightings under the full moon to produce more nonhuman forms, while other phases seem to stick close to a hybrid style.

Living with Therianthropy

Therianthropes live a constant uphill battle with their other self as they fight off hunger and sleep almost every day. While one may imagine the appeal of a mighty beast form, in truth, most are akin to starving hounds too mindless or famished to think straight. Unpredictable, aggressive, and brutal enough to slaughter animal and person alike in their search for something to eat.

To keep such a form fed requires diets that most normal folk struggle to upkeep, eating anywhere from two to three times what a regular person consumes. Combined with long-term sleeping problems, it can drive anyone mad if they do not know how to handle it.

However, some people manage to live with the condition and have a semblance of a normal life.

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Stopping the beast

To minimise the damage that a were-form can cause, most prepare themselves for upcoming nights where their other self is at its worse. Anything from trying to keep it appeased to locking it in a cage, there are a dozen ways people handle this problem.

Those with the wealth to afford it make bunkers where they can wait out the night, stocking up on supplies to keep it well-fed. Though it may still cost a fortune to fund, it allows many to keep their other self safe, away from any unforeseen dangers hunting their food.

Those without money isolate themselves deep into the woods or shackle themselves in a basement. As long as they can stay away from others, they may pose no threat as a wild animal. Though waking up lost in a forest may still pose a problem for some.

Known Practices across the world

• Isolation can allow one to wait out the transformation, so find a place far away from other people.
• Keep some food around, even a piece of meat can keep a were-form occupied long enough to pose less of a threat.

• Shackles hold back most were-forms from escaping, so chain yourself to a wall or tree and keep the key far away.
• Sedate yourself before transforming with either narcotics or alcohol. Anything to keep one's mind calm or wasted.

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Taming the beast

There are ways to tame this were-form, allowing one to suppress it. During the brief moment between forms, both consciousnesses share the same space, allowing them to interact with or fight against one another. Only then can one confront them head-on.

Those with the mental fortitude to not lose their grip on reality will try to confront their bestial side, hoping to calm down or even end its presence within the mind. However, blinded by its own hunger, it will fight back, often violently, to regain dominance and resume its hunt.

I can keep fighting you every night, lock you up in a cage to starve... But that's not going to last forever.
I think it's time we talk.

— Therianthrope confronting his wereform

Such confrontations can last hours, struggling for one side to win. Standing up by itself is already a struggle, as conflicting signals leave only convulsing an option for the body. Either form tries to take control, with the results varying depending on who wins.

The Person Wins

If the person wins, their bestial side gets suppressed hard enough that it stays buried within the subconscious, if not downright destroyed. Any symptoms associated with Therianthropy disappear entirely, leaving the victim freed from their curse.

But the removal of their bestial side also comes with the removal of other crucial things. Patients who suppress their beast lack a sense of fear, anger, any sort of high emotion or feeling that would kick in a fight-or-flight response. Even hunger and thirst seem heavily affected by it.

This makes them quite tame, calm even. While for some not an issue, it can be troublesome for travellers and fighters who rely on such feelings to survive.

Mutual Agreement

When both sides agree, the two consciousnesses fuse together and become one again. One accepts their curse as part of them, something to take care of and respect, while it keeps the individual safe as well. In this bond, the two work together to unlock a Therianthrope’s true potential.

Their were-form becomes no longer triggered by the lunar cycle or other stimuli, but controlled by them instead. They can change into their bestial side at will, maintaining awareness at all times. However, changing may still cause hunger to emerge once more.

The only demand is that they remain well-fed, as starvation causes the minds to separate again. Although only extreme cases have a complete split happening.

The Beast Wins

When the beast within wins, hell breaks loose. Treating the attack as a direct offence, it often destroys the rest of the conscious to take complete dominance over the mind. With it comes an aggression unlike any other, unrestrained by other thoughts.

Not only does a Therianthrope become more aggressive, they also turn downright feral. Their hunger consumes them from within, forcing the transformation to go berserk. Changes that only drive it into a starved frenzy, considering anything it sees as prey.

There is no reasoning with them, as their mind is lost to the need to consume. Only death may give them peace. Anything else will only lead to carnage.

Cultural Significance

Therianthropy is a very divisive condition with a long history behind it. Countless cultures are aware of its existence and consequences, from fabled legends within their folklore to traditions to keep it away. With it comes many opinions and thoughts about it as well.

The Good

People are aware the condition is not always voluntarily, empathising with the victims and trying to help where possible. Community efforts can save many of their lives, providing food and shelter during transformations, making it less hostile.

Some even see them as blessings of the divine and nature. Those who then learn to control these forms even become guardians of their people, living quite the respectful life amongst their communities.

The Bad

Those affected by a Therianthrope’s actions view the victims as monsters, creatures of the night that kill livestock and murder townsfolk. If they find out who causes it, it does not take long before they and their loved ones get exiled to keep the town safe.

Certain cases go as far as dragging the victim out of their house for a lynching, or even burn down their homes on the spot. Anything to eradicate a were-creature’s presence, no matter how inhuman it may be.

The Ugly

Even if they may survive and get help, some Therianthropes become a burden to their loved ones. Both the restless nature and constant hunger make it hard for them to function in daily life, putting a dent in one’s income that makes it hard to live normally.

As such, they try to flee their homes, often unnoticed, to not make friends and family suffer around them. Though at the same time, some will consider only death a way to be free from this troublesome curse.

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Origins

The first Therianthrope remains a mystery for anyone who looks into its origins, as sources prove untrustworthy or contradictory. It may also be possible that the condition comes from multiple sources and intermingled over the millennia, evolving and changing with those it infects.

Druids are a common group people point at, thanks to some knowing how to shapeshift. Legends say that one of them sought after true freedom of form, bargaining with a local Fae to do so. In return, the Fae offered him the power to become any animal they wished to be, but drove the mortal mad alongside it. Ever since, the druid wandered the world in any form they took, spreading that curse upon others.

Sure, demon wolf. I guess that's a thing now...

— Therianthropy Researcher

Some claims even assume it to be demonic, caused by a Demon during the ages of Prehistoria to spread chaos across the material plane. Though besides the somewhat chaotic transformation, most toss it aside for theories about the subject with more evidence behind them.

Offspring

One unique element of Therianthropy is its ability to become genetic. Long-term victims can carry over their condition onto the next generation, making it something they are born with.

The result is a hybrid species known as Beastkin, someone with the innate ability to take on bestial traits. Unlike a Therianthrope, they are much more in control of their shape-changing and hunger, making them able to live a rather normal life minus their appearance.

Though even with their self-control, their ties with the condition make them a victim of discrimination anyway. Without a way to hide their roots, people’s reactions can range from admirable to hatred depending on their experience with the were-creatures. Although others do look up at them with admiration, seeing Beastkin as something even greater than their parent.

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Therianthrope Hunting

With their existence threatening livestock and smaller towns, were-creatures become a target to hunters and those hoping to stop their rampage. Anything from someone converting their regular hunting tools to specialists who seek out the monsters wherever one is spotted.

As Therianthropes are somewhat rare, there are few who focus solely on them. Most hunters instead focus on general groups of monsters, as were-creatures alone would not offer much of an income. A few even ally with local temples and churches for funding, hired to get rid of one found in the area. Others work in their own organised groups, travelling the region to hear if any recent attacks struck a local town.

How to hunt a were-creature

Most were-creatures are close to their normal counterparts besides a higher intellect, allowing hunters to take advantage of those traits. Even their constant hunger makes them easy to lure into traps with some meat in a cage. However, do not underestimate them either.

Being starved makes them desperate to eat and will almost attack on sight, if not even strategise how they will attack. Ranged weapons are crucial as the moment one gets too close, you might lose an eye or your throat before you know. If they get too close, a dagger or other short weapon can discourage them from attacking further.

You could also use their animal side against them, like a werewolf’s sensitive hearing and a dog whistle. Understand that they can think human but that they are also a beast. Know what it would fear, or what it would want. Whether you kill them or not depends if you are willing to take someone’s life to save others.

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Therianthropes aren’t some hungry wolves or angry bears. They are bloodthirsty and starved, intelligent yet feral, and will go to any lengths to eat a meal. Even if it is their last. If you want to win against one, you need to understand you aren’t hunting some wild beast, but a man who lost his mind.

If you are going to hunt one, hunt with two, hunt with many. Arm yourself, show that you are above its primal instincts. Teeth and claws are terrifying, but so is the flash of fire, the coldness of steel.

- Hunting the Lunar Beast, a guide to Therianthropy

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