Lythari

Lythari (originally Ly-tel-quessir) were good-aligned elven lycanthropic wolves, similar in appearance to werewolves and often mistaken as such. Lythari differed from werewolves in that they had no hybrid form and were friendly and companionable when in lupine form.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Whether in elf or wolf form, lythari were uncannily beautiful. As elves, they were often tall and fair, with pale blue or green eyes and silver hair. As wolves, they had light grey or silver fur and blue or brown eyes that betrayed their intelligence.

Ecology and Habitats

Lythari were true lycanthropes. They were born as were-creatures to lycanthrope parents. Lythari packs were almost exclusively found in wood elf lands or on the isle of Evermeet. Lythari propagated using a ritual of bonding that would turn the other party into a lythari. This ritual only worked if both parties agreed to the transformation. It left a permanent scar on the transformed, which resembled a wolf bite.

Civilization and Culture

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Common, Elven

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Lythari packs were small, usually numbering no more than 30, a dozen or so of which would be too young to fend for themselves. They did not fashion metal objects of any kind and the rare spellcasters amongst them tended to be priests of one of the nature deities. All members of a lythari pack were treated equally, with no real leaders. As such, these packs tended to be quite anarchic and were increasingly rare, as most lythari went to live in Faerie, travelling there through portals.

A nomadic clan of lythari called the Vil Adanrath also inhabited the Endless Wastes.

History

The lythari were originally elves who came from Faerie to Faerûn around −24,000 DR but they changed considerably over the years. By 1372 DR, most Faerûnian scholars did not consider them to be Tel-quessir.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Lone lythari were readily accepted within normal wolf packs and treated deferentially but were left out of the pack hierarchy. Evil wolves such as worgs, werewolves and wolfweres would attempt to drive off a lythari or slay them if at all possible. They could sense a lythari's goodliness naturally.

Lythari were a favored monster of Eilistraee and Rillifane Rallathil.

Lifespan

750 years

Average Height

4′7″‒5′5″

Average Weight

82‒152 lb