Lycanthropes

Lycanthropy is a curse bestowed upon a human by a witch or demon. The complexity of these curses vary wildly, and no two curses have the same method of breaking them. However, all lycanthropes can be repelled through the usage of silver and wolfsbane. 

Werewolves

The most common form of lycanthropy. Werewolves have been known to terrorise people for as long as history has been documented. In most forms of this curse, every full moon, the cursed human will become an uncontrollable force of hatred and wreak havoc upon any and all that it comes across. Whilst these beasts are incredibly dangerous, they are relatively easy to hunt if you go prepared. Lay traps baited with fresh meat laced with wolfsbane sprigs wrapped in goose fat, this will mask the herbs’ smell. Once snared, use spears or arrows to keep your distance when killing the werewolf. 

Do not get close to a werewolf under any circumstance, as they are capable of passing on their curse with a single bite. If you are unfortunate enough to be bitten, you are hopefully prepared enough to have a tincture of distilled wolfsbane, angelica and white willow bark to prevent the curse from gripping you. This tincture must be taken within an hour of being bitten, otherwise you too shall succumb to the curse on the next full moon. 

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Second Edition Note:

In recent years, we have been attempting to break lycanthropy curses where possible in order to spare human life. We track and identify the cursed human, and then question them to learn where their curse originates. More often than not, werewolves tend to be the creation of scorned witches who consider their victim to have done them wrong. We have been successful in convincing witches to break curses, but unfortunately we have also had to rely on more violent methods. However, killing the witch will not always break a werewolf’s curse, so proceed with caution. 

In brief:

• Trapping is an efficient method of hunting werewolves

• Their curse can be passed on through bite

• The lycanthropy curse can be broken

Werebears

An unusual sight in the western reaches of the continent, but more common in the more densely wooded areas of Ursal. They are huge and devastatingly powerful, a truly terrifying thing to encounter in the deep woods. Although a Werebear is less likely to pass on a curse than any other Lycanthrope, this is due to the fact there are rarely enough left living after a Werebear to suffer the effect of the curse. Extreme caution is advised, but one mercy is that while strong they are slower than other Lycanthropes, so run.

Werelions

Mountain lions are often sighted on the borders of Bevany and The Verda Empire, and so it is with little surprise that they serve as the inspiration of a lycanthropy curse. They are significantly less common than the other detailed lycanthropes, with only a few confirmed cases,  but are easily the most dangerous due to their agility and speed and strength.

Werefoxes

Legends of Werefoxes have long circulated in Calcera, in part due to the legend of Ferran Guineu reportedly turning into a fox to evade capture. Werefoxes pose a lesser threat than their larger lycanthropic counterparts but are exceptionally difficult to track due to their small size and speed. This type of Lycanthrope is supposedly favoured by witches in the South but near impossible to verify.