Supernatural Creatures

Werewolves

Lore

A werewolf is a person who shapeshifts into a wolf or wolflike creature, either by using magic, or after being placed under a curse. The idea of transforming during the appearance of the full moon was an idea that was picked up by fiction writers. In popular culture, a werewolf can be killed if shot by a silver bullet, although this was not a feature of the folk legends. The name most likely derives from Old English wer and wulf.

The first part, wer, translates as "man". The second half, wulf, is the ancestor of "wolf". An alternative derivation of the word has the first part coming from Old English weri (to wear), making the full form in this case: wearer of wolf skin.

Historical legends describe a wide variety of methods for becoming a werewolf, such as the removal of clothing and putting on a belt made of wolfskin, rubbing the body with a magic salve, drinking water out of the footprint of the animal in question, and drinking from certain enchanted streams. According to Russian lore, a child born on December 24th becomes a werewolf. Folklore and literature also depict that a werewolf can be spawned from two werewolf parents. Becoming a werewolf by being bitten by another werewolf is common in modern fiction, but rare in legend, in which werewolf attacks seldom left the victim alive long enough to transform.

In mythology, werewolves are entities that are human but shapeshift into wolf form during certain lunar timeframes. This phenomenon is also referred to as lycanthropy, for the Greek lykoi (wolf) and anthropos (man). The change from man to wolf is held to be possible by witchcraft or magic, and can be voluntary or forced by certain cycles of the moon and certain sounds (such as howling). In some folklore, werewolves are immune from aging and most physical diseases. They can be killed by any wound that destroys the heart or the brain or by any form of death that causes brain or heart damage (such as hanging or other oxygen-deprivation methods).

Werewolves are humans that transform into wolf-like creatures under the influence of a full moon. They can either be born as werewolves to werewolf parents, or become a werewolf as a result of being bitten. Pureblood werewolves also prefer to use the term lycanthrope.

When they are in wolf-form, they appear human except for their yellow eyes, fangs, and claws, and they use their superior abilities and enhanced senses to hunt humans and eat their hearts. They may not remember transforming or any of the details of what they've done as a werewolf once they return to human form, but it seems that whatever subconscious desires or fears they feel as human translate into action when they are werewolves.

Werewolves may live solitary lives or live in a pack, and can survive eating animal organs, however it is extremely difficult, especially if they have fed on human hearts before.

Powers and Abilities

Superior strength and agility

Have elongated, sharp fangs and claws

Enhanced sight and smell

Can infect others by biting

Vulnerabilities

Silver through the heart

Dismemberment