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Lycanthropy

A Lycanthrope, otherwise known as a werewolf, is an individual that can shapeshift into a half-man-half wolf entity, either purposely or after being placed under a curse or affliction (often a bite or through sexual contact) with the transformations occurring on the night of a full moon or when under increased stress. Lycanthropy affects about 0.001% of the world's population and is a lifelong affliction, occurring at any stage in a human's life. Besides its transformation aspect, lycanthropy can cause limb and skin regeneration, increased vision in darkness, heightened speed and agility, extreme aggression, and abnormal strength. Most affected by lycanthropy live for anywhere between 15-40 years after their original cursing, usually being killed by heart attacks from increased stress or being killed by humans.

Not every lycanthrope suffers from moonlight transformations, nor does every lycanthrope have the same symptoms. Lycanthropy relies on a spectrum of severity, ranging from extreme hair growth and anger during transformation to full wolf shapeshifting. Lycanthropes can also live a relatively normal life if they are made aware of their condition, and can control whether or not they spread it to others. Without biting, lycanthropes cannot spread lycanthropy, whether through saliva or air, and most live in relative isolation after being cursed. The modern world has not accepted the diagnosis of lycanthropy medically, nor has it been accepted as anything other than a fantasy. Due to its rareness, individuals tend to never share their afflictions, and lycanthrope relationships are extremely rare. To date, there has never been a confirmed lycanthrope-human offspring--although much speculation has arisen over the past centuries--nor has it been confirmed if lycanthropy can spread to offspring at all.

Lycanthropes have many tell-tale characteristics that, once acknowledged, can discern lycanthropes from the general human population. Generally, lycanthropes are taller in stature than others, being on average over six feet tall. Their muscle mass is not affected by their affliction, nor is their behavior, unless transformed. Their ears tend to be pointed and their eyebrows tend to be thicker, as well as them having light-colored eyes. Even when not transformed, lycanthropes have darker body hair and a heavier abundance of it, between either sexes. Due to the heavy energy exerted during transformation, lycanthropes vary in their energy levels--some become increasingly aware and energetic post-transformation, while some become sluggish.

It should be noted that when an individual becomes a lycanthrope, it is the act of being cursed or afflicted. There are three states that a lycanthrope can exist in:

• Human State - Baseline state for any lycanthrope. While having textbook lycanthrope traits such as more body hair and a stronger build, they appear human and are treated as such.
• Half State - The state between Human and Wolf. For most lycanthropes, this stage can take anywhere from five minutes to an hour, but is nonetheless passed through. For some lycanthropes, though, they can persist in Half State for as long as they want, with the use of intense concentration. This can be desired if the lycanthrope wants to appear taller, more muscular, or more intimidating than the average human, while also not being mistaken for a lycanthrope. Ralph Lowell, one of the only recorded lycanthropes in Walten, MA, is one of these cases.
• Wolf State - The common lycanthrope archetype. While not become a true quadripedal wolf, this state causes lycanthropes to grow up to seven feet tall, become covered in fur, develop wolf facial anatomy, and become extremely aggressive. Some lycanthropes can retract from this state, but it requires much skill.

The largest population of lycanthropes exists in east Europe, as well as areas around Turkiye. Lycanthropy can develop in any part of the world, but most commonly they arise in colder climates. In Walten, MA, the only documented lycanthropes are Thomas Ralphina, an 18-year-old male, and Gray Lowell, a 20-year-old male.

Despite this, there is a large lycanthrope underbelly to Walten and West Massachusetts as a whole. Small werewolf communities have developed, especially in the outskirts of smaller towns and rural areas. These communities tend to be self-reliant, and some communities live primarily in society--only meeting in the wilderness for gatherings, festivities, or disputes. Due to the relative closeness of werewolf communities, inbreeding and promiscuity are fairly common, with many werewolf "families" having children from different fathers, or not being related at all. It's not uncommon for werewolf children to be orphaned after the death of a parent, and therefore others in the community unofficially "adopt" them as their own.

Vampirism

A Vampire, or an individual turned by vampirism, is an individual that subsists by feeding on the vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. The condition has its origins in Russia and eastern Europe, but similar turnings have been documented in Central America and Africa. Vampirism is much more common than lycanthropy, and estimates suggest that vampire towns have existed in rural areas. While the exact percent of the population is unknown, it is generally believed that vampirism can be spread to offspring, those infected, and through different species, with even vampire cows being identified. In terms of a physical phenotype, it is ultimately impossible to discern a vampire from other humans until the vampire has survived over one hundred years, when physical attributes finally begin to form. Every hundred years, vampires develop more and more bat-like characteristics, until--after a millenia--they transform entirely into a bat, and cannot transform back.

The transformation timeline is as follows:

• 100 Years - No discernible changes. There is a heightened desire for consuming blood, but this does not become apparent until decades have passed. Nonetheless, no physical aging takes place during this time.
• 200 Years - The need to consume blood is addicted and must be fulfilled. Most can subside on animal blood. Ears become pointed and skin grows pale.
• 300 Years - Blood must be consumed every week to survive. Eyes may change color, heightened speed and night vision develops. Most vampires live to this age before being killed.
• 400 Years - Blood must be consumed daily. Skin becomes pale as snow, hair will lose color, and psychosis might arise without blood consumption. Can now shapeshift into a bat.
• 500 Years - Skin begins to turn almost translucent, with veins and arteries being apparent beneath skin. Cannot step into sunlight without being burned. Ingests blood for almost every meal.
• 600 Years - Cannot eat any other food to survive. Animal blood begins to taste horrible and bitter, but can still be consumed. Hair may fall out, or hair might grow in other areas.
• 700 Years - Blood must be consumed from another human. Body weight begins to lower and limbs grow sinewy.
• 800 Years - Individual must drain a human entirely to become satisfied. Beginning wing flaps develop, skin grows rough, and hair falls out in clumps.
• 900 Years - Bat transformation is imminent, and vampires at this stage tend to perform sacrifices of two or more humans to satiate themselves.
• 1000 Years - Complete transformation into a bat, can now die from natural causes at this stage, in bat form.

It should be noted that when an individual becomes a vampire, it is the act of being turned.

The largest population of vampires exists in east Europe, as well as areas around Russia. Vampirism can develop in any part of the world, regardless of climate. In Walten, MA, the only documented lycanthrope is Dorothy Sallow, a 340-year-old female.

The Science of Transformation

Lycanthropy is contagious, but not uncontainable. It was originally believed that lycanthropy was a spiritual condition that could be cured, either through pseudo-lobotomies, religious conversion, or physical abuse, yet now it is much more accepted to be a transferrable condition similar to a virus. Cells of infected individuals have shown differences in their nucleotide formations in contrast to unaffected humans, and every part of the internal organ system, ranging from brain structures to the liver, have modifications after being cursed. For example, the parasympathetic system in lycanthropes is weakened, giving them a permanent state of "fight-or-flight," and their prefrontal cortex typically shows signs of damage. Besides the biological components, lycanthropy cannot technically be described as a virus. It's basis relies on ideas outside the realms of human science, although it is assumed that more research in the future could say otherwise.

Incubation and complete transformation into a lycanthrope can take up to a week to develop, and when it develops, lycanthropes typically experience their first complete shapeshifting cycle, regardless of their emotions or the phase of the moon at the time. The first transformation, and subsequent transforms for the first five moon cycles, can be extremely painful, although it is much more painful for individuals with a lower body mass (such as thinner men, women, and most children). This is because the sudden height and muscle growth when transforming into a werewolf is extremely taxing on human cells. On occasion, lycanthropes can even die mid-transformation during the beginning stages, as their body is unable to keep up with the rapid change. An estimated 1 in 10 lycanthropes will die within six months after being cursed.

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