A J Ashton
Bestiary: Shapeshifters
This is the bestiary on all shapeshifter creatures
Lycan
Lycan's are born and can't turn others with their bite. They can change at will into wolf form and are not restricted by the phases of the moon, like werewolves are. They are usually in family groups but it is known that they have packs, that do not consist of family members. Yet families can be in control of packs and an area, for example a town, village or city and the surrounding vicinity. They have strict rules, no mixed breading, only marriage through other Lycan families. They like to keep the lines pure. Some family lines, for example Tarrenfall, Greenforge, Stonelance go back generations.
There is a hierarchy within lycan families, the Alpha is usually the elder. When they die or they wish to step down then the next family member in line takes over. If there is a challenge to the leadership then there is a fight, the winner either keeping their leadership or one taking over. The looser must leave the family and become a lone wolf, not allowed to join another pack. If the alpha who lost has children then the elder child will take joint control, if a rival wins or full control if they are the one who challenged their parent and won. Yet this is very rare.
With packs that are not family based, then its the strongest who is the alpha, they can be challenged at any point and they fight in wolf form, to the death, the winner taking over. All that are in the pack must then follow the new leader. If they refuse they are banished.
In all cases lycan packs and families are always protectors for towns and villages keeping the occupants safe from anything human or non-human.
Artwork by Gary Trow
Strengths – Wolf and human form:
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Change at will into wolf form, this form is three times the size of an average wolf, with retractable claws, also a powerful jaw they can almost decapitate their victims.
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Heightened senses, able to see at night, sense of smell overly sensitive. This is in wolf and human form.
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In both forms they extraordinarily strong, the alpha is even stronger and in wolf form slightly larger.
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Almost silent, so can track and capture prey with ease.
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Able to run great distances and move faster than humans.
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Faster healing.
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Bite can kill a vampire.
Weaknesses – Wolf form and human form:
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Wolfsbane extremely painful, but not deadly, can lessen senses.
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Silver burns and can scar.
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Mortally wounded, then they are likely not be able to heal from them, especially if inflicted by a silver blade.
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Vampire bite can kill them.
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Old age their life span is about 100 years.
Scent - it is like a wolf which is spicy and musky. Lycan's have a deeper smell, a little more spicy, almost sweet.
Rune weakness - Thorn
Lycan Hybrid
Only one in existence, me. I was born a Lycan, from a long pure line, the Tarrenfalls. But one night in my 21st year, our home was attacked by Vampires. To this day I am unsure why, but that night my father and I lost our lives. The difference is I came back as a hybrid and survived. This is what I know, I was turned in the normal way, as in I ingested vampire blood, I was subsequently bitten and then died via a broken neck. This combination would turn a non-vampire into one. For a werewolf or in my case a Lycan, it is deadly, the two bloods cannot mix. A wolf bite is deadly to a vampire and their blood is deadly to us. Yet on the night I turned, a witch found me, and experimented with a potion she would hope would rid the vampire side, but instead it made it coexist within, me, it is suppressed by my Lycan side but is there. Due to this I have all the abilities of a Lycan and a Vampire, but none of the constraints of a vampire. I am immortal but I am not harmed by sunlight.
Being a hybrid I am not in a pack, so I have my own with my brother, being the eldest I am the Alpha. So, for this bestiary I will also break down the strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths – Wolf and human form:
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Change at will into wolf form, this form is three times the size of an average wolf.
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Very heightened senses, able to see at night, can see like a vampire, so can see blood vessels and heart etc, sense of smell, can pick up older ones that can be several weeks old, more than if just a wolf not a hybrid.
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Can detect scents that have cloaking spells.
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In wolf form extremely strong and this is how I hunt to keep vampire cravings at bay.
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Almost silent, so can track and capture prey with ease.
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Able to run great distances and move at a higher speed than wolf and vampires alone and humans.
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Faster healing.
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Day walker, sun does not affect me.
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Immortal.
Weaknesses – Wolf form and human form:
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Wolfsbane extremely painful, but not deadly, can lessen senses.
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Silver burns and can scar.
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Mortally wounded.
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White ash wooden stake to the heart, as this is a vampire weakness so may be to me
Scent - different to normal lycans. This is a musky scent, but with a slight smell of decay, but the strongest scent is that of lavender
Rune weakness - Thorn and ash
Artwork by Gary Trow
Werewolf
These can be confused with Lycans, but there are differences. Werewolves aren’t as disciplined as Lycans, they still have family units as werewolves can be born, but there are also packs, which are more made up of werewolves formed by the bite. Also due to the ones formed by the bite there can be more lone wolves. some wish a quiet life trying to continue what they had before, but some find it harder to adjust and can be more wild.
They still have an alpha, in family units it will be the elder. But in the packs this position is always under threat by younger or more powerful werewolves and can be challenged at any time and it is to the death. To form a werewolf from a bite this can only be done on a full moon. This is also when werewolves are at their strongest and the only time they are forced to change. They can change at will at other times but the bite is harmless and they are weaker.
Artwork by Gary Trow
Strengths – Wolf and human form:
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Very heightened senses, with good night vision.
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Able to run great distances and move at a higher speed than humans.
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They are at full strength on full moons.
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Faster healing.
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They change to a more human like wolf form, so don’t look like a wolf, they have wolf features but walk on two legs not four.
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Have enormously powerful limbs and claws and can tear victims apart with ease.
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Bite can kill vampires
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Bite on a full moon can make a new werewolf
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If bitten you will be able to change at will after a few days, but most victims are unaware of this and their first change will be a forced one on the full moon, and then they will know that they can change at will.
Weaknesses – Wolf form and human form:
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Wolfsbane extremely painful, but not deadly, can lessen senses.
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Silver burns and can scar.
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Silver to the heart can kill.
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Mortally wounded.
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Also, they can change at will, but are forced to change at a full moon.
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They are weaker if they change at other times than the full moon.
Scent - it is like a wolf which is spicy and musky. But werewolves have a deeper musky scent, bitter.
Rune weakness - Thorn