Lycanthropes (Shape Changers)

Well now, you say you're here to learn about the shape changers.  The library has some information on them, not quite as much information as we would like, but with Lord Draken and his wife being shape changers we are hoping to change that.

Most of us have heard stories of the werewolves, but very few have ever heard of the other forms of shape changers.  There are three major types of shape changers we know of, the canines, the cats, and believe it or not the birds.

Let's start with what they all have in common.  First, they all have an aversion to silver, exterior contact does not affect them, but if it gets in their blood stream, it slows down their healing process.  Second, they tend to have a distinct odor that other animals can smell.  Third, they tend to avoid normal people and stay strictly within their own cities.

Now the canines, they are most diverse being that they change into various canine forms, wolves, coyotes, and dogs being the primary forms.  The wolves tend to be slightly larger than normal and have an intelligent gleam in their eye. The coyotes are a bit smaller than their wolf brethren and have a yellow colored fur, some believe them to be the children of the wolves.  In reality, they are adults, we have no idea why they are a different breed of canine when they change.  The dog shape changers are most interesting though as they change into all manner of dogs, some look very similar to their wolf cousins, and others resemble a cross between a horse and a wolf.  All of them tend to hunt in packs.

You want to know about the birds?  There is not much to say, we know they can change into large birds, but no one living has seen one to report exactly what their nature is.  It is a popular belief that this breed of shape changers may have died out at some point in time.

The cat shape changers, now that is something we have quite a bit of knowledge on.  You see Lady Rose is of this persuasion, and has been gracious enough to give us a bit of history on her people.  They were originally the priests and priestesses of those that worshiped the huntress, or lady of cats.  According to the legends, they were rewarded with the ability to change into a forest cat after proving their loyalty to the goddess.  According to Rose though they split from the rest of their people who were using cats as servants and became their own people.  When they reach the age of maturity, they change into a forest cat, and remain in that form until such time as they have grown to match their human body weight.  Once they have reached this size, they must choose a mate and go through a special ceremony in which they will either die or be forever bonded to their mate.

How is the ability spread?  Why would you ask that question?

Ah, you want to become a shape changer I see, well the only way to become one is to be bitten by a shape changer, and even that is not guaranteed to work.  If you are bitten, there is a chance you will change shape and become one of them, but there is a greater chance you will die.

I hope this clears up all of your questions regarding the shape changers.

As recorded by:
Alphos the Archivist two days before he was found torn apart by what appeared to have been a pack of wolves