Race Spotlight - Were Beasts

Werebeasts, creatures that are human and beast. They sadly suffer from a disease called Lycanthropy. There are various ways this can happen but we will concentrate on the Nox Atra Werebeasts.

Simeon I of Bulgaria is the father of Lycanthopry.  In the year 900 Simeon and his court mage were avid experimentation students. They were always seeking to gain more information, more power and more knowledge. One night they were mixing the blood of feral beasts, predators and wild, and a rather obscure arcane spell that was, they thought, meant to give one the strength and endurance of a beast. Having only the two of them there, they both decided one would take the elixir and the other would document the results. When the court mage went to take the elixir Simeon refused, "No, none under my care and protection should endeavor such an unpredictable fate, I will." the two argued for hours and in the end Simeon wrestled the elixir from the mage and downed it.

When he woke the next morning the lab was in a shambles, broken pottery and tables littered the floor and under the entire mess was the body, what was left of it, of the court mage. Simeon never forgave himself but even worse the transition seemed to be permanent. In a rage at a soldier on a night of a full moon Simeon lost control and transformed into a wolf, ripping the man apart. The next day he awoke n the forest, naked and covered in blood. Simeon returned to the lab, picking up the half tattered tome the spell was in. He read over it and when he realized a note had been written int eh binding he gasped.

"A curse we found this to be, ancient, but permanent if you transform in the light of a full moon, you, your line will all be cursed to transform when she is bright in the sky. A slave to luna for your entirety."

Simeon's blood line continues even now through some of those that live in Nox Atra.  As time went by his decedents have ranged far and wide. His one wish is that his disease not be spread to those that were innocent, but as with all things, time erases memory for some.

Were-beasts when not transitioned look and act like normal human beings. Some may be a little extra hairy or have a unruly temper, but they are human for all intents and purposes. Demi-humans are unable to become were-beasts. There blood does not react to the disease as their generic makeup is not human. Half bloods unfortunately are.

Were-beasts have no control of their change with the full moon. With intense anger or extreme emotional states they can be forced to change as well. Some even have professed they are unable to have carnal knowledge with another as the peek of the moment turns them into beast. Others attest that there is also the scent of a lot of blood or carnage that can change them. Whatever the weakness outside the moon is dependent on the beast.

Were-beasts have been known to seek out items and elixirs to help prevent their change and they can work for a time, but the longer they rely on them the less effective they get. This could prove to be awkward in the middle of a dinner with friends and family. Most in Speria and Suntomorat have turned to the Romany for help, others have gone to the Sect for assistance.