Werewolf FAQ

[Cayden Thomas Murphy]

New changes in bold.
(11/05/12)

Physical Traits

*While our werewolves don't have to shift on the full moon, it is extremely difficult for them not to and it takes years of practice to achieve. As the full moon approaches, they will feel more and more aggression along with recklessness and a sensation of being out of control. The night of the new moon (no moon) is when they are at their calmest.

*New wolves, meaning those who have been shifting for less than five years, will find it just about impossible to remain in human form on full moons. They simply do not have the experience necessary to resist. Nor would they be able to shift on a new moon. Like I said above, it takes many years of practice and a lot of willpower to achieve.

*Once control is achieved, it does not lessen the urge to shift, nor does the aggression simply go away. These things are always there and it is the werewolf who grows strong enough to resist. It is a constant battle every month for both the shift and the anger.

*Our werewolves take on the form of an actual wolf, though they are larger than natural species. This means no half-transformations where they look like some hairy humanoid creature. Except for size, our werewolves could pass for natural wolves. For more size information, see the size chart at the bottom of this post. Keep in mind, though, that we measure from the shoulder and not the head.

*While we don't allow half-transformations, some traits can change on their own. This includes the eyes, teeth, and fingernails. These, and these only, can be changed at will at any time during the month, though they may also change due to strong emotion. If someone refers to a "partial shift" they mean eyes, claws, and teeth.

*The shifting process goes fairly quickly, but it is also fairly painful. Once started, the shift cannot be stopped. He or she must complete the change, then change back.

*Shifting is painful. However, to counteract this pain, their bodies release endorphins, often giving them a small high after shifting.

*Resisting the shift around the full moon will make someone extremely uncomfortable. They might experience shaking and/or restlessness. They will ache and often feel like their skin is crawling.

*They can change at will between full moons. How easy or difficult that change is depends on the moon's cycle. The closer to the full moon, the easier it is. The closer to the new moon, the more difficult it would be.

*Even in human form, our werewolves are faster, stronger, and more agile than humans. They can see better, smell better (obviously), and hear better as well. These traits heighten around the full moon. These traits are also heightened when in wolf form, though only slightly.

*Werewolves have a naturally higher body temperature than humans that can be anywhere from 103-106 degrees Fahrenheit which means they can withstand the cold better, even in human form. They also have a higher heart rate averaging at 120 bpm at rest.

*Our werewolves begin shifting at puberty, though they have their heightened senses/allergies from birth. During childhood, they will also experience a small amount of the aggression associated with the full moon. When a werewolf first begins shifting, their wolf form will most likely appear juvenile.

*They cannot speak in wolf form. No telepathy and absolutely no human speech. One perk they have when it comes to communication in wolf form is a sense of empathy. They can pick up the general feelings of the others, but cannot communicate complex thoughts.

*Their lifespan is longer than a human's, but they are not immortal. The average werewolf can live up to three hundred years.

*Each wolf has a unique scent that is their own. Wolves have a different scent from humans, though, which is easily recognizable no matter what their individual scent is.

Psychological Traits

*The pack is life. They are a very close knit community and any of the members would die for another. However, ranks are a fluid thing and can change by the minute. Note that the alpha position doesn't change as often as the individual ranks between other members.

*Packs form naturally. Members come and go over time. If you would like to form a new pack, you must have at least 3 characters to create one. Just post in the hierarchy thread located HERE.

*Werewolves are naturally more aggressive than humans and tend to be tempermental, though this doesn't have to rule their judgement.

*The pack hierarchy consists of one alpha, one beta, and one omega. The alpha is the leader, the beta is second in command, and the omega is the outcast. Everyone else in the pack falls somewhere between the beta and the omega depending on their strengths, but each werewolf has its place. For more information on ranks, click HERE.

*Werewolves are not inherently good or evil. Just like people, there are werewolves with higher morals and values, and those who will kill indiscriminately. However, the pack will do what is best for the pack, and usually keeps a close watch on anyone they think might be dangerous enough to expose them. (Much of this depends on the alpha.)

*When in wolf form, they retain their memories of what happens. There is no blacking out and waking up the next morning not knowing how they got there. Whether in human for or wolf form, their mind is generally unaffected.

*When in human form, our werewolves retain some wolfish traits such as cocking their head sideways in confusion and holding "staring contests" to display dominance. (Yes, I realize the staring is not a real wolf trait. Just go with it. )

Other

*Our werewolves are allergic to silver and wolfsbane (also known as aconite and monkshood). It hurts them if they even touch it. If wolfsbane is ingested, its usually fatal depending on the quantity. Being shot with silver isn't usually fatal, depending on where the wolf is shot, but the bullet would need to be removed as soon as possible.

*They heal much faster than humans, taking roughly two days to heal from a gunshot or similar injury. A broken bone would be healed within a week or two.

*Werewolves CAN get sick and catch human diseases. Even if the disease they catch would normally be fatal, they will heal from it eventually. A common cold would only last a maximum of a couple days, for instance, while something like cancer or AIDS would take up to a couple months to completely heal from.

*While werewolves are allergic to wolfsbane in the plant's natural form, consuming small quantities of wolfsbane ash can produce a small high. (Think catnip for werewolves.)

*Werewolves mate for life. Finding this mate, however, can be a daunting task. This can give the appearance of "dating" but many wolves can have multiple lovers at a time until they do find their mate.

*Females do not have litters. They carry their pups in human form, and therefore have only one at a time (twins with staff permission).

*Lycanthropy is a dominant trait. Two born werewolves will have a werewolf child. A human and a born werewolf (as well as two bitten wolves) will have a seventy five percent chance of producing a werewolf. A human and a bitten werewolf have a fifty percent chance of producing a werewolf.

Bitten Werewolves

*There are not many differences between a born werewolf and a bitten werewolf except for upbringing. While a born werewolf has known what he or she is from birth and has had time to adapt, a bitten werewolf must learn control in a short amount of time or risk becoming dangerous. They also have a tendency to retain their human values and behaviors.

*A bitten werewolf can be created by any werewolf bite. This means that even a werewolf in human form can still create a new werewolf.

*Once bitten, a human will experience flu-like symptoms including fever, nausea, vomiting, tremors, weakness, extreme joint pain and fatigue while their DNA changes. This will only last for a few days before the body begins to heal itself at an accelerated rate. Once the fever has completely passed, the process is over and they are completely werewolf.

*Any werewolf who bites a human for the purpose of making a new werewolf must take the responsibility for teaching him or her. There are only three exceptions to this rule. One is if they are dead or otherwise incapacitated. Two is if the alpha determines that they are unfit to teach. Three is if someone else steps forward to teach them and a peaceful agreement is made.

*There is no cure. (This may change in the future as a plot twist, so stay tuned. ;D )

Eclipses

*A lunar eclipse is when the sun is on one side of the earth, and the moon is on the other. This amplifies the effects of the new moon. Werewolves will have nearly human senses and reflexes. They will lose their strength and speed, making them much weaker than normal. Their healing will be slowed to a human rate, and as an added "bonus" they are still allergic to silver and wolfsbane. This is when they are at their weakest point.

*A solar eclipse is when the moon is directly between the sun and the earth, blocking the sun's light. This will amplify the effects of the full moon, making werewolves unbearably aggressive. It doesn't matter how practiced they are at resting the shift... they will shift. They will have extremely strong desires to kill indiscriminately, and most of them will probably have to be locked up, even the older ones. They will heal more quickly, and their senses will go off the charts when it comes to sensitivity. This is when they are at their strongest, but beware, because they lose most of their rationality and become very animalistic. (Solar eclipses are the major cause of any werewolf myths resulting from exposure.)

*Lunar and solar eclipses are rare, and I will only announce one for a site-wide event or plot. The exact location of the eclipse will also play a big part on how strong it's influence is. Therefore, if I announce an eclipse, assume that Converse is at ground zero. You can, however, reference an eclipse in your character's history.

*Also keep in mind that an eclipse's effects will only last a few hours.

Size Chart