Werewolf 4 (12)

Early Access

A werewolf (or lycanthrope) is someone cursed to transform into a ravenous wolflike beast on the nights of the full moon. The curse begins as nightmares about being chased or chasing someone else. As the dreams grow more fierce and each night’s sleep provides less rest, victims begin to wonder about the bloodstains on their clothing, the strange claw marks in their homes, and eventually, the mutilated bodies they find buried in their backyards.

When not transformed, many who suffer the curse seem like completely normal people, if emotionally traumatized by the fact that most of their friends and family have been brutally killed over the preceding months. Some few, however, realize the truth of their condition; depending on their natures, they either kill themselves before their next transformation or learn to revel in the butchery.

Lycanthrope: A person who can shapeshift into a wolf (derived from the Greek words lykos, meaning “wolf,” and anthropos, meaning “human”). Often used as a term for any person cursed to change into an animal, although “theriomorph” (Greek for “animal-shape”) is more accurate as a general term for these kinds of shapeshifters.

Favorite methods for curing a werewolf include medicine (wolfsbane), surgery, or exorcism. Many “cures” are effective only because they kill the werewolf in human form before the next transformation.

Motive: Slaughter and hunger for flesh (when transformed), searching for answers (when human)

Environment: Anywhere dark, usually alone but sometimes as part of a small pack of two to five

Health: 24

Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound

Movement: Short; long in wolf form

Modifications: Attacks and dodge as level 6 (half- or full-wolf form); perception as level 7 (half- or full-wolf form)

Combat: In normal human form, a werewolf fights like a human, using unarmed attacks or manufactured weapons. In this form, their only power is to transform into a half-wolf form or full-wolf form, which takes a few agonizing rounds.

A handful of werewolves can control their transformation, but most change at night when the full moon reveals itself to them.

• Half-Wolf Form: An anthropomorphic wolf that walks on two legs and has sharp claws and teeth. It attacks with claws or bite, inflicting a moderate wound. They have enhanced senses and agility (see Modifications) and heal 2 health each round.
• Full-Wolf Form: A particularly large and vicious-looking wolf. Each round it makes two attacks, one with its bite and one with both its claws, each inflicting a moderate wound. They have enhanced senses and agility (see Modifications) and heal 2 health each round.

A werewolf who takes damage from a silver weapon or bullet loses their fast healing for several minutes.

Interaction: In human form, werewolves have the goals and aspirations of normal people, and they often don’t recall what they did while transformed or even realize that they suffer the curse of lycanthropy. In half- or full-wolf form, they’re feral and enraged, and there’s no negotiating with one.

Use: When the moon is full, werewolves hunt.

GM Intrusion: A character who takes their last moderate wound or any major wound from a werewolf must make a Might defense roll or be cursed to become a werewolf themselves. Even a successful defense roll means days of sickness (tasks hindered by two steps) as their body fights off the last of the curse.