Category Archives: Lycanthrope
Smiting of the Werewolf
From the writings of Silbern Keryvian I was born with a fate upon my skin. I was but another in a proud line of devout werehunters. I studied the ancient texts of Djivan Mertshak, the lore of the Night Reapers, and the tales of fellow Freethinkers. Their battles against the lycanthrope abominations contained lessons. I learned all that I could of the beasts; their hunting, shape shifting, procreating, weaknesses, strengths, and of course their magic. In time, I married, and had a family of my own. I continued to train, study the old texts, and hunt the tainted. The elder Freethinkers began to task me with specific targets. Ones that were particularly treacherous and vile. With Marr’s blessing, my silver blade vanquished den patriarchs and matriarchs, alike. And the wereclans are shaken to their defiled cores, due to it. Then came the night in which Marr called to me! I had cornered a tired lycanthrope, and as my virulent, silver blade rose to deliver the mortal blow, the creature changed form. It dared look upon me from its profaned elven eyes. “The sire, Krewrog, will be your downfall, hunter! Slay me. Your end is near.” “None so near as yours!” I knew then that I had been given a charge of grand import, to cleanse Norrath of this “Krewrog.” I told the elder Freethinkers, but they discouraged me from hunting Krewrog. I had never known such folly and cowardice in such men! Marr demanded this cur be wuped from existence, and yet they order me to leave the hunt for another of the order! They had left the mission, but not I. The monster proved to be more elusive, and more gruesome than I had even thought possible. I would find townsfolk, sometimes my own hunting companions, torn open. The killings were messages. “Find me,” they dared. I knew I was close on its trail, for the deaths were never a day old. But I was merely following a trail of grotesque destruction. I was not gaining any ground. I needed to gain the upper hand in this hunt. I was contacted by an assassin one night, claiming to have been given superior skills through magics granted by Bertoxxulous. He offered me the same magics, but I was not about to accept such foulness. Not a week later, I learned of a were beast that had been witnessed running from a local inn. I investigated the room that moment. Torn clothes were strewn about, but no blood, no victim. It was its den! Then I spotted a silver locket was amongst the destruction. A locket I recognized! It had been mine, but lost in battle months prior. It held the likeness of my dear wife. My wife, my children! With the speed of the wolf, I ran to me home. What I came upon will never leave my mind. What my eyes took in has been burned upon my very soul, like none other. Their bodies. The gore. No libation, sleep or over indulgence could ever distract the grief, or the burning hate within me. my wife and infant daughter were butchered – torn apart by claws and teeth. The beast took delight in the grotesque! I was blind with fury and sorrow as I looked for my son, Junge. But he was nowhere to be found. He was to be a man soon, and now he was gone, all of them were. The fault was with the Freethinkers for not aiding me in my hunt of this Krewrog from the start, and mine for not taking the upper hand when I could have. The need for vengeance throbbed within me. It races through my very blood. I vowed to have it! I returned to the assassin, and took the Bertoxxulian magics. It was only fitting to use magics of the disease god to kill one so willing to spread the lycanthropy disease. The spells worked better than I could have imagined. I could follow the beasts using the slightest of track; a speck of blood here, a hair there. They lit to my sight as if they burned! I followed the trail of hair and saliva leading from my home towards the village of Somborn. Foolishly, the beast was sticking to the cliffs and rougher terrain. A slower way, most likely trying to disguise its trail. I could bear it there! I saw my chance and laid a trap for the tainted creature between Wayunder Lake and Breathless Hallow. The sun was soon to rise when the beast made its way through, and the trap sprung. How the beast howled and raged against the magical restraints that now bound him to the natural world around him! Then I noted, this werewolf was not as big as the earlier witnesses had stated, and as I walked out of the shadows to confront it, it shifted. It turned from its Lujien form into a scared, young man, naked and shaking in magical bonds. it was my son. My own Junge, tainted by that disease! Junge cried out, “Why are you doing this to me?” “Because you are an abomination.” “But you brought this upon me!” “I am sure Krewrog would have you think that way. That my hunting and my culling of his den mates and pack cousins somehow justified the tainting of my own son, but ultimately, responsibility lies with him… And now I will do what needs to be done, by the strength of Marr.” “What?! No, father! Sire!” Krewrog took so much from me. Life was revenge now. Nothing more. The next day was stumbling grief, and hate. Tears of rage burned my throat, but would not cool the fire within my core. I knew I would find Krewrog within the village of Somborn. So many of my previous targets were heading that direction, and I doubted it was all by luck. Something was drawing them to the village. I found nothing suspicious with the townsfolk, or the village, itself. But I knew the folly of replying too much on the calm of daylight. I took up at a little tavern, and decided to wait it out. As the day waned, I grew more fidgety, and restless. I was shaking with insatiable rage for the beast I sought, or so I told myself. It was near dusk when I left the tavern. As I walked across the village, the night lit up for me. I saw beast hair all around me, and could smell them on the wind! This village was full of the abomination! I took leave of my senses and allowed the burning in my soul to take over. What had been bubbling under the surface I would no longer deny. It strengthened me beyond imagine. I felt something suppressing my analytical thought, and magnifying my baser thoughts and emotions! The howl that ripped through the night chilled and exhilarated me. it was that of a werewolf on the prowl, even through the muddle of my mind I recognized it! That is when I could deny it no longer. The howl had been mine! I was one of the defiled, and had been one for weeks! I reeled from the truth of it. How could it be that one would not know what they themselves do? It was then that I relived my dreams, and awkward mornings that suddenly made sense, and… Dear Marr! My family! I am Krewrog and Junge knew it! But why was I allowed to love by the Freethinkers? Did they know? Were they using me, or the beast within? It mattered little now that the damage had been done. I could not check my need to go out into the night, but now that I was aware of the taint I carried, I was not about to put others in any more danger. I woke the next morning in confusion, like so many others, but this one I no longer blamed on the drink of the night before. I knew what I was now, and what I had to do about it. I have written this tale as a warning, and as a lesson for others to learn from. Face your inner demons! Do not bury them, nor feed them with rage. As for me, I have justice to administer. Marr purify this body with the melted silver from my armor. As I drink, bring my family the justice they deserve.
The Quartet
Devlin Rochester
You say, ‘Hail, The Quartet’
The Quartet flips rapidly through the pages of a ragged tome, ‘The mark of an extraordinary individual is often coupled with unimaginable self-sacrifice. Those with the means to impact Norrath can do so, in part, because they are utterly consumed by their cause. Such individuals are tortured souls, giving up their humanity in pursuit of a greater cause. [Devlin Rochester] was one such man. Though he accomplished much, you may [not have heard] of him.’
You say, ‘Devlin Rochester’
The Quartet says ‘A hunter. A murderer. Like his father, and his father before him, Devlin was bound by a family oath to seek out and eliminate monsters that could pose a threat to mankind. He was a master with all manner of weaponry – from daggers, to axes, to whips. His specialty was in destroying lycanthropes and he did succeed in making Norrath safer for humans . . . but at a [great cost] to himself.’
You say, ‘Great cost’
The Quartet says ‘On a dark and clouded night, Devlin chased a young werewolf on horseback for miles through the Jaggedpine forest. His crossbow was trained on her, but she was an expert rider. She dodged and weaved between the trees often enough to spoil any attempts at taking a shot. Unfortunately for her, she took a turn that led them into a clearing. What [happened next] haunted Rochester forever.’
You say, ‘Happened next?’
The Quartet says ‘Unobstructed by foliage, Devlin took careful aim and fired a bolt at his quarry. As the missile sailed toward her body, the cloud cover above broke, revealing a full moon. Sickly pale moonlight illuminated the horror and disbelief on the girl’s countenance as the crossbow bolt struck true, knocking her forcefully from her mount. She was [not a lycanthrope].’
You say, ‘Not a lycanthrope?’
The Quartet says ‘He realized that she was merely a frightened young woman. She committed no crime, but was hunted down and murdered. Devlin was riddled with guilt. He withdrew from society completely. Though his oath required that he continue to destroy monsters, no matter how many times he performed his duty successfully he could not shake the shame for his grievous error. He desperately sought a way to [make amends].’
You say, ‘Make amends’
The Quartet says ‘Before his sudden disappearance, Devlin wrote a letter that suggested he sought to redeem himself by destroying the ‘greatest aberration Norrath had ever known’.’
You say, ‘not have heard’
The Quartet says ‘The sands of time wear away the reminders of even the most exceptional figures and Devlin left no legacy behind. He disappeared mysteriously thousands of years ago.’
Tris Wallow III
You say, ‘Hail, The Quartet’
The Quartet flips rapidly through the pages of a ragged tome, ‘In years long past there existed a maiden who was the greatest enchantress of her time. She was fair of face, while also possessing unsurpassed knowledge of the arcane arts. For a generation she used her natural abilities to unite enemies, bring an end to meaningless wars, and lead the kingdoms of men. Her name was [Tris Wallow the Third] and she was exceptional in all ways – a shining star in a dark sea of mediocrity. Though she [accomplished much], you may [not have heard] of her.’
You say, ‘Not have heard’
The Quartet says ‘This is understandable. The sands of time wear away the reminders of even the most exceptional figures and Tris left no legacy behind. She disappeared mysteriously thousands of years ago.’
You say, ‘Tris Wallow the Third’
The Quartet exchanges the tome in its possession for another on the shelf. It opens the book to a earmarked chapter and begins lecturing, ‘Miss Wallow the Third was the daughter of a fortune teller. Her mother, Wallow the Second, was the daughter of a seer. The three women carried the same distinctive traits of beauty and charm. While all three were gifted, the Third was the most successful in utilizing her talents to change the world. Notably absent in their lives were [husbands].’
You say, ‘Husbands’
The Quartet says ‘There is a saying that behind every successful woman is an enabling man. This saying is untrue. None of the Wallows ever [married]. They passed their family name down from mother to daughter.’
You say, ‘Married’
The Quartet says ‘The family name was not the only thing they passed on. The Wallows were extremely selective in choosing a suitable mate. The coupling was purely for the purpose of producing a sufficiently talented offspring. It is unknown who the fathers were, but what is known is that the Wallow women went to great lengths to locate a partner with the potential to carry their gift to the next generation.’
You say, ‘Accomplished much?’
The Quartet says ‘Tris understood that humanity is a tool. Without guidance they lack purpose. Without purpose they are worthless. With her helping hands, they were pointed in the right direction. She gave these lacking individuals a reason for existing.’
The Performer
You say, ‘Hail, The Quartet’
The Quartet flips rapidly through the pages of a ragged tome, ‘You might ask, who was [The Performer], the man whose deeds resulted in the loss of his name. Though his [crimes] were great, you may [not have heard] of him.’
You say, ‘The Performer’
The Quartet says ‘He was a storyteller, a historian, an entertainer, a musician, and a lyrical genius. His accolades and praise could change the course of history. Likewise, his disapproval and castigations could ruin someone forever. The purpose of someone in such a career varies depending on your point of view; depending on whether you are the source of rampant ridicule or merely enjoying a bit of jest at another’s expense. It’s quite possible you might perceive him as a saint or an antagonist. The one individual who [truly mattered] perceived him as the latter.’
You say, ‘Truly mattered?’
The Quartet says ‘From decades of swaying the public’s opinion, The Performer felt he was above the law, an exception to all rules, and immune from harm. In most senses this was correct. But he overstepped his bounds once with the wrong person, and one grave mistake was all it took to bring a sudden and premature end to his illustrious career.’
You say, ‘Crimes’
The Quartet says ‘Upon receiving a special and [limited opportunity], he betrayed the one that extended the invitation. The host was reclusive by necessity and nature, and prided himself on his reputation. As if revealing the details of the host’s current location to the public was not insult enough, The Performer spread blatant rumors and lies that portrayed the host as a monster. A lapse in judgment, perhaps? A fatal lapse in judgment.’
You say, ‘Limited opportunity’
The Quartet says ‘Every so often, an exceptional individual arises and attracts the attention of the Master. An invitation is extended, but that invitation is largely metaphorical. It is through subtle clues that the individual is led to the doorstep of the Master, and given a unique opportunity to learn things they never could have dreamed possible.’
You say, ‘Not have heard’
The Quartet says ‘The Performer made a living out of sullying other’s names, and thus it was fitting that his true name was destroyed for his transgressions. Aside from losing his name, his tongue was forcibly removed, he was boiled in acid, and his remains were magically bound to serve the Master for all eternity.’
Roley DeFarge
You say, ‘Hail, The Quartet’
The Quartet flips rapidly through the pages of a ragged tome, ‘Have you [heard] the story of [Roley DeFarge], the man who pioneered hypocrisy? Though he [accomplished much] in his lifetime, his greatest feat was destroying all that he had attained.’
You say, ‘Heard?’
The Quartet says ‘This is understandable. The sands of time wear away the reminders of even the most exceptional figures and Roley’s actions ensured that his order denied all knowledge of his escapades to preserve their reputation.’
You say, ‘Roley DeFarge’
The Quartet says ‘Roley was a devoted leader within his order, the Paladins of Marr. The man was legendary. His faith, unwavering. His skill, unmatched. His dedication, unquestionable. During his tenure, the paladins enjoyed a period of immense prosperity. They pushed back the armies of their enemies and crushed any undead that dared rise from the grave. The order was loved and respected; their leader most of all. But this attention and flattery only marked the beginning of Roley’s [downfall].’
You say, ‘Downfall’
The Quartet exchanges the tome in its possession for another on the shelf. It opens the book to an earmarked chapter and begins lecturing, ‘Roley came to believe that he was superior to those he worked with and those he served. His motivations shifted from a desire to help the common man to an increasingly intense desire to boost his fame. He neglected his responsibilities to the order and gave them no indication of his whereabouts, opting instead to [work alone]. Not even his wife, [Adrianna], was privy to his location.’
You say, ‘Work alone’
The Quartet says ‘Roley opted to seek out adversaries on his own, and the criteria of what could be construed as an enemy in his eyes changed. He sought to destroy those that would gain him the adoration of the public, and those that met death at the end of his sword weren’t necessarily dangerous or enemies of his order. The order took notice of these activities but due to an internal struggle between those that supported Roley and those who disapproved of his actions, he was not removed from his position as leader.’
You say, ‘Adrianna’
The Quartet says ‘Adrianna was also a faithful member of the order. She was heartbroken at Roley’s behavior. She would not see him for months at a time, and during their brief times together, he did not behave like himself. She begged him to give up his selfish quest, but he refused. She could not compete with Roley’s desire to make a name for himself. He continued to leave her side for extended forays, and during one such journey he [never returned].’
You say, ‘Never returned?’
The Quartet says ‘His wife and a handful of colleagues searched for the lost paladin, based on his last known whereabouts. The one survivor that returned explained to the order that Roley DeFarge was a member of the undead, and had slain his own wife along with the other members of the scouting party. The order buried all evidence of these events and let the memory of their fallen leader fade away over time.’
You say, ‘Accomplished much’
The Quartet says ‘Yes, but Roley was proof that even the greatest of heroes can fall.’
Bloodmoon Keep
Unfolding the Lore, Pt 6
Bloodmoon Keep was once the elven holy site known as Faygannen, Temple of the Vines. Decades ago the vampire prince Mayong Mistmoore grew worried at the proximity of the holy site to Castle Mistmoore. He sent his forces to destroy the temple and cover it in a dark curse, trapping the spirits of the slain elves in the halls of the castle. For many years the elven ghosts suffered in silence, unable to pass into the Realm of Growth and the presence of Tunare. Now, with the arrival of Ralkor Bloodmoon, the desolate spirits of Faygannen find themselves twice cursed.
Once the Prophet of Clan Crushbone, Ralkor Bloodmoon failed in a foolish coup to overthrow Emperor Crush. Bloodmoon barely escaped with his life and a small band of loyal orcs into the wilds of the Faydark. Somewhere between the Crushbone court and Faygannen, the Bloodmoon tribe was overtaken by a dark curse and infused with terrible, feral might. The Fangbreakers, a society of werewolf hunters, has begun to investigate the source of their new vigor, but have so far had little success.
Travelers say that a new race of lycanthropes stirs within Bloodmoon Keep. Ralkor may be a beast by nature, but his cunning cannot be denied and his ambition knows no limits. Given time the shadow of the Bloodmoon could overtake all of Faydwer.
Lycanthropes and Their Kin
The Lycanthropes
Lycanthropes are the result of spiritual rituals and pacts made by the Lujien (wolfmen) and Gihjna (bearmen) with the ancient elven druid Wegadas. According to druidic folklore, Wegadas’ ties to both Tunare and the spirit deities of the Unkempt, and his pact with the Lujien and Gihjna, made it possible for his children to survive the rites of transformation that changed them into the fathers of lycanthropy.
Lycanthropes are generally referred to as werewolves, werebears, wererats, werelions, etc. Such classifications depend on which strain of lycanthropy they possess.
Wegadas made his pact with the Lujien and Gihjna before the fall of Takish’Hiz when the humans were still little more than barbaric tribes. He agreed to sire and give his two unborn children to be raised by the Lycanthropes. The children underwent a ritual in the Valley of the Dawn, the most sacred of Lujien and Gihjna locations. In the Valley of the Dawn, the children’s mortal spirits were taken from them.
They would become Levandius the Wolf Father, and Dorandas the Bear Father.
These were only two of Wegadas’s children. He had fathered over a dozen children throughout the centuries. Unlike Levandius and Dorandas, most of his other children lived out their lives as Unkempt, content to be common tribesmen.
The Werewolves
History:
Wegadas’ first born, Levandius, was to be handed over to the Lujien and was gifted by the spirit of Drinal, the spirit deity of night, destruction, and death. He would serve as a link between the humans and demi-humans of the Unkempt Forest as well as the Lujien. Levandius could change his shape at will from his half-elven birth form to that of a Lujien.
For centuries Levandius had lived within the Unkempt Forest and fought fiercely against those who trespassed into the sacred woods, or threatened the tribesmen he was sworn to defend. As a result, his blood mixed occasionally with those he fought and the “curse” of lycanthropy spread. Although Levandius tried to hunt down and kill these offspring, some would escape and flee to other regions of Tunaria, where they would they would either be killed, or (for a lucky few) create packs of their own.
As the plainsmen of The Great Karana Plains and coastal regions south of the Unkempt made social and technological advancements, excursions into the Unkempt woods became more frequent. For protection against these intruders, Levandius began bestowing his lycanthropic gift upon the most skilled and trusted of the human and half-elven Unkempt tribesmen. These werewolves, trained and ruled over by Levandius, became warriors known as the Night Reapers and adopted the standard of the silver crescent on a black circle, the sacred symbol of Drinal the Silver Reaper.
The barbarians of the north still fear the Unkempt woods, and believe their forefathers’ tales of the wolfmen of the Unkempt. The humans of Qeynos and its outlying villages still tell similar folktales passed down from their less civilized ages, but many pass them off as legend and primitive superstitions.
(EQoA) Present:
The Night Reapers: In the Unkempt woods, Wegadas is passing away and his heirs are at war for leadership of the Unkempt. Levandius’ original Night Reapers numbered around a dozen members each with several human and half-elven Unkempt followers. With the death of Wegadas looming, the Night Reapers are watching the borders of the Unkempt Woods closer than ever and are selectively increasing their numbers. The Night Reapers, like the Unkempt and the Lujien are fervent worshipers of Drinal the Silver Reaper. Viewing their lycanthropy as a great gift and honor, they seek and destroy independent werewolves deemed unworthy of their willing or unwilling gift.
Castle Lightwolf: Elsewhere in Tunaria, small independent packs of werewolves have been established. The most prominent and closest to the Unkempt Woods are the Lightwolf pack of Castle Lightwolf. For three generations, the lords of Castle Lightwolf have struggled to keep their lycanthropy a secret from all but their most trusted advisors and soldiers, while secretly governing their packs. The Lightwolf pack is one of the few independent packs that Levandius does not actively seek to destroy. In fact, due to the impending demise of Wegadas, the invasions from human trespassers from the south and the barbarians from the north, Levandius uses Count Lightwolf and his pack to help defend the outskirts of the northern Unkempt Woods.
Lone Wolves and Wolfweres: Perhaps due to the violent natures and tendencies of the werewolves, lupine lycanthropy has become amongst the most widespread strain of lycanthropy. Individuals infected with lupine lycanthropy typically do not survive for long unless they either learn to live in the wild, or learn how to hide their lycanthropy amongst common folk. Wolfweres, the most common of all lycanthropes, are incapable of controlling their violent tendencies and have no human form. They either resemble large wolves, or Lujien, and they rarely change from one to the other. When the moon of Drinal is full, the wolfweres all shift into their Lujien form and go on a bloodthirsty hunt from dusk until dawn. Wolfweres with violent tendencies and weak wills often shift into Lujien form involuntarily and hunt on these nights as well.
These lone wolves and wolfweres are responsible for most werewolf attacks and the resulting legends amongst the civilized races outside of the Unkempt Woods.
The Werebears
History:
Wegadas’ second born, Dorandas, was to be handed over to the Gihjna and was gifted by the spirit of Ehayae, Matron of the Dawn and spirit deity of birth, rebirth, and creation. He would serve as a link between the humans and demi-humans of the Unkempt Forest and the Gihjna. And he would be able to change his shape from his half-elven birth form to that of a Gihjna at will.
Like his father Wegadas and brother Levandius, Dorandas was bound by his father’s pact to the Lujien and Gihjna to remain in the Unkempt Woods as a servant of the Gihjna and a leader of the Unkempt tribesmen.
Dorandas learned from the Gihjna the sacred rites and rituals of Ehayae, the Matron of the Dawn, and passed them on to the shaman of the human Unkempt tribes who regard Dorandas as their most sacred and eldest shaman.
Over the years, Dorandas has passed his gift of lycanthropy to the most respected and powerful human and half-elven shaman of the Unkempt tribes. These werebears, trained and lead by Dorandas, became known as the Wards of Dawn and adopted the standard of a golden half circle on black representing the rising and setting sun.
Although fierce when forced into battle, the werebears of the Wards of Dawn served the human Unkempt tribes primarily as spiritual guides and healers; thus, few werebears have ever existed beyond the boundaries of the Unkempt Woods.
The few werebears that resulted from barbarian or civilized human campaigns into the Unkempt woods often continued to live their lives more or less as they had before becoming lycanthropes. This group had much greater control over their lycanthropic abilities than the werewolves. Some werebears, especially those of barbarian origin, have even become heroic figures amongst their native cultures and may be responsible for the barbarian shamans’ highly developed affinity with bears and their ability to assume the form of a bear.
(EQoA) Present:
The Wards of Dawn: The Wards of Dawn acknowledge the passing of Wegadas as the death of the current age and the dawn of a new one. While the Night Reapers continue to defend the Unkempt Woods from invaders, the Wards of Dawn struggle to maintain the ancient tribal rites and beliefs of the Gihjna and the human Unkempt tribes. The Wards of Dawn fear that Levandius and his Night Reapers will attempt to assume absolute control of the Unkempt when Wegadas passes away and that the Night Reapers’ violent nature is better suited to their current role than the role of leaders of the Unkempt. The Wards of Dawn guard the fading Wegadas intently and are struggling to delay the time of his passing.
The Werebear Witchking: The Witchking was once a tribesman of the Unkempt. He was infected with lycanthropy while tending to a wounded bear. Fearing he would be slain by The Wards of Dawn or The Night Reapers for being an unintended recipient of lycanthropy, the Witchking fled the tribe. He went to a remote region of the Unkempt Woods where he gathered other independent werecreatures and created a loyal following of lycanthropes. The Witchking has become intent on overthrowing Levandius and Dorandas and assuming control of the Unkempt once Wegadas has passed.
Lost Cubs and Bearweres: Although few werebears existed south of the Unkempt Woods, ursine lycanthropy was the second only to lupine lycanthropy amongst the barbarian tribes of the North. The great Anu warrior, Ungar Glacierfist was rumored to be a werebear. Myths of barbarian figures possessing the strength and wisdom of a bear are not uncommon amongst barbarian folk tales.
Bearweres, like wolfweres, can only assume their natural bear form or the form of a Gihjna. Like the wolfweres, they possess only animal intelligence. Bearweres are often created by werebears as guardian companions, but are watched closely so as not to spread the lycanthropy to families of wild bears. Still, sightings of bearweres occur as far away as the Commonlands and the mountains of Odus. Bearweres aren’t easily recognizable from normal bears aside from the fact that they tend to assume their Gihjna form at dusk and dawn, and can be seen standing or walking upright.
The Werelions
History:
Another of Wegadas’ sons, Corindas, lived his childhood years as a half-elf child in the care of the Unkempt Druids. Wegadas had already fulfilled his pact with the Lujien and Gihjna, thus Corindas did not undergo the spiritual transformation at the Valley of the Dawn like his older siblings. Since Corindas was not bound by the pact that restricted his parents and two eldest siblings from leaving the Unkempt Forest, he was able to travel south to the Plains of Karana during his adolescence. He worked there with the local human druids in Surefall Glade and the villages surrounding the still young city of Qeynos.
During the course of his work with the early farmers in the Plains of Karana, Corindas first encountered the lionmen (called “Kejrahn” in their own tongue). Having been raised amongst the Lujien and Gihjna, Corindas did not share the fears and prejudices that most human settlers of the Karanas held towards the lionmen who were responsible for the deaths of many human hunters.
These hunters had preyed upon the lions of the Karana Plains since before the rise of the human cities and modern agriculture.
Seeking to end the bloodshed between the Kejrahn and the human settlers of the plains, Corindas sought and obtained acceptance amongst the lionmen, and shared with their leader the tale of his family and their relationship with the spirits and the Lujien and Gihjna.
For several years Corindas lived amongst the Kejrahn and fought by their side against the poachers and hunters that preyed on the lions of the plains. He also fought against the Kejrahn’s mortal enemies, the gnolls. In a battle with the Sabretooth gnoll clan, Corindas was mortally wounded and taken to the Kejrahn’s most skilled shaman. At the Kejrahns’ most sacred shrine, the great savage spirit, Sateb Mahlni, visited Corindas and healed his wounds. Because of his family’s pact with Sateb Mahlni’s fellow spirit deities, Drinal and Ehayae, Corindas was not only allowed to live, but he was gifted with a power not-unlike those of his eldest siblings.
Corindas became the great werelion savior of the Kejrahn, the best hope for peace between the humans and the Kejrahn of the Karana Plains. Other werelions came into existence over time. Most served Corindas and the Kejrahn. Others escaped into the wild to find their own place in the world. Corindas and his loyal werelions became known as The Sun Manes. Tales of the were-lions were told of them both by fearful humans and by the reverent Kejrahn.
Unfortunately, Corindas would ultimately fail to save the Kejrahn from extinction. The noble lion lycanthropes would be the first to die out.
(EQoA) Present:
The Sun Manes: Corindas and his handful of Sun Manes live amongst what remains of the dwindling Kejrahn catmen. Many of the Kejrahn have already fled their ancestral Tunarian homeland for the lands of their cousins, The Kerran, on Odus. Corindas has received word of the events occurring in the Unkempt Woods and is saddened by his father’s untimely passing, yet has no interest in involving himself in the politics of the Unkempt or attempting to claim his rights as an heir of Wegadas. Corindas has found his own place and calling in the vast Plains of Karana. With his Sun Manes, Corindas has his own struggle to be fought against the encroaching poachers and agriculturists, and expanding human cities that are disrupting the Unkempt’s natural cycle of life.
The Stray and The Lionweres: Few werelions exist outside of the Plains of Karana; and most never encounter another species of lycanthrope. Werelions have been known, in fact, to hunt down and kill any werewolves, wolfweres, bearweres, or ratweres encountered in the Plains of Karana. Werebears are virtually unheard of, and the wererats residing in Qeynos rarely venture into the plains and tend to stick to the human roads.
The Sun Manes refer to the few werelions that exist outside of their pride as “The Stray”. The majority of The Stray were once hunters or poachers that survived a battle with a lionwere and, as a result, contracted feline lycanthropy. Like the Sun Manes, The Stray prefer to hunt during the daylight hours when their keen eyesight can see for miles across the plains. However, the werelions’ night vision is keener than even the lupine lycanthropes, and they have no problems hunting under the cover of night when need be.
There are rumors of an Erudite pride of strays on Odus, their matriarch having originally been from Highbourne and infected at an early age by an encounter with a lionwere.
Lionweres are both respected and feared by the Kejrahn. Attempts to tame the lionweres have been unsuccessful; thus, they are usually killed as painlessly as possible by the Kejrahn or The Sun Manes when discovered.
Reports of lionweres have come from as far as the Commonlands of eastern Tunaria and the grasslands of Odus.
The Wererats
History:
Another of Wegadas’ sons, Yindrius, was abducted shortly after his birth; not an easy task for the abductors considering how closely guarded the children of Wegadas were by the Lujien and Gihjna.
However, the abductors were the Ratonga, masters of stealth and deception. A Ratonga spy living beneath Qeynos had learned of Corindas years before Yindrius birth and had agents watching the Unkempt Druids for an opportunity to steal one of Wegadas’ offspring and learn of the spirit deities and rituals called upon for the offsprings’ spiritual and physical tranformation into a werecreature.
The Ratonga succeeded. Their most powerful magic-wielders called upon their deity Caertex and convinced him to bestow upon Yindrius powers similar to his brothers. He was given the ability to change into the form of the ratman; and was charged with creating a network of wererats that would infest the surface cities, provide information to the Ratonga, and manipulate the surface civilizations to their favor.
Unfortunately the Ratonga vanished into the Underfoot from which they came not long after Yindrius established his network of spies dubbed the Topi di Ombra. The wererats became servants of Yindrius and forgot about their former masters.
Yindrius lost all recollection or knowledge of his family or the affairs of the other lycanthropes.
(EQoA) Present:
Topi di Ombra: The Topi di Ombra have evolved into a powerful family of wererats led by Yindrius. Their members are located primarily in Qeynos, Neriak, Freeport, and several outlying villages. The Topi Di Ombra also have a minor presence amongst the dwarves and gnomes in Moradhim and Klik’Anon. The Topi di Ombra survives and prospers through smuggling, stealing, racketeering, extortion, assassination, and other such illicit activities. New Topi di Ombra can only be “made” with the permission of a gang boss, which is typically the most powerful wererat in the city working directly under Yindrius himself.
The Orphans and The Ratweres: Even though rodent lycanthropy has existed for a much shorter period of time than lupine lycanthropy it has become the most widespread of all the lycanthropic strains. The vast majority of the rodent lycanthropes are ratweres, which wind up greatly outnumbering any other species of feral lycanthrope. The Topi di Ombra typically destroys ratweres whenever they are discovered; for they’re responsible for the majority of the independent wererats.
When orphan wererats are found by the Topi di Ombra, they are offered a chance to join the family. If they refuse, they are executed. This practice of killing orphan wererats leads to rivalries between the Topi di Ombra and families of orphan wererats. There are rumors of one such orphan family of dwarven and gnomish wererats operating out of the northeastern mountains of Tunaria between Moradhim and Klik’Anon. Other rumors have reached the Topi di Ombra about a family of Teir’Dal wererats operating out of the Desert of Ro.
The Feral Lycanthropes
Feral Lycanthropes are animals that have been infected with lycanthropy. Feral Lycanthropes can assume their natural animal form and their bestial humanoid were-form. Feral lycanthropes retain their animal intelligence and instincts, and thus they are responsible for much of the fear and horror stories about lycanthropes with an uncontrollable thirst for blood and violence.
Feral lycanthropes are generally hunted and destroyed by the humanoid lycanthropes but it is not unheard of for a humanoid lycanthrope to intentionally create feral lycanthropes as guardians or servants.
Feral lycanthropes are generally referred to as wolfweres, bearweres, lionweres, ratweres, etc, based on which species of lycanthrope they are descended from.
EverQuest - Lore of Norrath