The history extends back into the jackal cult of Upper Egypt during the Old Kingdom, which coalesced into the worship of Anapa. Even in such ancient times, these shapeshifters were elevated beyond the norm, and through some unknown means became intricately entwined with the Spirit Worlds. When the jackal cult was subsequently transplanted to ancient Arcadia, where the cult extended to wolf worship as practiced by germanic tribes. The myths associated with werewolves tell of a powerful king, Lycaon, and his legion of sons who practiced cannibalism and preyed upon the northern city-states of ancient Greece. In retribution the god Zeus cursed Lycaon and his followers with what is now known as lycanthropy.
Subsequent stories of Romulus and Remus have been attributed to werewolves, however historical accounts more closely align with the profile of the she-wolf with a Fenrir.
Lycanthropy is passed on from father to son, and historically all lycanthropes but three have been male. Lycanthropes must change into a large wolf in a cyclic pattern, usually once a month, although this pattern has little to do with phases of the moon as popular folklore would suggest. During this time the lycanthrope cannot control or recall any of their actions, and behaves exactly as a wolf would. Lycanthropes do not have any control over their shapeshifting, which is often quite painful. These days the pure lycanthropy strain is very rare, although there are still a few families in southern Italy and Norway.
Early on in the history of lycanthropy, the riastrad lineage of the now extinct fomorians and fenrir bloodlines mixed with Lycaon therianthropy to create what is now known as lycanthropy today: a dangerous, painful transformation once a month in which the cursed individual becomes a giant, bloodthirsty wolflike creature. The actual 'wolfishness' varies, with near-pure lycanthropes being much more wolf than near-pure riastrad berserkers, who resemble savage hairy men. These cursed monsters, also collectively known as Lycanthropic Werewolves, are immensely strong and are highly resistant to injury while transformed. In addition, Lycanthropic Werewolves do not register pain, and will pursue prey until it has been killed or the werewolf itself drops dead. Lycanthropic Werewolves can pass their curse to any of their progeny, male or female, but the actual condition generally jumps a generation.
Finally, a fourth group of cursed wolf shifters made their appearance; the Loup Garou, which first terrorized the countryside of Gevaudan in the 1760's and rapidly spread throughout Europe. Loup Garou are believed to be a strain of lycanthropy mixed with some hellish pact which taints all who come into contact with it. Accounts of the time are mixed, because of aggression between Fenrir in the area and the ruler of the time, however present Loup Garou are easily distinguishable.
Transformed Loup Garou stand around seven feet tall, with wolf-like hindlegs and tail, an upright posture and human forelimbs, and a wolfish neck and head. The ears are pointed and the teeth enlarged, and the fur is needlelike and stiff like boar spines. The Loup Garou have large retractable claws on all four limbs, and the tail is long and almost rat-like, although covered in the same coarse fur as the rest of the creature. The beast smells faintly of rot and brimstone, although the human form has no marked characteristics. Loup Garou, suffer a constant gnawing desire for the flesh of other living sentient beings, and many Loup Garou become cannibals even in human form. In beast form they go into a rage and destroy anything and everything in their path. Loup Garou are immune to almost any form of injury in beast form and in human form heal remarkably quickly. They are strong enough to rip a truck in half or pummel their way through stone walls. Stopping a Loup Garou is usually a matter of figuring out who they are in human form, although wolfsbane has proven remarkably effective, as the smell can drive the Loup Garou away.
Loup Garou are infected through a bite or scratch while the cursed person is in beast form, although surviving the attack of a Loup Garou is extremely rare.
Finally, to complicate matters further, are three other types of european shapeshifters, which are sometimes called werewolves. Actual wolf shape shifters really only played a role in Europe until the late 18th century, when along with all other types they were hunted down and retreated into Russia. Some magicians have also been able to take the form of a wolf, usually by using a belt woven from wolfs hair. Finally, their are the Fenrir.
Fenrir are unique in that instead of humans turning into wolves, the Fenrir are canine creatures turning into humans. They are large, the size of a small horse, and as intelligent as a human being. Although their relationship with humans is conflicted at best, in the last hundred years an uneasy truce has been established. Fenrirs closely resemble giant, short-furred wolf-dogs, with the low gate, large paws, and heavy head of a wolf and the more refined lines of a hound. The ears are large and triangular, like a jackal, and the markings are generally wolf-like. The Fenrirs call themselves the Hounds of God, and there history intertwines with the first prehistoric humans on the great tundras. Fenrir can speak human languages, although they prefer their own tongue, and each generation a few of their children are born with the ability to change into a human. Fenrir prefer the company of lycanthropic humans, who understand them better than regular humans, and it is believed the ability of certain Fenrir to shapeshift comes from the intermixing of Lycanthropic and Fenrir heritage. Fenrir stories claim the ability came from the ancient wolf gods Loki and Urdi. Whatever the origin, Fenrir transformed into humans are gifted with the senses of both forms, are more resistant to injury, and often have a close connection to the Spirit Worlds.
