Modern Werewolf

Other names:Novus Lykanthropos, Were-man, Lycaon

Category: Lycaon, Sapient

Novus Lykanthropos

Novus Lykanthropos male and female anatomy

Modern werewolves (Novus Lykanthropos) are descendants of Infected by feralytosis who gradually regained consciousness.
A side effect of the recovery of consciousness is their pacifist behavior, because of this they were largely exterminated causing today the few surviving populations of Modern Werewolves to hide in deep cave systems.

Modern Werewolves along with True Lykanthropos can live for a long time, with records of individuals easily reaching 100 years and still maintaining the same strength of a young lycaon, but, since life in Terminus is hostile and uncertain, most individuals live much shorter lives.
This does not rule out the existence of individuals too long-lived, there are legends of True Lykanthropos with several centuries of age, one of these stories speak of Lycion, the first infected by Feralytosis and how he is still alive today hidden from society from shame.

Anatomy

The tallest individuals reach up to 2.80 cm in height, they are bipedal but can use their upper limbs to run quadrupedally, although this is no longer a very common practice.
In general the Modern Werewolves are similar to the Real Lycanthropes except for their musculature, being the Modern Werewolves notably more muscular than their wild counterpart.

Unlike the dark and scraggly fur of the Royal Lycanthropes, Modern Werewolves have a wide variety of coat colors, brown, gray, black or off-white. Modern Werewolves are naturally strong, all limbs have long, non-retractable claws that lose their sharpness with use.

Like True Lykanthropos, Modern Werewolves have a pair of infectious fangs found behind the main canines, these are connected to glands containing the infectious fluid that spreads Feralytosis.

Origin

The Modern Werewolves are descendants of the Feralytosis Infected, there are several hypotheses that try to explain how or why they recovered the sapience although the exact reason is unknown. The most accepted theory is that, due to the constant state of mutation of the Feralytosis, the brain of the ancestors of the Modern Werewolves evolved towards a less aggressive state again developing a conscience.

Society

Modern Werewolves are highly social and live in close-knit communities; they live in caves where they take refuge from the outside world.
These communities are usually built in isolated canyons in the deserts of Terminus or deep caves in the limited forests of the north. These small communities tend to be scattered and are mostly composed of families, although unifications may occur in order to share resources and knowledge as well as to provide protection to each other. Outside of these isolated communities, Modern Werewolves can be found all over Terminus, both in the villages doing unwanted work as well as nomadic.

Map of a cave system used by modern werewolves

Occupation in war

War is a constant in the land of Terminus and although the majority of Modern Werewolves have tried to avoid it, they have been involved in occupationns as enslaved warriors for their strength.
Their naturally adquired strength and endurance in addition to having a passive regeneration ability - not to the degree of their genetic parents the Protanthrops - that allows them to withstand injuries that most creatures in Terminus would leave them mangled.

A communal meeting within the interior of a cave commune.

Diplomatic functions or uses

In the Altan Empire, the Modern Werewolves work as heavy warriors in the infantry or to carry heavy equipment.
Outside the Empire they can be found in adjacent factions in different types of occupations, although they are mostly used in labor-intensive work.

For the inhabitants of the Sigeweard Kingdom the Modern Werewolves are considered inferior creatures and are placed in the same box as the True Lykanthropos so they are hunted as a trophy as part of the vampiric initiation ritual, this practice consists of killing a werewolf and cutting off its head as a gift to his superior.

Unlike their other hominid cousins, the Cerdices have great respect for all types of Lycaons, being a symbol of strength and opposition to their enemies even being the icon of their heraldry and shields, the Modern Werewolves are the only intelligent species allowed to live freely in the territories of the Coalition of Cerdice tribes without hassle.

In general the inhabitants of Terminus view them as savage beasts like their kin, the True Lykanthropos, despite having no similarities beyond their shared origins, appearance and being propagators of the Feralytosis.

Connection with the Feralytosis

The Modern Werewolves are capable of spreading the dreaded disease through bites, although it is a taboo subject among the Lycaon populations and it is up to each individual to decide whether to accept this part of their being or to repudiate it and hide it.
At their discretion, some tear out their infectious fangs.