So You Want to Roleplay a Lycan...

So, you’ve decided to become a Lycan. Way to embrace that inner beast!

 

First, a quick glimpse at Lycans, according to Wailing Rock’s lore…

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The first true Lycans were humans that had been cursed. The growing vampire population, and their ability to ravage entire villages, gave alarm to an incredibly powerful coven. In their desperate attempt to thwart the vampires, they called upon blood magic to create a force in the world to save them in their time of need. They made their appeal to Diana, the Goddess of the Hunt. She answered, but the Goddess does not give freely - she demanded a life for a life. The High Priestess gladly offered up her life force, and in return, Diana plucked a Nature Spirit from the forest, and gifted the world with the first Lycan. She bound its powers to the moon, to preserve the balance of Nature.

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​Lycans are generally built lean and strong, to bulky and muscular; many are at least 8 feet tall (standing on two legs) and can weigh up to 500 pounds. they are covered in fur that is coarse on the back down to the backs of the legs, with softer fur covering the belly and most of the torso. They stand on their toes in a more canine fashion than human feet and have short tails that end around the tops of their raised ankles. Their strong hands have five fingers and talon like claws attached to them for tearing slashing but are articulate enough to hold weapons if needed. A Lycan's fur color ranges from stark white to midnight black, with dozens of pattern combinations of gray, silver, tan, brown, red, and black.

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​Please note that Alpha Lycans are chosen; they have no additional powers, and they do NOT have psychic-like commands over other Lycans - especially anyone that is not a member of their own pack. Should Lycans choose to form a pack, they pick their leader - it is not a born ability.

 

Where to Begin

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The first decision you’ll want to make when considering a Lycan is whether you want to roleplay out the change. Are you a natural-born, or bitten? Were you bitten long time ago, or turning on the next full moon?

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New Lycans

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For the beginner or newly bitten this can be a very intense and fearful time. The shift is not easy – it’s incredibly painful and is horrific to witness. Your bones bend and break, your skin stretches and tears, the body bends forward. Your face contorts and snaps and stretches out. Claws break through the tips of your fingers, and teeth push out of your mouth. Yes, it hurts. For a natural-born, perhaps not so much (since they have been doing it since puberty), and most natural-born Lycans usually have a family member to guide them through this time.

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Additionally, because you’re new to all this, it might be very hard to fight some of your more basic impulses. This might cause you to be more temperamental and irrational, so it’s a good idea to stick with a person or a pack that can help you figure out the world according to your new you.

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Established Lycans

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Established Lycans are either born, or they were bitten and transformed several years previously. They will come in with a pretty standard knowledge of the following:

• The masquerade       

• Feeding          

• Turning/shifting          

• Lycan strengths and weaknesses    

• Lycan Telepathy
   

Lycan Forms

 

In Wailing Rock, Lycans have three forms: their human form, a four-legged wolf form, and a two-legged form, which is commonly referred to as a War form.

 

Lycans can shift into their four-legged form without any regard for the lunar cycle. While they do look like common wolves, they are actually much larger, and therefore more frightening in appearance. They will not blend in as seamlessly as a typical wolf, so this is something to be mindful of.

 

During the Full Moon, the shift is harder to control, thus resulting in a two-legged manifestation of half man, half beast. At this time, in order to adhere to the masquerade, it is imperative for Lycans to stick to the forests, dens, tunnels and shadows – anywhere their appearance will mostly go unnoticed.

 

Shifting and Pregnancy

 

While we won’t cover this subject too far in depth, please note that a shift would cause a pregnant Lycan to miscarry; therefore, pregnant Lycans will want to seek out a Witch that can assist them in preventing the shift during the Full Moon.

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Lifespan of a Lycan

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The typical lifespan of a Lycan is about 250-300 years old. There are a few Lycans that live past this, but it's certainly a diminished lifestyle, much like extreme old age.

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Lycan Abilities and Weaknesses

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Strength:

​Lycans are far stronger than any human, and most Vampires. In their Lycan form, their muscles harden and elongate, while the tendons become shorter and tighter, allowing for short, powerful strikes. This tightening of the tendons also explains the characteristic hunched back of the two-legged form.

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Speed:

One of the Lycan's most powerful attributes is speed. Though not as fast a the vampire, they are extremely fast and can almost keep up with them.

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Teeth:

When shifted, their teeth lengthen, sharpen, and harden. These ferocious teeth, when combined with their strength, allow them to tear through almost anything, including wood, bone, and most metals.

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Bite:

A Lycan's frenzy bite is a certain curse. If bitten by a Lycan, you are graced up until the next full moon takes hold of your body. This allows you a small chance to seek assistance from someone powerful enough to reverse the curse.

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Healing:

Lycans heal much faster that humans. This is primarily due to their increased heart rate and blood flow; it allows the body to repair itself rapidly.

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Communication:

Lycans can communicate with others of their own kind, while shifted, through telepathy. To outsiders, it may come across as growling or other guttural sounds. It is also important to note that they can also communicate telepathically with Nature Spirits while shifted, though the messages may not come through as clearly.

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Heightened Senses:

In addition to having excellent senses of sight, smell, and sound, some Lycans have managed to grasp the ability to 'sense shift', meaning, they can shift internally, further enhancing their ability to see, hear and smell.

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Lifespan:

Lycans generally have a much longer lifespan than that of a human. Their average life span is around 250 years, but there are cases where Lycans have managed to live well beyond that. Again, this is in part to the increased ability to heal, but some say that it is simply an effect of the Lycan curse.

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Weaknesses

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Silver:

The idea comes from the ancient belief that silver was related to the moon. Since the moon holds power over Lycans, so must silver.

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Fire:

The universal weakness of almost everything. However, Lycans are notoriously flammable, as they are covered in thick fur.

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Wolfsbane:

This belief is highly controversial - however, Wolfsbane is highly toxic to Lycans.

 

How do Lycans Uphold the Masquerade?

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The masquerade is just that: we are monsters, and we hide our existence. All of this depends upon the particular Lycan and how they choose to live their lives, of course. Generally, we cover our tracks. They may not like one another in the least, but as soon as one is revealed, all are at risk. In order to uphold the masquerade, Lycans often resort to tactics like those below:

 

• Hunting wildlife          

• Staying out of populated areas in any wolf form       

• Turning way out in the deep forest or higher mountain area            

• They get jobs, attend school, work within their communities – they blend in
   

How do Lycans Recognize Each Other?

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Lycans have a scent - it’s a gamey smell, too subtle for humans to pick up. Unless it’s covered with perfumes or colognes, it will be recognizable to other Lycans. They may also notice similar habits over time, like disappearing during the full moons, becoming agitated at the onset of the full moon, etc. A day or two before a full moon, the moon does tug on that inner beast, and can make a young Lycan or first-bitten agitated and uncomfortable. Natural-born and or older Lycans are accustomed to the change and can hold it together quite well in most cases.

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Where do Lycans Get Their Sustenance From?

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Well, from the same sources that humans get their sustenance, with a couple of exceptions:

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• Food and drink. This one is obvious, but the more organic and “clean” the food and drink is, the more benefit for the Lycan

• Raw flesh. Lycans can easily go their whole lives feasting on good, old-fashioned deer, elk, bear, etc. Rarely would a Lycan just go out and kill a Human simply as a food source, though it has been known to happen.

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What Should Lycans NOT Eat?

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While Lycans have a pretty strong constitution, there are some things that a Lycan cannot and should not eat:

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• Water-Born: It is a poison to the Lycan (like poorly prepared puffer fish). If they don't counter the poison within a 24-hour period, they will die. Symptoms generally occur 10-45 minutes after eating the puffer fish poison and begin with numbness and tingling around the mouth, salivation, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms may progress to paralysis, loss of consciousness, and respiratory failure, and can lead to death.

 

• Demons: eating or biting a Demon is like eating tar - their blood is thick and foul, and the taste will linger for up to 48 hours.
             

• Nature Spirit: Due to how Lycans were made, eating a nature spirit would aggravate the curse 100-fold. Shifting randomly or perhaps becoming stuck for long periods of time as the blood of a nature spirit is a catalyst to the curse itself. One could lose their sanity in this state for as long as it lasts and might have some residual mental damage long term.

 

• Witches: a witch’s blood will stunt a Lycan’s powers. Witches cannot get the curse and if a Lycan ingests a witch’s blood it can dampen their ability to use their shifting powers or strip them of their extra strength.
  
   

Lycan Packs in Our World

 

As Lycans in our world are monsters, they would not generally “pack” together. Large groups can bring unwanted attention, which in turn alerts Hunters. Most Lycans avoid being in large groups - tending to be alone most of the time to avoid harming others and showing what they truly are. In rare instances they do join in friend like circles and may pick a leader. This leader is from an outsider’s point of view the “alpha” but holds no extra power or say over the group they are in. They are like the ever elusive “mom friend”. “Packs” don't have Alpha/Beta/Delta/Omega/Blueberry Eggo Waffle structures. Just, no. 

 

Absolutely NOT: We don’t do Garou… we don’t do White Wolf… we are entirely different in our lore - please do not add to our lore without express consent from Sim Support. We are not opposed to you playing a more peaceful Lycan if you wish, but we will not tolerate substituting our lore with other lore. Alphas do not have any mental pull on their pack mates and if we find out you are trying to do this with the purpose of manipulating someone we will personally spray you with vinegar. 

 

What Dangers Exist in the World for Lycans?

 

Breaking masquerade brings with it a bevy of dangers. For starters, a Lycan in it’s true form would cause a panic, which could lead to hunting parties. Once you expose yourself, you put all Lycans at risk. Also, you risk getting the attention of Hunters – skilled professionals who specifically hunt and exterminate supernatural beings. Additionally, you risk being ostracized – no supernatural wishes to bring that sort of attention to themselves, and therefore, they will avoid you.

 

Otherwise, Lycans face very real-world issues – deforestation and poor health are key dangers. When a Lycan’s habitat is encroached upon, either by fires, deforestation or construction, this can lead to unintentional exposure. When a Lycan falls ill (which is rare, but can and will happen), they may want to avoid conventional medicine, making treatment harder to come by.

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Lycans: The Birds and the Bees

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Lycans, of course, are capable of mating. When two Lycans mate, their offspring will be a Lycan. When a Lycan mates with a Human, Water-Born or Witch, that offspring has a 50/50 chance of being either/or - it will NOT be a hybrid. Because Nature Spirits are of the Aether and not "born", they are incapable of breeding and therefore cannot produce children with Lycans.

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Masquerade and You: Notes

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​So, you're considering applying to Wailing Rock and when you do, you will need to check a box that states you have read all of the rules, and that you agree to the conditions created by our lore. One of those conditions is that you maintain masquerade - that is, that as a supernatural being, you do not expose yourselves to humans.

 

​But then you think, I'm going to see what happens. Well let me tell you what happens: You die. You die horribly. Along with everyone involved. 

 

Let's think about this logically. You saunter down the street in full view. Yes, you're big and strong, and yes, you might be faster. But you're outnumbered. You're outnumbered by humans who have guns, fire, and the ability to walk in the daylight. 

 

Then all hell breaks loose. Let's say you live - a massive hunt begins, and humans take out anything that even looks questionable. It becomes the top headline on news outlets worldwide. Or, let's say they find you and kill you. They put your body on display. The federal government swoops in and takes your body to Area 51. Worldwide news coverage. Who knows. Either way, you've irrevocably altered the course of humanity, forever. 

 

It's 2019, we're in Washington state. The SL world we exist in is as close to the RL world as possible. 

 

Maintain the masquerade.

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​A huge thanks to Harry Longfoot (NakedLunch) for his incredible contributions to this page!

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