You have been cursed with a virulent strain of lycanthropy that resists Remove Curse after being wounded by a lycanthrope or if one or both of your parents were lycanthropes.
As a lycanthrope, you have resisted the curse. By resisting, you've retained your normal alignment and personality while in humanoid form. You've lived your life as you always have, burying deep the bestial urges raging inside. However, when the full moon rises, the curse becomes too strong to resist, transforming you into a horrible hybrid form that combines animal and humanoid traits. When the moon wanes, the beast within can be controlled once again. If you are unaware of this condition, you might not remember the events of the transformation, though those memories often haunt you as bloody dreams.
Despite resisting, with time you've come to sense that the curse is growing stronger and fear that you will eventually succumb to the bloodlust, becoming an evil, opportunistic creature that preys on the weak.
Adaptation of the Lycanthrope background found in the Legends of Barovia campaign by Pyram King for use with the 2024 ruleset.
Enhanced using Lycanthropes from the 2014 Monster Manual.
- Ability Scores: Strength, Constitution, Charisma
- Feat: Lycanthropic Hide (Dragon Hide, ignore species requirement)
- Skill Proficiencies: Stealth and Perception
- Tool Proficiencies: Herbalism Kit
- Languages: Sylvan
- Equipment: Choose A or B: (A) Monster Hunter's Pack, Herbalism Kit, Chain, 7 GP; or (B) 50 GP
Each full moon, you turn into a Lycanthrope (Werebear, Wereboar, Wererat, Weretiger, or Werewolf, discuss with your DM if you want to use the stats from the 2024 Monster Manual). This transformation ends at dawn.
If you succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom save you retain full control of yourself, otherwise you fall under the DM’s control for the night, and unless caged or fully restrained with silver manacles, you go on a bloody rampage. Regardless if you pass the Wisdom save or not, you cannot cast spells while transformed.
Each full moon happens 3 consecutive nights per month. Each morning after a full moon, you must succeed on a DC 10 Wisdom save or suffer a long-term madness until dusk. Each subsequent full moon, the Wisdom save DC increases by 1.
During the waxing gibbous phase (4 consecutive days before the full moon), you must make a Nightmare check (see Nightmare rules). If you succeed you feel a change coming.
When transformed, you retain your statistics except as specified by lycanthrope type. You gain the lycanthrope’s speeds in nonhumanoid form, damage immunities, traits, and actions that don’t involve equipment. The character is proficient with the lycanthrope’s natural attacks, such as its bite or claws, which deal damage as shown in the lycanthrope’s statistics. The character can’t speak while in animal form.
A non-lycanthrope humanoid hit by an attack that carries the curse of lycanthropy must succeed on a Constitution saving throw (DC 8 + the lycanthrope’s proficiency bonus + the lycanthrope’s Constitution modifier) or be cursed. If the character embraces the curse, his or her alignment becomes the one defined for the lycanthrope. The DM is free to decide that a change in alignment places the character under DM control until the curse of lycanthropy is removed.
The following information applies to specific lycanthropes:
Werebear. The character gains a Strength of 19 if his or her score isn’t already higher, and a +1 bonus to AC while in bear or hybrid form (from natural armor). Attack and damage rolls for the natural weapons are based on Strength.
Wereboar. The character gains a Strength of 17 if his or her score isn’t already higher, and a +1 bonus to AC while in boar or hybrid form (from natural armor). Attack and damage rolls for the tusks are based on Strength. For the Charge trait, the DC is 8 + the character’s proficiency bonus + Strength modifier.
Wererat. The character gains a Dexterity of 15 if his or her score isn’t already higher. Attack and damage rolls for the bite are based on whichever is higher of the character’s Strength and Dexterity.
Weretiger. The character gains a Strength of 17 if his or her score isn’t already higher. Attack and damage rolls for the natural weapons are based on Strength. For the Pounce trait, the DC is 8 + the character’s proficiency bonus + Strength modifier.
Werewolf. The character gains a Strength of 15 if his or her score isn’t already higher, and a +1 bonus to AC while in wolf or hybrid form (from natural armor). Attack and damage rolls for the natural weapons are based on Strength.
Suggested Characteristics
| d6 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am not trusting of others and am afraid how they will judge me if they know the truth. |
| 2 | The first things I notice about a new location are the exits—in case I have to escape. |
| 3 | I enjoy the outdoors; fresh air makes me feel invigorated. |
| 4 | I feel empathy for those who are different. |
| 5 | I anger quickly if I see someone mistreat animals. |
| 6 | I constantly am hungry for fresh meat; the smell makes me salivate. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Natural Order. I respect the natural order of things. (Neutral) |
| 2 | Live and Let Live. I do not harm or seek to change others through violence. (Neutral) |
| 3 | Honor. If I dishonor myself, I dishonor those who stand by me. (Lawful) |
| 4 | Independence. I value making my own decisions (Chaotic) |
| 5 | Glory. I must earn glory in battle, for myself and my allies. (Any) |
| 6 | Adventure. I enjoy the journey more than the destination. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I see awful visions of what I may do, and I protect those I care about and try to prevent it. |
| 2 | I owe my allegiance to those who protect me from myself. |
| 3 | No one else should have to be burdened by my hardships. |
| 4 | I am guilty by nature, so I constantly strive to redeem myself. |
| 5 | I would give my life to those who have help save mine. |
| 6 | My anger got someone hurt; I will learn to control my anger. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I lie to others to hide my secret. |
| 2 | I know I have power to change things, and sometimes use it without considering the consequences. I must learn to control my power. |
| 3 | My hatred for the enemy is blinding. |
| 4 | I have little respect for those who are not proven in battle. |
| 5 | I harbor bloodthirsty thoughts on clear nights when I can see the moon. |
| 6 | I am headstrong and stubbornly seek an end to my curse, sometimes making rash decisions. |
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