Homebrew Werewolf Species Details

"The Company of the Black Moon—they used to be adventurers loyal to the realm. Now they roam the woods as a pack of werewolves. The king has promised estates,titles, and gold to anyone who can undo the curse afflicting them. I, for one, have no interest in such rewards.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    -Thornstaff, Elf Druid.

 

A werewolf is a savage predator. In its humanoid form, a werewolf has heightened senses, a fiery temper, and a tendency to eat rare meat. Its wolf form is a fearsome predator, but its hybrid form is more terrifying by far-a furred and well-muscled humanoid body topped by a ravening wolf's head. A werewolf can wield weapons in hybrid form, though it prefers to tear foes apart with its powerful claws and bite. Most werewolves flee civilized lands not long after becoming afflicted. Those that reject the curse fear what will happen if they remain among their friends and family. Those that embrace the curse fear discovery and the consequences of their murderous acts. In the wild, werewolves form packs that also include wolves and
dire wolves.

Lycanthropes

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 One of the most ancient and feared of all curses, lycanthropy can transform the most civilized humanoid into a ravening beast. In its natural humanoid form, a creature cursed by lycanthropy appears as its normal self. Over time, however, many lycanthropes acquire features suggestive of their animal form. In that animal form, a lycanthrope resembles a powerful version of a normal animal. On close inspection, its eyes show a faint spark of unnatural intelligence and might glow red in the dark.

Evil lycanthropes hide among normal folk, emerging in animal form at night to spread terror and bloodshed, especially under a full moon. Good lycanthropes are reclusive and uncomfortable around other civilized creatures, often living alone in wilderness areas far from villages and towns.

Curse of Lycanthropy

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A humanoid creature can be afflicted with the curse of lycanthropy after being wounded by a lycanthrope, or if one or both of its parents are lycanthropes. A remove curse spell can rid an afflicted lycanthrope of the curse, but a natural born lycanthrope can be freed of the curse only with a wish.

A lycanthrope can either resist its curse or embrace it. By resisting the curse, a lycanthrope retains its normal alignment and personality while in humanoid form. It lives its life as it always has, burying deep the bestial urges raging inside it. However, when the full moon rises, the curse becomes too strong to resist, transforming the individual into its beast form-or into a horrible hybrid form that combines animal and humanoid traits. When the moon wanes, the beast within can be controlled once again. Especially if the cursed creature is unaware of its condition, it might not remember the events of its transformation, though those memories often haunt a lycanthrope as bloody dreams.

Some individuals see little point in fighting the curse and accept what they are. With time and experience, they learn to master their shapechanging ability and can assume beast form or hybrid form at will. Most lycanthropes that embrace their bestial natures succumb to bloodlust, becoming evil, opportunistic creatures that prey on the weak.

Werewolf Traits

As a werewolf, you lose most of what made you whatever you were before, and gain these traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age

You age the same as whatever you were before, but you will likely die before whatever that is anyway.

Alignment

Werewolves are almost entirely chaotic evil, succumbing to their curse. More valiant werewolves can be neutral or good, but almost none are lawful.

Size

You remain whatever size you were in your humanoid form, but you are medium in your hybrid and beast form.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Shapechanger

As a bonus action, you can transform into your Hybrid or Beast forms. In these forms, you cannot use any magic, but you maintain your ability scores and other features.

In your Hybrid form, your Strength score increases to 17, and you can use your Claw attacks.

In your Beast form, your Speed increases to 40, and you can use your Bite and Claw attacks.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Natural Armor

Your AC increases by +1