They were once like the other members of their race. But no more. The Cursed have lost their former selves to the blood of the Beast, a monstrous disease which infests their body, mind, and soul. The everyday life they once lived has been abandoned as they seek to find solace from the horror that fills their every waking moment. Some hold onto much of their humanity, and make every effort to blend into society. Others relish their ferocious inner selves, and flee into the forests of the twilight lands of Caldensere, hunting to their heart's content. Whether they live insidiously or with dignity and honor, there are few creatures more feared by the people of Caldensere than the Cursed ones.

While many cursed with Therianthropy might languish in the burden of their affliction, you have chosen to harness your power, to shape it as best you can, and wield it as a powerful weapon against your foes. Though it takes enormous discipline to remain in control, you have (for the most part) mastered the beast within, allowing you to wield it with a precision few others attain. But this was not always the case, and the memories of those early days remain with you.

The Path of the Cursed is a road strewn with the corpses of innocent victims, the screams of horror from once beloved friends and family, and the pain of knowing that any loss of temper, any raising of the pulse in your heart, could lead to disaster. You are a Therianthrope, a being whose body transforms into a monstrous beast when the rage overtakes you. Beware to any who would dare cross you, for the monster hiding just beneath the skin is more terrible than any could imagine!

Curse of the Therianthrope

Starting when you choose this path at 3rd level, your rage causes you to undergo a physical transformation into a terrifying form, part man, part beast. You grow claws which you attack with two-handed to deal 2d4 + Strength damage (or 1-handed for 1d4 + Strength), and a vicious maw, which can bite for 2d6 + Strength damage (bite attacks can only be used once per round). If the target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with werewolf lycanthropy, a disease which takes hold after 1d6 days. After 30 days, the disease becomes incurable, except by a Wish spell.

You also gain +10 movement speed. You no longer have damage resistance to silver weapons while raging, and are vulnerable to silver weapons while not raging. You are immune to the effects of wintry weather conditions (non-permanent cold and wind damage, vision obstruction from wind) and you gain proficiency in Perception.  

If you are wearing armor, wielding weapons, or holding equipment, you can have that equipment merge into your beast-form, or you can keep it out in the world for continued use. If enchanted weapons or armor merge with you in this way, you gain the benefits of those enchantments. 

Feed the Beast

Beginning at 6th level, you gain an additional +5 movement speed while raging. You also gain the Feed The Beast ability. Whenever you hit with a bite attack against a living foe, you gain 1d6+1 HP.  

You can also feast on dead enemies, gorging on the last remaining life still within the corpse to restore additional health in proportion to its relative size. Feasting on a tiny creature restores 1 hp, a small creature yields 1d4+1 HP, a medium creature grants 1d8+1 hp, and for a large or larger creature, 1d10+1 HP.

Relentless Predator

Beginning at 10th level, you gain twice the benefit of your strength bonus for Athletics checks. You gain +10 ft. additional movement speed and you can’t be frightened.

The Monster Within

Starting at 14th level, your size category increases by 1, as your mastery of the disease evolves to a point where you become a massive version of your normal beast-form. Your ability to lift, carry, drag, and press weight, as well as your ability to grapple are now all improved relative to your new size. 

Further, your claw attacks grow more fearsome, dealing 2d6 + Strength (or 1d6 + Strength for one-handed attacks), and your bite attack deals 2d8 + Strength. If you successfully bite a creature, it must succeed on a Strength saving throw (DC 10+Strength) or be knocked prone. Your bite still inflicts lycanthropy to living humanoids as normal.