Avoiding Lycanthropic Pandemics

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Herman Strauss
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Avoiding Lycanthropic Pandemics

Post by Herman Strauss »

To avoid lycanthropic pandemics and to rationalize several oddities (like the Quevari) I have made the following adjustments to lycanthropy IMC :

Natural lycanthropes all begin their lives as Weretouched, AKA Shifters (as in Eberron Campaign) and remain so until becoming infected by an Elder (usually after a successful rite of passage)

After being infected, they are free to advance in a lycanthropic Monster Class (as in Savage Species and Dragon Magazine issue 313) of the same phenotype as the Elder which infected them.

At the final level of the class they gain the Curse of Lycanthropy and become Elders themselves, accomplished members of their community, or full-fledged adults of their pack.

Humans (and other Humanoids for that matter) can be infected by an Elder, though the result is quite different. Those that succumb to the affliction become Quevari; otherwise indistinguishable members of their community that change into bloodthirsty murderous maniacs for the duration of the full-moon (in game mechanics this is simulated by giving three levels of the Assassin Prestige Class to the afflicted. The abilities gained are a direct result of the character’s chaotic evil drive to kill and feast on humanoid flesh and are not in effect if the character is in control of himself- no free assassin levels for players!)

Due to the widespread presence of lycanthropes in Ravenloft, any human bitten by an Elder has a 5% chance of having enough lycanthropic blood to become the “classical” afflicted lycanthrope described in the Monster Manual instead of Quevari (this is the beast of his heritage that emerges and his blood is not strong enough to control it). Other Humanoids have only 2% chance, though in domains that have strong lycanthopic presence (like Verbrek or Richemulot) chances are 10% and 4% respectively.

Natural lycanthropes (Shifter or Elder) and “Classical” afflicted, give birth to Shifters.

Quevari offspring are Quevari.

Only Elders can inflict the Curse of Lycanthropy.

Infection from lycanthropic Darklords follows different rules, producing any kind of exotic effect that the DM wishes.

With these modifications a player can select to play a "natural" lycanthrope by picking Shifter as his race and can become part of a darker world without any serious damage to “game balance”. Being Shifter means that he is both disposable AND useful to his community/pack (not to mention in-dire-need-to-prove-himself). His lack of major susceptibility to an elder's allergies makes him more suitable to pursue the interests of his pack in a heavily human dominated territory.
Nature offers the sick and dying.
We offer the best we have.
That's why the Gods prefer our sacrifices!
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