Post by Tami on Feb 14, 2008 17:41:38 GMT -5
The werewolves of the World of Darkness aren't quite what one would expect from the movies. Humanity has managed to grasp the concept of the werewolf only partially. The European legends of shapeshifting witches and the Native American tales of animals that take on human form are equally full of misconceptions. The following are a few of the most commonly accepted "facts" about werewolves — and just how true or false they are in the world of Werewolf.
Werewolves are mindless beasts in wolf form. False. Werewolves retain their intelligence, which is equal to that of any human, in any form they take (and werewolves have five forms from which to choose). Their reputation for savagery stems from their Rage, which is a supernatural fury more intense than any anger a human can feel. Werewolves can channel their Rage to perform incredible feats of strength and speed. However, the stronger a werewolf s Rage is, the more likely he is to lose control in times of great stress, flying into a berserk fit of violence called frenzy. It is virtually impossible to reason with a werewolf in this state. All he can think of is fight or flight. It is this savagery that has given rise to the legends of brutal, uncontrollable man-beasts.
A werewolf changes form when the moon is full. Mostly false. Werewolves can change forms whenever they want, day or night. However, they have deep spiritual ties to the moon, and they revere the mighty moon-spirit Luna as one of their greatest totems. A werewolf s Rage is tied to the moon's phases, growing stronger as the moon grows brighter. Therefore, a werewolf is at her greatest risk of frenzy when the moon is full, and more werewolf attacks tend to occur under the full moon.
If a werewolf bites a person, that person becomes a werewolf. False. Werewolves are born, not "infected." Most werewolves are born of human or wolf stock, and they don't know their true heritage until they reach adolescence and undergo their First Change. Even so, some tribes have been historically known to keep track of their young cubs from afar, then staging a mock "wolf attack" just before the children are due for their First Change. Although this practice has fallen out of favor in modern times, it was in no small way responsible for the rumors of the supernatural disease lycanthropy.
Werewolves are witches who take wolf form by dressing in wolf skins. False. Either you're born a werewolf, or you aren't. Wizards and witches exist in the World of Darkness, and some of them can shapeshift into animal form, but none of them are true Garou with all the according powers.
Werewolves can be killed only by silver. Partially true. For all their supernatural power, werewolves aren't immortal. They grow old, and they can be killed. However, werewolves are remarkably resistant to injury and disease. Furthermore, they heal with incredible speed, even to the point of regenerating damaged internal organs. A gunshot wound that would kill an ordinary human can be nothing more than an inconvenience to a werewolf. But werewolves cannot heal all wounds with equal ease. With its spiritual ties to the moon, silver can burn werewolves more severely than fire could. A wound from a silver weapon can be fatal, and although werewolves can heal such terrible damage, doing so takes them a long time. Therefore, a silver bullet might not be the instant kill depicted so often in the movies, but it's an enemy's best chance at taking a werewoldown.
Werewolves can be detected by odd features such as pointed ears or index and middle fingers of the same length. Almost entirely false. Werewolves are indistinguishable from humans in their Homid, or human form. However, there are a few werewolves whose parents are both werewolves rather than humans or wolves. These metis are always deformed in some fashion. Their deformities are usually evident in human form, although they are much more debilitating than cosmetic oddities like pointed ears.
Werewolves, unlike wolves, are loners. False. Werewolves have a powerful pack mentality, and they feel distinctly uncomfortable without the presence of packmates or tribemates. To be cast out of one's pack and sentenced to walk alone is a horrible punishment for a werewolf.
Werewolves are mindless beasts in wolf form. False. Werewolves retain their intelligence, which is equal to that of any human, in any form they take (and werewolves have five forms from which to choose). Their reputation for savagery stems from their Rage, which is a supernatural fury more intense than any anger a human can feel. Werewolves can channel their Rage to perform incredible feats of strength and speed. However, the stronger a werewolf s Rage is, the more likely he is to lose control in times of great stress, flying into a berserk fit of violence called frenzy. It is virtually impossible to reason with a werewolf in this state. All he can think of is fight or flight. It is this savagery that has given rise to the legends of brutal, uncontrollable man-beasts.
A werewolf changes form when the moon is full. Mostly false. Werewolves can change forms whenever they want, day or night. However, they have deep spiritual ties to the moon, and they revere the mighty moon-spirit Luna as one of their greatest totems. A werewolf s Rage is tied to the moon's phases, growing stronger as the moon grows brighter. Therefore, a werewolf is at her greatest risk of frenzy when the moon is full, and more werewolf attacks tend to occur under the full moon.
If a werewolf bites a person, that person becomes a werewolf. False. Werewolves are born, not "infected." Most werewolves are born of human or wolf stock, and they don't know their true heritage until they reach adolescence and undergo their First Change. Even so, some tribes have been historically known to keep track of their young cubs from afar, then staging a mock "wolf attack" just before the children are due for their First Change. Although this practice has fallen out of favor in modern times, it was in no small way responsible for the rumors of the supernatural disease lycanthropy.
Werewolves are witches who take wolf form by dressing in wolf skins. False. Either you're born a werewolf, or you aren't. Wizards and witches exist in the World of Darkness, and some of them can shapeshift into animal form, but none of them are true Garou with all the according powers.
Werewolves can be killed only by silver. Partially true. For all their supernatural power, werewolves aren't immortal. They grow old, and they can be killed. However, werewolves are remarkably resistant to injury and disease. Furthermore, they heal with incredible speed, even to the point of regenerating damaged internal organs. A gunshot wound that would kill an ordinary human can be nothing more than an inconvenience to a werewolf. But werewolves cannot heal all wounds with equal ease. With its spiritual ties to the moon, silver can burn werewolves more severely than fire could. A wound from a silver weapon can be fatal, and although werewolves can heal such terrible damage, doing so takes them a long time. Therefore, a silver bullet might not be the instant kill depicted so often in the movies, but it's an enemy's best chance at taking a werewoldown.
Werewolves can be detected by odd features such as pointed ears or index and middle fingers of the same length. Almost entirely false. Werewolves are indistinguishable from humans in their Homid, or human form. However, there are a few werewolves whose parents are both werewolves rather than humans or wolves. These metis are always deformed in some fashion. Their deformities are usually evident in human form, although they are much more debilitating than cosmetic oddities like pointed ears.
Werewolves, unlike wolves, are loners. False. Werewolves have a powerful pack mentality, and they feel distinctly uncomfortable without the presence of packmates or tribemates. To be cast out of one's pack and sentenced to walk alone is a horrible punishment for a werewolf.