Weredogs History

• European Myths and References:

  • Germanic and Northern Mythology: Tribe of dog hybrids called the Hundings (Hound-clan).

  • Greek Mythology: Cynocephali (dog-headed beings).

  • British Isles Legends: Black Dogs and Barghest, associated with fear and death.

  • The Wild Hunt: A group of huntsmen with horses and hounds in pursuit of prey, signifying catastrophe.

• Asian Cultures:

  • Inukami Spirits (Japan): Weredog lineage protecting noble families.

  • Inuit Mythology: Adlets, a race of beings with dog features.

  • Other Names: Hunding, Cynanhrope, Dog-man, Adlet, Cynocephalus.

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Interaction with Human Society

• Perception:

  • Weredogs are rejected similarly to lycans, despite not transmitting diseases.

  • They are less dangerous but still hunted.

  • Often live discreetly in small groups or with a partner.

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Weredogs Physique

• Shapeshifting Ability:

  • Can shift into a dog form or a rare half-beast form (human/dog).

  • Unlike other shapeshifters (like Swanmanes), this condition is not typically caused by a curse.

  • The primary way of becoming a weredog is by inheritance.

• Categories:

  • Pure Blooded: Inherited through birth, passed down through generations.

  • Bastard Blooded: Originates from curses, magic, or human-shifter relations.

• Physical Traits and Senses:

  • Enhanced senses (hearing, smell), faster metabolism, higher body temperature, rapid healing.

  • Less extreme beast side compared to other lycans, but still shares some traits like heightened abilities and supernatural essence.

• Dog Form:

  • Difficult to distinguish from normal dogs; breed typically matches the weredog’s lineage.

  • Common breeds: Nordic dogs (Adlets), Mastiffs (Hundings), Shepherd dogs (Cynocephali), and Asian breeds (Inukami).

  • Rare “Anubites” resemble jackals from Egypt.

• Hybrid Form:

  • Rarely used due to attention concerns; no partial shifting observed.

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Weakness:

• Submissive Nature: Weredogs have a deep-rooted pack mentality, often characterized by a submissive or cooperative nature. This makes them vulnerable to manipulation or control by stronger, more dominant beings. Their desire to please or serve those they consider "alpha" can be exploited by enemies, who may use this to control or neutralize them in conflict.

• Susceptibility to Scent-Based Attacks: Due to their heightened sense of smell, weredogs are highly sensitive to powerful or noxious scents. Strong odors—like chemicals, certain herbs, or pheromones—can overwhelm their senses, causing disorientation, nausea, or even paralysis. This weakness can be used by opponents to disable or disorient them, especially in tight or battle-focused environments.

• Weakness to Silver: Like many lycans, weredogs are particularly vulnerable to silver. Wounds inflicted by silver weapons heal slowly, if at all, and can cause permanent damage. Even silver-tipped arrows, knives, or other weapons can severely weaken or incapacitate a weredog, rendering them unable to fight or shift for a prolonged period.

• Lack of Control During Full Moon: While many lycans experience heightened strength during the full moon, weredogs may find it harder to control their transformations during this time. The moon may trigger a more aggressive or animalistic side of their nature, causing them to lose control over their actions or instincts. This can lead to dangerous situations where they act out of primal impulse, hurting allies or themselves in the process.

• Vulnerability to Heat: Weredogs, especially those of larger breeds or those with thicker fur, are particularly vulnerable to excessive heat. They can overheat quickly in hot climates, which can reduce their physical capabilities, cause weakness, or even lead to heatstroke if they don't find a way to cool down. This makes them slower, less responsive, and more likely to collapse or suffer serious damage in extreme heat situations.

 

Weredogs Metaphysics

• Shifting:

  • Can shift at will; lunar cycles don't affect them as other lycans.

  • Shifting doesn’t heal wounds and is limited by silver exposure (e.g., silver bullets can prevent shifting).

• Aura:

  • Similar to werewolves but less aggressive; can conceal their aura to appear more human or animal.

  • Alphas have stronger auras, which they may use to influence or confuse others.

• Alpha Abilities:

  • Powers vary based on lineage; some include abilities like Call of the Flesh, Share Power, and Force Shift.

  • Older weredogs may possess rare abilities, including control over dogs, magic, and curses: if you choose one such option, you must give up one inherente ability of your level but we will not micromanage.

  • Weredogs can become Animal to Call or animal servants of vampires.

 

Weredogs Organization

• Mob Structure:

  • Weredogs are typically solitary or in small family units, but can form larger clans for security.

  • Mobs are often isolated from other lycans, viewing them as aggressive and poorly organized, but in Vero will be respectful to the Lupercus.

  • Mobs may have hierarchical structures based on lineage or individual power.

• Traditions and Social Norms:

  • Commonly speak of loyalty and hierarchy; respect for elders is significant.

  • Weredogs value discretion and may be wary of outsiders.

  • Non-dog shifters may be accepted if peaceful and respectful.

 

Weredogs Hierarchy

• Leadership Roles:

  • Lice Grise: Elder female alpha or mate of the former leader, esteemed as a wise counselor.

  • Cerbère (Cerberus): Most common alpha leader, often a direct descendant of the dominant family.

  • Orthos (Orthrus): Outsider alpha, often married into the family to maintain power.

  • Barghest: Alpha who takes power by challenging and killing the former leader.

• Other Roles:

  • Garm: Sergeant or executioner.

  • Beta Couple: Den guardians.

  • Gaueko: A role involving warding off humans, and possibly holding magical knowledge.

  • Omega: The lowest rank, but often cared for due to their calming influence on the pack.

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List of Terms

• Argos: Title for a loyal pack member, granted to those who show unwavering loyalty, often posthumously.

• CùSith: A weredog involved with the fey, often distrusted by pack members.

• Dip: Insulting term for a weredog involved with vampires.

• Failinis/Fermac: Refers to a weredog who brings most of the pack’s resources, or alternatively, one who contributes little.

• Gelert: Honorific title for a heroic, sacrificial weredog.

• Inugami-mochi: Refers to noble families in Japan protected by Inugami (Asian weredogs).

• Laelap: Title given to the best hunter within the pack.

• Sarama: Title for the female leader’s mate who has birthed the first descendant carrying the strain.

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Weredog Power Levels and Inherent Powers

 

Omega

(Least powerful but with enhanced instincts)

• Animal Awareness (Weak):
  Weredogs can sense the presence of unshielded lycans and other supernatural creatures in their vicinity, but the range is limited compared to more powerful ranks.

• Healing (Slow):
  Weredogs can heal minor wounds by shifting to their animal form, but they cannot heal injuries from silver, fire, or vampire attacks. Healing occurs more slowly than in stronger lycans.

• Internal Beast (Subtle):
  The inner beast can be provoked by strong emotions like fear, stress, or anger, but it does not influence the weredog as strongly as it does with other lycans. The beast's aura is faint.

• Enhanced Senses (10x compared to humans):
  Heightened hearing, smell, and sight. They can track scents easily and hear distant sounds with great clarity.

• Stamina (5x compared to humans):
  Increased endurance, speed, and reflexes, but not to the extreme of other lycans.

• Unrestrained Transformation:
  Once shifted, weredogs remain in their animal form for a short period (4-6 hours). Shifting back to human form is disorienting and may take a few minutes to recover.

 

 

Moderate

(More control over their abilities, but still relatively weak compared to other shifters)

• Animal Awareness (Moderate):
  Can sense both shielded and unshielded lycans, vampires, and other supernatural beings, with a wider range and more refined detection abilities.

• Healing (Faster):
  Can heal wounds more effectively by shifting completely. However, silver, fire, and vampire-inflicted wounds still heal at the same rate as in humans.

• Internal Beast (Controlled):
  The internal beast can still be provoked by strong emotions, but moderate weredogs have more control over the transformation and can suppress it if needed. Their aura can be more easily masked.

• Moderate Transformation:
  Weredogs can shift more easily, but their animal form is still not as powerful as those of other lycans. Shifting to and from their animal form is faster and less taxing than for Omega-level.

• Enhanced Senses (20x compared to humans):
  Enhanced hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch. Tracking and detecting changes in the environment is more acute than in Omega.

• Stamina (10x compared to humans):
  Greater endurance, speed, and reflexes. They tire more slowly than humans and are faster than average, but not to the extent of higher-ranked lycans.

• Soothing the Beast (Weak):

Can use their internal metaphysical connection to calm weaker weredogs or other lycans, but this power has limited range and effect.

 

Alpha

(Most powerful within the weredog hierarchy, but still weaker than other types of lycans)

• Soothing the Beast (Moderate):
  Can calm weaker lycans or weredogs with a stronger connection to their inner beast, projecting a calming aura that can ease tension or aggression in others.

• Animal Awareness (Strong):
  Can sense both shielded and unshielded lycans, supernatural beings, and even the emotional state of those around them. Their ability to detect danger is much stronger.

• Healing (Fast):
  Can heal themselves and others more rapidly by shifting. However, silver, fire, and vampire-inflicted wounds still heal at the rate of human healing.

• Internal Beast (Strong):
  The inner beast is still present but does not overpower the weredog. They can control the beast at will and even project their aura to assert dominance or assert authority over others.

• Mastery of Shifting:
  Can shift at will between human and dog form with ease. Shifting does not leave them drained or disoriented. However, shifting too often can still wear them down if overused.

• Enhanced Senses (50x compared to humans):
  Sharper than the lower ranks, they can detect minute details in their surroundings, such as tracking scents in extreme conditions, hearing distant sounds, or sensing the slightest movements.

• Stamina (20x compared to humans):
  Superhuman endurance, strength, speed, and reflexes, allowing them to engage in physical feats comparable to a top predator, but still not at the level of other lycans.

• Vital Signs Changes:
  Their heart rate and emotional state become more noticeable, but not as extreme as other lycans.

• Leader's Aura:
  Can project an aura that grants some level of influence over weaker weredogs and other lycans, making them more docile or cooperative. This power works best in moments of calm.

 

Powers Exclusive to Alpha Leaders

• Beast Call (Weak):
  Call upon other weredogs in the area, alerting them to danger or summoning them for aid. The call is subtle but effective, particularly among pack members.

• Pack Defense:
  Can shield their packmates from external threats (e.g., psychic attacks or magical interference), although the shield is weaker than those of other lycanthropes.

• Sense of the Pack:
  An ability to sense the overall health, mood, and emotional state of all pack members within a certain radius, ensuring better coordination and understanding during times of crisis.

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