WERELEOPARDS

Wereleopards

The Pard: Wereleopards live in social groups called pards, a term used for the "family" or "tribe" of wereleopards. Unlike werewolves, who often live in larger packs, pards tend to be smaller in number. This is partly because cat-based lycanthropy (like wereleopardism) is more difficult to contract, leading to a lower population rate within the species.
Physical Contact and Emotional Reassurance: A significant social characteristic of the pard members is their need for physical contact as a source of emotional reassurance. Wereleopards frequently engage in affectionate behavior such as rubbing against one another, similar to how domestic cats behave. This physical closeness is essential for the emotional well-being of the members.
Titles of Leadership: Leadership within the pard is fluid and can vary depending on the strength and temperament of the leader. There are three different titles for their leaders, each describing a different type of leader:
- Nimir-Raj/Nimir-Ra: The terms for the leader of the pard, where Nimir-Ra is the queen and Nimir-Raj is the king. These leaders are traditionally dominant figures, often fiercely protective of the pard.
- Léoparde Lionnée: This title is used for a leader who is seen as a rampant leopard—a brave protector or avenger. They are typically more proactive in their defense of the pard and its members.
- Lion Passant: This refers to a more passive form of leadership, where the leader is akin to a sleeping lion—still dominant and respected but not necessarily involved in the day-to-day protection of the pard.
Sexual Rite - Shiva and Pavarti: A sexual rite called Shiva and Pavarti (also known as Maithuna, the Sanskrit term for union or coupling) exists among wereleopards. This is a deeply spiritual and sexual bond between a truly mated pair of leopards. The rite is known to be impossible between a human and a wereleopard unless there is a special, often magical, condition that allows it. This rite symbolizes the union of the two individuals, making them not just lovers but bonded in a way that transcends normal human relationships. Despite the complications of human-wereleopard relationships, this ritual is important and symbolic.

Physical Traits and Shifting

Shifting: As with other lycanthropes, wereleopards can shift between human and animal forms. Their animal form is typically a large, powerful leopard, with all the speed, strength, and agility that the animal's form entails. Wereleopards shift into a full leopard form, unlike werewolves who may shift into a hybrid wolf form. Their animal form is a complete leopard, with all the physical traits and instincts of the creature. Despite being fully in animal form, they retain human-level intelligence and awareness, though their behavior is heavily influenced by their feline instincts.
Appearance: In their human form, wereleopards can appear similar to humans, though they often have notable traits such as cat-like eyes or sharp features. When in leopard form, they are large, sleek, and powerful creatures with typical feline traits, including sharp claws and powerful jaws.

Behavior and Instincts

Independent Yet Loyal: Wereleopards tend to be more independent than werewolves, but they also share the pack instinct to protect those they care about. While they value their independence and may be seen as more self-sufficient, they also need the reassurance of the pard and will fiercely protect it when needed.
Protective Instinct: Wereleopards, especially those with the title of Léoparde Lionnée, exhibit a strong protective instinct. While the Lion Passant (passive alpha) may not be as actively involved in safeguarding the pard, a Léoparde Lionnée is typically a strong, assertive protector, willing to fight for their members’ safety.

Unique Traits

Sexuality and Bonding: As mentioned earlier, the wereleopard culture places significant importance on sexual and emotional bonding. The sexual rites and unions that wereleopards experience, especially those bonded by the Shiva and Pavarti rite, form a core aspect of their relationships. This type of union can help strengthen the magical and emotional connection between mated pairs.
More Difficult to Catch: Because wereleopardism is harder to catch or transmit than lycanthropy in other species, the population rates of wereleopards are lower compared to other lycanthropes, such as werewolves.

Conflict and Power Dynamics

Leadership Struggles: As with other supernatural species, power struggles and challenges for leadership are common in the pard. Challenges for the title of Nimir-Raj/Nimir-Ra (king and queen) can lead to internal conflict, and those in power may face challenges from other ambitious members within the pard.
Alpha Dynamics: The different alpha titles of Léoparde Lionnée and Lion Passant indicate the two primary types of leadership that can exist within a pard. While Léoparde Lionnée refers to a more active, involved leader, Lion Passant refers to a passive leader. In either case, the leader's authority is crucial for maintaining order within the pard, and rivalries for leadership can lead to intense conflict.

Special Relationships with Humans

While the wereleopard culture can be insular, they do form relationships with humans. Humans in the pard are often treated with respect, particularly those who understand the nuances of lycanthropy. However, the mated pairings and sexual rites, like Shiva and Pavarti, are more complex in relationships involving humans, as humans are not traditionally seen as suitable mates for wereleopards.

LYCAN LEVELS AND INHERENT POWERS

Omega

Animal Awareness (Weak): Can sense unshielded lycans and other supernatural beings (e.g., vampires, humans, humans with powers, etc.).
Healing: Can heal wounds by shifting to beast form, but it doesn't fully heal wounds caused by silver, other lycans, or vampires.
Internal Beast: A metaphysical presence within the lycan that can be provoked to shift by stress, fear, orgasm, or sight of blood. The inner beast can be projected as an aura to greet other lycans.
Senses (10x compared to humans): Enhanced hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch.
Stamina (5x compared to humans): Increased endurance, strength, speed, and reflexes.
Unrestrained Transformation: Once shifted, they remain in beast form for 8-12 hours. Afterward, they pass out and shift back to human form. Shifting too quickly (animal to human) drains energy, causing a coma-like sleep for a minimum of 12 hours.
Vital Signs Changes: Heart rhythm, muscle tension, perspiration scent, and emotional indicators change with lycanthropy.

Moderate

Animal Awareness (Moderate): Can sense unshielded and shielded lycans, as well as other supernatural beings.
Healing: Can heal wounds by shifting completely, with faster healing. Blood loss weakens the lycan. Wounds caused by silver, fire, and vampires heal at the same rate as humans.
Internal Beast: The beast can still be provoked by stress, fear, orgasm, or sight of blood and can project its aura to other lycans.
Moderate Transformation: Once shifted, they remain in beast form for 8-12 hours. They have more control over their transformation and may resist shifting, though they cannot resist the full moon.
Senses (20x compared to humans): Enhanced hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch.
Soothing the Beast (Moderate): Can use their metaphysical beast to soothe weaker lycans.
Stamina (10x compared to humans): Enhanced endurance, strength, speed, and reflexes.
Vital Signs Changes: Heart rhythm, muscle tension, perspiration scent, and emotional indicators change with lycanthropy.

Alpha

Soothing the Beast (Strong): Can calm and soothe weaker lycans with their metaphysical beast.
Animal Awareness (Strong): Can sense both shielded and unshielded lycans and other supernatural beings.
Healing: Can heal by shifting partially or fully, with faster healing. Blood loss still weakens them, and wounds caused by silver, fire, or vampires heal at the same rate as humans.
Internal Beast: The beast can be provoked by stress, fear, orgasm, or sight of blood, and it can project as an aura to greet other lycans.
Mastery of the Alpha: Can shift at will for as long as desired and return to human form at will. Complete control over the inner beast, and can resist shifting if they choose (but cannot resist the full moon).
Senses (50x compared to humans): Enhanced hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch.
Stamina (20x compared to humans): Enhanced endurance, strength, speed, and reflexes.
Vital Signs Changes: Heart rhythm, muscle tension, perspiration scent, and emotional indicators change with lycanthropy.

Powers Exclusive to Alpha Leaders

Beast Call: Summon other lycans of the same type.
War Cry: Send a pulse of energy to group members, signaling an alert or warning of danger.

Extra Powers

When playing Alpha or Alpha Leader, choose 3 powers from the list below:

ALPHA-ONLY POWERS

Call Flesh: Heal another lycan by sending your beast and power into the wounded.
Facial Manipulation: Realign the bones of your face to assume a different appearance.
Force Shift: Force lesser lycans (including lower-ranked alphas) to shift by pulling their beast from them. This can be used as punishment (causing a painful, explosive shift) or to help heal by forcing a shift.
Partial Shift: Shift only specific parts of the body into beast form, while the rest remains human.
Share Power: Share your powers with others for a limited period by offering your blood.
Shield: Protect others from psychic and aura attacks.
Stilling the Beast: Strip a lesser lycan of their animal self, preventing them from feeling others in their group or shifting. This effect lasts for a day, unless the target is a leader. Cannot be used during the full moon.
Purr: Sooth the weaker target into deep sleep or complete focus on the hypnotic delicious sound of the purr.

ALPHA LEADER-EXCLUSIVE POWERS
Roar: Bring your group to alert to attack mode with this subsonic blast of powerful sound that can be heard for up to a mile. It can break mortal eardrums at close range and will dizzy and disorient weaker supernaturals at a range of 5 feet.
Shield the Call: Protect the group from the call of a Master vampire. If the Master vampire is too strong, the leader should answer the call to protect the group or send someone in their place. This shield cannot hold indefinitely.