Physical Characteristics
When in Were form, they look exactly like their wild counterparts but are twice the size. Predators are the only known types of Werebeasts. There are no prehistoric or mythical Werebeasts. As Weres are born or bitten, they take on the physical characteristics of their parents, or whatever their humanoid form was before they were Bitten. In the case of species that have unnatural coloring before being Bitten, this can produce a variety of fur or scale colors beyond the normal.
Natural Habitat
Weres were once limited to the natural habitat of their animal counterpart but can now be found anywhere. They are most often found in small groups, though a few species are solitary by their nature. There is a rather large community of Weres near the Elswyth Grove.
Procreation
To become a Were you must be bitten by an Alpha on the full moon or be born a Were. The Werebeast gene is dominant in pairings where one parent is not a Were. In the case of Were pairings, the offspring will be whatever their parents were, or have a 50/50 chance if the parents are both Weres but not the same species. In the case of those that become a Were through an Alpha bite, they will be whatever species the Alpha was. Weres will go through their first shift some time around puberty, the first shift in a female can often be predicated by following the cycles of the blood moon.
Special Abilities
Weres have two forms: their humanoid form in which they spend the majority of their time and their Dire Animal form. The change between them is generally painful and often quite a spectacle to behold. This is not a Glamour, this is the body physically changing from one form to another. For the young and the newly bitten, this change can take longer and be more painful, but as the body grows and becomes more settled the change will be faster. The young and newly bitten are bound by the full moon, but they can learn to control the change to the point of changing whenever they need and even forcing themselves not to change on the full moon.
In their humanoid form, Weres maintain their heightened senses and often some strength and swiftness depending on their animal species. Their healing is more on par with that of the animals. Depending on their species, certain personality traits may also carry over.
Weaknesses
Weres are allergic to silver. Physical contact with pure silver can burn the flesh in either form. Silver in large doses can stop the change, and can even cause death. The young and newly bitten are at the mercy of the full moon but only the exact night of, while the day before and after are marked by extreme moodiness.
Culture
Alphas are not born, they are created. It is as much a sign of respect as it is power. To be an Alpha, a Were must gain followers. These followers then pledge themselves to their Alpha, and the Alpha then bites each one in turn, drawing enough of their blood to get it in their system. This ritual is often renewed every year though it is not necessary. New members are inducted into the pack in this way after their First Turn. The Full Moon is a very sacred time for Weres, often one of the most spiritual times of the month.
Many Weres, especially those of the Elswyth Grove, use their allergy to silver in a form of ritual scarring. Marking their milestones on their skin. These Milestones can include the First Shift during the full moon, First Shift outside of the full moon, First Hunt and any number of other ceremonial milestones. It is quite common for the Alphas to have a number of ritual scars. Silver needles are also the only way for a Were to get a tattoo.
History
At some point it is believed that a Dire Beast evolved enough to take on a humanoid form. Ancient stories of beasts turning into humans or elves and back again riddle the bedtime stories of the ages. Long before the Mage Wars before The Fall, were the Beast Wars. In the time of bows and arrows, and rocks in slings, the races of Avonlea fought a gruesome battle against the Werebeasts. Unable to tell a Were from the Dire, both met the pointy end of a Hunter’s spear. The Beast Wars didn’t end so much as they petered out, with no side coming out the victor.
As time went on, Weres became less of the terrifying monster from the stories and began to integrate more with society. They moved from a curse, to little more than a lifelong condition, and eventually became their own species with their own cultures. With so much mixing of the other races over the millennia, Weres can be anyone. Your neighbor, your parent, your best friend. While the stigma of being a Were has lessened, there are still some that prefer to keep that side of themselves a secret.
The Orders of Magi have a pack of Weres, albeit a very strange one as it is composed of a number of different species. After The Fall, the Mages were hurting for numbers and so came to an understanding with the Weres that wanted to join them. Membership in the Orders also means membership in this Pack.