Time has long bloodied the race of half-wolves known as Therians. These men and women appear just as any normal human would, but within them runs the blood of a wolf, a rare trait that has survived throughout time amongst persecution and war by the hands of humanity and the rest of the world. Quick and agile yet strong these creatures combine the intelligence and ingenuity of humankind with the power of wolves. Emotion and primal urge drives much of a Therian’s behavior though many have overcome their animalistic instincts, or embraced them. With the ability to transform themselves from their human-like self into that of a half-wolf half-man or even an actual wolf, Therians possess an immense physical strength coupled with unnatural regenerative abilities. Yet with the blood of a wolf running through them comes a touch of madness, their actions often eccentric and marred with paranoia of outsiders. The once great tribes of the Therian race have now fallen into small circles, but time remains for them to rise again and reclaim their seat of power.

To properly understand the history of the Therian one must first examine the sources of the information that mentions this strange race. This is no easy task, as I have uncovered. None of the chronicles and texts of the Empire seem to offer any definitive statements about these wolf-like creatures. It seems that they themselves did not take any records; so finding any primary sources is somewhat an absurd idea. The only way of accomplishing the task of gathering facts about Therians seems to be asking one. I have discovered the only harder task than finding information about Therians is finding one. More difficult than that is getting one to talk! What I have gathered is the most comprehensive collection of history, rumor and folklore ever documented by the Kingdom. May it suit the reader’s tastes.

The Therian race draws its history back to one called “Lycanus.” This man was, originally, just a human. It is believed that through a curse or blessing bestowed upon him from some higher power that was he bred together with a beast. Some believe whatever power accomplished this was punishing Lycanus for blasphemy; the deity acting to humiliate Lycanus and drive him to insanity. Others have written that Lycanus was an experiment by some power to make the perfect being - the best parts of mankind combined with the best parts of the beast. Yet, some others, many of them Therians, would rather believe that Lycanus performed a favor for a deity. He was blessed with the power of the beast for his good deeds which he would continue with this greater strength. Regardless of the “origin” story you chose to believe, it appears that this Lycanus was somehow a combination between man and beast, by definition making him the very first Therian.

Lycanus soon discovered the immensity of his powers. He was as smart and sentient as he had been as a man, yet now strong and agile like the beast. A second discovery followed. Just like man and wolf, Lycanus could mate. With his offspring the race of Therians was born. Where man was developing the first weapons to keep wolves at bay, Therians were combining the natural physical abilities of the wolves with the ingenuity of mankind.

Therians quickly stole hegemony over the world. Mankind, nothing more than nomads with scattered camps, had no defense against the Therians. The Therians were the top of the food chain, keeping mankind alive to tend to the cattle… and be cattle themselves. This would not last, however, as mankind began to advance further, organizing and strengthening themselves. The Therian’s power was tested. Just as human power curved, another race was growing as well: the vampires. The vampires, like the Therians, needed mankind to supply them with food… and be food. Just as two dogs fighting over a bone, the Therians and vampires began battling. It started simply as a matter of hunting grounds. Like animals, they would fight until a winner prevailed, then the loser would withdraw to try again. The fighting grew more and more violent, until a large event changed it all. Some books talk of a single man, while others talk of a series of events over years, regardless the impact is clear. Mankind threw off the shackles of both races and struck back. As Vampire and Therian battled face to face, man struck from the side. The devastation was massive. When one’s food fights back, all is lost. Mankind went on a crusade against the battling races. Therian and vampire were barely able to keep themselves alive let alone continue a war over territory. The fight was no longer for dominance, but for survival.

The great tribes decided they could not battle the vampires and their former cattle; a “ceasefire” was called. The two “great” races of the lands stopped their war to protect themselves. Attention now was diverted to the humans. Some wanted to make peace, some wanted to destroy the rebellious men while others just wanted to run away from it all. After some dispute the Therians decided it was impossible to continue, their only option was to withdraw from the battle. Therians took to the forest, the alley and the sewer. Anywhere mankind could not hunt them they went. After a great migration from their former strongholds to hiding, it seemed the Therians were safe. The tribes met once again to decide the their fate and a course of action. They would regroup, underground, and wait for mankind to calm itself before any move was made. The tribes were very weak, but far from gone.

The next great event came like a plague. All that the Therians had accomplished was viewed as evil by humanity. They began to destroy structures and burn what records the Therians had kept. What was a society had fallen into barbarianism. To help this plague of destruction along came a literal plague. No one is quite sure of the origin, but the destruction left a permanent mark on the Therian race. Famine was rampant; man was dying left and right from starvation and illness. That which hurt humanity hurt the Therians as well. Without a stable food supply the Therians began to starve just as the humans did. Therians came out of their hiding into the streets to try and find food. They could not stay hidden away when they were starving. Just as it appeared the situation could not get worse, it did. A common alchemist was experimenting one day for a cure for this new plague. A Therian had lashed out against some villagers earlier and was killed by the guard; he had access to the body. In a bold maneuver he put Therian blood into one of his experiments. This new mixture, when used properly, was seen to help fight the plague. The chemist released his findings as soon as he could, thus began the next great hunt. Mankind was killing anything that looked like it may be Therian. Common wolves and coyotes were hunted and slain just for the chance that they could be a Therian. The hunter now the prey, the Therians went deeper and deeper into hiding. They spread until their perpetual hiding was interpreted as extinction. The plague had passed, the desire for Therian blood lessened. The hunt finally ended with Therians at an extraordinary low.

After this event Therian history becomes lost. There are almost no reports of suspicious killings or feeding. There are no records of any tribal meetings or gatherings. From a historical standpoint, Therians did not exist. Mankind shades the history until current. It is believed that most Therians survived by pretending to be human. They would root themselves in busy cities, no one could tell them apart from regular men. If they were not hiding as close to humanity as possible, they were hiding as far from it as possible. It can be assumed that any great activity by a Therian was probably documented as being done by a man, making it impossible to trace any Therians at this point.

Today, the Therians are far less active. They are accepted in some circles of society, usually the most secretive and prestigious. I assume that there must have been a tribal meeting somewhere as there seems to be a coordinated effort for the Therian race to regain its power. This time not by ruling over humanity as a greater race, but instead ruling over humanity as humans. It is not uncommon to find a Therian part of a noble house or some other powerful position. At the same time there is rumor of the more violent tribes. Rumors, perhaps the fabrication of old imaginations, tell of the tribes desire to take the world by force. To date, there has been no documentation of any assault by the race of half-wolves. As the Therians open themselves up to the world, it will be mankind’s reaction that determines their fate.

While the range of personalities amongst Therians is just as vast as those of humans, the nature of being a half-wolf as well as the structures of the old tribes have had lasting effects on the behaviors of many Therians. All of these half-wolves are slightly eccentric, if not paranoid. Trust is often hard amongst them with humans, as many have seen the devastation that came to their culture by human hands, or have at least heard of it. Some Therians are reserved and wish to live their life in quiet, forgetting part of their blood. Others are highly emotional and prone to outbursts, unable control their temper. The style of Therian an individual plays is completely up to them, but some of the information that follows might help a player decide how they choose to play their character.

Therians are not much different from humans in how their houses operate. It isn’t uncommon for two Therians to bond with one another, some even taking to the human custom of marrying. While there is no dictation on how either male of female Therians act, women carry a natural affinity towards being the caretaker of their children just as a female wolf would. Men on the other hand, just as it had been with the great tribes, are often seen as the hunters and gatherers for their family.

Personalities within Therains are often effected by the actual wolf-blood that runs within their body making the half-wolf more attuned to the actions that their wolf brother take.

These Therians are often loaners, scavengers who rely on caution and wit to survive. Many of these men and women tend to be opportunistic but often back away from open confrontation, waiting for a later time when the advantage is on their side to strike.

These Therians are the most prideful of their race, all carrying a strong sense of loyalty to their own kind as well as to humans. Many wolf-Therians hope to achieve the old strength of the Tribes, often working together to achieve that goal. These creatures are noble in their behavior and quick to help.

These Therians are often attributed with a greater psychosis, some stark mad. These Therians often give into the primal urges of their wolf blood and are goaded into conflict. Dire Wolf-Therians keep their word only when it’s not a disadvantage.

Until a Therian comes to age, their life and abilities are just that of any human. Around puberty, a Therian will have his first transformation into a wolf. With it he falls into a sort of madness, ravaging anything around them save for the very closest of family. After this first change, the Therian learns more and more to cope with the effect of becoming a wolf. After long periods the change will become second nature and the Therian will be in control of their behavior as a wolf minus a few eccentric actions.

Therians have three different forms: their Human self, their Moonskin, and their Wolfskin. Therians can change at will into whatever form they wish, but certain forms are harder to maintain and have different effects on the Therians mental control and physical strength. However, whenever there is a full moon the Therian is forced to change forms into a wolf for the duration of the moon’s cycle.

Therians will appear as a human, with a little extra body hair, thicker finger nails, and more pronounced canines. Most therians will have brown or black hair, but a few are born with gray. There’s never been a case of a blonde or red-haired therian. Their eye color most often matches the color of their hair, but occasionally there’s been a blue or green eyed therian. They’re also more broad of shoulder than your average human, yet shorter of height. The tallest therian was 5’6”, while most are around 5’3”. As well, therians are a very hardy race, their body is able to recover from wounds far quicker than that of a human, they are rarely affected by poisons, and they are also more long-lived. Most therians will live to be 220 years old, if they do not meet their end unnaturally. There are many theories on the weaknesses of a therian, ranging from the use of specific metals against them to any number of other superstitions. The truth behind all of this, however, is questionable, though it has been documented that wolf’s bane, in the proper mixture, is like a deadly toxin to a therian.

When in their wolfskin, therians become little more than an animal. They give into almost all of their primal urges and instincts. While a bit larger than your average forest wolf, they still lose all but a glimmer of their humanity in this form. It is not unheard of for a theiran to take on this form, and lose himself completely, becoming a wolf for the rest of his life. Aside from an increased intelligence (when compared to a wolf), size, speed, and strength, this form is little different than a natural wolf. Their fur will always be the same color as the hair color of their natural form. Like any other wolf, when in this form, therians will feast upon their prey to feed both their instinct and restore their strength. Flesh is flesh in the eyes of a wolf, and a therian who learns the taste of human blood can develop a very questionable habit.

The most difficult form to achieve, and maintain, is the moonskin. The cross between wolf and man, this metamorphism shares some of the advantages, and disadvantages, of the other two forms. It is by this form that most therians are known to the common man, half man and half wolf, feeding on the blood of farmers and livestock alike. In this form, the therian appears as a half man, half wolf creature. The shape of the body is similar to a human, but a few features resemble the wolf, such as the ears, teeth, and eyes. While in their moonskin, therians will still have human intelligence, coupled with the senses and instinct of the wolf. While difficult to achieve, it is far simpler to shed this skin than it is the wolfskin.

The blood that runs through Therians has far greater regenerative abilities than that of humans, members of the race healing faster from wounds and disease. These abilities as well as their general increased strength allow for a Therian to live a much longer life than any human, most living 220 years, though it isn’t unheard of their lifespan reaching near 300 years long. However, given the nature of their struggle many Therians do not live out their entire lives.

These regenerative abilities do not save them from certain metals or poisons though, and wounds inflicted with these materials often leaving lasting scars where most typical injuries would heal without notice.

In humanskin Therians resemble any other human though they usually have thicker body hair and sharper canines. Therian eyes can be of any color, but tend to be lighter tones of brown and green and in rare cases blue. Hair color often resembles the color of fur the Therian takes on when in Wolfskin, most commonly shades of brown and gray with light red being uncommon and blond almost unheard of. Throughout their physical transformations, this hair color remains the same while growing in length.

When a Therian is in Moonskin, they appear as a half-man half-wolf: a creature with the muzzle and claws of a wolf, but the physical shape of a man. Their body is completely covered in the fur the same color as their natural hair color. The Therian’s legs bend outwards and their back slouches lower making enemies easier to bite.

When in Moonskin and Wolfskin, the physical shape of the Therian makes it impossible for the half-wolf to use weaponry beyond their own teeth and claws. Likewise, armor is ill-fitted for their movements and cannot fit the shape of their body, leaving only specially tailored armor of leather or bone to allow the Therian any protection without inhibiting their speed. Metal armors such as chain or plate irritate the Therian too much in this state to be worn.

In this state, the Therian is an actual wolf with fur reflecting their natural hair color. Eye color remains the same but light often causes the wolf’s eyes to reflect a golden color.

While all Therians are enamored with varying levels of psychosis and paranoia, their mental capabilities are slightly lower than that of humans, the cost of their great strength. Worse however is that the Therian mind cannot comprehended even the most basic arcane arts, lacking any aptitude towards magic. For this reason, magic in all its forms is restricted from the Therian race.

This however does not make a Therian any less witty or intelligent as any human, but much of their thought process is affected by primal urges that come from being a wolf. Some keep these emotions in check while others choose to embrace them.

The idea of “tribes” draws itself back to the ancient times when the wolves ruled over humanity. Not unlike noble houses in a kingdom the tribes were a way to separate the Therians geographically and politically. Most of the tribes were wiped out long ago, or were forced to merge with other tribes to remain alive. The tribes that remain today are loosely organized and are nothing like they were originally. Though they still are organized, putting them leaps beyond Therians who are just being loners. No tribe has made a strong showing in the colony, as such these tribes do not exist in the new lands, but remain in the old.

This tribe draws its origins back to the most powerful tribe of ancient times. It was believed that this tribe was formed originally by Lycanus and was the purest of blood. The First Bloods are the most organized and today strive the hardest to bring back a unified Therian race. They are noble and proud. They contain their beastly nature very well, rarely transforming. These are the most human.

The Fenris draw their origins back to the first downfall of Therian kind. They believed that the Vampires were below them as well as the humans. It was stupid to stop fighting. Therians could have massacred humans into submission. Since then, the Fenris tribe has become slightly more reclusive, but still keeps the passion alive. They believe humans are their cattle, and treat them as so. Most of their food comes from stray humans in the North, where they make their home. They are the most violent and emotional. The majority of this tribe consists of dire wolves. The tribe is and has always been a source of problems, as the majority of bad rumors about Therians come from this tribe. They are not the strongest tribe, however, so they are kept in check somewhat, but due to their large numbers they are hard to contain.

These Therians are almost as old as the First Bloods. Feeling restricted by the construction of cities and the new order of tribes they fled to the desert. They are not exiles or anything like it, they just choose to be reclusive. They are more animalistic than the First Bloods, but not to the extent of the Fenris. They wish to survive as what they are, not change themselves for the world or try and change the world to fit them. Coyotes are the most common members of this tribe.

Therians do not have a tongue of their own in terms that any human would understand. Most speak common, adapting to human life as a means of survival. But when in primal form, taking on the guise of a wolf, Therians can communicate through a means of movements, growls, and expressions that is called Wolftongue. The name itself is deceiving because there is no true speech involved, only varying growls that represent the simplest of information. Most Therians prefer to speak in common as human words can describe in far greater detail a situation or a place. Wolftongue is used only when in Wolfskin, but common is still possible in Moonskin if not a bit slurred.

Beyond vocal and body language, Therians have also adapted a system of symbols that mean different things. Most often used are claw marks on trees or the ground that can signify a safe haven or guarded territory. Just like wolves, Therians will also mark their territory if they have claimed it for their hunting ground and refuse any other access.

Therians are forced to eat only meat and have little taste for anything else. Whether or not meat is cooked is entirely up to the player. Some Therians have adapted to eat meats prepared by a cook within a city while others long for the taste of raw flesh, either that of an animal, monster, or human. Tastes differ from Therian to Therian, but meat is necessary for them to keep up their metabolism and to allow their regenerative abilities to work. When in wolf form, the old tastes that their human self would have are for all purposes disregarded, and any prey is good enough to satisfy their needs. This presents a problem when the Therian transform back into their Humanskin as raw food can often leave a foul taste and a nasty smell.

Therians have a few useable abilities in game.

• Therians have increased regenerations rates. To ensure you are getting this regeneration rate, after healing yourself, use the command .fixme

• To assume Moon Skin form, you must be fully rested, then use .moonskin . Switching forms will drain your stamina, and it will take being fully rested again to revert. Use .moonskin to revert to your Human Skin

• To assume Wolf Skin form, you must again be fully rested. Use .animalskin to change and to revert.