Lycanthropes

[Lawgiver]

Since lycanthropes have come up in another thread...

There is an off hand reference in the rules:
"Many believe that the curse of lycanthropy is also one of Azrai's legacies to mankind;
a dark gift intended to strengthen the ranks of his followers."


Do you agree with this interpretation?
If not, where do you suppose they originated within Birthright? Are they part of the cursed blood of Azrai? Were the the product of a failed magic/realm spell? A failed alchemy experiment results in genetic mutation? A witch's curse? Some other phenomenon?

[Birthright-L]

I`m sorry I forgot who said it, but I like the idea they had about
Lycanthropes being originally the creation of the Lord of the Moon
Vorynn...and then perhaps many were corrupted by Azrai later.


Tony


----Original Message Follows----
From: Lawgiver <brnetboard@BIRTHRIGHT.NET>

Lawgiver wrote:
Since lycanthropes have come up in another thread...

Where do you suppose they originated within Birthright? Are they part of
the cursed blood of Azrai? Were the the product of a failed magic/realm
spell? A failed alchemy experiment results in genetic mutation? A witch`s
curse? Some other phenomenon?

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[Trithemius]

Lawgiver says:
> Where do you suppose they originated within Birthright? Are
> they part of the cursed blood of Azrai? Were the the product
> of a failed magic/realm spell? A failed alchemy experiment
> results in genetic mutation? A witch`s curse? Some other
> phenomenon?

The Shadow/Spirit/Other World is the source of change and weird magical
stuff I`d say that lycanthropy is probably based on some kind of
exposure to it, somewhere in their ancestry. Alternatively, I am quite
fond of using it as a magical curse as well.

--
John Machin
(trithemius@paradise.net.nz)
-----------------------------------
"Nothing is more beautiful than to know the All."
Athanasius Kircher, Ars Magna Sciendi.

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[geeman]

At 04:44 PM 6/21/2003 +1200, John Machin wrote:

>The Shadow/Spirit/Other World is the source of change and weird magical
>stuff I`d say that lycanthropy is probably based on some kind of exposure
>to it, somewhere in their ancestry. Alternatively, I am quite fond of
>using it as a magical curse as well.

This is an interesting point, and one that I think people should keep in
mind for lycanthropes. They are in many ways a perversions; not really
human and the animal shapes they take on are often warped or hideous
versions of those animals in their natural state. The SW is generally the
source of such things in BR, and for lycanthropes there`s the connection
with the moon/night that references the plane of shadow. There`s also the
occasional reference to changelings and other beings from the SW that have
similar effects on humanity. Lycanthropes could be a sort of "evolved"
race of shadow creature. Would they have different powers or form in the
SW? Perhaps their bestial form is their natural state if they are from the
SW? That`d be an interesting interpretation.

Gary

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[destowe]

How about the only natural lycanthropys are direct desecndents of the worg riders at Mount Deismaar?

The absorbtion of the divine energy merged the two to become one creature. But there was two intellects and they fight for dominance. It would be similar to multiple personality. So they are rarely in hybrid form, as those would the ones able to reach a complete harmony of the mind.

Do not know why they are not ruling the goblin realms? Perhaps a new awnsheghlien needs to be made that is able to control them. (Something similar to Animal Affinity.)

Those that are of a race other than goblin are inflicted lycanthropes, and are the pawns of the Naturals. Perhaps spies, or shock troops, for the others that hold sway over a large portion of the Shadow World.


Fairly outlandish, but could make the goblins a more feared race. What with a shadowy organization, based on Ninja or the Thugee cult. Perhpaps even planning on liberating those goblins under the control of others (Gorgon for one.) And revenge on elves, for the time of slavery.

[irdeggman]

Originally posted by destowe

How about the only natural lycanthropys are direct desecndents of the worg riders at Mount Deismaar?

"Natural lycanthropes" now there is an oxymoron in the making, like semi-boneless ham, military intelligence, etc.

[Birthright-L]

----- Original Message -----
From: "irdeggman" <brnetboard@BIRTHRIGHT.NET>
To: <BIRTHRIGHT-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM>
Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2003 7:38 AM
Subject: Re: [BIRTHRIGHT] Lycanthropes [2#1745]


> This post was generated by the Birthright.net message forum.
> You can view the entire thread at:
http://www.birthright.net/read.php?TID=1745
>
> irdeggman wrote:
>

Originally posted by destowe
>
> How about the only natural lycanthropys are direct
desecndents of the worg riders at Mount Deismaar?
>

>
> "Natural lycanthropes" now there is an oxymoron in the making, like
semi-boneless ham, military intelligence, etc.
>


I`d suggest to those in this discussion actually Reading the Rjurik
information, as this suggests that lycanthropy isn`t a curse (just a `Fate`)
and is seen as a good thing much like the berzerk (bear skins) or ulfhednar
(wolf skins) of legend. That is lycanthropy isn`t necessarily as "D&D" sees
it, but is much more similar to how folklore of Earth sees it. Dangerous,
frightening, but not necessarily, evil.

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[Lawgiver]

Originally posted by destowe
How about the only natural lycanthropys are direct desecndents of the worg riders at Mount Deismaar?

I love it! I was trying to think of a "good" way to link it to either Deismaar or the Shadow World. Thanks for the idea!

[Lawgiver]

Originally posted by irdeggman
I`d suggest to those in this discussion actually Reading the Rjurik information, as this suggests that lycanthropy isn`t a curse (just a `Fate`) and is seen as a good thing much like the berzerk (bear skins) or ulfhednar (wolf skins) of legend. That is lycanthropy isn`t necessarily as "D&D" sees it, but is much more similar to how folklore of Earth sees it. Dangerous, frightening, but not necessarily, evil.

Specifically, what source of Rjurik material do you refer too?


Aside from Michael J. Fox's "Teen Wolf" movie in the 80s, I have yet to see any material that truly places lycanthropy in any sort of a positive light. The loss of power over one's will and the overwhelming desire to fulfill some animalistic instinct doesn't strike me a positive thing.

[Birthright-L]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lawgiver" <brnetboard@BIRTHRIGHT.NET>
To: <BIRTHRIGHT-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM>
Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2003 1:03 PM
Subject: Re: [BIRTHRIGHT] Lycanthropes [2#1745]


> This post was generated by the Birthright.net message forum.
> You can view the entire thread at:
http://www.birthright.net/read.php?TID=1745
>
> Lawgiver wrote:
>

Originally posted by irdeggman
> I`d suggest to those in this discussion actually Reading the Rjurik
information, as this suggests that lycanthropy isn`t a curse (just a `Fate`)
and is seen as a good thing much like the berzerk (bear skins) or ulfhednar
(wolf skins) of legend. That is lycanthropy isn`t necessarily as "D&D"
sees it, but is much more similar to how folklore of Earth sees it.
Dangerous, frightening, but not necessarily, evil.
>

>
> Specifically, what source of Rjurik material do you refer too?
>

Under the lists of Dooms.
P76 of Rjurik Highlands "shapechanger" it doesn`t call them lycanthropes
and in fact says they use different rules, but that`s really more an
artifice of them trying to have Lycanthropes be a "shapeshifter" in 2E that
had certian limitations and traits which carried over from core D&D
structure.

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