Apr 25, 2018 16:26:39 GMT
Post by Nobody on Apr 25, 2018 16:26:39 GMT
Here are some things which all Lycanthropes would/should be trained in over the first 6 months to a year of being infected. Training is handled by Alphas or any experienced Lycanthrope otherwise. In most cases…
First Shift (First Moon) - If a newly infected Lycanthrope comes to the Clan before their first moon, an Alpha will assist them in their first few shifts. They will call the new Lycanthrope's beast forth to make the change smoother for them the first few times. Please note a new Lycanthrope will not remember anything about their initial shifts. This will improve over time.
Stress Shifting (After First Moon until control is established) - Newly infected Lycanthropes have very little control to resist shifting when under stress. The scent of fresh blood tends to trigger stress shifts in new shifters as well. Training will begin to learn to control these shifts after the new Lycanthrope's first moon. An Alpha or strong enough Beta is required to help keep someone from shifting uncontrollably.
Pleasure Shifting (After First Moon until control is established) - The stress caused by extreme pleasure is vastly different from that caused by pain, fear, or anger. This is a tricky situation which the AB books expressed training was necessary in to prevent mauling/infecting/or killing a lover during sexual intimacy. In one instance in the books, a shifter refusing training with an Eros/Eranthe (because he was engaged to be married) ended up shifting during his honeymoon night and killing his new bride. Due to the intimate nature of this sort of thing, a player should feel free to handwave it and just note to their faction leader that they would be taking the training with an NPC or appropriate PC without needing to play it out. Basically, an Alpha Lycanthrope with a compatible sexual preference and ability will have intercourse with the new Lycanthrope until they are able to reach sexual fulfillment under different sorts of duress without shifting during it. If, for some reason, your character would NOT agree to this training, there will be consequences. This may require the Clan to banish you from their protection and declare you rogue in order to protect the group from your future actions. So, think carefully about this.
Shifting Sleep (Until Control is gained, anywhere from twenty-four months to five years) Upon shifting from one form to another and back a lycanthrope will within ten to twenty minutes immediately fall into a near coma-like sleep. This is the bodies attempt to regain some of the vast energies expended with the shift. As control is gained a lycanthrope can stave off the sleep for up to an hour up to as long as four based on relative strength.
Physiology (Within first 2 weeks) - New Lycanthropes learn the following about their new selves.
Boosts - The first thing you will learn on your own is that your muscle, fitness, reflexes, willpower, and senses all leap in power. This will likely cause some initial disorientation, re-calibrating, and instances of being fascinated by mundane things. When your senses are superhuman, imagine how detailed food tastes or how many fine details you can suddenly notice in the world. Further, those nice insulated walls might no longer keep you from hearing your neighbors conversing while you're trying to sleep. If you are a physical combatant (martial artist, bouncer) you may have to take some time off until you learn to gauge and curb your own strength or else you might end up seriously injuring or killing someone by accident.
Healing - You will heal extremely quickly and can handle a lot more damage than you did as a human being. Some lucky Lycanthropes might also be able to actively regenerate lost limbs, and all Lycanthropes are immune to diseases. Things you had before being turned (such as poor eyesight or balding) will remain afterwards, but they will not get any worse.
Forms - Your Lycanthrope form, depending on species, will be a very large version of the natural animal, and your size will increase by a the weight of the animal. Your hybrid form if attainable will be about 1/3 taller than your human size (so I 5’5’’ man will become a 7’2’’ hybrid) and will increase in weight by ½ the weight of your animal. You can speak in your hybrid form, though it will be filtered through a mouth not meant for it which alters some annunciation.
Hunger - After Shifting you will be ravenously hungry and must eat. Also, you will eat more as your metabolism will be higher. Ignoring this need will contribute to uncontrolled shifts.
Temperature - All lycanthropes have a body temperature notably higher than a human's. It may seem like they are constantly running a low-grade fever. They also are not as sharply affected by cooler temperatures. You might find a Lycanthrope walking around in winter with no coat on if they aren't hiding what they are. In general, consider them to feel as if the air is 10-20 degrees warmer than it is. They are not immune to the effects of extreme cold though, you can still die of hypothermia.
Danger (Within first 2 weeks) - New Lycanthropes learn the following about what can and cannot do them harm.
Silver - You will be instructed about how silver is very harmful to you, can kill you if ingested or used as a weapon, and is uncomfortable even when skin comes in contact with it. If injured by silver, you will heal at a human rate.
Fire - You will learn that fire is bad. It can cause permanent injury and in all ways will harm you the same as it does a standard human, and you will heal it as if you were human.
Holy Objects - You will learn that holy objects do not negatively affect you and church foundations don't shake if you attend mass.
Vampires - The claws and fangs of vampires heal at a normal human rate instead of with accelerated healing. There are vampires with the ability to call specific types of animals and their lycanthrope counterparts. If you encounter any that are not known allies of the Clan, the Alpha/Beta should be immediately notified.
The Beast (Within first week) - Even before your first shift, you will feel like there is a secondary presence inside your body, a sort of metaphysical version of a Lycanthrope. In the AB books, Anita could feel her individual animals as themselves and could visualize them vividly, so you will likely be able to "see" the metaphysical Lycanthrope inside of you. When rising to the surface it has been described as running up a dark tunnel and trying to leap out of you, often through your mouth, or trying to claw its way out if you are resisting. It is also described a few times as being a metaphysical, almost ghostly energy rising outside of you and mingling with that of other shifters, even in forms of or to comfort.
NOTE: In-Game, 'the beast' is considered a metaphorical.
Protocols (Within first week) - Your Lycanthrope will be instructed on the following common protocols.
Nudity - Nudity is not a sexual thing with lycanthropes. Looking upon another naked Lycanthrope with sexual intent is not welcome without prior invitation. The modesty may not drop instantly, but over time it should become comfortable.
Comfort Touching - All lycanthropes often physical touch as a source of comfort and bonding. This is not a sexual thing. Again, sexual contact is not welcome without prior invitation.
Dominance - The life blood of a Clan and by extension the preternatural community of a city. What it means and what it entails as well as how not to cross lines to show deference when necessary.
