Post by Thor Ericsson on Aug 25, 2011 0:35:50 GMT 1
Lycans
Origin:
Lycans, or as the humans often call them, “Werewolves” are vicious creatures who were once human. There are no born Lycans, the children of lycans are born human although most of these 'pups' choose to follow in their parents paw prints and are made Lycans themselves at the age of 30.
There are different legends of how Lycans came to be. Very few know the truth; all most Lycans know is that they were once human. Only the alphas really know for sure. The strongest alpha bloodlines can trace their descent from 'the first wolf' and this 'race memory' has been passed down from alpha to alpha for generations as part of their spiritual heritage.
Lycans can mate with humans and other Lycans but will not produce a Lycan offspring,
There are no children that are Lycans. Lycan pups are human children of Lycan parents.
They do not go through the lunar ceremony until the ages of between 25-35...please keep this in mind.
For those 'pups' born to Lycan parents the pack holds a “Lunar Embracing Ceremony” where pups will take the bite and seal it with a goblet of human blood at age 30. All Lycan born pups survive the transition process. Lycan pups are considered pups until they choose the turning or leave the pack. Very few ever leave, of those who do, most eventually return.
There is no way to get rid of the Lycan curse once it has been sealed. There is one way around it but I’ll never tell what it is.
To be turned into a Lycan a human must first be bitten by a Lycan during the height of the full moon. Whilst an ordinary human can RARELY survive the infection, they would have to be chained up and locked away until the fever passed with the passing of the full moon. The first taste of human blood seals the curse.
Culture:
THE PACK LINK
The most important thing to a Lycan is the concept of 'Pack'. Being creatures of powerful and volatile emotions, when isolated Rogue Lycans tend to become irrationally violent and both emotionally and mentally unstable. It is Rogues who are responsible for the human legends of 'werewolves' and the creation of 'lost pups', Lycans who do not know what they are.
When a Lycan joins a pack, usually the one he was born into, a small 'Ritual of Blood' is performed to bind the Lycan's psyche to the pack mind. This bond allows a Lycan to project his thoughts to other pack members but most importantly it links all the Lycans together emotionally. Powerful emotions like rage, lust and pain send ripples through the pack psyche creating empathy and understanding and also acting as an emotional safety valve.
Younger Lycans are frequently overwhelmed by pack emotions causing such phenomenon as 'domino shifting' where one Lycan shifts and all those in the vicinity are also forced to shift. The same effect however also gives elder Lycans a degree of control over the 'newborns' as they exert emotional dominance over them, lending them control and stability.
It is the 'Pack Link' that allows Lycans to function together as a society above and beyond mere animal instinct.
PACK STRUCTURE
Lycan society is structured in very much the same manner as a wolf pack.
- The absolute leader is the Alpha male who along with his mate the Alpha female makes all the decisions that affect the future and well-being of the pack.
- The Betas are elite warriors and enforcers who are dedicated to protecting the Alpha pair and to seeing that their orders are passed down and followed. Some Betas have Alpha potential themselves.
- The Alpha's instructions are passed down to the Senior pack members who are responsible for organising the day to day running of the pack and ensuring all the General pack members know what they are supposed to be doing.
- The Hunters form a dedicated core for provisioning the pack. Though all Lycans can and do hunt upon occasion, the Hunters do nothing else and are exceptional at tracking and working as a single unit to optimise the hunt.
- Nannies / Den Mothers, usually but not exclusively female, are responsible for the raising of the pups and for their safety and education. These specialists are usually selected personally by the Alpha female as they will often have the care of her pups.
- The Omega, a status much maligned and misunderstood by humans, functions in the role of a peace-keeper. By use of misdirection, humour, sex or the simple expedient of being too annoying to ignore, the Omega diffuses potential confrontations between individuals before they reach the point of violence.
RITUAL
Ritual is an important aspect of Pack life. Lycans have many rituals to mark important events in their lives. They have rituals for birth, naming, embracing the moon, joining a pack, mating and a hundred other small things, all of which bind the Pack closer together. These rituals have been passed down for generations from the very first Lycans.
DOMINANCE
Dominance and submission forms a vital part of keeping order in Lycan society. The Pack Alpha exerts his dominance over all members of the Pack by any means necessary. This can be as little as a stern look or a mental nudge, but if required emotional dominance, threat display, brutal sex and (as a last resort) physical violence are all tools in the Alpha's arsenal for keeping the Pack bound to him. Establishing dominance is used by all Lycans as an alternative to killing each other every time they disagree.
LINEAGE
Lycans are a proud race and given how few born humans survive the transformation to Lycan most can trace their Lycan lineages back hundreds or thousands of years with absolute accuracy.
The most powerful are the Alpha Lineages who trace back to the very first Lycans. Alphas born of the rarest of these lines are possessed of a race memory, allowing them to access the memories of all the Alphas who came before them. (Admin approval required)
Lycans who were born to humans do not posses any lineage and are referred to as 'Mutts'. They have a poor reputation amongst born Lycans because of their ignorance of Lycan culture and heritage and a degree of prejudice against them is not uncommon. In the past many Packs would kill any Mutts that crossed their path but the dwindling numbers of Lycans since the apocalypse has put an end to that practice in New Vegas at least.
THE LAIR
The place in the undercity where the Lycans have made their home is not rat infested or filthy. They do not live in the sewers, though they like their enemies to think so. The Lycan Lair is located in the old subway tunnels and stations. It is clean and comfortable. It is cooler because it is underground which is fine because it is dry and hot above.
Lycan's have the supplies they need, although they do struggle to maintain them, they still manage to get what they need. Some sleep on cots and others on beds but they do have blankets and pillows like anyone else. They only have trouble with clothing because it tears every time they shift unless they take them off first which is not always possible.
Appearance:
Please choose playbys that are well built as this is a natural state for Lycans. This does not mean they have to be built like The Rock, but it does mean they should have some kind of visible muscular definition. There is no such thing as a chubby Lycan. (Go ahead, try to make one, I dare you…*hands Mathias his chain saw*).
The colour of their fur depends on the hair and skin colour of their human form.
Attitude:
Lycans are often in a pack and rarely venture out on their own. They never work for Vampires unless it is for a short, pack serving purpose and with NO loyalty what so ever. They follow their alpha male and are extremely protective of one another especially females and pups (human children of lycans). If a Lycan dies, expect the whole pack to come after the killer without any remorse. Lycans are dangerous, territorial, and vicious creatures. All Lycan emotions are intensified but especially anger and lust. If you play a Lycan, please remember they have a hot temper and kill without hesitation.
There will be absolutely NO relationships between a Lycan and Vampire; they absolutely hate Vampires and vice versa. There will be no alliances between the two unless a site plot involving a common enemy requires it (there is sure to be at least one). Lycans despise Vampires and humans with every fiber of their being and they will kill them without blinking an eye. They do not care if they kill a human or not, to them it’s just dinner.
Abilities:
Lycans do not age once they are turned.
Lycans 'Bound by Blood' to the same pack can communicate telepathically over a limited range. The range varies with the strength and relation of the Lycans involved.
Abilities in Human Form
Heightened senses.
Double the strength and speed of an average man.
Rapid healing rate; 100 times that of a normal human.
Shifting
Lycan form is a wolf/human hybrid. They are on average nine feet tall and have long limbs along with vicious claws and teeth capable of wounding a vampire.
Lycans are not Twilight shifters. They do not turn into cute cuddly little wolfie pies. They do not shift into giant dogs or wolves nor do they ‘imprint’ on certain beings (although a born alpha male may have an instant connection/attraction with a born alpha female). Please watch this video to see what your character looks like in Lycan form.
The transformation is painful and for young Lycans it takes longer. No Lycan can "shift on the fly" like Jactard in Twilight because it hurts. Older Lycans can change faster but still tend to pause in one place to do so.
Abilities in Lycan Form
Have the average strength and speed of six men, however the older the Lycan the stronger and faster they are. They are stronger than Vampires, but not as fast. Think Lycans from Underworld or Van Helsing. A Lycan can NEVER catch a Vampire in a chase.
Extremely rapid healing rate comparable to vampires. Silver in a wound will slow healing but the wound heals normally once it is removed.
Generally heightened senses and extremely heightened sense of smell.
Able to sense fellow Lycans.
Weaknesses:
- Not invulnerable - They can be killed with decapitation or a strike to the heart.
- Silver - is toxic to Lycans and can kill a Lycan if it is injected into them; i.e. silver bullets. Contaminants like Silver Nitrate can spread through their bloodstream and slowly poison them. Silver left in a wound will slow or prevent healing. Lycans bound with silver cannot shift.
- Full Moon - Newly made Lycans shift when under emotional distress and MUST shift during the full moon.Code Word is ‘Moonkin’. Older Lycans can control when they shift and can repress shifting during the full moon, although they would still feel the urge to shift.
- Heightened Emotions - Lycans, regardless of age, find it difficult to control their emotions, especially anger and lust. The difficulty increases around the full moon.
- Carnivore - They require raw flesh to survive. Chicken, pork, and beef, if raw will allow the Lycan to live but they will not feel sated without consuming human flesh. NO vegan or vegetarian Lycans!
- Vampire Blood - will weaken a Lycan greatly if consumed.
- The Zombie Virus - will leave them in a permanent feral and rabid state with an insatiable hunger for human flesh. They will also attack and feed on other Lycans.