Were-Creatures of Areth
Overview
According to A History of Rislandia, were-creatures are "humans (or other beings) who can transform into animal forms." They emerged in the wild borderlands of Areth and have been documented across both continents. Known forms include wolves, gophers, bears, and, as the source notes, "stranger things." They are regarded as dangerous predators and are associated with several of the world's most forbidding wilderness regions.
Description
In their animal forms, were-creatures are stronger and faster than ordinary humans or beasts. Despite being driven by animal instincts when transformed, they retain human intelligence, making them particularly unpredictable and hazardous opponents. According to A History of Rislandia, transformation is painful and is frequently involuntary, triggered by the full moon, strong emotions, or hunger.
Were-creatures are ambush predators that prefer isolated targets and are known to travel and hunt in packs.
Origins
A History of Rislandia records two distinct origins for the condition. Some individuals are cursed through the bite of another were-creature, while others are born with the ability as a hereditary condition passed down through bloodlines. The source does not indicate which origin is more common.
Vulnerabilities
Were-creatures are vulnerable to fire and silver. Silver, however, is noted to be rare and expensive across Areth, making it a costly and difficult resource to obtain for those who would hunt or defend against were-creatures.
Distribution and Habitat
Were-creatures appear in wild borderlands across both continents. They are specifically noted as dangerous creatures found in the Old Forest, and disappearances in villages near that region have been investigated and attributed to their activity. Packs have also been encountered hunting in open wilderness, and were-creatures can be hunted in the Oler Mountains.
Related Creatures
The Old Forest is also home to giant bats and, according to A History of Rislandia, "possibly worse" creatures. Were-creatures share this broader category of dangerous non-human inhabitants of Areth's untamed regions. A separate but related entry exists for were-rats, which appear to be a distinct variety of were-creature with their own documented history on the wiki.