Orpha

Werewolf

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  BONDS OF THE MOON
  

  The power of hiding ourselves from one another is a mercifully given,
  for men are wild beasts, and would devour one another but for his protection.
  - Henry Ward Beecher, "Proverbs from Plymouth Pulpit".

  
  

  
  

• Actual werewolf folklore is a tricky subject. It often contradicts itself, and many myths of people who can change into animals are technically myths about witches rather than shape-shifting monsters. Furthermore, some popularly accepted elements of werewolves folklore are recent inventions. So which of these myths are true where Orpha is concerned, and which are human misconceptions? Listed bellow are a few common questions and what they mean to my character. Keep in mind this is what I play along. Consider this a disclaimer of all things. Myths & Facts Werewolves catch lycanthropy when bitten by another werewolf: Myth. Her bloodline of werewolves are born to their power, although she considers herself human at first. A young werewolf might get bitten by another werewolf before the first change but the bite does not transmit the condition. In her experience she received a bite in order to trigger her first change. Werewolves change during the night or nights of a full moon: Part fact, part myth. There is no doubt that the moon holds sway, for she is definitely tied to the moon, and each phase influences her primal urges. If she where to go on a rampage, it would often coincide with the Half Moon. She can shift regardless of the moon's phase. Werewolves can be killed only by silver: Myth, with basis in fact. She can die from massive damage from almost any source, but they heal so quickly that it takes a tremendous amount of punishment to slay her. Yet silver inflicts searing wounds that cannot be healed quickly, so a silver bullet will kill her more readily than a steel-jacket round would. Werewolves lose their human intellect when they shape-shift: Mostly Myth. In most forms, she retains her full intelligence, though she possesses a certain amount of predatory instinct in all forms. The exception is the horrifying Wolf-Man form. She who takes this form still possesses human intelligence, but her rational side is overridden by the desire to destroy. It takes great strength of will (which she doesn't have) to do anything but attack and kill while in this form. If you cut off the paw of a werewolf in wolf form, it will become human: Fact. If her hand or other limb is severed, it will revert to a human part of the body, just as a werewolf who dies reverts to a human corpse. This even applies to the blood she spills, confounding DNA testing as a means of proving that werewolves exist. She can spill a gallon of blood in her Wolf-Man form, but it will all register as ordinary human blood.

  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
• THE FIRST CHANGE

  She isn't a victim who becomes a monster due to a random assault -- she is born a monster. She grew up believing she is a human like anyone else, but the killer instinct that rises to the surface frequently confused her. For her, her first true brush with what she truly is, came when one of her own kind attacked her and bit her. Summary The first time she changed, is what made her who she truly is. Before it happened, she knew little of what she is. Living a human life, like any teenager girl out there. Yet even then she knew things where, off. She knew she was frequently prone to fits of terrifying anger, and that her life seemed to be more strange and troubled than it should have been. Looking back it makes sense now, but back then? She was nothing more than a teenage girl, doing her teenage things with teenager friends watching a chick-flick. Yet when the First Quarter (half-) Moon hung in the night sky and when the Change finally began she discover how wrong she truly was. Roughly a week before inexplicable things began to occur around her. She lay in bed at night, hearing whispers in a language she didn’t recognize but swore she could almost understand. Squirrels and rabbits literally flee screaming in fear while strange dogs sauntered alongside her on the street, ignoring their master’s command. These are the things she remembers the most before her change, how time and space lurched. She once walked for five minutes but traveled five miles, and found herself in a horrible nightmare – a burning building with no exit. In the middle of the afternoon. For no reason. And then there where the others. She caught glimpses of a stranger watching her, and once woke up in the dead of night to see what looks like a huge dog sitting on her lawn. Moments, flashes, glimpses. All giving her the grief of being stalked. Little did she know that those that kept an ever watchful eye on her where there to keep the mortals safe from her oncoming rampage. It wasn’t a question of ‘if it would happen’ more of a question of ‘when’. And the answer was soon. Then it came – the attack. One of her watchers, the one she caught glimpses of came to her as a crazy human being with too-sharp teeth and knocked her down at night – in the so called safety of her home – and bit deep into her flesh. The wound in on itself didn’t seem infected; in fact, it healed more rapidly than it should have. Then all hell broke loose, for her life breaks down for a days. Twisting and turning, her world literally shudders around her and finally – the goal of it all – instinct takes over. And the only escape from the wildly whirling world it to charge to match it. So be it. Her body rippled uncontrollably between all forms. Going through partial and extreme transformations. Her face and skin remained practically human while she extended an enormous bloody muzzle. Legs changing, churning and shaping into a weak wolf’s legs while her body’s mass increased. Collapsing her ever changing legs while breaking bones in the process. She thought she was going insane till bones began to break, after that she screamed she was dying. She was obviously wrong. And overhead, the First Quarter Moon. Whatever her birth-mother was like, she doesn’t ever truly understand a mother’s love until she rests, weeping and exhausted, in the Moon’s embrace after the change is complete. Then, from that point on, her soul is marked. Marked by the phase of the moon with an affinity that will take her some time to comprehend. She has been initiated through blood and moonlight into the path of a werewolf, one she will follow for the rest of her life. See journal entry Prologue; Fresh Meat for the mental image of the First Change.

  
  

  

  
  

  ATTRIBUTES

  
  

  PHYSICAL

  She is no way the strongest out there, no matter what form she takes. Despite having a terrifying form that dishes out whatever it takes she isn't a warrior. She can hold her own and has quite an above average stamina when it comes to handling things physically.

  
  

  SOCIAL She cuts to the quick with her words, grim and can be intimidating despite having the looks to kill. She knows she can use this to her advantage but this leaves her socially awkward to those that wish to get to know her. She is a hard friend to have, but loyal once you've gained her trust.

  
  

  MENTAL She is silver-tongued, keenly instinctive and politically (werewolf business) driven when given the chance. But her mind is as dire as someone whom will never get over a trauma. Damaged goods this one is, but honorable in the actions she takes. Truly believes to never show any sign of weaknesses.

  
  

  

  
  

  
  
  

  

  
  

• SHAPESHIFTING The defining facet of the werewolf is their ability to change forms. All werewolves are capable of assuming different forms, in the case for Orpha its five different forms, each of which has different strengths and weaknesses and provides different ‘modifiers’ to the character’s trait. To change shape, she draws on the supernatural power that infuses her body, making her form protean like quicksilver, forcing muscle and sinew into the desired shape. Listed below is a quick summery to the forms she can change into. The Forms THE HUMAN In this form she is indistinguishable from a normal human to casual observations, and even supernatural attempts to detect her true self suffer, except other werewolves. Legends about fingers being the same length or eyebrows growing together are false, she gains no true benefit from being a werewolf in this form. Other than that she looks lean, and very healthy-looking. Nothing of note changes. THE NEAR-HUMAN Stronger and tougher than her human form, but still small enough to pass for human when wearing hoodies or masks. It’s her first choice for brawls involving normal people. This form adds six inches to her height and approximately 24 pounds of muscle mass to her human form’s size. Body hair thickens and facial hair becomes more prominent (yes even on her). Facial features become angular and lupine, and exhibits wolf-like behavior. Like baring her teeth when angry or aggressive, or pant slightly in excitement. Fingernails elongate, as do canine teeth. In poor light she looks like a large person with unusually angular features, but in plain sight, witnesses can observe the bestial light in her eyes. When she speaks there is a distinct growl that creeps into the voice, garbling her words. She gains a bit of strength, stamina and her dexterity slightly increase. She gains an above average perception when it comes to her senses. THE WOLF-MAN The nightmarish might and ferocity of the Wolf-Man form is difficult to reconcile with the original stories. The romantic legends seem faraway and uncertain in the harsh light cast by the fires of Rage. When she assumes this form she gains between two to three feet in height (reaching 7-8’) and about 200 pounds of pure muscle mass. The body is covered in fur that shares the coloration of the near-human form, and the head is that of a monstrous wolf, although this wolf-man form remains capable of bipedal travel and retains opposable thumbs. Her arms elongate and hands end in wicked claws. She is capable of biting a man’s arm clean off with her powerful jaws. While not as perceptive as her near-human form, the wolf-man form benefits from increased olfactory and auditory senses. This form is also called the war-form, and for good reason. She is subject to her primal rage, a near frenzied state of mind that both aids and limits her. Not only does she gain incredible strength and stamina just from the sheer power of the form, but the mind and soul are filled with a fury that grants additional force. For the most part this is a devastating capability and benefit that allows her to lay waste to her foes. Any normal creature couldn’t stand up to and survive a combat with her enraged self, but the form and state of mind have their price. Doesn’t register pain. Collapses when exhausted or near death. Must attack something, foes or a parked car. Cannot sustain this form for long. THE NEAR-WOLF Like the Near-Human form, it is an intermediary form with a measure of supernatural strength balanced with a touch more control. While the near-human is handy for gaining physical strength while retaining a semblance of humanity, the near-wolf allows her to use some of the strength of her wolf-form and the speed of her wolf form. She becomes a huge wolf (warg), ranging from four to five feet at the shoulder and from six to seven feet in length. The head is massive and the shoulders stocky, allowing her to tear huge chunks of flesh from an enemy. Speech is impossible. Communicates through body language and scents. Benefits of strength from wolf-form and speed of her wolf form. Gains keen senses mainly in tracking. THE WOLF This form appears to be a normal Arctic Wolf, an affective form of camouflage. And the supernatural suffer in their scrutiny if it is a werewolf or not. While not equipped to wreak the kind of carnage her other forms offer, packs of wolves can bring down prey much larger than themselves. For their real advantage to this form lies in its speed and perception. She, in this form, is a superb tracker and can sprint quite effectively when necessary. She is capable of communicating with feral-wolves but still needs to learn to let her instinct take over to do so effectively. Until she does, she tends to have trouble coping with the sensory overload from increased perception, and deciphering the body and chemical language from other wolves. Ideal camouflage. Gains no benefits of being a werewolf, is nothing more than your average wolf.

  
  

  

  
  

  Pro's & Cons Regeneration: Werewolves are capable of absorbing huge amounts of physical punishment without dying. Her body quickly rebuilds, with even deep gashes and broken bones healing in minutes, leaving no lasting indication. While werewolves can be killed by conventional means, it’s much more likely that an assailant simply sees Orpha slump over and change to human form.. and then is unpleasantly surprised when she flies into a frenzy again a moment later. Only silver provides a reasonable foolproof method of slaying a werewolf. Regeneration happens regardless her form. Is immune to conventional infection, sickness and disease. She can still be affected by illnesses that are supernatural in origin. Silver: Weapons made of silver, such as bullets, inflict searing / aggravated damage on her. These wounds heal naturally, yet leave a lasting indication in the end. The silver must be in pure form to have any adverse effects. Alloys, electroplated coatings and compounds such as silver nitrate are painful and irritating to her, and due to the adverse effects of silver weapons, this may be a trigger to her Death Rage. Death Rage: is Orpha at her most savage - ignoring mortal danger, desiring nothing but to feel her prey tear apart under her fangs and claws. The phrase 'Death Rage' means many things. It is a reminder death and a warning of the death that follows in an enraged wake. The truest meaning, however, is that succumbing to this is a loss of self akin to death -- and that it courts the possibility of dying like a rabid beast instead of a warrior or hunter. Each Death Rage could be her last. The true horror of the Death rage, is that it can surface apart from life-or-death situations. For example, she can be driven into Death Rage by discovering that her boyfriend has been cheating on her, only to come to her senses covered in his blood and torn flesh. Must attack something, friends, foes or even parked cars. Can't tell the difference between friend or foe. The Wolf-Form lasts longer till the reason of the Death Rage is dead or lies exhausted and or is dead herself.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  MOON PHASES Every werewolf has an affinity towards each phase of the moon. The moon they have their First Change under however marks their personality more so. These quirks, tasks and or social roles may be obvious but this doesn’t mean the other phases of the moon hold no effect. Listed below is a summary of how each phase of the moon affects Orpha, and how severe it influences her. The Phases of the Moon The Full Moon: is the moon that rings true to the legend of Werewolves. The Full Moon is known to Orpha as ‘The Mad Fury’, and rightfully so. It causes severe mood swings, frightful anger management issues and other violent tendencies and unfortunately this is a monthly recurrence. And like mood swings she could have her highs and lows, but one thing is for certain, she tends to be more agitated around the full moon. Effects her every Month. The Gibbous Moon: holds no true sway over Orpha, but like trickling water in a bucket sometimes she needs to find an outlet to express herself. In this case this phase is considered to be the moon of creativity, and the muse is the moon. She can easily ignore the sudden urge to doodle at this phase, but after several months she Graffiti’s a wall to be rid of this pent up energy. This is sufficient to subdue her creative moments for the next six months. This builds up very slowly till she is forced to express herself or she'd go mad. Such outbursts happen ever six to 7 months. The Half Moon: is the moon that represents balance. This is also the moon she had her First Change under and thus she is touched by duality, drawing strength from that dichotomy. This effects her no matter which phase she’s living in, giving her the ability to weigh both sides of any arguments and if need be become their executioners. This has become a part of her personality, no matter the Phase of the moon she stands under. She can be a Judge, a Jury and an Executioner in one night. The Crescent Moon: the Trickster’s Moon, a time in which the moon is barely visible, revealing just enough light to count as moonlight. It’s like receiving just enough knowledge to get into trouble. This Phase of the moon holds no sway over Orpha, leaving her capable to ignore this in its entirely. It doesn’t mean she isn’t capable of being witty when necessary, it simply means that she’s doing so out of choice rather than an effect of the moon. Which is worse? You tell me. This Phase of the moon holds no sway, nor does it affect her. Its considered the opposite of the Half Moon. The New Moon: is the time when one reflects on their inner self, you could easily say that she would become an introvert overnight. This Phase of the moon holds no true sway over Orpha, but like the Gibbous Moon, this too eventually builds up till the bucket is full. Simply means she turns inwards, and in turn becomes cunning, clever and deceitful and is more than willing to stand by the sideline knowing that her ‘little’ plan is unfolding before her. Like the Gibbous Moon this Phase slowly affects her till she boils over. However this happens on a more frequent bases.