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Werewolves
Due to their accelerated healing, werewolves have a lifespan of up to 150 years. They also age slower upon reaching adulthood, often appearing 10 to 15 years younger than they truly are.
Born wolves have more control as werewolves, a full wolf form, and the ability to shift just part of their body after many years of practice (partial transformation or shifting). They have the potential to shift at will, but must shift during the full moon. Only experienced werewolves can shift at will.
A human who survives a werewolf bite which penetrates the skin will be forced to attempt their first transformation during the next full moon. While the mortality rate for this shift is low, it is possible for wolves to die before they can fully reach their new form. Bitten wolves experience less control overall than born wolves, even over time, and shift into a hybrid wolf-man form. They must shift during the full moon, but have no control over their transformation until they have gained years of experience. Their transformations start off intensely painful, but become easier over time.
There is a bond between a bitten werewolf and the wolf who bit them. This connection is not as strong as a mate's, and will not be devastating if broken by death, but is enough that the two could find each other across smaller distances and have a vague sense of the other being in jeopardy.
Werewolf weaknesses include silver and wolfsbane. The presence of either can cause an allergic reaction, but should either enter the bloodstream it acts as a poison. Senses and strengths will be dulled, the werewolf will feel weak and sickly, and healing will be slowed even beyond a human's. While wolfsbane is more recoverable, too much silver in the blood can kill a werewolf. A silver bullet or sharp object to the heart will instantly kill a werewolf, as will decapitation.
They possess enhanced senses, enhanced strength, and accelerated healing. In wolf form, their healing is accelerated further. The longer one can remain in wolf form, the faster and more effectively they will heal.
Werewolves have the ability to mate. A mating bond is far stronger than any ordinary relationship. Mates are able to find each other across great distances, and will know when the other is in jeopardy. Though they do not share pain, they do sense when one is in a certain mood. It can be severed by death or the actions of an alpha, though the latter is rare. The loss of a mate is incredibly painful, but recoverable over time, like most emotional losses in life. To become a mated pair, one wolf must declare the other wolf their mate in front of their pack and alpha. This does not require the consent of both parties. In heterosexual couples it is the male who declares the mating, while in homosexual couples it is the more dominant of the pair. Humans cannot be considered mates; only werewolves. A mate will gain the honorary title of the more dominant/higher ranking of the two, but this is in name only, and they do not gain the authority that comes with the rank. For example, if an omega was lucky enough to mate with a beta, they would be considered a beta male/female but would not be able to issue orders to lower ranking wolves. They would only be afforded respect as the mate of the actual beta, and if that beta were to lose their rank or die, the mate would return to their prior position.
Wolves feel pulled to belong to a pack. More information on pack structures, and information on the specific packs in the Keystone area, can be found here.
Born wolves have more control as werewolves, a full wolf form, and the ability to shift just part of their body after many years of practice (partial transformation or shifting). They have the potential to shift at will, but must shift during the full moon. Only experienced werewolves can shift at will.
A human who survives a werewolf bite which penetrates the skin will be forced to attempt their first transformation during the next full moon. While the mortality rate for this shift is low, it is possible for wolves to die before they can fully reach their new form. Bitten wolves experience less control overall than born wolves, even over time, and shift into a hybrid wolf-man form. They must shift during the full moon, but have no control over their transformation until they have gained years of experience. Their transformations start off intensely painful, but become easier over time.
There is a bond between a bitten werewolf and the wolf who bit them. This connection is not as strong as a mate's, and will not be devastating if broken by death, but is enough that the two could find each other across smaller distances and have a vague sense of the other being in jeopardy.
Werewolf weaknesses include silver and wolfsbane. The presence of either can cause an allergic reaction, but should either enter the bloodstream it acts as a poison. Senses and strengths will be dulled, the werewolf will feel weak and sickly, and healing will be slowed even beyond a human's. While wolfsbane is more recoverable, too much silver in the blood can kill a werewolf. A silver bullet or sharp object to the heart will instantly kill a werewolf, as will decapitation.
They possess enhanced senses, enhanced strength, and accelerated healing. In wolf form, their healing is accelerated further. The longer one can remain in wolf form, the faster and more effectively they will heal.
Werewolves have the ability to mate. A mating bond is far stronger than any ordinary relationship. Mates are able to find each other across great distances, and will know when the other is in jeopardy. Though they do not share pain, they do sense when one is in a certain mood. It can be severed by death or the actions of an alpha, though the latter is rare. The loss of a mate is incredibly painful, but recoverable over time, like most emotional losses in life. To become a mated pair, one wolf must declare the other wolf their mate in front of their pack and alpha. This does not require the consent of both parties. In heterosexual couples it is the male who declares the mating, while in homosexual couples it is the more dominant of the pair. Humans cannot be considered mates; only werewolves. A mate will gain the honorary title of the more dominant/higher ranking of the two, but this is in name only, and they do not gain the authority that comes with the rank. For example, if an omega was lucky enough to mate with a beta, they would be considered a beta male/female but would not be able to issue orders to lower ranking wolves. They would only be afforded respect as the mate of the actual beta, and if that beta were to lose their rank or die, the mate would return to their prior position.
Wolves feel pulled to belong to a pack. More information on pack structures, and information on the specific packs in the Keystone area, can be found here.