Lycanthropy
Wannna be a werewolf and remain a viable party member? Of course you do, and their are plenty of examples in pop culture that work. Buffy, Supernatural, Being Human, True Blood, Hemlock Grove, and a ton of others.
Lycanthropy is a curse, and for the purpose of this document the curse is referred to as an affliction. Some points of these rules have been left intentionally vague and the ruling is at the DMs discretion.
## Lunar Cycle
>Selûne was full at midnight on Hammer 1, 1372 DR, and subsequently every 30 days, 10 hours, and 30 minutes. Selûne was also full at midnight on the first day of every leap year. Selûne made exactly 48 synodic revolutions every four years, so the phase of Selûne was the same at the same time on the same date every four years. Selûne was generally full around the first day of each month, give or take a day; festival days served to keep the moon's phases consistent across calendar months and years.
[Forgotten Realms Wiki](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Sel%C3%BBne_(moon))
Several days prior to a full moon, the PC will be partially afflicted. to varying extents, depending on how far the affliction has progressed (see Stages of Lycanthropy.) On the night of the full moon, the PC will become completely afflicted, suffer violent transformation, and/or potential loss of agency and memory. After the PC transforms back, they suffer levels of exhaustion, depending on how far the affliction has progressed and whether or not the PC has consumed enough flesh while in werewolf form. Permanent affliction happens on a total lunar eclipse.
Transformation
There are two types of transformation. The first type is the shapechanger polymorph described in the werewolf statblock, which can happen after the second full moon. When the PC is in humanoid form, they use their normal stat block. If the PC's STR would be lowered by going into hybrid or wolf form, the PC gets +2 to their STR ability instead. The main takeaway is that when transforming into hybrid or wolf form, the PC's STR should always increase.
The second type of transformation happens at midnight on the night of a full moon and interrupts a long rest. This transformation takes 5 minutes during which the PC falls prone and cannot get up or take actions/bonus actions during their turn. While transforming, the PC can make a bite attack as a reaction to anything that gets too close or tries to interact with them. This transformation is brutal and bloody. The PC falls in great pain to the sounds of bones breaking as their body contorts in unnatural ways. The skin tears away and muscles rip showing fur underneath. The jaw breaks and the eyes bulge or pop out as a wolf maw pushes its way out from inside the PC's face. The best examples of this are in An American Werewolf in London and Hemlock Grove.
While in any wolf or hybrid form, the PC has immunity to Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks that aren't Silvered.
Silver
- Weakness to silvered weapons
- Aversion to pure silver objects or items
- Late Stage Lycanthropy
- Pure silver objects or items burn at the touch
- Only pure silver weapons can kill a werewolf
- While in humanoid form, the PC has resistance to Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks that aren't Silvered
Stages of Lycanthropy
After the Affliction
When the PC first becomes afflicted, there are no signs of lycanthropy until the full moon cycle starts. As the first full moon draws near, the PC should become more combative and/or sensitive to the other PCs' comments. The PC should also start to show the first physical signs of their affliction, like unexplained and sudden body hair and/or wolf teeth that are hard to speak with. PCs in the party who have a passive perception of 13 or greater may notice the first physical effects on the afflicted in the days before the night of the first full moon. Only then can they start to make History or Arcana checks to learn about the affliction. Party members or the PC can cast Remove Curse as much as they like during this period and make attack rolls. The curse is removed after 2 Nat20s.
First Stage/Cycle
The night of the first full moon after the PC's affliction should be scary for all PCs. The PC should be encouraged to ham it up hard at this point. The hunger is irresistible on the night of the first full moon. The full transformation happens at midnight after the PC makes a WIS Saving Throw of 10. On a failed saving throw, the PC should attack another PC to eat their flesh. This works best if the whole party is there to see the transformation like the chest burster scene in Alien. If the PC succeeds the saving throw, they should find a reason to remove themselves from the party. While the PC is away from the party, there is a blackout period and there should be a death of a beloved or convenient NPC. If the PC has killed and consumed the flesh of another humanoid on the night of the first full moon, the PC enters the second stage of the transformation and WIS Saves get +5 going forward. If the PC fails to kill and eat a humanoid, they are stuck in the first stage. Use the Dire Wolf statblock for the transformation, and the PC transforms back at dawn.
After the first full moon, the PC gains 1 level of exhaustion from the sudden violent transformations or 2 levels of exhaustion if the PC does not consume flesh while in werewolf form. The PC should be encouraged to play up that they have a massive hangover and flu-like symptoms for 2 days after the full moon. The affliction can be cured during this period with a Heal spell followed by Remove Curse cast as an attack roll using your spell modifier. The curse is removed after a roll greater than 20.
In the days leading up to the second full moon, the changes to the PC's physical appearance can not be hidden. The facial and body hair greatly increases, the PC's eyes change color, their canines overlap their lip, and the mouth and chin elongate and protrude. The PC gets +1 STR or DEX modifier and -2 WIS penalty during this time. The PC should also play their PC more aggressively.
Second Stage/Cycle
On the night of the full moon during the second stage, the PC again transforms into a Dire Wolf. Roll a WIS saving throw. On a fail, the PC will try to kill and eat two humanoids. On a pass the PC will kill and eat a large beast.
If the PC eats a large beast, they gain one level of exhaustion and suffer -1 to their DEX and STR modifiers until they finish a long rest. If the PC eats a humanoid, they feel all the effects of a long rest and gain +1 to their STR and CON modifiers for 24hrs. If two humanoids are eaten the PC progresses to the next phase after this transformation, and WIS saving throws go up to 25. If the PC consumes humanoid flesh in this phase, the only way to cure the curse is with a Wish or by killing the PC while transformed and then performing the True Resurection ritual. As an action, the PC can polymorph into wolf or hybrid form and back once a day, but only 3 times in this cycle. When the PC makes it this far they can not die by normal means. If killed, the PC's body transforms at the next full moon and returns healed at dawn.
In the days leading up to the next full moon, changes to the PC's physical appearance cannot be hidden. The facial and body hair greatly increases, the PC's eyes change color, their canines overlap their lip, and the mouth and chin elongate and protrude. The PC gets +2 STR and DEX modifier, +1 to their CON modifier and -1 WIS penalty during this time. The PC should also play their PC more aggressively.
Late Stage/Cycles
On the night of the full moon in the late stages of lycanthropy the PC becomes a wolf as large as a horse and uses the Guardian Wolf statblock. Roll a WIS saving throw. On a fail this creature destroys and consumes everything that it encounters. On a pass the PC can hold back the transformation but must maintain concentration to do so. If the concentration is broken, including dropping to 0HP the transformation happens rapidly and the PC starts it's next turn using the large Guardian Wolf statblock.
After this transformation, the PC gains a permanent +3 bonus to their STR, DEX, and CON modifiers as well as suffering a -5 penalty to their WIS and CHA modifiers. All attacks/damage get a +2 bonus and are considered magical for overcoming damage resistances. The PC always looks kinda wolfy and can polymorph into a Dire Wolf at will.
At this point, the only way to remove the curse is to reduce the PC to zero hit points by plunging a weapon made of pure silver into their heart while they are transformed during a full moon. The weapon must stay in the PC's heart until the next full moon. A Temple of the God Selûne must be erected and the body placed in it. At the stroke of midnight in the temple the party must complete a True Resurection and remove the silver weapon.
Lunar Eclipse
If at least two cycles have completed when a full lunar eclipse occurs, the PC's soul is transported to Selûne and their body is destroyed. What is left is a huge Guardian Wolf that hunts at night and sleeps in the day. The effect is permanent and irreversible. Create a new PC.
Racial Distinction
Racial bonus active while in wolf or hybrid form only
Elf
Can cast Blink once
Human
+1 to attack/damage rolls
Dwarf
+1 to CON modifier
Halfling
1 size smaller Hide as a bonus action
Gnome
1 size smaller Movement speed becomes 50ft
Half-Orc
Tusks instead of kanines, add 1d4 to bite attack
Tiefling
Wolf with horns, charge as a bonus action
Dragonborn
Dragonscales instead of fur, +2AC
Genasi
Can cast Thunderwave once
Gith
Quills instead of fur, attack rolls against the PC lower than 6 take 1d6 poison damage
Other
PCs choice at DM discretion.