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Lycanthrope

Lycanthropes are humanoids or giants who can transform themselves into animals. In its natural form, a lycanthrope looks like any other members of its kind, though natural lycanthropes and those who have been afflicted for a long time tend to have or acquire features reminiscent of their animal forms. In animal form, a lycanthrope resembles a powerful version of the normal animal, but on close inspection, its eyes (which often glow red in the dark) show a faint spark of unnatural intelligence.

Lycanthropy can be spread like a disease. Sometimes a lycanthrope begins life as a normal humanoid or giant who subsequently contracts lycanthropy after being wounded by a lycanthrope. Such a creature is called an afflicted lycanthrope. Other lycanthropes are born as lycanthropes, and are known as natural lycanthropes.

Combat

A lycanthrope in its humanoid (or giant) form uses whatever tactics and weapons are favored by others of its kind, though it tends to be slightly more aggressive. A lycanthrope possesses the senses of its animal form, including scent and low-light vision, and it has a deep empathy for (and ability to communicate with) animals of its animal form. An afflicted lycanthrope damaged in combat may be overwhelmed by rage, causing it to change to its animal form involuntarily.

A lycanthrope in animal form fights like the animal it resembles, although its bite carries the disease of lycanthropy. It is preternaturally cunning and strong, and possesses damage reduction that is overcome only by silvered weapons.

Finally, a natural lycanthrope (or an afflicted lycanthrope that has become aware of its affliction) can assume a hybrid form that is a mix of its humanoid and animal forms. A hybrid has hands and can use weapons, but it can also attack with its teeth and claws. A hybrid can spread lycanthropy with its bite, and it has the same damage reduction that its animal form possesses.

Werebear

Werebears in humanoid form tend to be stout, well-muscled, and hairy. Their brown hair is thick, and males usually wear beards. They may have reddish, blond, ivory, or black hair, matching the color of the ursine form. They dress in simple cloth and leather garments that are easy to remove, repair, or replace

Combat

Werebears fight just as brown bears do in animal form. In humanoid or hybrid form, they favor large, heavy weapons such as greataxes or greatswords. The werebear’s greataxe is a Medium weapon, so it can wield the axe in one hand in hybrid form.

Alternate Form (Su)

A werebear can assume the form of a brown bear or a bear-humanoid hybrid.

Bear Empathy (Ex)

Communicate with bears and dire bears, and +4 racial bonus on Charisma-based checks against bears and dire bears.

Curse of Lycanthropy (Su)

Any humanoid or giant hit by a werebear’s bite attack in animal or hybrid form must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or contract lycanthropy.

Improved Grab (Ex)

To use this ability, a werebear must be in bear form and must hit with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.

Skills

Werebears have a +4 racial bonus on Swim checks in any bear form.

The werebear presented here is a 1st-level human warrior and natural lycanthrope, using the following base ability scores: Str 13, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8.

Wereboar

A wereboar in humanoid form tends to be a stocky, muscular individual of average height. It dresses in simple garments that are easy to remove, repair, or replace.

Combat

In any form, wereboars are as ferocious as normal boars. When in hybrid form, they fight with a weapon and their dangerous gore attack.

Alternate Form (Su)

A wereboar can assume the form of a boar or a boar-humanoid hybrid.

Boar Empathy (Ex)

Communicate with boars and dire boars, and +4 racial bonus on Charisma-based checks against boars and dire boars.

Curse of Lycanthropy (Su)

Any humanoid or giant hit by the wereboar’s gore attack in animal or hybrid form must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or contract lycanthropy.

Ferocity (Ex)

A wereboar is such a tenacious combatant that it continues to fight without penalty even while disabled or dying.

The wereboar presented here is a 1st-level human warrior and natural lycanthrope, using the following base ability scores: Str 13, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8.

Hill Giant Dire Wereboar

Dire wereboars in giant form look much like normal hill giants, though slightly stockier, and with coarser, stiffer hair and stiff. The dire wereboar described here is based on a hill giant and natural lycanthrope with normal ability scores for a hill giant.

Combat

Dire wereboars anger quickly. They usually begin a battle in giant form, then switch to hybrid form to take advantage of their immense strength in that shape. They like to use their Improved Bull Rush and Improved Sunder feats to shove opponents around and smash their weapons and shields.

Alternate Form (Su)

A dire wereboar can assume a bipedal hybrid form or the form of a dire boar.

Boar Empathy (Ex)

Communicate with boars and dire boars, and +4 racial bonus on Charisma-based checks against boars and dire boars.

Curse of Lycanthropy (Su)

Any humanoid or giant hit by a dire wereboar’s bite attack in animal or hybrid form must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or contract lycanthropy.

Ferocity (Ex)

A dire wereboar is such a tenacious combatant that it continues to fight without penalty even while disabled or dying.

Wererat

A wererat in humanoid form tends to be a thin, wiry individual of shorter than average height. The eyes constantly dart around, and the nose and mouth may twitch if he or she is excited. Males often have thin, ragged mustaches.

Combat

In animal form, wererats avoid combat, preferring to use their dire rat shape for skulking and spying. In hybrid form, a wererat fights with a rapier and light crossbow.

Alternate Form (Su)

A wererat can assume a bipedal hybrid form or the form of a dire rat.

Curse of Lycanthropy (Su)

Any humanoid or giant hit by a wererat’s bite attack in animal or hybrid form must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or contract lycanthropy.

Disease (Ex)

Filth fever; bite, Fortitude DC 12, incubation period 1d3 days, damage 1d3 Dex and 1d3 Con. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Rat Empathy (Ex)

Communicate with rats and dire rats, and +4 racial bonus on Charisma-based checks against rats and dire rats.

Skills

A wererat in rat or hybrid form uses its Dexterity modifier for Climb or Swim checks. It has a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks and can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened.

Wererats have a +8 racial bonus on Swim checks from their dire rat form.

Feats

Wererats gain Weapon Finesse as a bonus feat.

The wererat presented here is based on a 1st-level human warrior who is a natural lycanthrope, using the following base ability scores: Str 13, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8.

Weretiger

Weretigers in humanoid form tend to be sleekly muscular, taller than average, and very agile.

Combat

Weretigers can assume a hybrid form as well as an animal form. In tiger form, they can pounce and grab just as normal tigers do. In hybrid form, they rely on their deadly claws.

Alternate Form (Su)

A weretiger can assume a bipedal hybrid form or the form of a tiger.

Curse of Lycanthropy (Su)

Any humanoid or giant hit by a weretiger’s bite attack in animal or hybrid form must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or contract lycanthropy.

Improved Grab (Ex)

To use this ability, a weretiger in tiger form must hit with a claw or bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can rake.

Pounce (Ex)

If a weretiger in tiger form charges an opponent, it can make a full attack, including two rake attacks.

Rake (Ex)

Attack bonus +9 melee, damage 1d8+3.

Tiger Empathy (Ex)

Communicate with tigers and dire tigers, and +4 racial bonus on Charisma-based checks against tigers and dire tigers.

Skills

In any form, weretigers have a +4 bonus on Balance, Hide, and Move Silently checks. *In areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth, the Hide bonus improves to +8 in the tiger form.

The weretiger presented here is a 1st-level human warrior and natural lycanthrope, using the following base ability scores: Str 13, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8.

Werewolf

Werewolves in humanoid form have no distinguishing traits.

Combat

In wolf form, a werewolf can trip just as a normal wolf does. A werewolf in hybrid form usually dispenses with weapon attacks, though it can wield a weapon and use its bite as a secondary natural attack.

Alternate Form (Su)

A werewolf can assume a bipedal hybrid form or the form of a wolf.

Curse of Lycanthropy (Su)

Any humanoid or giant hit by a werewolf’s bite attack in animal or hybrid form must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or contract lycanthropy.

Trip (Ex)

A werewolf in animal form that hits with a bite attack can attempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity.

If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the werewolf.

Wolf Empathy (Ex)

Communicate with wolves and dire wolves, and +4 racial bonus on Charisma-based checks against wolves and dire wolves.

Skills

*A werewolf in hybrid or wolf form gains a +4 racial bonus on Survival checks when tracking by scent.

The werewolf presented here is based on a 1st-level human warrior and natural lycanthrope, using the following base ability scores: Str 13, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8.

Werewolf Lord

Stronger, hardier, and more deadly than its lesser fellows, the werewolf lord is a murderous beast that delights in wreaking havoc.

The werewolf lord presented here is a 10th-level human fighter and natural lycanthrope, using the following base ability scores: Str 16, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 12.

Combat

Werewolf lords can assume a hybrid form as well as an animal form. In dire wolf form, they can trip just as normal wolves do. In hybrid form, they can wield weapons or fight with their claws.