r/werewolves • u/WolfCommando45 • 9h ago
Baldri Unbound by Hufnaar
The danger of trying to keep a freshly turned werewolf as a pet. One day, he might slip his leash. The vampiric Magnus Clan will learn that lesson the hard way.
r/werewolves • u/bored_latvian • Oct 07 '22
I found a Latvian website were they copied over about 99% of Latvian folktales and legends from Pēteris Šmits' 15 volumed book collection - Latviešu Pasakas un Teikas (1925-1937).
There is an entire section dedicated to werewolf legends found in Latvia, and if you are interested in them, I'll translate them for you.
For now, I'll leave you with this translated preface for the section:
***
It is a common belief far into Europe, Asia and Africa (Frazer, The Golden Bough, 1930, X, 308-318) that a man can turn into a wolf, rarely; into another similar beast or some wizard can turn him into one, a motif already found in ancient Assyrian epics.
In Europe, since the time of Herodotus, werewolves and especially Neuri, which I deem to be ancient Balts, are credited with the art of such magic. Superstitions about werewolves used to be so strong in Europe, that a werewolf mania has even developed into an ordinary disease (Leyen, Das Märchen, 1926, 66, p. I, see Preface, 43, p. 1).
If we can believe Otto Höfler’s docent (Kultische Geheimbünde der Germanen, 1934), then this superstition has also been used by secret societies in Western Europe to scare other people.
We could also look for such associations among the ancient Balts. Be that as it may with these societies, however, we are very interested in the reports written by the Swedish Archbishop Olaus Magnus (1555) in his “Historia” about werewolves in Livonia. Olaus Magnus writes this:
“Since chapter 15 of this book dealt with different wolf species, I consider it is necessary to remark about the beasts of the forest at the end of this book, it is a wolf class, who are actually people turned into wolves – a class, about which Pliny (VIII, 22) confidently asserts that they are made-up fairy-tale creatures – just like that, I say, are still found in large numbers in the northern lands.
In Prussia, Livonia and Lithuania, the population suffer great losses from wolf attacks throughout the year, for their livestock in the forest, if they stray just a little from the herd, are mauled and devoured by wolves: and yet they do not consider these losses so great as what they have to suffer from such people who turn into wolves.
On the festive eve of the Christ's birth, a large number of wolves, who have transformed from people of different areas, gather at their designated place as night falls, and attack the same night with such incredible savagery upon both men and livestock, that the inhabitants of these lands suffer greater losses from them than from natural wolves.
They, as has been sufficiently observed, surround buildings of people who live in forests with incredible ferocity, and even try to break down doors to destroy men and livestock.
They break into beer cellars, drink a few kegs of beer and melomel, and stack empty kegs on top of each other in the middle of a cellar: in that sense they differ from real wolves (in quo a nativis ac genuinis lupis discrepant).
To that place, where these wolves have camped that night, the inhabitants of these lands attach some prophetic meaning: if any accident happens there, if a cart overturns and the driver falls into snow, then they are confident, that they will die that same year, as they have observed since ancient times.
Between Lithuania, Samogitia and Courland have one wall, the ruins of a collapsed castle, where a few thousand of them gather during a certain year and test their jumping skills: whoever cannot jump over the wall, as usually happens to the fattest, their leaders beat them with whips.
It is finally asserted with certainty that this regiment also has great men of this land and even representatives of the highest nobility. How do they come to such insanity and such terrible transformations, from which they can no longer refrain at certain times, will be shown in the next chapter”.
Next, Olaus Magnus disputes Pliny’s statements and then continues again:
“In defence of the reports of Euantus, Agriope and other writers, I want to show here some examples, of how it still happens in the mentioned lands to this very day.
Just like anyone, be it a German or a native, is curious to go against the God’s commandment and wants to join the company of these accursed people, who turn into wolves whenever they want, to meet his fellows at certain times of the year and in certain places throughout his life and bring misery, yes even death to other mortals and livestock, then it gets from a person who knows this magic well, the art of transformation, the very opposite of nature, namely, in such a way that they give him one goblet of beer to drink (if only they want to join this forbidden society; that cup is accepted), at which certain words are spoken.
Then he can when it please him, to turn his humanity completely into a wolf form, going away either to some cellar or to some distant forest.
Finally after a while, if he likes, he can put away this appearance and assume his former appearance again”.
It is clear, that the said beliefs about werewolves are based on an ancient superstition, but the above mentioned Otto Höfler may also be right, that this superstition has been exploited by secret societies, because Höfler cites many more similar cases from Germany.
That there was so much talk about such werewolves and they even drank beer and melomel, it doesn’t sound like a myth at all.
Latvians, as it seems, has preserved the richest and probably also the most primitive information about werewolves. Among Russians, it is only said that wizards sometimes turned wedding guests into werewolves (Mikhail Zabylin, Russkij Narod, 225, p. 1, Dmitry Zelenin, Russische Volkskunde, 396, p. 1).
Among Ukrainians, as the same Mikhail Zabylin testifies, these myths are mixed with lietuvēns and vadātājs myths, where especially cursed and non-baptized children turn into wolves. In Germany, werewolf legends are no longer widely recited, only more so in Lower Saxony, Braunschweig, Upper Palatinate and Mecklenburg (Otto Böckel, Die Deutsche Volkssage, 1914, 80, p. I).
Among Latvians, on the other hand, werewolf legends and myths have been observed for a very long time, maybe even from the times of the above mentioned Neuri.
In order for a man to turn into a wolf, he must crawl through the root of the tree, which has risen in the air near the tree itself. When the werewolf crawls back through the root again, then he becomes human again. Instead of such a root, shirt and horse collar are also sometimes spoken.
There are two kinds of myths about this transformation. Paul Eihorn writes (Scriptores rerum Livonicarum, 644, p. 1), that such transformation is undeniable (vnlauchbahr vnd kan nicht wol verneinet warden). According to some reports, only the human soul transforms into a wolf, but his body remains in the place of transformation.
If someone moves this body, then the soul does not return there anymore and the person has to run around like a wolf until the end of his life. According to other reports, this is also the usual version in our legends, a man with all his body turns into a wolf.
In legends we find a continuation, that in the latter case the person should undress naked. If someone picks up these clothes, the werewolf can no longer turn back into a human.
However, some versions of legends are completely inconsistent with the above myth, because sometimes you find either a human shirt under the skin of a shot werewolf, or shoes, or even pastalas. - Pēteris Šmits
To read other legends:
A Man Willingly Turns into a Werewolf
[#01] [#02] [#03] [#04] [#05] [#06] [#07] [#08] [#09] [#10] [#11] [#12] [#13] [#14] [#15] [#16] [#17] [#18] [#19] [#20] [#21] [#22] [#23] [#24] [#25] [#26] [#27] [#28] [#29] [#30] [#31] [#32] [#33] [#34] [#35] [#36] [#37] [#38] [#39] [#40] [#41] [#42] [#43] [#44] [#45] [#46] [#47] [#48] [#49] [#50] [#51] [#52] [#53] [#54] [#55] [#56]
A Man Turns into a Werewolf out of Curiosity
[#01] [#02] [#03] [#04] [#05] [#06] [#07] [#08] [#09]
A Wizard Turns a Man into a Werewolf
[#01] [#02] [#03] [#04] [#05] [#06] [#07] [#08] [#09] [#10] [#11] [#12] [#13] [#14] [#15] [#16] [#17] [#18] [#19] [#20] [#21] [#22]
A Werewolf is Released
[#01] [#02] [#03] [#04] [#05] [#06] [#07] [#08] [#09] [#10] [#11] [#12] [#13] [#14] [#15] [#16] [#17] [#18] [#19]
A Dying Werewolf
BONUS - LATVIAN FOLK BELIEFS
r/werewolves • u/subthings2 • Oct 31 '24
r/werewolves • u/WolfCommando45 • 9h ago
The danger of trying to keep a freshly turned werewolf as a pet. One day, he might slip his leash. The vampiric Magnus Clan will learn that lesson the hard way.
r/werewolves • u/Claylex • 3h ago
What if you and your girlfriend became bloodthirsty monsters, ate a bunch of people, and then you both ate your best friend for dessert?
Perfect date night!
(Don't worry, he'll come back! Eventually)
Artwork by my good friend Edd! https://x.com/EddKono
r/werewolves • u/GarDaWolf • 11h ago
Yes I spoke on third person of myself... and yes I enjoyed drawing this and yes it has NSFW alt... no you can't see it here, hope you enjoy this little sequence as much as I did...
In my bluesky you'll find both versions and the transcribed text for easier reading, do not use my art to train any AI's, do not feed it to them, I am sharing it with you cuz I care for this... and I want you to see it and enjoy it my brethren... werewolf enjoyers
r/werewolves • u/JayRayModdington • 18h ago
Do you prefer:
The original mythological conception of werewolves as deliberately transforming out of evil intent?
The Hollywood tragedy of the unintentionally cursed?
The idea of werewolves as savage but equally able to be noble as well as evil?
r/werewolves • u/Texasworgen91 • 15h ago
r/werewolves • u/Sirius_Fluffy • 26m ago
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r/werewolves • u/Brilliant_Health_695 • 23h ago
What a distinguish gentleman
Im not doing this again lol 😭😭
r/werewolves • u/Neither-Maximum-5609 • 11h ago
Concept where a werewolf is normally passed on through sexual interactions/intimacy rather than surviving an actual werewolf attack (because the chances of surviving a fully transformed werewolf mauling you is going to be extremely rare, (but being intimate with someone during the week around the full moon, when your senses and instincts are heightened and you have minor changes (more hair, teeth a little longer and sharper, nails a little thicker and sharper), any biting/nibbling and scratching has a higher chance of passing on the curse)
The thought was more roughly the 2-3ish days leading up to the 3 days of the full moon (changing each night), then the 2-3ish days after (a bit less likely due to exhaustion after the change but still possible) as they are coming down to normal human baseline (heightened instincts also have them more aggressive during this time too). Also, whilst rare, some people do occasionally actually survive an encounter with a fully transformed werewolf, either by getting somewhere the wolf can't fully reach, or if the wolf is driven off/killed before it can finish them off; if there are just a whole lot of victims/very populated area, it may only do glancing damage to some before it moves on. (Not sure, but I think the people who survived a full attack should be at least slightly stronger, or have some minor difference)
During the 3 Days of Full Moon, Intimacy is still possible; it just needs to happen during the day/before nightfall. Funny enough, the slightly higher baseline of those who survived/where infected through Mauling actually have a greater chance of passing it on during Intimacy
Actually transforming mid sex might be one of the few ways for someone to encounter a fully transformed werewolf without being mauled, after all if it comes to balls deep in someone or smells it's seed filling her it's less likely to attack it's 'mate', (other way (and even more likely way not to get mauled) would be to actually be pregnant with it's child(though neither of these is necessarily 100% going to save you there is still a risk of it just not caring a eating them anyway (more likely if it's a female werewolf fucking a human man, she might finish then decide to have a snack, or just decide she doesn't want sex) or the wolf may decide to continue weather their partner wants to or not (it's a beast consent isn't really a thing with animals))). Mauling Survivors ("The Scarred") only safe days would likely be the 3 days of the new moon (that's not to say intimacy any other day; they definitely will spread it, but just that it is a possibility)
It's primarily with bites and scratches acting as the transmission routes, but it is technically possible even without them; if the sex were rough enough to cause micro-abrasions to both parties from friction, it could be transmitted that way (though a werewolf's instincts and heightened aggression does drive them to bite and claw at their partners (particularly around the full moon))
Identifying werewolves in human form is possible as they have several tales but most are a bit subjective like they tend to have slightly thicker nails, their k9 teeth are a little bit more pronounced, they have a bit more body hair than average, they tend to be a bit more aggressive, (all this get more pronounced as it gets closer to the full moon) but those things are barely noticeable most times like you find a person with higher testosterone and they are hit all these marks, the one really damning trait is nipples werewolves will have 2-3 extra sets of veatigeal nipples going down their abdomen after their first full moon, this is a trait from their hybrid physicalige, it's barely noticeable on the males but when transformed female werewolves will develop 2-3 extra sets of breasts running down their abdomens the second set just below their first will be about half as large then the next half again etc..., their original breasts may also change depending (they may lose or gain a cup size or 2, like if they were DDs they may go down to a D or C cup, or if they were As they might get up to a B or C cup, (that only applies to natural sizes, fake ms will generally be expelled during the shift) and it's a bit random if they will go back to normal after the shift)
Whilst the extra nipples are mostly definitive (it is possible for people to naturally have a small mutation or moles that could give a false positive), it's kind of difficult to really use as a check (after all, going up to someone and saying 'hey, show me your chest' probably isn't going to work out well for you, particularly if you are doing it to a hyper-aggressive lycan having a bad day or week or month). Of course, fake breasts aren't the only thing that gets expelled during the change; it's a fun time for people who got a hip replacement before infection (sarcasm) or have titanium pins for broken bones, and pretty much everyone spits out a mouthful of fillings their first time, etc ...
After the first change, accelerated healing will deal with most issues, and if it doesn't, then the next full moon will (only thing it can't/doesn't fix is amputation; no regrowing hands or feet; it might repair a bone that is missing a section or replace organs, but it absolutely doesn't regrow missing bones; it can replace teeth, though)
There is also a dichotomy in the monthly resets mean that a werewolves tend to naturally live longer easily reaching 150-200 years old, but it can also prematurely age them so do to the stress of the transformation their hair will often go silver before they're 40, (somewhat depends on if they accept their condition or fight it (those who accept it tend to have easier shift, those that fight it they are fighting it, then their are the ones that embrace it (they tend not to live long as they are the type to go to the middle of a city on the night of a full moon or attack and eat people outside of the full moon))
I would say that the Embraced are the second largest incubator for creating the (Mauling Survivors) (most Embraced, do still have a slight modicum of survival instinct and will actually be more likely rampage in smaller communities townships, or villages, fewer people but higher kill count, and they can get away with it for longer, plus it not like they are super common) the ones responsible for the largest amount of Mauling Survivors are the unknowing werewolves or first timers, they are just living their lives and the moon rises doesn't matter where they are (at home, in a movie theater, on the subway, bar hopping, going for a run to try and burn off some energy) they shift and it gets bloody
Then guess what can happen with all those surviving victims in a month's time...
Though it's actually not that bad, as the ones that are mauled are mostly easy for the supernatural community to find and quietly inform/influence, or the trauma tends to make them self-isolate; it's the unknowing ones that got it from a 1-night stand or short fling that are a problem. Get one horny bastard that has a dozen+ lovers before their first full moon, and maybe 1 in 20 get infected...Granted, before their first change/full moon, they are at their lowest point of infectiousness
r/werewolves • u/-_Mitsuri_- • 18h ago
r/werewolves • u/WilliamWolf92 • 17h ago
I found this sci-fi interpretation of lycanthropy on Toyhou.se, where it's treated as a biological condition rather than a supernatural curse (this is a summary, the article is way much extensive)
The main biological ideas are:
- Virus: It affects DNA and the immune system and is transmitted through infected blood.
- Infection: It starts with flu-like symptoms before causing gradual physiological changes.
- Body changes: Enhanced healing, increased appetite/protein cravings, stronger senses, new canines, bone and muscle changes, and development of a tapetum lucidum.
- Transformation: Occurs roughly every 28–29 days, coinciding with the full moon, though the moon may not actually cause it.
- Genetics: Appearance and severity vary depending on the individual's genetics and viral strain.
- Werewolf physiology: Increased strength, regeneration and sensory abilities, with more animalistic behavior.
- Neurology: Some individuals lose control or memories during transformation, while others can learn to control it.
- Shifters: Some infected individuals don't physically transform at all; instead, the transformation primarily affects the brain, causing a temporary feral state.
- Complications: Transformations can cause pain, injuries, deformities, failure to revert, or even death.
I really like how it treats lycanthropy as an actual biological condition with different physical and neurological manifestations rather than just "person turns into werewolf because magic."
So, what do think about this approach?
r/werewolves • u/AlphaWolfBeast • 17h ago
This month I spontaneously decided to launch my own Classic Universal Monster inspired franchise! It's something I've always wanted to do but didn't know how to start then one day it hit me! The first project
The Wolf Beast: Silas Silver is a Private Detective by Day and Monster hunter by night but he's also cursed... with Lycanthropy! He can turn into "The Wolf Beast" at will but is consumed by the hunger, in this film he uses his enhanced senses to find the blood den of the vampires that have been abucting people, witness the thrills and chills in this Trailer!
r/werewolves • u/DAVeTOO333 • 23h ago
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Here’s a video snippet from my forthcoming comic, Werewolf Jesus: Renaissance in Blood. Created and written by me with art by Argentinian illustrator Mato Aranda. If all goes well this first issue will be out in December of this year. If you sign up to be notified on launch you’ll get followers-only updates whenever we have cool stuff to share. Thank you for checking it out.
r/werewolves • u/Railwaylover33 • 1d ago
This is just random photo scenery i made, and i wanted to share
Esentialy all the needed lore is well…
A virus breaks out causing people to turn into werewolves/other werebeast with a small remaing population of humanity wich is imune
Curently the lore behined this oictures is literaly, rural Finland police checkpoint wich had been overan and abadoned is explored by a survivor with out realizing a literal werewolf is stalking him
What do you think?
r/werewolves • u/Sirius_Fluffy • 19h ago
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r/werewolves • u/Round_Alarm_3468 • 17h ago
Maia Rivers ha sedici anni e vive in un sobborgo americano apparentemente tranquillo. La sua vita sembra normale: va a scuola, litiga con i genitori, cerca di mantenere amicizie fragili e prova a capire chi vuole diventare. Tuttavia, dentro di lei cresce una rabbia che non riesce a spiegare né a controllare. Maia la considera un difetto, qualcosa di cui vergognarsi, senza sapere che quella rabbia è il primo segnale di una natura antica che sta per risvegliarsi. Una sera, dopo un litigio particolarmente violento con i genitori, Maia scappa di casa e si rifugia nel bosco che si estende dietro il quartiere. La notte è fredda e il silenzio sembra innaturale, come se gli alberi stessero aspettando qualcosa. Nel buio, Maia viene attaccata da una creatura che non è né un semplice animale né un essere umano: un lupo mannaro antico, feroce e affamato. Il suo morso la ferisce e le trasmette qualcosa di oscuro. Dopo il primo urlo, Maia perde i sensi e non ricorda più nulla. La mattina seguente si risveglia nel proprio letto, senza sapere come sia riuscita a tornare a casa. Crede di aver avuto un incubo, ma alcune ferite sul corpo dimostrano che ciò che è accaduto nel bosco era reale. La notte successiva arriva la luna piena. Maia avverte una rabbia incontrollabile, seguita da un dolore improvviso e devastante. La trasformazione avviene come un blackout: un lampo di sofferenza, un’esplosione di furia e poi il nulla. Al suo risveglio, nel quartiere circolano notizie inquietanti. Sono state avvistate tre creature mostruose, alcune case sono state danneggiate, diversi animali sono scomparsi e gli abitanti hanno sentito urla provenire dal bosco. Maia non ricorda ciò che ha fatto, ma dentro di sé sente che quegli eventi sono collegati a lei. La luna piena non è una coincidenza e la sua rabbia non è più soltanto un’emozione: è la voce della bestia che vive dentro di lei. Spinta dalla paura e dal bisogno di conoscere la verità, Maia torna nel bosco. Qui trova due ragazzi feriti e terrorizzati, che sembrano fuggire da qualcosa. Dopo aver capito che Maia è stata morsa, la conducono in un rifugio nascosto, costruito tra gli alberi e protetto da passaggi segreti. È una struttura improvvisata, lontana dal mondo degli esseri umani, dove vive una piccola comunità di licantropi che cerca di sopravvivere senza essere scoperta. Il capo del rifugio è un uomo segnato da vecchie cicatrici e da anni di combattimenti. Il suo sguardo sembra attraversare le persone e riconoscere le loro paure. È lui a rivelare a Maia la verità: il morso l’ha trasformata, ma la sua rabbia era già il segnale di una natura latente. La luna piena risveglia la bestia, mentre il suo corpo e la sua mente cercano di adattarsi alla nuova condizione. Tra i licantropi esiste una gerarchia precisa, basata sulla forza, sull’istinto e sulla capacità di controllare la trasformazione. Il rifugio, però, non è soltanto una casa: è l’ultimo ostacolo contro un nemico che vuole conquistare ogni territorio. A guidare la minaccia è un licantropo superiore, una creatura più forte, veloce e intelligente di qualunque altro membro del branco. Non è un semplice mostro, ma un leader oscuro che vuole creare un impero di licantropi sotto il proprio comando. Il suo progetto è eliminare chiunque rifiuti di sottomettersi, distruggere il rifugio e trasformare i licantropi in un esercito. Quando scopre l’esistenza di Maia, la considera una possibile arma, ma anche una potenziale minaccia. La sua rabbia e la sua trasformazione instabile potrebbero renderla utile oppure impossibile da controllare. Mentre il conflitto si avvicina, Maia combatte soprattutto contro se stessa. Ogni luna piena diventa una prova. Quando si trasforma, perde il controllo e rischia di ferire chiunque le stia vicino. Gli abitanti del rifugio cercano di aiutarla, insegnandole a riconoscere i segnali della trasformazione e a distinguere la rabbia dalla volontà della bestia. Maia, però, è più potente e instabile degli altri licantropi. La sua furia può renderla invincibile per pochi istanti, ma ogni volta che cede alla creatura rischia di perdere una parte della propria identità. Il vero conflitto non è quindi soltanto tra Maia e il lupo mannaro supremo. È tra Maia e la bestia dentro di lei. Deve decidere se combattere la propria natura, lasciarsene consumare oppure imparare a convivere con essa senza permetterle di scegliere al posto suo. La rabbia, che per tutta la vita ha considerato una debolezza, diventa anche la fonte del suo potere. La battaglia decisiva arriva quando il villain attacca il rifugio nel cuore del bosco. Licantropi contro licantropi si affrontano tra gli alberi, mentre ululati, spari e violenti scontri scuotono la notte. Il rifugio viene devastato e i suoi abitanti combattono disperatamente per difendere la propria casa. Nel mezzo dello scontro, Maia è costretta a trasformarsi. Per alcuni momenti sembra riuscire a mantenere il controllo: non è più guidata soltanto dall’istinto, ma riesce a usare la forza della bestia per proteggere gli altri. Tuttavia, il suo potere non è ancora sufficiente. Il villain è troppo forte e Maia non riesce a sconfiggerlo. Il rifugio viene distrutto e i licantropi sopravvissuti sono costretti a fuggire nel bosco. Prima di morire, il capo del rifugio rivolge a Maia le parole che cambieranno il suo destino: “Non sei nata per essere salvata. Sei nata per cambiare tutto.” Il lupo mannaro supremo sopravvive. L’impero che vuole creare è ancora possibile e il suo esercito continua a crescere. Maia rimane sola, ferita e spaventata, ma non è più la ragazza che era all’inizio. Ora conosce la propria natura, comprende la portata del pericolo e sa che la sua rabbia non deve necessariamente trasformarla in un mostro. La storia si conclude con Maia in piedi davanti al bosco distrutto, mentre la luna piena illumina il cielo. I suoi occhi brillano d’oro e, in lontananza, risponde un ululato. Maia non è più soltanto una vittima né una ragazza che cerca di fuggire da ciò che è diventata. È l’inizio di qualcosa di più grande. L’inizio di un impero.
r/werewolves • u/Sirius_Fluffy • 1d ago
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r/werewolves • u/Watch_Too_Many_Films • 1d ago
r/werewolves • u/Corwins_Pattrn_Ghost • 1d ago
What is the consensus on the Wolfman in The Monster Squad? I always thought it was a cool look for a werewolf.