Van Richten's Monster Hunter's.pdf - Askadesign.com

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To an astute observer, certain
characteristics of the true werebeast’s
human form can provide hints of the
individual’s inhuman nature. Almost
invariably the human form shows one
or more bestial features: slightly
pronounced canine teeth, unusually
bushy brows which meet above the
nose, slightly pointed ears, abnormally
pronounced body hair, hair on the
inside of the wrist and on the palm, or
perhaps exaggerated finger- or toenails,
for example. Furthermore, many
true lycanthropes have overly long
forefingers, equal in length to the
second finger of each hand.
Of course, it should be pointed out
that none of these physical traits is
sufficient to incontrovertibly label a
subject as a werebeast. I have
personally met folk who have never so
much as seen a lycanthrope, yet they
themselves exhibited one or several of
these telltale signs. In truth, I feel
somewhat uncomfortable over having
listed these apparent signs at all, since
they can be (and haue been) misused
to accuse innocents of being
werebeasts.
Secondav Aspect
The second form that any true
lycanthrope can assume is that of the
beast. In this aspect, the individual
appears as an animal. Again, the type
of animal and the specific details of its
appearance are characteristic of the
individual. Details such as eye color,
pelt markings, and other distinguishing
features do not change, which makes it
possible for an astute observer to
distinguish between individuals, just as
an owner of hounds can tell the
difference between two members of the
same breed.
A true lycanthrope’s animal aspect
is usually larger than average, when
compared to normal animals of the
same type. Remember, however, that
there is a wide variability in sizes
among natural animal populations.
‘WEICBEASTS d
While it is true that lycanthropes in
animal aspect are larger than the
average for that species, it is not
always true that werebeasts are larger
than all other specimens. If a werewolf
is leading a pack of timber wolves, the
lycanthrope need not automatically be
the largest creature in the pack.
(Wererats pose a special case: their
secondary aspect resembles a giant
rat, not a normal rodent. With that
caveat, my remarks above still hold,
with wererats frequently appearing as
larger-than-average giant rats.)
Many tales and legends claim that
lycanthropes in their secondary form
can be distinguished from natural
animals by their sense of intelligence,
unnatural wisdom, and anomalous
watchfulness. This can be true in some
cases, but only when the werebeast
wants the observer to discern its true
nature. True lycanthropes in their
animal aspect retain their full
intelligence, which makes them much
more intelligent and aware than natural
animals that may surround them. Yet
the monsters are also in touch with
their animalistic nature-the beast
within-in the form of natural senses
and instincts. They can, if they so
wish, allow these senses and instincts
to overshadow their human intelligence
and thus behave identically to a
natural animal. This knack for
subterfuge makes it exceedingly
difficult to distinguish a werebeast from
a normal animal.
It is important to point out the
fallacies in some legends and tales.
While it is true that lycanthropes in
animal aspect can still understand the
languages of mankind, it is not true
that they can speak them. The
anatomy and physiology of animals
precludes this. For example, the throat
and mouth of a rat is incapable of
human speech: thus, so is a wererat in
animal aspect. (The wererat would be
able to both speak and understand the
limited communication of natural rats,
however.) Similarly, while in animal