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

.
'.' the creatures lose all inhibitions and
forget all caution in the desire to feed.
During bloodlust, werebeasts lose all
inhibitions. They fly into a rage that is
horrifying to behold, falling with
incredible fury upon anyone and
anything unfortunate enough to be in
the vicinity. During bloodlust, all
lycanthropes become the heartless,
ravening monsters from folktales-and
then some. They will attack and
attempt to slay anyone nearby,
regardless of whether it is prospective
prey or an erstwhile ally. They will fall
upon that person and then feed to
satiation. If the werebeast in bloodlust
is well fed (that is. if it has been eating
its normal food requirements over the
past few days), it will eat only its
regular amount . , . plus, perhaps, a
little extra. If it has been denied food
over the last several days (if it is
suffering from progressive starvation or
food debt as described in Chapter
Two), it will eat enough to eliminate
this food debt totally . . . and again,
perhaps a little extra.
The primary stimulus for bloodlust
is proximity to a source of food,
combined with the sight, smell, or taste
of fresh blood. Hunger, predictably,
exacerbates the problem, as does the
proximity of any other lycanthrope that
has already entered bloodlust. The
chance of losing control is also
increased if the werebeast is seriously
wounded; apparently, pain diminishes
the creature's self-control. There are
other aggravating factors: puberty (for
true lycanthropes), and the
unfamiliarity of the lycanthropic state
(for newly infected werebeasts).
Infected lycanthropes can enter
bloodlust only when they are in their
secondary form. True lycanthropes are
much more likely to enter bloodlust in
their secondary or tertiary form,
although if they are severely wounded
they may also succumb while in their
primary human aspect.
Once it has entered this state, a
3 lycanthrope will remain in bloodlust
LYERLEEASE
until it has eaten its fill. Then it will
slowly regain control. This effort may
be immediate or may take several
minutes. If the bloodlust continues
after the creature has eaten its fill, it
will not gorge. Instead, it will continue
its slaughter, but it will not feed on the
bodies of its victims.
Obviously, bloodlust is a hideous
thing to witness. Lycanthropes-
intelligent ones, at least-fear its onset,
since it can easily destroy years of
effort in building up a subterfuge. I
shudder to write this, but I have heard
that certain lycanthropes have
learned how to initiate bloodlust
willingly. I do not know how much
credence to put in this claim, having
never personally encountered a
werebeast capable of this act. Having
witnessed-and barely survived-a
bloodlust engendered by a young
lycanthrope, 1 can only cringe at the
idea of confronting a wily, adult
werebeast that chooses to enter
bloodlust. [If DMs decide that this is
possible, the ability to initiate
bloodlust at will should be very rare
indeed.]
RelafionsF.ips Between
L y canthopes
Speaking generally, infected
lycanthropes are solitary creatures,
looking out for their own individual
interests. (The only exception to this
rule seems to be when they come
under the influence of a true
lycanthrope.) Werebeasts that are born
to their disease, however, can be quite
social creatures.
W+hin 4 Si~gle
Phenotype
In general, a lycanthrope's outlook
toward others of the same phenotype
will depend on its ethical view of the
world. Thus, some werebeasts will be
solitary, while others will be more
social. Most, perhaps, will fall
somewhere in the middle. Let us
.*.A