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

Q
-9 pathologic, werebeast attacked by
another lycanthrope would suffer any
effects akin to the infection that
humans suffer. It is an interesting
question, and one to which I do not
have a categorical answer.
In all likelihood, such an infection is
not possible. I believe that any lycan-
thrope who attacks a true werebeast
will inflict physical damage, and that is
all. Yet, from time to time, folktales
spark my interest in the subject. I have
heard several stories concerning true
lycanthropes that do not have complete
control over their transfiguration. Like
other true werebeasts, these creatures
can change aspect at will. But some-
times they also will transfigure against
their will, in response to some external
trigger condition. They can regain
whatever form they wish-if not imme-
diately, then within a score of heart-
beats-yet even a momentary shift can
destroy a life-long masquerade.
Are these creatures true lycan-
thropes that have been partially in-
fected by other lycanthropes,
contracting their attackers’ trigger con-
ditions? I cannot say for sure. Perhaps
the loss of control stems from another
cause entirely. Yet, it is an interesting
hypothesis, and one that I intend to in-
vestigate over the next several years.
Triggw
I have made something of a small
study into the conditions, or triggers,
that cause transfiguration in infected
lycanthropes. Such triggers typically
fall into two large categories, which I
have dubbed “symbolic” and
“physiological.”
Symbolic triggers are events that
have some allegorical or figurative con-
nection to the nature of lycanthropy in
general and to the transfiguration itself.
Physiological triggers are events that
cause some change in the lycanthrope’s
body-a change which in turn could
reasonably be expected to initiate a
more drastic physical alteration. Below I
shall describe each category, as well as
those exceptional triggers which refuse
to comply with either definition.
Symbolic Triggers
Many of the so-called “symbolic”
triggers define or represent change.
They symbolize a transition, often
drastic, from one state to another. SO
powerful and so magical is this
symbolism that when some facet of the
environment undergoes a change, SO
too does the infected lycanthrope. An
archetypal example is a sunset or
sunrise-the transition from day to
night or from night to day. Sleep is
another symbolic trigger, for it
represents an altered state of
consciousness and the journey from
reality to the realm of nightmares.
However, not every symbolic trigger
represents a clear change from one
strictly defined condition to its
antithesis. Other symbolic triggers
reflect a more general change or
transition. For instance, in most lands
the changing phases of the moon
serve to measure the passage of time,
and the moon itself has often come to
symbolize passing time. Thus it should
come as little surprise to learn that a
particular phase of the moon acts as
trigger for many werebeasts.
According to popular legends, the full
moon is the archetypal trigger. I have
found, however, that virtually every
phase of the moon, from new to full,
through one-quarter waxing through
three-quarters waning, successfully
triggers certain werebeasts.
In like manner, other conditions
symbolic of passing time can act as
lycanthropic triggers. Some werebeasts
respond to changing seasons. Others
respond to astronomical events, such
as eclipses or the movements of
wandering stars, Even the first snowfall
or another “weather landmark” may
trigger a particular creature.
I must emphasize that in the
previous examples, the victim need not
. .