This is what I got so far, let me know what you think in the brainstorming thread. I will expand on the idea as more information about the world and other races comes about. Any part that speaks about another race can be edited if it becomes contradictory of that race in some way down the line.
Werewolf
Many myths preset about the werewolf some of the are laced in facts that have become larger than they were and some are based solely on fear and the imagination of those who mistook something else to be a trait of the werewolf. Many peasants and simple farmers often feel it is a werewolf killing their livestock or their fellow villagers, when in fact it may be normal wild animals, orcs, or sometimes true horrors of the unknown. The time has come to let the facts be known and for the werewolves to be seen, in this writers hope, in a more favorable light as they are slowly becoming large members in the civilized world.
To clear up the term werewolf is a loose term used to define any of canine that walks upright like a man and has some high brain functions. This vague term is slapped onto almost anything that come close to the idea of a werewolf and so is a poor term to use from here on out. Lycon is the politically correct word the species has taken to preferring. Although the term Lycon describes the main bulk of the Lycon family as wolves not all Lycons are wolves in nature. As the vast majority of Lycons are wolves we will start there and work our way to the rest of the bunch.
What is a Lycon? In truth there are two types, both often taken as the other more times than not. The pure blood Lycon was born a Lycon and will die a Lycon, with no change into a human or other species at anytime during the life cycle. The pure blood or True Lycon as they often label themselves, have a few characteristics that help distinguish themselves among the others. First of all True Lycons tend to be larger and broader in the shoulders, even the women, than those not born into the species. Also there most notable feature is their legs are straight like any other bipedal prime race. There fur colors also shift to the gray tones with a few being in the natural hues. The most widely seen colors are grey, silver (usually older Lycons who started grey but can be a main color), black, white, and sometimes a mix of the grey tones. The rarer hues include dark browns, light browns, rust (a deep almost brown red), and on the most rare tan. Tan wolf Lycons are often mistaken for coyote Lycons but the size difference should always be the obvious giveaway.
The other type of Lycon is the bitten, cursed, or as sometimes called by True Lycons Mooners. These Lycons were some other race, most often human although most races have been seen, who have been bitten by a True Lycon and saliva and blood have mixed together. This often creates what has mythically been labeled as the werewolf, the man who turns into a half man half wolf hybrid at some phase of the moon. In truth the only time the moon plays a role in with these Lycons is on the first transformation, which is the source behind the derogatory term used by True Lycons. At the first full moon a bitten or Mooner will transform in a Lycon that take some minor characteristics from its original race and keep the fur color of the races hair. Mooners also tend to be smaller and thinner as they are simply using the base race as the starting platform. With Bitten Lycons their legs become reverse jointed in the transformed phase giving them a more bestial appearance, as well as having lankier arms and slightly longer fingers. After the first transformation the cursed Lycon can then typically transform based on emotional responses or with time and practice at will. This ability to shift between the two forms has created a small group of Mooners to feel they are the real Lycons and see their affliction as a gift rather than a curse. In most cases True Lycons treat Mooners with a kind of standoffish attitude that shows a sign of a cast system, in some cases they are seen as blights on the land and sought out and killed, and still in other areas they are looked on as downtrodden family who need guidance.
As stated before there are other variants of Lycons besides the wolf, were in fact there are four; the fox, the coyote, the dingo, and the dog. The Fox Lycon simply is a smaller more agile version of the big cousin wolf with attributes one would think of when the term fox is used. Fox Lycons tend to be craftier, more cunning, and sometimes seen as just smarter all around. They tend to come in colors ranging from orange, red, tan, white, and the rarest the black fox, which in some cases can appear a deep blue or purple. The Coyote Lycon is usually just a bit shorter and leaner than the wolf with fur that is thinner and coarser. Often times coyote Lycons tend to be more rustic and nomadic in nature with some being seen as scavengers and thieves often even more so than the fox. They come in a vast array of colors often times mixed together with tans, browns, dull reds, and blacks. Oddly enough the coyote Lycon show higher signs of arcane understanding and mystical practices than the other sub-species. The dingo Lycon is often mistaken for the dog Lycon, which we will get to shortly, simply for the short hair and overall appearance of the dingo. The dingo Lycon comes in only a few colors of different tan variations with some almost appearing white but usually the older ones. A few come in all black but never any lighter grey tone. this leaner variant of the Lycon tends to be some of the fastest of the species and is found more often in the dessert. The black dessert dingo Lycons are often called jackal Lycons and some still debate if the two are actually different sub-species or just the dingo in a different color. Finally the dog Lycon is the category used for any of the odder or lesser Lycon variations. These Lycons are rare and more times than not are just a odd looking or slightly strange looking version of one of the others. They can be medium to short haired, colors ranging from all over the natural color pallet and often tend to be around either human settlements or other large wolf Lycon areas. Most consider the biggest feature to help classify this sub-species is the ears. All the other Lycons have pointed ears while the dog Lycon tend to have rounded or floppy ears.
In general Lycons are perceived as being terrors of the night and fellow beasts of evil along with vampires, ghouls, and other such creatures, were in fact the opposite is true for the most part. Lycons tend to be guardians of nature or at the least watchers of it, and do what they can to make as little contact with the prime races as possible. They tend to live in small villages often called by the basic wolf family moniker of pack. Within these villages or packs the Lycons thrive like any other race and go about a daily existence of hunting, ranching even at times, performing trade crafts, and simply living, or so they did up until a few years ago. Now the Lycons have attempted to become more known in the wider world and even gone as far to establish minor trade routes with some of the more accepting races. A select few areas will allow someone to see Lycons and elves hunting in the same woods, Lycons and dwarves arguing and debating about smithing and brewmaking, and a rare select few Lycons and humans pushing their wares on adventurous and travelers.
The Mooners tend to be the ones who spread the tales of nightmares and terror in a region and more often than not are hunted down by the True Lycons to help the neighboring races and to try and keep the ill rumors from becoming dominant. There are, as with all races, those in the species that seek darker means and even some who see Lycons as the true inhabitants of the land and all others should be either killed off or made as servants. Then there are the bands of Lycons brigands who are generally a concoction of both True and Bitten mixed in with even sometimes a spattering of orc, goblin, and gnolls. These nomadic brigands tend to be the more feared as they do not discriminate who they attack and general care little about the deaths they deal.
On the whole Lycons are a peaceful lot looking to become one of the average races seen about the land. They can specialize in a host of talents ranging from archery, to swordsmanship, arcane, and even spiritual. Within the Lycons though special unique skills are sometimes pushed, with emphases on natural weapon combat such as claws and martial combat, or using their extra muscular stature to become excellent messengers often times able to outpace an experienced horseman.
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