[b]Originally posted by Birthright-L
----- Original Message -----
From: “irdeggman” <brnetboard@BIRTHRIGHT.NET>
To: <BIRTHRIGHT-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM>
Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2003 7:38 AM
Subject: Re: [BIRTHRIGHT] Lycanthropes [2#1745]
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> irdeggman wrote:
> [quote]Originally posted by destowe
>
> How about the only natural lycanthropys are direct
desecndents of the worg riders at Mount Deismaar?
>
>
> “Natural lycanthropes” now there is an oxymoron in the making, like
semi-boneless ham, military intelligence, etc.
>
Id suggest to those in this discussion actually Reading the Rjurik information, as this suggests that lycanthropy isnt a curse (just a Fate)
and is seen as a good thing much like the berzerk (bear skins) or ulfhednar
(wolf skins) of legend. That is lycanthropy isn`t necessarily as “D&D” sees
it, but is much more similar to how folklore of Earth sees it. Dangerous,
frightening, but not necessarily, evil.
[/b][/quote]
And I’d suggest reading a little deeper - they are called Special Dooms and if you go back even farther to the Celts Campaign Sourcebook they are called Character Gifts. The Celtic Campaign Sourcebook also refers to a elvish type fey creature called “the Sidhe”.
The Rjurik Highlands also states “First, while called “dooms” in keeping with Rjurik culture and outlook, they are probably more accurately referred to as “curses”, since their presence does not necessarily lead to an afflicted character’s destruction.” And the entry under shapechanger (the reference you are obviously refering to) states “Rjurik shapechangers are not lycanthropes, and use entirely different rules.” and “These individuals wander the land alone and are blessed (or, in the opinion of many, cursed) with the ability to transform into fearsome, wild creatures.”
There is no exclusion of lycanthropy as existing and the special doom, shapechanger, is an entirely different thing.
destowe thanks for pointing out the sentence in the 3.0 MM, although it says “many” not “most” it is still an impotant note and a pretty major deviation from previous editions. It should be noted that it is still considered a magical disease (see PHB pg 42 and MM pg 219) but only “afflicted” lycanthropes can be cured of lycanthropy.
