Van Richten's Treatise on Lycanthropy
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Sample file 1 Credits Writers: Wyatt Trull & Vall Syrene Editor: Laura Hirsbrunner Graphic Designer: Steve Fidler Producer: Wyatt Trull Cover Illustrator: Molino Davide Additional Illustrators: Anastasiya, Андрій Берекеля, b-design, Bob Greyvenstein, Dean Spencer, Dominick, James Webster, Konstantin Gerasimov, Luigi Castellani, Quico Vicens Picatto, Wizards of the Coast, Vecteezy Some artwork © 2015 Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved. On the Cover An ambushed werecrocodile stalks the hunter that failed to slay the beast. This scene was brought to life by Molino Davide. Disclaimer: If you are reading this research on the night of the full moon, I fear it is too late for you. Find yourself silver and courage, then prepare to face the creatures of the night. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, , Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft, Eberron, the dragon ampersand, Ravnica and all other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. This work contains material that is copyright Wizards of the Coast and/or other D&D authors. SuchSample material is used with permission under the Community Content Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild. All other original materialfile in this work is copyright 2021 by Wyatt Trull & Vall Syrene and published under the Community Content Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild. 2 Player Characters Werebear Apex ......... 89 Wereboar 90 as Lycanthropes ...... 64 ............ Contents Wereboar Marauder 91 Lycanthropy as an Ancestry .... 64 ...... Wereboar Apex 92 Introduction ......... 4 Lycanthropy as a Curse ...... 64 ......... Werecat 93 Design Philosophy ........ 65 ............. Werecheetah 93 Preface ............. 5 True Lycanthropes ........ 66 ......... Werejaguar 95 The Beast Within ........ 66 .......... Werelion 97 Lycanthropy: Dark Inheritance ........ 66 ........... Weretiger 99 The Dread Affliction ..... 6 Bestial Appearances ...... 67 ........... Werecrocodile 101 Overview of Lycanthropy ...... 7 True Lycanthrope Personality .. 67 .......... Werecrocodile Menace 102 Lycanthropic Strains ....... 7 True Lycanthrope Names .... 67 ..... Werecrocodile Apex 103 The Beast Within ........ 10 True Lycanthrope Traits .... 67 ...... Regional Effects 103 The Transfiguration ...... 10 Werebat ........... 68 ....... Werefox 105 Bloodlust ............ 11 Werebear .......... 68 ............. Werefox Puppeteer 105 Transfiguration Triggers ..... 11 Wereboar .......... 68 ....... Werefox Apex 107 A Lycanthrope’s Diet ...... 12 Werecat ........... 69 ......... Werehyena 108 Hunting Lycanthropes ...... 13 Werecrocodile ........ 69 ........... Werehyena Chillcackle 109 Environments ......... 13 Werefox ........... 69 ..... Werehyena Apex 111 Lycanthropic Vulnerabilities ... 14 Werehyena ......... 69 ........ Wererat 112 Against the Affliction ....... 15 Wererat ........... 70 ............. Wererat Brute 113 Transmitting Lycanthropy ... 15 Wereraven .......... 70 ......... Wererat Mastermind 114 Symptoms of Lycanthropy .... 15 Wereserpent ......... 70 ...... Wererat Apex 114 Preventative Measures ..... 16 Wereshark .......... 71 ......... Wereraven 116 Curing Lycanthropy ...... 18 Werewalrus ......... 71 ............ Wereraven Spy 117 Werebeast Phenotypes ...... 21 Werewolf .......... 71 ......... Wereraven Seer 118 Werebats ........... 22 Racial Feats ........... 72 ........ Wereraven Apex 119 Werebears ........... 23 Infected Lycanthropes ...... 73 ........ Wereserpent 120 Wereboars ........... 26 Universal Lycanthrope Features . 74 ........... Werepython 121 Werecats ........... 28 Phenotype Features ....... 75 .......... Werepython Apex 122 Werecrocodiles ........ 30 Werebat Features ....... 75 ....... Wereviper 123 Werefoxes ........... 33 Werebear Features ...... 75 ........... Wereviper Apex 124 Werehyenas .......... 36 Wereboar Features ...... 76 ........ Wereshark 125 Wererats ........... 39 Werecheetah Features .... 76 ............ Wereshark Messiah 126 Wereravens .......... 41 Werecrocodile Features .... 76 ....... Wereshark Apex 127 Wereserpents ......... 43 Werefox Features ....... 77 ........ Werewalrus 129 Weresharks .......... 46 Werehyena Features ..... 77 ........... Werewalrus Frostbiter 130 Werewalruses ......... 49 Werejaguar Features ..... 77 ..... Werewalrus Apex 131 Werewolves .......... 51 Werelion Features ...... 77 ....... Werewolf 132 Werepython Features ..... 78 ............ Werewolf Beta 133 Lycanthropy Rules ..... 53 Wererat Features ....... 78 ......... Werewolf Alpha 134 Infection ............ 53 Wereraven Features ..... 78 ........ Werewolf Apex 135 Transmission ......... 53 Wereshark Features ..... 78 ......... Infection Progression ...... 54 Weretiger Features ...... 79 The Hunter’s Arsenal 136 Curing Lycanthropy ...... 55 Wereviper Features ...... 79 ... Mundane Items 136 Lycanthropic Behavior ...... 57 Werewalrus Features ..... 79 ......... Alchemical Elixirs 136 Bloodlust ........... 57 Werewolf Features ...... 79 ....... Anathemas 138 Confronting the Curse ..... 59 .......... Traps & Restraints 143 Diet .............. 60 Bestiary ........... 80 ....... Weapons 144 Downtime Activity: Hunting . 61 Symbolic Monsters ....... 80 ........... Magic Items 146 Countering Lycanthropes ..... 62 Transmitting Lycanthropy ... 81 ........... Anathemas .......... 62 Lycanthrope Strains ....... 81 Glossary 148 Lycanthropic Immunity ..... 62 True Lycanthrope ....... 81 ........... Transfiguration and Armor ... 63 Purestrain Lycanthrope ..... 81 Quick References 149 Encounter Icons ......... 82 ...... SampleEncounter Icon Descriptions 82 Stat Blocksfile by Challenge Rating . 149 ... Lycanthropes by Alignment 149 Creature Rarity ........ 83 ... Lycanthropes by Environment 150 Werebat ............. 84 .. Lycanthrope Vulnerabilities 150 Werebat Apex ......... 86 ... Phenotypical Flaws 151 Werebear ............ 87 ....... 3 Introduction an Richten’s Treatise on Lycanthropy expands on the lycanthrope rules, lore, and CONTENT WARNING statistics from the core rules, including new Any supplement that explores the curse of lycan- andV improved resources for player character lycan- thropy is likely to delve into dark, challenging topics. thropes, cures, and NPC statistics This guide features According to the core fifth edition books, lycan- eight new types of lycanthropes in addition to the five thropy destroys a person’s values, personality, and originals from the Monster Manual, and incorporates the ability to reason, essentially turning them into a werebat and wereraven from other official modules. monster without free will. By contrast, this supple- ment—most notably in the player character options in Chapter 1 features the personal research of Dr. Rudolph chapter 4—presents the view that a cursed humanoid van Richten, describing the science and lore of lycan- can retain their own alignment and morality (if they thropy. It is written in-character from van Richten’s so choose), though they constantly feel the urging of point of view—and notably, like any emerging a dark entity, the Beast Within, that influences their science, not all of his research is accurate. It is, effec- personality and tempts them to surrender control. tively, an in-game thesis that the adventurers can This supplement also seeks to lessen the assumed get their hands on, and is intended to be communi- ties between lycanthropy and madness (and simi- cated with the players as an aid in their characters’ lar negative stereotypes related to mental health). fight against lycanthropy. A print-friendly copy of Despite this shift in default lore, however, lycanthropy this chapter is included in your DMsGuild download is still treated as a horrible curse that has enormous as a standalone PDF, which you are free to provide to impact on the infected humanoid’s physical and men- each of your players. tal state—one which, if willingly succumbed to, will Chapter 2 contains rules regarding lycanthropy, from indeed transform the lycanthrope into a creature who infection to transfiguration. Unless stated otherwise, follows the every urge of their Beast Within. all lycanthropes (be they nonplayer characters or This supplement touches on many potentially trig- player characters) must obey these rules. gering topics, which both Dungeon Master and players Chapter 3 presents rules for player character lycan- should be aware of before encountering any of the fol- thropes, including a true lycanthrope ancestry which lowing material. These topics may include body hor- can be chosen at character creation, racial feats for ror, murder, mutilation, blood drinking, corpse eating, true lycanthropes, and rules for infecting characters cannibalism, starvation, ritual sacrifice of humanoids, with the curse of lycanthropy during your campaign. cancer, infertility, non-consensual body modification, Chapter 4 is a bestiary of NPC lycanthrope statistics, death of and violence against loved ones, mental including new lycanthropes (such as werecrocodiles) illness, physical and psychological pain and trauma, as well as more formidable versions of each type of mind control, trauma-induced personality changes, werebeast (e.g., the infamous werewolf alpha and self-harm, sadism, and emotional manipulation. legendary werewolf apex). Before using this (or any) supplement in your Chapter 5 provides items of magical and mundane adventures, we encourage using safety tools such origin used by lycanthrope hunters or those that as the TTRPG Safety Toolkit (by Kienna Shaw and