#lore question

[darkwhisper-art]

How do you become a werewolf? Are there different ways for each 'type'?

This is ALSO very fun and complex! Most people have very little information on how it actually works, and so a lot of evidence is anecdotal, and a lot of information is speculative. By far, the most common way to become a werewolf is to be bitten by one. Within an established werewolf lineage, being bitten by or consuming the blood of a werewolf are the main ways to become one. It is also believed that the bones and hide of a werewolf are just as cursed as its flesh and spirit; wearing them or using them for anything is just like holding a cursed possession, and will gradually turn someone into a werewolf. Becoming a Prime Werewolf (the first werewolf in a line) is incredibly complex and rife with superstition. There are some druids that believe there are natural werewolves in the world that evolved from wild spiritual entities; or that a mortal can either be blessed or haplessly bitten by a cursed wolfish nature spirit (or even primal deity) and become a Prime Werewolf. Some moon-worshippers or shamanistic cultures may ritualistically take on the spirit of the wolf through a variety of means, and may unwittingly transform themselves into fully cursed werewolves. Those versed in alchemy and/or dark magic may unlock the secrets of the werewolf curse and turn themselves; or, in the cases of vampires and some witches, use this knowledge to turn others for a variety of reasons. While these paths are the most verifiable, there is a sea of folklore and superstition surrounding it, and those less knowledgeable will suppose increasingly unhinged and unlikely explanations. Affliction of the curse does have a relationship with the different werewolf morphs. Each werewolf morph represents a much greater power threshold and greater rarity that spikes considerably at the level of Lupine Werewolf. The overall methods of acquiring the curse are the same, but the intensity, details, and individual capacity for the curse will greatly affect how the Prime Werewolf transforms. A Prime Werewolf will most likely be either a Traditional Werewolf or a Lycan, with Lupine Werewolves and Greater Werewolves being almost mythical sights. Some people may misinterpret different morphs as different strains of the curse due to a misunderstanding of what's happening; it's more accurate to view it as diminishing potency the further one gets down the direct line from the Prime Werewolf. When cursed by a werewolf, a person is most likely to express the same morph and be the same kind of werewolf as their sire, but marginally weaker. Over time and getting further away from the Prime Werewolf, werewolves will resemble the same morph, but lose some of their powers and abilities. Getting even further removed, they will instead be transformed into a weaker but more common werewolf morph. If a chain (even from a Greater Werewolf) stretches out far enough, there will be an army of Smudge Wolves who can all trace their curse back to a single, much more formidable werewolf. The short answer is that it's a curse - either passed on, bestowed, or otherwise acquired, and different morphs occur from dwindling potency of the curse.

[darkwhisper-art]

Do vampires and werewolves have a "rivalry" or enemies thing going on?

Generally, yes, but not 100% of the time! They both have fairly large ranges with a lot of overlap throughout Aderlan and Rasvia, and were once incredibly numerous in places like Rolevnya. In these places of long-standing overlap, there are a lot of established rivalries. Additionally, vampire lords with elitist mindsets are not and were not uncommon, especially back when there were vampires openly ruling their corners of the world. These sorts of elitist vampires will view humans and werewolves as lesser beings - where humans are viewed as livestock, werewolves are often viewed as working animals: useful, and made and kept with a specific purpose. Because of this, unintentionally on the part of the vampires, there are ancient rivalries between the two that echo to this day. Of all rivals that vampires have, werewolves are seen as their biggest mistake: as the werewolf curse has a very passionate and aggressive nature, but also because a werewolf bite is one of the only ways to kill a potent vampire, and there are definitely werewolves who would use this to their advantage. There are some vampires who are capable of cursing new werewolves into existence through magic, creating them with the purpose of servitude. There are also werewolves that serve vampires for other reasons: brought into the fold via bartering, charms, bindings, or strong-arming. Because of this, werewolves will be seen working for vampires with some frequency. Given that there are many elitist vampires, and werewolves are incredibly passionate creatures that have compulsions towards rage and freedom, there are many cases where werewolves will break out from under their vampires and even lead uprisings. Naturally, this leads to the werewolves involved developing hatred for vampires for being forced into servitude. Since this has been occurring for ages, there are many werewolves that have deep, generational, rage-fueled hatred for vampires; but there are others who are simply distrusting of vampires and recognize them as an insidious threat to be wary of. Though their hatred is rooted in massive cultural differences and very specific old rivalries, in spite of widespread, mutual prejudices, werewolves and vampires will voluntarily work together and can even get along! Individuals, especially those unaffiliated with established covens or packs, can set aside their differences in service of a common goal, or even form unlikely friendships. There are also a few cases of vampiric dark lords who (while evil) are not cruel or elitist, and employ werewolf servants who enjoy a degree of structure and protection, developing a kind of symbiotic relationship.

The short answer is that it's messy and complicated, the way that many intergroup relationships are, but definitely swings negative.

[guardian-of-time-if]

how old is the oldest leodra/elf?

Oldest leodra is around 600ish years old and I have absolutely no idea how old the oldest elf is. The oldest one I've written was exactly 967, but I've also indicated that there are a few people older than him, but no numbers.

[scriptrix-eclectica]

So I distinctly remember from the book that "Andante" was the first case James attended alone, and it seems to be implied the same in the show. But does anyone know about night calls? I find it hard to believe that Siegfried would make James wake him up for every night call for weeks...

Basically I need to know if I can get away with a fic set in James' first couple weeks at Skeldale (between 1x1 and 1x2) where he goes on a night call alone.

[darkwhisper-art]

Do fauns and satyrs get along? Do they get offended if someone misidentifies one as the other?

They do not get along, and they absolutely get offended by misidentification. Fauns will take it more personally, and be more self-righteous about it. Satyrs are more likely to forgive a misidentification, but will be initially offended. Fauns see satyrs as reckless nuisances without any respect for their roles or responsibilities that disrupt the peace and sanctity of the forests, and Satyrs see fauns as stick-in-the mud snobs that take everything way too seriously. Given that they have both physical and cultural differences, misidentification is quite the faux pas!

However, per the role of the fae'rie courts, as well as loose alliances with elves, the two will work together when the situation calls for it, despite their differences.

[darkwhisper-art]

How big can a harpy flock get? How many broodmothers can a single flock have?

It's incredibly variable. Some harpy flocks are just a single harpy (who will become its broodmother) and her direct lineage, and others can be 30-40 members strong with two or three broodmothers. It depends on their environment, how large of a territory they have, and how successful their hunts are. Young harpies will either be integrated into the flock, or will leave to start their own by themselves or with their sisters from the same clutch when they reach sexual maturity.

[darkwhisper-art]

Probably a stupid question but does the harpy chicks be taken care of by the mother or the whole flock in a "it takes a village" kind of way?

Not stupid at all, and thank you for asking!

It's a bit of both! Their mother is responsible for direct care and feeding, cleaning, preening when their real feathers start to come in, etc., but as they grow, they learn from the entire flock. By the time they're young adolescents, they are integrated into the flock entirely with no direct care from their mothers. Different flocks in different areas will have different hunting tactics and different ways of going about things. Also worth noting, harpy chicks are terrible to look at: think like pink wrinkly baby birds with bug eyes, but apply it to a human baby's structure. I should draw one at some point.