Characters
- {{Oz}} AKA DanielOsbourne
- {{Veruca}}
- NinaAsh
A person transformed into a wolf, either temporarily or permanently, usually by means of a supernatural curse. The transformation is usually triggered by the cycle of the full moon. Wolf of course means wolf, and were is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning man. Other synonyms for WereWolf include WolfMan? and {{Lycanthrope}}. However, the word lycanthrope is generally reserved for people with a psychological delirium of believing oneself to be a wolf when one is not - i.e., non-magical in origin. There are also diseases like porphyria, rabies and hypertrichosis which when gone untreated cause symptoms similar to lycanthropy.
The earliest mention of Werewulf in Greek mythology explains that the god Zeus himself had the power to shapechange into any living creature, and at times he chose that of a wolf. He could also change the shape of lesser mortals. One tale speaks of Zeus disguising himself as a traveller and asked for shelter from the Arcadian King Lycaon. Recognizing his guest was the god Zeus, Lycaon attempted to poison Zeus by feeding him human flesh. Zeus outmaneuvered the King but was furious at the attempted deception, so he cursed Lycaon to live out the rest of his life in the form of a wolf.
Documented references in known texts begin circa 1016-1035AD, in The Laws of King Canute, who ruled Denmark, Norway and England for almost two decades. Based on the laws of his predeccessor, Canute's laws were transcribed by Archbishop Wulfstan. "...lest the madly ravenous werewolf too savagely tear or devour too much from a godly flock." During medieval times it was believed werewolves were demonically cursed humans. Human body parts or eviscerated wild animals found on the side of dirt roads would sometimes be attributed to werewolf activity in the area. Legends of men transformed into wolves travelled from Norway to Romania.
In the BuffyVerse, a werewolf like {{Oz}}, {{Veruca}} or NinaAsh Nina Ash? is a normal human being who has been bitten by another werewolf. From this point on, during the three nights closest to the full moon, the human being transforms into a half-man half-wolf creature and remains so from sunset to sunrise. When transmuted, the human side of the psyche is completely dormant, taken over by a feral predatory mentality that knows only the hunt. At first these two identities are completely separate, but over time each side of the psyche begins to aquire qualities from the other. A werewolf in human form may be able to detect individuals from a distance by pure sense of smell, or become more empathic towards those around them. In the beast form, a more mature werewolf may actually be able to detect the difference between strangers and those it knows in its human form. Not enough to communicate with perhaps, but perhaps enough to know not to eat. However, at first the human psyche will be totally oblivious to its bestial nature, until consequences and evidence to the contrary supports otherwise.
Werewolves can sense powerful emotions, sometimes from miles away. They can track more successfully than bloodhounds by sheer scent. They can also detect the presence of other werewolves even if they're in human form. If not properly trained in the ways of meditation, or otherwise controlled, the darker wolf side of the two identities will begin to rule the human side, bringing the victim into a belief structure in which s/he is above other humans and will consider them prey. This mentality may lead to a downward spiral from where the humanity slips away until there's nothing left but the feral.
There is no known cure. However it is possible to control the beastial nature. Monks in Tibet taught {{Oz}} meditation techniques that they combined with herbs in his diet, along with chanting and charms. He's now able to roam about under a full moon in apparent ease and comfort. However, intense negative stimulation, such as great physical pain, or overly stressful social situations can reverse this cure, as seen later with {{Oz}} in BtvsSeasonFour, ANewMoonRising?.
There are more than one species of Werewolf in the BuffyVerse. In the AtSSeasonFive episode "Unleashed", NinaAsh contracts lycanthropy from a breed of Werewolf never seen before in North America called Lycanthropus Exterus. Thus Nina is different to that of {{Oz}} and {{Veruca}}. As far as we can tell from what is seen on both BtVS and AtS, the more common Werewolf is smaller, with a heavy coat of fur, and while still being very dangerous, doesn't have a large mouth or canine set of teeth. The Lycanthropus Exterus on the other hand has longer, more powerful arms, is bigger and sports a snout and canine fangs.
See also {{Demonology}} and {{Turned}}.
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