Lycanthropy and You: 4 ways to achieve were-fun

If you approach any random person on the street, with no interest in fantasy or mythology, and you utter the words “full moon, silver bullets, wolfsbane” you are likely going to get a very strange look. The mind behind that look however will already be thinking about werewolves. The idea of a human who becomes a bestial animal is so ingrained in the human consciousness that you will find some form of it in nearly every culture.

To a psychologist a werewolf can be a fascinating study of the power of instinct and what it really means to be human, to a gamer a werewolf can be just like fighting an orc only they use shiner weapons to crack its skull. However there is more meat on those lycanthropic bones than a straight fight and the clever DM can milk this cultural classic for some roleplay fun.

Below are just a few of my ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

Needle in a Haystack

The farm town the party is passing through turns out to have a few surprises of its own. Over the last few days livestock has been turning up partially eaten and mutilated. The townsfolk had just assumed it was wild animals until the party spends the night and finds the next morning there’s a farmer yelling about spotting a beast who walks like a man fleeing the scene and heading for town. Accusations are being thrown, lynch mobs are being formed and some villagers are eying the party tiefling a bit too closely, perhaps the party should find the real culprit and quick!

Animal Intellect

A marauding tribe of werewolves have been raiding all caravans that pass through a great swamp, grinding trade to a halt. Any party who wants to stop the tribe will be forced to contend with the difficult terrain, devious traps and hit and run tactics of the well coordinated group. Can the heroes out think the lycanthropes before all their strength has been sapped or will they wind up as tasty morsels for the bestial men?

Were-Scapegoat

A shifter who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time has found himself up on the gallows. The party finds him accused of everything from missing babies to causing an old man’s tooth ache. How will the group deal with closed minded peasants ready to hang an innocent man? Or is he?

Patient Zero

Children are running rampant through the city streets, robbing vendors and picking pockets to give the spoils to their new friend Uncle Whiskers. Meanwhile an outbreak of filth fever has spread like wildfire through the town watch. Uncle Whiskers has put out the word that this city is going to be a haven for every wererat and low-life who can make his way over. Will our party be able to deal with the rat population explosion and shepard away the misguided youths long enough to deal with their beloved Uncle Whiskers?

What do you think?

If you have some more ideas about having fun with lycanthropes I’d love to hear them in the comments. If you have any cool information about werewolves and other beastly myths I want to hear those too, I always appreciate some new folklore.

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