Basics

Introduction

The ability to shift -- in essence, being a werewolf -- is one of the many unique aspects of 'Souls. They are loosely based on the traditional Hollywood-esque werewolves, but can also trace inspiration to many other werewolf types. 'Souls's werewolves have several aspects that set them apart from others. Please read over this section of the Guide carefully if you're uncertain about anything concerning our werewolves.

Luperci

The name for our species is Luperci. The Luperci were, in ancient Roman times, cults which arose out of love or adoration for lupa romana, the she-wolf who suckled Romulus and Remus. The Luperci of ancient times sacrificed goats at the entrances of their "wolves dens" or homes. At 'Souls, the origins of the term "Luperci" are unknown, although it may have arisen from a particularly scholarly wolf who studied his ancient forebearers in one library or another.

The Luperci's origins are not a mystery to most. When the Z456 virus infected and subsequently wiped out the existing human population in the late eighties, the virus mutated, and began infecting animal populations. Other species were infected by the virus, but the animal that most profited from the Z456 virus were the wolves. They gained the ability to shift into two other forms other than their natural one, and their intelligence grew significantly. For a long time, wolves at 'Souls remain quite feral, but there has been a slow shift towards more human lifestyles. Luperci outside of 'Souls and the Americas, particularly those in Europe and Russia, have already seen widespread adoption of these lifestyles.

It is important to note that Luperci do not have human forms. Luperci were never human. They are canines with a mutated gene that allows them the ability to shift into a more humanized, bipedal form, but they are not and never will be human.

Types of Luperci

'Souls limits the ability to shift to those in the genus Canis, though wolves retain the highest proportion of Luperci. There are two types of Luperci within our game. The most common is the Luperci Ortus, one or both of whose parents was also a Luperci. The less common type is the Luperci Verto type, who did not inherit the Luperci genes and was instead infected at a later date.

Luperci Ortus

This type of Luperci is born with the ability to shift between all three forms. The mutated shifting gene is dominant, so it only takes one Luperci parent for a litter of werewolf children to occur. Luperci Ortus are almost always more fluid and faster in their transformations than Verto shifters. The Luperci Ortus are the least volatile type of shifter, as their abilities are inherent and their parents usually explain the shifting process and their heritage to them.

Luperci Verto

This type of Luperci was not born a werewolf, but picked up the ability to shift somewhere along the line. S/he is also able to transform between all three forms. Luperci Verto can have difficulty controlling their shifting and their urges for up to six months following the initial infection, especially if they were given the werewolf mutation later in life. Luperci Verto cannot usually be created "accidentally" through smaller bites; a significant amount of bodily fluid must pass into a non-Luperci's bloodstream. Serious Luperci-inflicted wounds, sexual intercourse, and purposeful blood transfusion are some of the most common forms of transmission. Once infected, it can take up to eight days before the mutation is fully realized. The first signs -- an uncontrollable urge to shift -- usually manifests a few days afterwards.

Naming Conventions

A normal, non-Luperci wolf retains its regular scientific name. A wolf is Canis lupus. An arctic wolf is Canis lupus arctos. Luperci names simply append their Luperci type to the end of their speices' regular scientific name. Thus, a wolf that is a Luperci Ortus becomes Canis lupus ortus, and an arctic wolf that is a Luperci Verto becomes Canis lupus arctos verto. These names do not need to contain the word "Luperci" as both types are de facto Luperci. The same naming convention can be applied to any other canines in genus Canis. Thus, a were-coyote becomes Canis latrans verto or Canis latrans ortus.

Please note again that only animals in the genus Canis can gain the ability to shift. This means that many other kinds canines in the family Canidae cannot shift, including foxes (Vulpes), African wild dogs (Lycaon), and maned wolves (Chrysocyon). This also means that other large carnivores like big cats, bears, hyenas, etc, etc, cannot shift. Humans are extinct and cannot become Luperci. Our Luperci do not have human forms.

Three Forms

At 'Souls, our werewolves have three forms: the Lupus (normal wolf) form, the Secui (halfling) form, and the Optime (werewolf) form. The Luperci do not have human forms (the human silhouette is included in the chart for size reference only). They were born in in normal wolf form from either a wolf or a werewolf. Note from the Reproduction page that no matter what a mother's form during pregnancy, her children are always born four-legged.

Lupus

The "normal wolf" form. The Lupus form is just that. Think of an average, run-of-the-mill wolf. This form bears certain advantages, including speed, agility, and stealth. Many feel most comfortable in this form, especially the young.

Secui

The "half-shifted" or "halfling" form. The Secui form is somewhere between normal and werewolf form. Its body retains the general shape of the Lupus, though it is much more massive. Its build is heavier and bulkier in general, giving it more brute strength, and its thickened mane makes it seem even larger than it already is. Secui forms are very powerful and also incredibly fast.

Optime

The werewolf, or fully shifted form, is a bipedal, humanoid creature with opposable thumbs. The Optime form has the ability to manipulate objects with much greater dexterity than either of the other two forms. Body types can vary greatly among Optime forms, from the more traditional, more-feral looking werewolves, to much slimmer and more refined-looking individuals. As many werewolves personally opt to become more humanized, certain characteristics can be groomed up to more human standards. For example, a long mane can be combed forward to emulate human hair by creating stylings and bangs. Though the Optime form retains digitigrade feet, many Optime alter or create their own clothing to accommodate their unique anatomy.

Shifting

For Luperci Ortus, the process of shifting is neither complicated nor painful. In order to shift, all a Luperci has to do is focus on the change, and it will happen. The process may take anywhere from two to fifteen minutes depending on how experienced the shifter is. A young Luperci will take a longer time than an older Luperci, and one who does not shift often will also take more time. For Luperci Verto, the change isn't really particularly painful either, but they may perceive it as being such, especially for their first few times. It is much easier for Verto to get confused as their body changes, and it can end up taking thirty minutes to an hour if they are distressed.

No matter what form a Luperci is in, s/he is comfortable with the movements and abilities of that form. Though the process of shifting can take some getting used to, there is no real "adjustment period" where a Lupus has to adapt to the body of the Optime. Even after the very first shift, a novice Luperci will know how to manipulate and move in its Optime form. A Luperci is not "uncontrollable" in its Optime form. A normal Luperci will not be level-headed and collected in its Lupus form, and then, once shifted, turn into a pillaging, plundering murderer.

Luperci are never forced to shift due to full moons, although many feel a very strong pull to change to the bipedal form and run around the countryside to expend excess energy. Rage will not force a Luperci in Lupus form to shift, although an especially traumatic event may cause premature shifting in a young Luperci. Involuntary shifting is extremely rare.

Shifting takes a bit of energy no matter the time of the month or energy level of the individual. Luperci are not able to swap quickly back and forth between forms. If a Luperci shifts numerous times consecutively, s/he may faint from the amount of energy eaten up by the shifting process.

When a Luperci shifts, it usually happens pretty methodically. You can shift any way you please so long as it's not instantaneous. Also, if your character prefers to wear clothing when in the Optime form, the clothes don't magically appear. Your character should probably stash the clothes away, or carry them around in a bag.

Example

Lupus to Optime: "She leapt nimbly upon the seat which she'd claimed as her own, sitting herself down nicely. Dark eyes stared forward and then shut as she began to shift. At first the only noticeable difference was the fur along her neck. It lengthened out; the short, rough hair growing long and silken. The next was her forelegs. In a seemingly painful fashion, upper halves lengthened, shifting her elbow downwards. Her haunches began to lengthen into thighs. Slowly at first, then a bit faster and faster, the raven alpha began to double in size. Her arms continued to lengthened, along with her hind legs, and with a sickening crackle of bones, new joints appeared at her ankles and wrists. The toes in her forepaws began to lengthen as well, stretching out into dexterous fingers. Her ears moved slightly up her head, which had grown slightly to accommodate for the change in size her body had just underwent. Finally, her tail lengthened, the coarse sable fur layered thickly upon it becoming soft and velveteen."

Physical Appearance

In this section, the Guide will only delve into the differences in the Secui and Optime forms. If you're not sure what a normal wolf (the Lupus form) looks like, google it. :O

Hands/Paws

The Luperci's lupus form is physically indistinguishable from a non-Luperci. As the Luperci begins shifting and passes into its Secui form, however, various changes begin to manifest in its forefeet. The main flesh pad of the paw compresses somewhat in shape and remains small while the rest of the paw grows -- as the Luperci's fingers lengthen somewhat, less weight is put on the palm of the paw, lessening the need for a thick main pawpad. Meanwhile, the pisiform (wrist pad) begins to shift downward towards the center of the paw, and the thumb digit gains a small pad.

When the Luperci is fully shifted into Optime form, the pisiform disappears, and the palm pad splits into three parts to facilitate gripping, grasping, holding, and various other hand functions. Optime forepaw pads are considerably less thick than Lupus or Secui pads as Optime do not generally walk on them, but remain as sort of functional vestigial parts.

Coat

Secui -- A Secui's coat is very much like a wolf's, with no noticeable changes in length, thickness, or dispersion. The only real difference is a thicker, shaggier mane protecting the neck and throat. This mane begins at the base of the ears and extends halfway down the back, giving the Secui form even more of a heavy, hulking appearance.

Optime -- An Optime's outer coat is thick with a softer undercoat, similar to a Lupus's. The outer coat acts as protection against water and the elements, and the inner coat acts as warmth. An Optime's coat, however, has a few key differences. First, a completely natural Optime form has a thick, heavy mane which starts at the base of its ears and may extend halfway down its back. An Optime might also trim and change its mane into a particular haircut, braid it, or style it -- depends on the individual and its personal preference. Optime also have longer tufts of hair on the backs of the thighs and elbows, although some choose to trim this, as well.

Body and Skull

Secui-- The Secui form's body is similar to a Lupus, but heavier and larger. The halfling is muscular like the werewolf, but maintains four-legged stance. It has a wider chest, and very large paws with retractable claws. A halfling is much faster than both the wolf and werewolf, with top speeds of fifty-five to sixty miles an hour, although the Secui's endurance is only about half of the wolf's endurance. The skull is massive in comparison to the Lupus's and roughly the same size as a Optime's.

Optime-- An Optime's body is much like a human's, albeit slightly taller and usually heavier due to muscle density. The chest of an Optime is somewhat narrow, stemming from the wolf's very narrow chest. An Optime is slower than the normal wolf with top speed capping at twenty-five to thirty miles an hour with less endurance than both the wolf and the halfling. This form has both opposable thumbs and retractable claws, allowing for easy manipulation of objects and far more dexterity than either of the other forms. Optimes have longer, sharper teeth than the average Lupus -- some cannot cover the very tips of their teeth with their lips.

Abnormalities

Immunity to the virus is a rare occurrence, although it has occurred previously. Immunity seems to be completely randomized and is not inheritable through families; while an immune mother always bears non-Luperci children, her children may later become Luperci verto.

Immune characters and references to immune canines in any character's past require the permission of the 'Souls Assemblage.

More Information

1. Check the FAQ if you have a question about Luperci.