Werecreatures

"The first time I changed, I was looking up at one of the moons. It seemed so perfect, so peaceful, that I wanted to sing my joy for all to hear. I threw back my head and my cry changed from a scream to a howl in mid-note. I was astonished, but not frightened because it felt... right. I ran through the forest that night, my sharp new senses opening up a whole new world to me. The Witch Hunters say that I must be wicked, that I’ve consorted with Chaos. I have done no such thing. I pray to Sigmar. I have never harmed anyone who did not try to harm me first. When the forces of the Vampire Count Manfred came to attack a village that I had been staying at, my abilities allowed me to know about it far in advance and I raised an alarm that saved many lives, yet the Empire's authorities would call me a mutant and kill me if they could. Do you know what has changed the most about me? I'm now glad I'm not a Human, for a small and petty race you are."

—Renata, Werewolf in entertainer's clothing

A Chaos-tainted Werebeast

Werecreatures, also known as Werebeasts, are Humans who possess the ability to take on some of the attributes or even the full shape of an animal, usually that of a carnivore or other powerful mammal. Some of them have been magically cursed to do so, whereas others seem to have the ability as an inherited birthright. Stories about Werecreatures are common in the Old World, though not many of those tales portray them as anything but evil beasts capable of the most foul savagery.^[1a][1b]

Imperial scholars, who refer to the ability to shape-change as "lycanthropy," and to Werecreatures as "lycanthropes,"^[3a] frequently argue about where the line is drawn between what constitutes a werecreature and a mutant. There seems to be no clear or easy answer, which is why the debate has gone on for centuries. The Norscans call their shape-shifters "were" and indeed, the term "Werecreature" is obviously drawn from their language.^[1a][1b]

The argument is complicated by the fact that many Norscans are clearly tainted by Chaos, though they would say "blessed" and many of those that may have once been deemed werecreatures may possibly be well on their way to actually becoming Chaos Spawn.^[1b]

Away from the north, the story changes. Werecreatures seldom give any indication that they are anything but Human. Indeed, those cursed with the "change" may even be unaware of their nature, shifting forms only when triggered to do so, such as by the phases of the moon, personal injury or the command of a sorcerer, indicating that the taint of Chaos may not touch all werecreatures in the same fashion.^[1b]

Werecreatures can change their form into that of a beast, or a hybrid of both Human and animal forms. The Weres of Norsca are Chaos-tainted, whereas the legendary Children of Ulric, if they exist, reputedly draw their power from another source.^[1c]

Types of Werecreatures

A Werewolf in its hybrid form.

• Were-bears - Were-bears are huge, bear-like Werecreatures.^[5a]

• Wereboars - Tribal and aggressive, Wereboars inhabit dark woods and forests of the Old World. They have three forms, that of a Giant Boar, a normal Human, or a hybrid, half-Human, half-boar form. When in Human form, they are often capable of wielding magic. In Giant Boar form, Wereboars are subject to that form's lowered intelligence.^[3a]

• Werecats - Some Werecreatures can transform into Great Cats.^[2a]
  • Weretigers - The Weretiger is a common form of lycanthropy found in the Far East, as skin-changing is often called among scholars. Weretigers may assume the shape of a tiger, a normal Human, or a hybrid, half-Human, half-tiger form. When in the shape of a true tiger, Weretigers are subject to that form's lowered intelligence.^[3a]

• Wererats - Wererats are of evil temperament and are often found in packs preying upon lone travellers and other small groups of people. They may adopt the shape of a Giant Rat, a normal Human or a hybrid, half-Human, half-rat form.^[3a]

• Werewolves - The Werewolf is the most common form of Werecreature encountered in the Old World. They may change into the form of a Giant Wolf, a normal-looking Human or a hybrid, half-Human, half-wolf form. When in the shape of a Great Wolf Werewolves are subject to that form's lowered intelligence, but gain the ability to control and lead a pack of twelve Giant Wolves as their alpha.^[3a]
  • Skin Wolves - Skin Wolves are actually a form of Chaos-touched mutant, canine werecreatures native to the frozen lands of Norsca. The greatest of their number are known as the Werekin.

Notable Werecreatures

Beorg Bearstruck, a mutated werebear mercenary captain.^[5a]

• Beorg Bearstruck - The most infamous Were-bear is Beorg Bearstruck, who leads a host of mutated Norscan Chaos Marauders known as the "Bearmen of Urslo."^[5a]

• Werner Silbermann - A wizard from the city-state of Nuln who mutated into a werewolf.^[4a]

Canon Conflict

As noted in the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition Enemy in Shadows Companion sourcebook, since the time of the 1st Edition of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay the identity of the Old World and its denizens has been considerably refined. For better or worse, all Werecreatures other than Were-bears, Werewolves and Skin Wolves have not remained part of the Warhammer canon at present. As such, Game Masters can instead replace them with Werewolves in their role-playing campaigns set in the Known World.^[2a]

Sources

• 1: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Old World Bestiary (RPG)
  • 1a: pg. 59
  • 1b: pg. 60
  • 1c: pg. 118
• 2: Warhammer Roleplay 4th Edition: Enemy in Shadows Companion (RPG)
  • 2a: pp. 86-87
• 3: Warhammer The Mass Fantasy Role-Playing Game: Vol. 1 Tabletop Battles (1st Edition)
  • 3a: pg. 48
• 4: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition: Apocrypha Now 2 - Chart of Darkness (RPG)
  • 4a: pp. 110-116
• 5: Warhammer Armies: Dogs of War (5th Edition)
  • 5a: pp. 50-51

Gallery

A Chaos Werebeast in battle.

The Werecat Emmaretta in her Human form, accompanied by two Great Cats.^[2a]

Werner Silbermann.^[4a]

A Werewolf

A Werewolf

A Norscan Werewolf as depicted in concept art for Total War: Warhammer.