Therianthropy

Therianthropes are humanoids who suffer from the affliction of Therianthropy. While they are still their own humanoid race, many consider them to be a sub-species within their own race. Those afflicted, while aging, do so at a much slower rate than their kin, increasing their lifespans greatly. Many races can only be afflicted with certain kinds of Therianthropy. Skilner, for example, can only be afflicted if the Therianthrope matches their specific feline species, while Indlose can only be made into Lycanthropes. Elves meanwhile can be changed into any kind of Therianthrope.

Therianthropes also only take the form of an animal that is at least in some form predatory, as one will never encounter a Therianthrope who's Primal dwells in the form of a horse or deer. As a side note, Therianthropy may also affect the Primal's host body, making the humanoid take on specific traits.

Therianthropes become more powerful with the more humanoids they've turned, with their Primal harboring strength from the others its created, in a sense doing a less draining ritual of what Unguis preformed long ago, though it has no affect on how long a Therianthrope can last in combat. It increases their stamina, strength, and at times, can gift them with other abilities. The most common ability that these powerful Therianthropes have is to take a new form, a completely animalistic version of their Primal form (Ex; Lycanthrope turning into a wolf).

Origin
In the days where Gods openly preformed rituals to increase their power and invincibility, Unguis split his own soul into thousands of pieces. These shards were sent by the god to Sollus, where they took hosts in the humanoids there. By the parts of Unguis literally being made a part of these humanoids, they took on some his traits, and under any of Sollus's full moons, would transform into raving beasts. Possessed by what would later become known as Primals, these original Therianthropes became insane, considered to be more beast than man.

When the mortal races mostly stopped worshipping Unguis, he gave Therianthropes the abilitity to spread their curse. This caused Therianthropes to greatly increase in population. These Therianthropes had an independant Primal of their own attached to their body, this being a totally different entity from those who were a part of Unguis's multi-bodied soul.

Methods of Affliction

 * Bitten - The most common method of affliction, the diasese is transmitted through saliva. This can also mean that being intimate with a Therianthrope can be difficult.
 * Blood - Though their blood can be used independently as a form of healing, if given in enough mass to a humanoid, it will turn them into a Therianthrope. This works particularly well with the Clavathrope.
 * Blessing of Unguis - Unguis blesses his most fanatically devout with the 'gift' of Therianthropy. These Therianthropes are often more savage and insane than their more brutally turned kin, as they have been changed by Unguis's raw might.
 * Inheritance - Being born to Therianthrope parents also transmits the affliction, though these Therianthropes are born without a Primal, this spirit having truly bonded and becoming one with them because of their natural creation.

Lycanthrope
The Lycanthrope is possibly the most common form of Therianthrope in all of Sollus, taking the form that is half man, half wolf. They, unlike most other Therianthropes, have a particular weakness to silver. Lycanthropes instinctively form groups of three to five members, these being their "packs". These groups have been known to excede the limit of five, however.

Onithrope and Trunithrope
The Trunithrope is a Therianthrope taking the Primal of a jaguar, with its counterpart, the Onithrope, being one that is a melanistic jaguar. They live a mostly solitary lifestyle, with no innate need to be social like Lycanthropes. They, like many other feline Therianthropes, can also transmit their infection through clawing their victims.

Plagithrope
Plagithropes take the form of a tigerlike beast. They have the chance to be differing colors, be it orange, white, or golden, with even rarer cases being entirely black or white. Plagithropes can also transmit their diasese by scratching. They're the rarest kind of Therianthrope, with their golden colored variant being the most elusive Therianthrope known to inhabit Sollus.

Clavathrope
A Clavathrope is a Therianthrope taking the form of a grotesque creature that is half man half bat. Gifted with the ability of flight, these creatures are often deemed the most threatening Therianthrope, not because of their cunning or strength, but because they drop down on their victims from above. Clavathropes are often known for their thirst for blood, breaking into homes at night to try and drain those within dry. Because of their hunger for blood, they can be found in the company of vampires. Little Clavathrope blood is needed to turn someone due to the intensity of its blood.

Skalathrope
Skalathropes are Therianthropes that take the form of a Jackal. These Therianthropes find their beastial natures easier to control for whatever reason, and are sometimes requested by adventuring parties for their strength and skill. Skalathrope individuals are known for their cunning and trickery. This specific Therianthrope is usually found in deserts.

Ursithrope
Ursithropes are a type of Therianthrope that takes the form of a bear. Their beastial form may be like that of a black, grizzly, kodak, or snow bear, depending on the region they're found in. The Kodak Uristhrope is the largest, with the snow, grizzly, and black bear following in that order. Some speculate that in undiscovered parts of Sollus there may be sun bear and oriental bear Ursithropes. Ursithropes who can control their beastial nature are usually known for their loyalty and friendliness, going to extremes to protect their family and friends. The increased strength Therianthropes possess is exaggerated in the Ursithrope.

Savanthrope
A Savanthrope is a Therianthrope who takes the form of a leopard Primal. They are similar to the Trunithrope, often being confused for their kin. Savanthrope, however are much larger and have the usual differences in pelt that a jagur and leopard possess. Savanthropes are known for their swindling, often finding homes within bandit and thief dens. They are considerably stealthy.

Manikthrope
A Manikthrope is most similar to a Hyena in its beastial form. They come in the three varieties of hyene normally found, the spotted, striped, and brown hyena. The Spotted hyena is the most common in form. They hold an unusual weakness to copper.

Vansithrope
Though often called a Manikthrope, the Vansithrope is a Therianthrope that is similar to the Aardwolf. Due to its similarities to the Manikthrope, most consider it to be a Manikthrope, though it is rarer and bolsters a different body type. Some argue that it is a different Therianthrope all together. It still holds the Manikthrope's weakness to copper, however, to a further extreme than even the Manikthrope.

Klarrthrope
The Klarrthrope is scarcely found out of swamps and jungles, taking the form of either an alligator or crocodile. The Crocodile form is often viewed as the Arrthrope, while the more common alligator form is seen as the Klathrope. They are both collectively referred to as the Klarrthrope, however.

Vilithrope
Vilithrope take the Primal form of a rat. Unusually smaller and weaker than their more dangerous brethern, Vilithrope are viewed as the vermin of the Therianthrope world, with most of their kin looking down upon them. The Vilithrope can often be observed in the beggar populations of cities, running through sewers.