Werewolf Disorders?

[Silverclaw]

Do you think Werewolves could get disorders or anything like that? Such as stuck in the middle of a shift, shifting randomly, things of that nature. Or is being a werewolf too much of a disorder by itself?

[Baphnedia]

I think that extenuating circumstances could really mess them up - or perhaps a varient of lycanthropy. Also, degeration of the mind could be another factor, some minds could handle shifting, while some couldn't. What would happen if a WW bit most of the kids in a Special Ed class? I think any special needs of the recipient may really affects the nature of the change.

Control over instinct might be something to have a lot of fun with... My mind is now burgeoning with new ideas that I'm going to implement into a little thing I'm writing...

[Kwipper]

I think werewolves should beable to have certain kinds of disorders. I mean that would make them interesting. Can you imagine a werewolf with a stuttering disorder, or perh..... *eyes start tracking a butterfly as it flutters past him*

Ooooh pretty....

*follows the butterfly*

[Vuldari]

Do you think Werewolves could get disorders or anything like that? Such as stuck in the middle of a shift, shifting randomly, things of that nature. Or is being a werewolf too much of a disorder by itself?

{Setting: A beach on a blistering hot summer day}

*Two Werewolves in human form run into each other. One is wearing swim strunks and a towel. The other is wearing an annkle length, black leather trench-coat and sweating profusely.*

"...dude...why are you wearing that?! It's like a sauna out here!"

*whispers*"...last night, after I shifted back...it stayed. It's still there..."

"What is? ...what are you talking about? HEY...there's Tammy over at the Ice Cream stand! Should we go grab some snow cones?"

"YEAH!...that sounds great!..." *the back of the trenchcoat rises up and start's wiggling back and fourth**He notices and pushes it down with his hands* "SH**!!! ...stay down!..."

*chuckles* "...ohhh...you mean THAT. Hey...maybe it's permanent now." *contunues to laugh under his breath*

"...So not funny...what if it really is...?...what if...?

"Don't worry about it Dude. I'm sure it will retract again...eventually. ...Don't look now...here comes Tammy"

*clears throat* "...ummm...Hi tammy. How's it goin' ?"

"Hey guys! ...sweet coat. You look kinda hot. You want some of my Ice cream Cone?"

"YEAH!...Thank's Tam..." *laps up ice cream messily*

*whispers to his freind* "...Dude...your coat is wagging again."

"SH**!!!!..."

[Figarou]

Heh, good one, Vuldari.

[mielikkishunt]

ya'll are nuts LOL. . especially Figgie.

Anyway. .yes, I think they should have disorders or get them .. "Wow, sweetie, you were always hairy, but what the hell happened/ You look like you rolled in a bear!" Or people who can't handle the shift, get stuck.


On that note, should they be affected by the . . guess 'shortcomings' of their canine side(Wolves being canus lupus last I checked). . IOW, they can't have chocolate, grapes, etc cuz it'll make them sick as a . . well dog LOL ..

[Figarou]

ya'll are nuts LOL. . especially Figgie.

ding ding!!

Or people who can't handle the shift, get stuck.

werewolf 1 *shifts part way* "Oh no!! I'm stuck in half shift" Can you help me out here?

werewolf 2 "Why certainly" *kicks werewolf 1 in the rear* "NYUK NYUK!"

werewolf 1 *completes shift* "Thanks. Wait a sec...wheres my tail!!"


Werewolf 2 "Oops. Guess I kicked you to hard." *bonks werewolf1 on the forehead*

werewolf1 *tail shoots out.* "Ah, there is my tail. Thanks.

[Terastas]

Seems logical. If you think about it, lycanthropy is already an extreme mutation in it's natural state, so I imagine there could be some potential for accidents, allergic reactions, etc.

Getting stuck in shift I could definitely picture, not just as a deformity, but as a common dilemma. Assuming shifting is painful (which seems to be the natural consensus), I don't think a werewolf would be able to just shift to gestalt form and back on a whim. After completing the shift from human to gestalt, I doubt they would be physically and mentally prepared to endure the shift from gestalt back to human immediately. They'd probably need to wait a certain ammount of time to let their minds and bodies recover before subjecting themselves to that again.

The whole "stuck in shift" thing could be a result of too much shifting -- they push that part of their body to it's breaking point and wind up stuck in whatever shape they lost it in.

And considering what we're talking about -- excrusiating(sp?) pain as your body twists and distorts into that of one that is not even human -- I think it's safe to assume that mental disorders wouldn't be that uncommon among werewolves.

[Aki]

On that note, should they be affected by the . . guess 'shortcomings' of their canine side(Wolves being canus lupus last I checked). . IOW, they can't have chocolate, grapes, etc cuz it'll make them sick as a . . well dog LOL ..

Has been mentioned before. We basically concluded Chocolate has the same effect on one's system as Alcohol (minus the drunkness and all that, just the damage it wreaks on the digestive system).

Which means eating too much chocolate, like drinking too much alcohol, can prove fatal.

[Silverclaw]

It would suck if a female WW in human form gave birth to a wolf pup. Escpecially in a hospital. A little akward....

WW 1(in human form)-*sigh* this sucks...

WW 2(also in human form)-What is it?

WW 1- Prom is tonight....

WW 2-So what? You got a date.

WW1-*turns around, showing his wolf tail*

WW 2-Oh

[Terastas]

It would suck if a female WW in human form gave birth to a wolf pup. Escpecially in a hospital. A little akward....

*nods* That's going back to the whole "nature of lycanthropy during pregnancy" debate, but if such could happen, I imagine that's one reason why werewolves would avoid hospitals just as much as police etc.

Could you imagine being an apprentice nurse when a guy with pointed ears and a tail gets checked in.

"Uh, hello, Doctor? Yes, yes I'm sorry to call you so late, but I have this patient here and... Well... No. No, I... Well, I guess I must have been absent when we covered this in medical school."

[outwarddoodles]

ding ding!!

GAH!!!! *Ground rumbles and Outwarddoodles Blows up*

Well your story was silly.

I'd imagine just like phobias they would be just as human disorders just with a big new factor that would effect it: being a werewolf. I would imagine someone who deathly fears shifting would have problems shifting and may be caught in the middle of it. Mental disorders could also happen due to the stress.

[Figarou]

ding ding!!

GAH!!!! *Ground rumbles and Outwarddoodles Blows up*

Well your story was silly.

Of course it was siily, you silly!!



Dare I say it!!! Oh, why not! Ding Ding!!

[Xodiac]

I imagine WWs would avoid hospitals on general principals. For one thing, they rarely need them, since they heal so fast. In those rare cases they do need them, it is surely a severe or deep enough problem that questions would be raised.

"Okay, you were shot. Why silver? You a werewolf or something? Ha ha!"

"Yeah, heh, werewolf, heh. Fancy that..."

As for the initial question, werewolf disorders. Hmm.

Getting stuck between shifts, if possible, would be a major problem. It's not likely someone would turn into a human with a tail, as in the (rather fun) example given. More likely they'd become a twisted, half-formed thing that could barely stand, barely even breathe. I imagine it would be very painful.

A preference for meat, and for it to be cooked as little as possible, might grow. Some people like their steaks rare, but it can be taken too far, and I can see that as a disorder.

Dominance/submission games might start showing up. Not necessarily physical dominance, but imagine if a WW employee is a pack alpha and the boss is the omega. Outsiders might find how they act and react towards each other at work to be bizarre.

A WW might go on long drives around his neighborhood, "patrolling his territory" even when in human form. He might grow hypersensitive to strangers in the area, and the scene when a new familiy moves into the house down the block could get very interesting.

I can probably think of others, if need be, but that'll do for now...

[outwarddoodles]

I imagine WWs would avoid hospitals on general principals. For one thing, they rarely need them, since they heal so fast. In those rare cases they do need them, it is surely a severe or deep enough problem that questions would be raised.

Well Werewolf's regeneration isnt a cure all thing and there can still be deeper cuts and problems that can happen. Yet I don't see a reason to aoid hostbitles, its very expensive for DNA testing. Unless its a crime scene (Which happened in Wolf I beleive.).

Getting stuck between shifts, if possible, would be a major problem. It's not likely someone would turn into a human with a tail, as in the (rather fun) example given. More likely they'd become a twisted, half-formed thing that could barely stand, barely even breathe. I imagine it would be very painful.

I'd imagine so also. Ofcourse I dont know what stages the transform back to human goes like but the whole body is bound to be reverting at the same time, and most likly can end up deformed and posibly dying.

A preference for meat, and for it to be cooked as little as possible, might grow. Some people like their steaks rare, but it can be taken too far, and I can see that as a disorder.

Dominance/submission games might start showing up. Not necessarily physical dominance, but imagine if a WW employee is a pack alpha and the boss is the omega. Outsiders might find how they act and react towards each other at work to be bizarre.

A WW might go on long drives around his neighborhood, "patrolling his territory" even when in human form. He might grow hypersensitive to strangers in the area, and the scene when a new familiy moves into the house down the block could get very interesting.

I can probably think of others, if need be, but that'll do for now...

That would probaly goe for all wolves. Personaly I don't think that having wolf DNA in you is going to make you act like a wolf, a wolf learns that through nuture. Yet ofcource though its not something in DNA codes it seems to be we all love a werewolf who subconcously acts like a wolf.


And some people do eat very rare meat do to, is it iron defeitiancies? (sp?)

Dare I say it!!! Oh, why not! Ding Ding!!

*Is foaming at mouth*

[Figarou]

Dare I say it!!! Oh, why not! Ding Ding!!

*Is foaming at mouth*

Oh no!!! She is building up a lot of spit!!

[Scott Gardener]

My werewolves have to deal with "going feral," or lycanthropic isolation dementia. That is, if isolated from human contact for an extended length of time--on the order of months--one becomes more feral in personality. After about five years, one could permanantly forget who one was.

My werewolf characters had to struggle with this tendancy when they lived in hiding from the ubiquitous "government agents," hiding out in Yellowstone National Park, living as a pair of wolves.

I also have my main male werewolf character prone to shifting in his sleep. While not a disorder per se, it's a potential problem in certain contexts.

Another disorder I've imagined, but have not yet put into any stories, is the "Hollywood neurosis," in which a person subconsciously believes contemporary lore about werewolves, even if it's not true. Though my werewolves don't shift automatically on full moons, those with the neurosis might, and would also exhibit an allergic-like reaction to silver, forming hives and itching when holding silver objects. In its more serious form, someone with this disorder might be prone to violent behavior while shifted.

[JonathanBaine]

Hmmm....My werewolf disorder would be senseless licking.
I'm a clean freek is what I am, beside the usual hounding...
But yea, I'd think I'd probably clean myself so much that I'd clean the fur off.

...I just noticed that I took this in another direction

[Figarou]

Hmmm....My werewolf disorder would be senseless licking.
I'm a clean freek is what I am, beside the usual hounding...
But yea, I'd think I'd probably clean myself so much that I'd clean the fur off.

...I just noticed that I took this in another direction

Yes you have. A direction far far away from here.

[Rooster Urlakane]

This is pretty interesting, my wws shift from body part (or parts) ta body part.
Mainly from feet and hands first and head and tails last so the being stuck with a tail in human isn't a problem. It's getting stuck in wolf form with a human head or vice versa

[Arania]

I always found the concept of interesting shifting dilemmas for a lycanthrope quite interesting :3
The "stuck with a tail" or other similiar, possibly socially complicated issues.
Maybe too much shifting, stress (dreams, as mentioned - subconsciously triggering a shift), or even, if you want to get mystical - strange times - blue moons, equinoxes, etc

[Terastas]

My werewolves have to deal with "going feral," or lycanthropic isolation dementia. That is, if isolated from human contact for an extended length of time--on the order of months--one becomes more feral in personality. After about five years, one could permanantly forget who one was. My werewolf characters had to struggle with this tendancy when they lived in hiding from the ubiquitous "government agents," hiding out in Yellowstone National Park, living as a pair of wolves.

I've seen this mentioned a lot by various different writers (myself included), and not just as a disorder. I remember, back when the character profiles section was up, it was mentioned that the lead character's father had "gone feral." Wether by preference or by loss of control, I don't know, but I imagine both could be possible.

The same thing actually happens in the book I'm working on; he fakes his death, then spends ten years in his full feral form (tiger in this case) working as the sidekick of a casino illusionist. By the time he's finally free to shift again, he displays great discomfort in his natural human form and he continues his life as a "reverse werekin."

I also have my main male werewolf character prone to shifting in his sleep. While not a disorder per se, it's a potential problem in certain contexts.

I'm assuming that in your version, lycanthropy is not all that painful, right? We discussed this in another thread if I recall, and while I think shifting could begin in sleep, if it's as painful as has been described, it would be unlikely for the individual to remain asleep until in full lycan form. I've been jolted out of my sleep by muscle cramps, so I imagine a werewolf would only shift the slightest bit before being jolted awake by the pain of it.

Another disorder I've imagined, but have not yet put into any stories, is the "Hollywood neurosis," in which a person subconsciously believes contemporary lore about werewolves, even if it's not true. Though my werewolves don't shift automatically on full moons, those with the neurosis might, and would also exhibit an allergic-like reaction to silver, forming hives and itching when holding silver objects. In its more serious form, someone with this disorder might be prone to violent behavior while shifted.

This could tie into werewolf behavior, IE: A werewolf becomes savage in gestalt form because they spend so much time dwelling on the Hollywood image that they begin to think of themselves as such and act accordingly.

Again, there's a similar disorder in the book I'm writing. The version of lycanthropy I'm working with is unstable when transmitted into the bloodstream but may alter and become stable based on electronic impulses recieved from the brain (in other words, the varying forms of werekin depend on how it is influenced by the person's mode of thought, IE: it's a spiritual syndrome). One form classified as a disorder is when the individual fears lycanthropy in general and, over time (usually a few weeks), after the lycanthropic syndrome has been bombarded with continuous "fear" impulses, their gestalt form becomes a reflection of this fear-turned-obsession.

So it varies from one version to another, but on the base level, I'd say feral living and Hollywood shifting would have their place in plenty of different versions of lycanthropy.

[Scott Gardener]

My version of lycanthropy starts out very bloody painful--it makes David Kessler's shift in American Werewolf in London look cozy; but over time it gets easier, and a seasoned shapeshifter can do it, well, in one's sleep. Someone who's been a lycanthrope for a few years, who hasn't actively resisted shifting, can do so pretty easily, and might even have to work on not shifting.

[IblisPendragon]

I believe that persons who are bitten and can't cope with the fact that they're turning into a werewolf would probably go mad. I sure as hell wouldn't want to meet an insane werewolf...huff

[JonathanBaine]

Waaaahehaa! Figarou's mean! Someone hit him with a duckie!




Another thought, chewing. The "chewing disorder" may occur when and after a long time of teething. The werewolf or wolf may inheritly caused itself to manifest a disorder on its own. This is also common in the human society, where in school a social outcast may be a "biter" You may have scars from when you were young and unfortunately come across this biting feind.

That fellow classmate may also have been a werewolf, further evidence that he or she may very well have that disorder.