CAUSES AND ORIGINS

People’s ability to change into wolves is mentioned in myths across countries and cultures, stretching back as far as Ancient Greece as well as appearing in the Bible. Despite this, there was no widespread belief in lycanthropy in Europe prior to the 14th century. Until then, lycans had only appeared in myths during the Bubonic Plague after wolves – believed to be the dead transformed – were frequently spotted leaving mass graves on moonlit nights. However, lycan sightings became prevalent during the witch trials of the 15^th, 16^th and 17^th centuries when belief in evil mingling amongst us soared (and when the possible contamination of rye bread with ergot-induced LSD-type hallucinations).

Current beliefs are that lycanthropy is either a hereditary condition or, more popularly, that the ‘disease’ is spread to another after being bitten or scratched by the infected.

The idea of the disease being ‘transmittable’ is, however, not part of the original folklore. Instead, lycanthropy was first believed to be the result of a curse or divine punishment, not least because many saints were alleged to have inflicted lycanthropy as a curse upon those who upset them. This divine retribution theory was reinforced by the belief that those excommunicated by the Roman Catholic Church suffered the same fate.

Across various cultures, lycanthropy was also claimed to be caused by:

• removing your clothes and putting on wolfskin;
• drinking rainwater out of a wolf’s footprint;
• drinking from enchanted streams;
• sleeping outside on a summer night with the full moon shining directly on your face; or
• being conceived on the night of a full moon.

But lycanthropy wasn’t only associated with the supernatural. The term also became accepted in the medical world, used as a mental health diagnosis during the 16^th and 17^th centuries (though the later emergence of psychology meant ‘lycanthropy’ was soon replaced with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or multiple personality disorder).

Other medical conditions were also used to explain lycanthropy, the most popular of which were:

• rabies (furious) – some symptoms of which include excessive salivation, confusion, photophobia (fear of bright lights) and aggression;
• congenital porphyria (which has also been attributed to vampirism) – the symptoms of which are photosensitivity, reddish teeth and psychosis; and
• hypertrichosis – an extremely rare hereditary condition of excessive hair growth all over the body and face.

LYCAN APPEARANCE AND TRAITS

Last time, I mentioned that one way to spot a lycan whilst in their transformed state was the absence of a tail. According to folklore, there are also physical traits to look out for whilst lycans are in their human form. These include:

• monobrows;
• curved fingernails;
• bristles under the tongue;
• hairy palms;
• low-set ears;
• fur appearing under the skin in the wound of a fresh cut; or
• an index finger much longer than the middle finger.

Crossing cultures and eras, lycans are believed to have super-human speed and strength, with a particular ability to land on their feet from impressive heights. They are also renowned for having advanced healing as well as immunity to ordinary weapons both in their human and wolf state. It’s also widely accepted that animalistic urges (such as hunger, aggression and sexual arousal) are intensified and harder to control directly before and during transformation.

CURES AND DEFENCE

Unlike with vampirism, there were many beliefs that lycanthropy could be cured. Some claimed methods included:

• exhaustion – long periods of physical activity could purge lycanthropy from someone’s system;
• medication (particularly using wolfsbane);
• exorcism;
• striking a lycan on the forehead or scalp with a knife;
• addressing a lycan three times by his/her Christian name;
• scolding;
• conversion to Christianity, with a devotion to Saint Hubert*, in particular, considered both a cure for and protection from lycanthropes (*possible interesting fact: I grew up in “Hubert Road” – maybe I was safe from them after all!);
• extracting three drops of blood whilst transformed; or
• if the lycan avoided eating human flesh for nine years.

In terms of defence against attack, lycans are commonly believed to be vulnerable to silver – especially silver bullets. Even touching their skin with silver will cause burns. However, there was no mention of this in original folklore. Not unlike the association with vampires’ allergy to silver, this concept didn’t appear until the 20th century, becoming a rapidly established belief linked to lycanthropy after the release of The Wolf Man (1941).

SO, WHICH MYTHS APPLY TO BLACKTHORN LYCANS?

Causes and Origins

As with Blackthorn vampires, Blackthorn lycanthropy isn’t evoked by something magical or a curse. Neither is it derived from something evil – despite what the Global Council insist upon in order to justify the segregation they enforce and maintain (please refer to my previous post The Third Species and their Shadows).

Instead, Blackthorn lycanthropy is a result of a mixed gene pool of integrated human and wolf DNA stemming back thousands of years, with their response to the lunar cycle comparable to an allergic reaction. Again, as with Blackthorn vampirism, lycanthropy cannot be transmitted any more than being bitten by a dog will turn you into a Labrador. Blackthorn lycans are a species in their own right.

Lycan Appearance and Traits

There is only one physical indicator of Blackthorn lycans when not transformed, and that’s their broader and more elongated canines (don’t forget Blackthorn vampires have an extra set of incisors to differentiate the two species). In fact, before ‘shadows’ were discovered, it was dental examinations that first enabled the Global Council to distinguish the third species from humans.

Just as folklore dictates, Blackthorn lycans are considerably stronger and faster than their human counterparts. Their wolf instincts also mean they have quicker reaction times.

However, most Blackthorn lycans see their condition as an affliction, not least because of the excruciating pain during transformations as well as their subsequent loss of control (yes, those aforementioned animal urges do increase). Their situation has become more risky since the regulations were put in place. More of that in Blood Torn! Also, in accordance with generally accepted folklore, after returning to their human forms they become weak, debilitated and depressed – another reason they see their condition as an affliction.

Cures and Defence

There is not a cure for Blackthorn lycans, any more than there is cure for being human. However, if you’ve read Blood Shadows, you’ll know the lycan condition can be ‘managed’. You’ll find out lots more about that and the ‘meds’ (as referred to in Blood Shadows) when you read Blood Torn.

As for defence against attack, you’d better be faster or stronger than your lycan opponent. But just like Blackthorn vampires, they are not immortal (though they do equally have extended lifespans). A bullet or any other object can be fatal if lodged directly in the heart or any other vital organ – if you can get close quick enough, that is. 😉

It’s the last lycan post next time, and I’ll be delving into the aspects of wolf behaviour that contributed to refining my Blackthorn lycans.

* Please note: I cannot verify the accuracy of anything in this post beyond references to my own works of fiction. I am not claiming any independent research outside of what is widely available from a broad variety of sources. Some of my notes are years old so impossible to trace back.