Post by Alicat on May 18, 2014 20:15:04 GMT -6
{ WERES } |
Weres are creatures that have the ability to change between three forms: a human form, an animal form, and a form that seems as though a mix of the other two. They often live in groups, but solitary creatures such as werefoxes or werebears do exist.
Each pack of weres has their own religion, much like a tribal religion, and some have even adapted into other religions, like Christianity. However, the creation story of the weres states that the Moon goddess, Luloiss, created them. She created all animals beneath her loving gaze and, upon noticing her brother, the Sun god Ragov, creating men, decided to make something even better. From her beasts and her brother's Man came a creature of both worlds. Weres can spend their lives as either humans or animals, but treat the time with the full moon as the time with their goddess. It is believed that her presence is what pulls them from either animal or human form into that beautiful mixture of the two. They spend the night in her graces, bathing in her light, and then return to the world in the morning.
There are really only two ways to make a were; they're either born that way, or they're bitten. BORN: Born weres tend to have better control over their animal sides, since they've lived with them all their lives. They do not go through what is called the First Change until they've reached puberty -- it's a bloody, painful affair, and it can drive some of them mad -- but they can feel their animal side in their mind from the moment they are born. Though they control it better, they are also more in tune with it, and so tend to have behaviors similar to whatever animal they are. For a were to be born, there must be at least one were parent. If the mother is a were, the children are guaranteed to be weres. If the father is a were, it's a 50/50 chance. BITTEN: Biting only takes for certain people (as some weres say, "some people will never be fit to welcome the goddess"). When it does take, they can go one of two ways. If they choose to welcome the animal side and become one with it, they become valued members of the packs and communities they've been initiated into. If they choose to push it away and keep separate, often times the animal half of them can become its own entity, its own personality, and from that point forwards the two halves will fight for control of their body until one of them suppresses the other. Should the animal side take over, it slowly becomes what is usually called a "Mad Wolf" (or crane, or fox; whatever animal it is). Mad Wolves are feral beasts in mostly human skins, and, bar truly malicious weres, are the sole reason there are people who were bitten and turned against their will.
Though the details of the were religion tend to vary, there are some constants amongst the different branches. There is always a goddess who rules over or is the moon, and her name is Luloiss. There is always the "enemy" god Ragov, the sun, but he is honored for creating half of them, though not as much as the goddess. Luloiss rules over femininity, chaos, the wilds, cunning, bravery, animal aggression, and impulse. She is the patron of thieves. She is represented by the moon, a silver-white serpent, and and sometimes, a beautiful dark-skinned woman with white eyes and silver hair. Because of her association with serpents and their reverence of her, the weres often use a two-headed white serpent to represent their kind, one head for each half of them. Her element is water; her lesser element is air. Ragov rules over masculinity, warriors and soldiers, war and bloodshed, man, and civilization. He is represented by the sun, a golden eagle, and a golden-skinned man with glowing blonde hair. He is seen as the "enemy" for being in constant battle with his sister, but he is also honored in his own way, because there would be no humans to become weres without him. His element is fire, and his lesser element is earth. Because of the way they worship, most weres try their best to not perpetuate misogyny, but some bitten weres find it hard to let old habits die. If someone is to be turned, they must be converted, first. Their turning is seen as accepting Luloiss's blessing, which is a very high honor. No one is to be turned without their consent; the crime of turning someone who didn't want to be turned is punished by death. |