Characteristics of the Lycanthropy Virus

Lycanthropy is a supernatural virus that can be transmitted in several ways:

• Wounds such as scratches or bites that become infected.
• Exchange of body fluids like blood, saliva, or sexual secretions.
• Transmitted to an unborn fetus if either parent is a lycanthrope.

Exposure does not necessarily mean that a person will automatically become a lycanthrope. It is equally possible to have a severe exposure through a bite and not be infected as it is to become infected by having a lycanthrope sneeze in a person's face. Likewise, a child born to lycan parents is not guaranteed to be one themselves.

In the Crimson Shadow realm, a person can only be infected by one type of lycanthrope virus, meaning that they will only ever have one animal form. Even if exposed to another strain of the virus, the original animal strain that turned a person into a lycanthrope will remain.

Individuals who can shapeshift into an animal as a result of other means (curses, magic spells, inborn ability, etc) are not considered to be lycanthropes. They are classified as either Shifters or Skinwalkers, based upon the root cause of their condition.

Physiological Changes & Impacts

When a person is infected with any virus, the virus has the potential to embed small chunks of its genetic material into the person's DNA. Although infrequent, the incorporation of this material into the human genome has been occurring for millions of years, mutating over time to the point that they no longer lead to active infections. This does not mean they are entirely dormant, however. Remnants of these viral scraps called "endogenous retroviruses" (ERVs) can still have an impact on a person in both good and bad ways.

Specific to the lycanthropy virus, the genetic code imparted is not merely fragments that are absorbed, fought, and neutralized. The lycanthropy virus makes permanent changes to the person's core DNA. One aspect in the lycanthropy strain determines the genes of which animal species is mingled in the person's DNA. Another, alters the structure so that the person's body is physically capable of turning into that animal and back. Some scientists believe that humans could potentially develop the ability to shapeshift through natural evolution with sufficient time and genetic tweaking. Others argue that such evolution would be impossible and only it is only viable because of the magical and/or supernatural essence of the lycanthropy virus that adds an undetectable but critical element.

Effects of the Virus

The person may be completely unaware that they have been infected until the first full moon following the exposure where they are forced to transform into their lycan animal form for the first time. Every full moon thereafter, the lycanthrope is compelled to turn.

• Many lycan groups who are bound in a pack will make an event of full moons in order to hunt/run together, strengthen their bonds for new and old members, and to help new lycans through their first transformation.

Lycanthropes gain supernatural enhancements including strength, speed, senses, and accelerated healing. See Lycanthrope Powers for more details.

See also Shapeshifting

Vaccines

Vaccines against lycanthropy are available, a fair protection given the bias and restrictions against lycanthropes.

Inoculations for exposed persons are also available, but using them is a calculated risk. The base formula uses one strain of lycanthropy to cancel out the other, but if the initial exposure didn't cause an infection, the innoculation certainly will and result in a lycanthropy infection anyway. The decision to use an inoculation or not must be made quickly as they are only effective for a short period after the initial infection occurs.