LETS GET TO THE MEAT OF IT !
WEREWOLVES, RABIES, SOLDIERS, RIOTS, ACTIVISTS, OH MY.
Loups-garoux; lycanthropes; werewolves; homo lupus. Whatever you want to call them, they're hardly new to France. But these secretive, cautious creatures have never been so exposed, and never have they been in such dire need of help. They suppose now it was only a matter of time until something like this happened. Disease. The common people, they call it werewolf rabies. It turns a creature already capable of savagery into a true beast, incapable of control. Angry, nerves pulled taut, there's something wrong with their minds. One moment they may be fine, the next they maul without warning.
In the past it was only through great care that the loups-garoux kept their numbers in check and kept themselves a fairy tale. But now it seems as if the sensible Loups-Garoux are getting fewer and farther between. New packs are sprouting up seemingly out of nowhere, mere pups, not even born loup-garou, trying to run the show, snapping and fighting with one another like crazed monsters and creating more of their own. They can't help themselves. They're sick.
Having no one else to turn to, they turned to the government. This could quickly become a pandemic if not controlled. And that's exactly what the government's good at; control. The werewolves were made public, testing was forced upon the infected in the hopes of a cure. The public, the average human citizen, grew terrified. No one wanted to learn that their beloved child's kindergarten teacher is actually a bloodthirsty wolf. The backlash was astounding. The people rioted, a whole new wave of hate crimes commenced, everyone was so fearful of the beasts they heard scary stories about as a child.
Do to all the trouble, all werewolves were given the demand to register with the government. They must carry identification at all times. They are locked in cells during the nights of the full moon; caged like animals. Many loups-garoux refused to register, too frightened to lose their freedom, too distrustful and naturally wary to believe the government only has the betterment of the Children of the Moon in mind. Some also think they might be working on a cure not for rabies... but for lycanthropy itself. Whether the government is all for itself or not, the werewolf majority doesn't really have much choice than to accept their help, though other groups have sprouted up in defense of the lycanthropes, searching for the rights they believe they are owed.
France is the hotbed of this turmoil; the center of the trouble, the first to be made aware of the true existence of werewolves. The city of Paris is in disarray; no one seems to be entirely sure what to do, and whether the steps they are taking are the correct ones. There are voices on each side of the movement; who is right?
In the past it was only through great care that the loups-garoux kept their numbers in check and kept themselves a fairy tale. But now it seems as if the sensible Loups-Garoux are getting fewer and farther between. New packs are sprouting up seemingly out of nowhere, mere pups, not even born loup-garou, trying to run the show, snapping and fighting with one another like crazed monsters and creating more of their own. They can't help themselves. They're sick.
Having no one else to turn to, they turned to the government. This could quickly become a pandemic if not controlled. And that's exactly what the government's good at; control. The werewolves were made public, testing was forced upon the infected in the hopes of a cure. The public, the average human citizen, grew terrified. No one wanted to learn that their beloved child's kindergarten teacher is actually a bloodthirsty wolf. The backlash was astounding. The people rioted, a whole new wave of hate crimes commenced, everyone was so fearful of the beasts they heard scary stories about as a child.
Do to all the trouble, all werewolves were given the demand to register with the government. They must carry identification at all times. They are locked in cells during the nights of the full moon; caged like animals. Many loups-garoux refused to register, too frightened to lose their freedom, too distrustful and naturally wary to believe the government only has the betterment of the Children of the Moon in mind. Some also think they might be working on a cure not for rabies... but for lycanthropy itself. Whether the government is all for itself or not, the werewolf majority doesn't really have much choice than to accept their help, though other groups have sprouted up in defense of the lycanthropes, searching for the rights they believe they are owed.
France is the hotbed of this turmoil; the center of the trouble, the first to be made aware of the true existence of werewolves. The city of Paris is in disarray; no one seems to be entirely sure what to do, and whether the steps they are taking are the correct ones. There are voices on each side of the movement; who is right?
THE CHAIN OF EVENTS !
THIS IS HOW IT ALL WENT DOWN, SO LISTEN CLOSELY KIDS.
SEPTEMBER 2004
- The first case of rabies is discovered by a member of a small family pack in Lyon, France. Details of how this contraction occurred are unknown; it is believed the lycanthrope carried the disease for months, possibly years, before it became active. It spread throughout said lycanthrope's group readily, and to the local mutt population through them.
- Rabies slowly spreads throughout mainly the mutt population, as well as the raising ranks of newly bitten loup-garou.
Local citizens are frightened by dramatic rise in "dog attacks" in their cities, slight hysteria effects many towns in France.
- Local packs try to handle rabies situation, with hits and misses in efficiency. They have never dealt with something like this before, and have a difficult time figuring out how to stop it, as it is not fully understood.
Rabies spreads across France and into neighboring countries. Mutts and rabid former-pack members are traveling, due to the fact they are being hunted.
- There are hundreds of cases of rabies known in France and neighboring countries by now, when the disease is brought to Paris.
By now, due to poor handling from the first packs, rabies is too far-spread for the loups-garoux to handle it on their own; they approach the government for help.
- Many loup-garou are scared for their way of life; there is a an alarming amount of newly-bitten werewolves forming packs on their own, as well as those trying to make it on their own, too afraid to speak to others of their kind. Too few have the proper guidance needed to understand themselves.
A large handful of volunteer lycanthropes are tested on, in the hopes for a cure.
- The French government decides to make preparations to hold werewolves on the nights of the full moon, in an attempt to minimize the disease from spreading further.
They start building large holding facilities, and put together the Anti-Hostile Squad, which is dubbed "The Monster Squad" by the press and catches on among the citizens.
- With completion of many government facilities, there is call for volunteer werewolves to register, making their existence known to the public at the same time. All are given identification cards to brandish to the public when asked.
The public across France, and even the world, backlashes; intense resistance is met on keeping it a volunteer registration, hate crimes are common, as well as protesting and riots. Anti-werewolf groups swell in popularity quickly.
- The government revises its position and calls forth a mandatory registration. Met with such resistance, the government also makes a squad to hunt non-registered werewolves, as well as safeguard them from the non-lycanthropic citizens; giving them rights with one breath, and persecuting them with another.
- The French government decides for itself that the werewolves could be beneficial to them in other ways; they begin using them in police investigations.
- The government steps up it's game, more actively hunting werewolves at night.
- Pro-werewolf individuals really start banding together to fight against the prejudices they perceive are happening towards the loups-garoux, making their thoughts known loudly and offering a helping hand to the werewolf community.
- A vaccine for rabies is made available to the human public; no working vaccine is yet available for lycanthropes.
- Cases of adverse reactions are coming to light from humans who were treated with the rabies vaccine; some are reporting symptoms worsening after taking the vaccine, though none are reporting symptoms as serious as a werewolf with rabies. Many appear fine.
- Terrorist individuals acting out against lycanthropes become an increasing problem, forcing the government to step up security among the streets.
- Cases of lycanthropes losing their jobs due to their condition are essentially thrown out of court unaddressed.
- The media picks up on a particularly brutal case of slaughter done by a rabid lycanthrope, who is caught and subdued by a member of the AHS. The public cries in outrage for even more security and tighter laws against lycanthropes.
- The public cries in outrage for more security and tighter laws against lycanthropes, particularily rabid individuals. The government insists they will consider it.
- In an effort to calm the masses, a bill is passed, banning all lycanthropes from specific jobs. Jobs such as teaching or watching children or caring for others, working in the medical field, and other jobs which run a higher risk of infection due to prolonged contact or high-stress.
- Cavey Research introduces a new drug which utilizes wolfsbane, a plant which has proven itself useful when administered to lycanthropes in controlling certain symptoms for a prolonged period. This new drug dramatically lessens the effects of rabies which lead to agression, anxiety, and paranoia.
OH NO, RABIES !
YOU KNOW, THAT DISEASE WE MENTIONED THAT'S CAUSING ALL THIS TROUBLE.
Highly infectious, homo-lupus rabies spreads quickly through any sort of shared body fluid contact; saliva, blood, and sexual contact being the most notable contaminants. It is more infectious (ranging somewhere between 50-75%) when produced by a werewolf during the full moon cycle, but it never has less than a 5% chance of infection rate otherwise. The disease can be caught by both human and lycanthrope alike, though symptoms tend to be less severe for humans.
Once contracted, the disease may make itself known within the first week, or lay dormant for several months, possibly years. Symptoms vary from case to case in severity, but most common complains include aggression and increased irritability, paranoia or anxiety, hypersensitive senses (particularly touch), hyperactivity, insomnia, nervous system issues which cause numbness, (usually temporary) paralysis or muscle spasms. Headaches and fevers are extremely common, as are pain or tinging sensations shooting from the point of infection. Other complains cited include hallucinations, chills, unusual changes to appetite, blackouts and depression. Seizures and convulsions are among the most serious of issues, and respiratory and cardiac arrest has proven itself to be the most fatal of symptoms.
A vaccine has been created by the government to be given to humans which are at risk, which has proven itself to have mixed results in effectiveness. No vaccine has been prepared for werewolves as of yet. All human French citizens are urged to become inoculated, but many are refusing due to fear they will become infected with the very disease the inoculation is meant to prevent, as some cases have been reported.
A drug which lessens the effects of rabies which produce the most aggression, anxiety and paranoia in lycanthropes has also been introduced, the drug being based primarily on the Aconitum lycoctonum and Aconitum vulparia plants, and thus quickly dubbed the "Wolfsbane Drug." The drug is administered at the Cavey Facility itself and at stations all along the city at for the convenience of registered lycanthropes. The drug may not be bought, or taken off-site, and is only available to registered loups-garoux.
Once contracted, the disease may make itself known within the first week, or lay dormant for several months, possibly years. Symptoms vary from case to case in severity, but most common complains include aggression and increased irritability, paranoia or anxiety, hypersensitive senses (particularly touch), hyperactivity, insomnia, nervous system issues which cause numbness, (usually temporary) paralysis or muscle spasms. Headaches and fevers are extremely common, as are pain or tinging sensations shooting from the point of infection. Other complains cited include hallucinations, chills, unusual changes to appetite, blackouts and depression. Seizures and convulsions are among the most serious of issues, and respiratory and cardiac arrest has proven itself to be the most fatal of symptoms.
A vaccine has been created by the government to be given to humans which are at risk, which has proven itself to have mixed results in effectiveness. No vaccine has been prepared for werewolves as of yet. All human French citizens are urged to become inoculated, but many are refusing due to fear they will become infected with the very disease the inoculation is meant to prevent, as some cases have been reported.
A drug which lessens the effects of rabies which produce the most aggression, anxiety and paranoia in lycanthropes has also been introduced, the drug being based primarily on the Aconitum lycoctonum and Aconitum vulparia plants, and thus quickly dubbed the "Wolfsbane Drug." The drug is administered at the Cavey Facility itself and at stations all along the city at for the convenience of registered lycanthropes. The drug may not be bought, or taken off-site, and is only available to registered loups-garoux.
INDEX OF FREQUENT TERMS !
YOU'VE GOT THE WALK, NOW TALK THE TALK.
ALPHA
- The head or leader of a pack. The alpha is the highest authority of pack hierarchy. There are usually two alphas within a single pack, and they tend to be very dominant and bold in character.
- A member of a primitive or uncivilized culture, often vicious or brutal. Used as an insult among werewolves; akin to calling someone a "brute" but in a much more demeaning way. The term evolved from the fact a loup-garou can not speak while in animal form, but instead can only make more primitive noises akin to "bar bar" while speaking.
- A term used for anyone who turns in wolves to the government. Often used as both a slur (in which case it takes a meaning similar to "traitor") and not, depending on context of who is saying it.
- Second in command of a pack. The betas come in behind the alphas and usually take over when the alphas have to leave or for some reason cannot lead the pack. There are usually two betas per single pack.
- Frenziedly violent or destructive, most likely derived from the term Berserker, a class of ancient Norse warriors who fought frenziedly and were said to wear bear or wolf-skin pelts, drawing the animal's nature into them. Often used as an insult among werewolves, and has come back into fashion among humans as well.
- A member of the Canidae family of animals, which wolves belong to.
- The biological family or carnivorous mammals that includes wolves, foxes, jackals, coyotes, and domestic dogs.
- A Latin term translating to "let him be a wolf's head." It is used as an issue of exile from a pack or territory; used only in extreme circumstances, as it also is an order to kill upon site if they should return.
- The transformation from human form to wolf form.
- The delta may rank behind the gamma, however their part in a pack is very important. They act as a guide or teacher for new wolves to their pack, in particular newly infected werewolves. There are usually two per pack, and it is their duty to make sure all new members of their pack understand pack law as well as werewolf society law.
- A higher ranking loup-garou. Dominant wolves have primary authority or influence over wolves that are of a lower rank. I.E. Alphas are the highest ranked wolves in a pack and therefore are the most dominant of that pack. Can also refer to an individual werewolf's general temperament.
- "Not of one skin;" a shapeshifter.
- The general membership of a pack; anyone who is unranked.
- A euphamism used by werewolfs in place of "pack" while in public.
- A joking term for a werewolf.
- Assumed third in command, however the gamma tends to be in charge of keeping pack health maintained. Classified as 'head medic' sometimes, however, pack health extends beyond just medical attention; social connection and such. The gamma may take it upon themselves to help resolve in-pack feuds and such. There is usually two gammas per single pack.
- German, meaning shape or form. Refers to a concept of 'wholeness', therefore meaning complete. Used to suggest the canine loup-garou form is their true form.
- The scientific genus-species name for a loup-garou.
- The scientific genus-species name for a human.
- The act of contaminating another being with pathogenic micro organisms, generally in this case either lycanthropy or rabies.
- Non-adult members of a pack. It means "little."
- A slur used in reference to werewolves who do whatever the government tells them to do, joyfully.
- Loup-Garou is name given to any animal of the Homo Lupus genus. Also commonly referred to as a werewolf or lycanthope. They are genetically described as a human-wolf hybrid. 'Were' meaning 'man', resulting in the term man-wolf: werewolf. Loups-Garoux are capable of shifting from a human into a wolf-like creature.
- A virus which converts human beings into wolf-like creatures once acquired.
- The partner of a loup-garou, whether it be sexual or marital. Mate is also the act of reproducing. Most loup-garou mate for life, meaning they have one partner, and will stay single if that partner dies.
- The name given to the Anti-Hostile Squad by the media and picked up everywhere. Can be used both affectionately and as a derogatory term.
- A werewolf fan.
- The lowest ranking and most member, or members, of a pack.
- A group of werewolves who have a close bond with one another. They tend to be close-knit despite often being very densely populated. Each pack has a strict hierarchy, however some may pay less attention to this. A pack is often seen as an extended family.
- The offspring of two adult werewolves. What a child is to humans.
- An acute infectious viral disease of the nervous system transmitted by the saliva of infected animals, especially canines.
- A name meaning "scoundrel;" both a light insult and a term of endearment among werewolves. Originally the name of a werewolf who eventually became known as Saint Christopher; often called the dog-headed saint.
- A chemical element, usually in the form of a soft, white, lustrous transition metal, which is fatal to all loup-garou, particularly when in the bloodstream.
- The lower ranking loup-garou. They do not have authority over wolves ranked above them. Submissive wolves must obey their dominant counterparts, if they do not it usually results in punishment. Can also refer to an individual werewolf's general temperament.
- Skin-changing; a shape shifter. Can also be used as a term to imply someone is sly.
- Compensation towards the family or loved ones of a werewolf who has been killed in a way that was deemed unlawfully; an old loup-garou tradition.
- New members of a pack. It is basically considered the "trial" position; if after a certain amount of time it is decided they are acceptable members or not and they move up or are kicked out. Likewise, werewolves who have done wrong and are teetering on being pushed out of the pack are demoted to this position until their fates are decided.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS !
ASK THINE QUESTIONS AND YE SHALL RECIVETH YE ANSWERETHS.
WHAT KIND OF ANIMALS CAN MY CHARACTER BE?
- The loups-garoux are a wolf-like species. If you get a good look at them, they really don't look like any animal, but are closest to a wolf if you have to compare. Their arms and legs are longer, and their paws more finger and foot-like than a canine; more bear-like. This means they're more flexible than a canine's would be, and are capable of clumsily using tools if need be. They can also stand erect for long periods of time.
- Vampires don't exist, silly.
- A loup-garou (loo-groo) is the French term for werewolf. Loups-garoux is the plural of that word. A lycanthrope (who is a person with lycanthropy) is also yet another word for werewolf, though technically it is also the real term for a real mental disorder. Homo lupus is a spiffy fake scientific name we've made up. Then there's the word werewolf itself; you should probably be aware that the word breaks down as "were" meaning man, and "wolf" obviously meaning wolf. If you see something else you don't recognize, hit the Glossary!
- While it is allowed, caution must always be shown, so it's not as common as you might assume. You can't just tell the woman you met last week you're a werewolf and get away with it, unless you're a registered werewolf; that woman's probably going to freak out and go tell someone. Which will get her killed by the pack for protection. But trusted humans are most certainly allowed to be dating/married/mated to a werewolf. Most end up becoming werewolves themselves at some point or another, by choice.
- Yes, that's exactly what it means. Werewolves that were born human aren't exactly uncommon, and are getting less and less uncommon with the rabies virus, but for the most part loups-garoux were born loups-garoux. Up until the rabies started popping up, the most common non-born werewolves were those who were bitten on purpose and with consent, with the rare case of an accidental bite here and there. Pack law is strict about keeping track of werewolves who are a danger to the community, and the rule used to be to simply kill those who were deemed a liability for that sort of thing. Better to kill one than risk the lives of everyone.
- Because the problem is bigger than just one or two wolves; it's hundreds in France alone, and growing. They don't want to eradicate whole packs unless there's no other alternative; thus asking for the government's help.
- Yes, usually. Mating (which is basically the werewolf equivalent of a marriage, I'm not just talking about the act of sex) is unrestricted, but pregnancies must be passed by the admins first.
- Generally allowed! We'd love to have some younger characters around here, though we suggest if you're going to be playing the character that they be 12+, or even better 15+, just for ease of play.
- Pack members operate in a community. Being in this community offers them protection, but also imposes restrictions on their behaviors. They must follow the rules, and enforce them upon others when necessary. A mutt is a mostly solitary loup-garou. They could be troublemakers who are watched very, very carefully, or just the rare wolf who prefers to live alone, or maybe they were bitten and just don't know where to go yet, though werewolves are generally highly social creatures.
- For the most part, if you're not in a pack you were probably kicked out or you moved here and weren't accepted. A lot of mutts are probably from other areas in France where they did a naughty thing and the alpha ran them out. A werewolf like that might be allowed to live in Paris by the local alphas, but wouldn't be likely to be accepted. And, maybe, they wouldn't even want to join a pack again. However, it's considered a bit shameful (not to mention lonely) to be kicked out of a pack, so most werewolves try to be on good behavior to avoid this sort of thing. A lot of mutts, however, are on fairly good terms with the packs. It's better to stay on a pack's goodside than to not, since they run the show.
- Of course you can! You just can't make a pack member who holds an important rank, as that's what the canon list characters are for.
- It depends. On the day before and after the full moon, shifting is harder to control. It tends to happen quickly, urgently, on those days. They may seem kind of antsy and distracted, maybe a little more aggressive, while in human form, but nothing too alarming. The night of the full moon is a night spent in complete animal form, whether they want to be or not. They tend to have even less control over their emotions on this night, but they're not exactly ravenous beasts out to kill anyone in their path. They're animals, not monsters.
- Shifting to animal is like first nature. They have complete control and can shift at any time, though they might not be able to stop themselves from shifting if they're in an area with a lot of other loups-garoux shifting at the same time. The feeling in the air of a dominant, especially an alpha, shifting is exciting and tends to coax others into doing likewise.
- Not really. They can control their bodies enough to change a hand into a paw for a while, but we're not talking about being capable of Lon Chaney Jr. Wolfman here.
- Yes, but keep in mine that in the past, before the rabies, werewolves are secretive about their natures to protect themselves and their entire species, and anyone who brazenly flaunted themselves would be taken care of. They're still very cautious about it as they don't want those who don't want to be openly a werewolf to be outed. Use discretion if you don't want a pack after your hide. Or, you know, the government. If your character is "out" you'll be registered with the government, which involves a lot of things.
- Registering, which is technically mandatory by the government, so if your character isn't registered and is caught they're in deep trouble, means that your character is "under government protection." It's meant to make life safer, and give a werewolf rights, but in practice things are rarely enforced. Werewolves have lost their jobs after registering- though of course they were told they were fired for other reasons- and hate crimes and beatings have been reported. Along with this extra persecution in public, a registered werewolf is required to put in mandatory time in a lab for various tests, in the hopes of finding a cure to the rabies disease, and are locked in cells on the nights of the full moon to avoid unwanted bites on humans.
- Well... yes. BUT! We really don't want a million gun-toting supposed-badasses after our werewolves that aren't soldiers. If your character, a regular citizen, just goes out on a hell-bent rage after them... Well, they'd probably get themselves into some trouble with the government. Be tactful and realistic. We'd usually prefer soldiers and/or hired mercenaries, but we're not outlawing it for variety's sake.
- ...Does your dog have psychic powers and talk to you? Okay, in all seriousness, they can talk. Sort of. Not very well, since their mouth isn't shaped right for it. But they can try. It probably sounds like a bad imitation of Scooby-Doo being done by a bear. They probably don't bother too often unless absolutely needed, since for most loups-garoux, body language is all that's needed.
- Nope. If a werewolf is killed in an animal state, they stay that way in death. This can be complicated to deal with occasionally, as the body must be quickly hidden so it is not discovered by unwanted eyes.
- Yep, the longest live to be about one-hundred and fifty. This is due to their healing factor.
- Simply put, most werewolves have learned to simply not care about nudity. They see it all the time, since it's a lot easier on a wardrobe to be naked before shifting. A born werewolf probably was never taught shame about it, and so it's really unnoticed; just a part of life. Of course, a bitten werewolf may have to go through an adjustment period.
- Coat colors are natural in shade and marking, and correspond with hair color while in human form, though they will often have other similar shades thrown in to make the coat look more natural and not just a solid color all the way through.
- From birth, they shift every night on the full moon. There may be intermittent cases of spontaneous partial shifting during cases of extreme emotion at any point in time also, however, though it doesn't happen too often. Generally between the ages of 5-8 a loup-garou will be able to control when they shift completely.
- Lycanthropy is only spreadable on full moon nights. They can't just lock the werewolves up all the time, so they pick the time they are most infectious. So the lockup is primarily to stop lycanthropy and rabies from spreading to any members of the public.
- If you'd read the plot and timeline thread, you would know this. But to make your life easier, the short answer is December 2007. And just to clear this up, rabies became widespread in September 2006, but it was around in very small instances before then, however you character probably wouldn't have had it back then. It was not in Paris until September 2006.