The most important things to know about werewolves is that they are not mindless beasts, but always retain their human-level intellect, no matter their shape. They do, however, have a number of animal-derived advantages over homo-sapiens, including advanced senses and strength, a high metabolic rate and healing. A notable downside is the fact they are highly allergic to silver—merely brushing it against their bare skin causes a rash-like reaction. A loup-garou can shift at any point in time they wish, but are forced to do so on nights the moon is full out of biological necessity.

Despite the fact they are not fully animal in their mind, werewolves do retain many animal instincts. Growling or the baring of teeth is not unheard of when they are angry, the prey-drive urge to stalk or hunt can often be observed, and they tend to form very close-nit bonds with family and those they are close with— an extension of their inherited pack mentality.

Varying in size while in animal form, all are none the less larger than the largest of dog breeds. While capable of standing upright for extended periods of time, a four-legged posture tends to be preferred, making them look, for all intents and purposes, like a very large wolf under most circumstances. Most tend to stand over six feet in height while holding themselves upright, not uncommonly reaching seven feet in height. All are capable of using their handlike paws in dextrous ways. Fur color is natural in shade, and corresponding to hair color while they are in their human shape. The eyes of a lycanthrope always look human-like, which is noticeable while they are in their beast form. They have a tendency to prefer the taste of raw or undercooked meats.

All loups-garoux carry with them the potential to infect others with lycanthropy while they are in their wolfen shape on full moon nights. Once bitten, the contraction is always a guarantee. A human who has just been bitten will notice they begin healing shortly afterwards, generally with even the most serious of fleshwounds being fully healed within a couple of weeks. They will also notice their senses heightening and their strength increasing over time as the body prepares itself for its first change, one month after the initial bite.

Typically, a werewolf looks very much like a real wolf, or possibly a large dog if they are lucky, but with some very notable differences the closer you get to them. At a distance you might be able to note that their bodies are larger, their limbs are longer, and their faces, particularly their snouts, are a bit shorter.

If you look closer you can see that their limbs are very human in nature, and the paws at the ends of them in particular sport a much more human shape. These are hands capable of using tools with some degree of skill, not canine paws. They are highly dexterous, though not near as much as a human's are. They are thickly padded, and have large, but blunt, claws at the ends of each digit. The hind paws have four larger toes, and a dew claw up higher. The eyes of a loup-garou are human in shape and their faces are a mixture of human and wolf underneath all of that fur, which accounts for the shortened muzzle. Their muzzle makes it incredibly difficult for them to speak human language, as it's not really properly shaped for that sort of thing, but they're capable of it in a sense; it's definitely animalistic in sound and not very refined.

Due to their shape, they are slightly better suited towards walking around on all-fours, but can easily stand erect for long periods of time as needed. They are however faster and generally more agile under the majority of circumstances while crouched on all paws. The erect stance is often used mainly when interacting with other bipedal creatures (shifted lycanthropes or humans), for size intimidation and fighting, for better emotional connection due to higher ability of expression with hand and body gestures, or simply to see things which need a higher vantage point.

The coat of a loup-garou corresponds with the color of their hair as a human, with mixtures of other related shades interspersed throughout. The coats look natural in patterning and coloration, though occasionally more "dog-like" patterning is seen. Fur is dense and thick, and generally bristly but yieldingly soft to the touch. Coats become thicker and denser during the colder months of the year, and shed to become lighter, cooler, during warmer seasons.

A lycanthrope's strength is high, even while in their human form. They can run fast, lift heavy weights, and jump higher than any human. Eyesight, sense of smell, and hearing are all highly acute for a werewolf in both human and animal shape, but moreso in animal form. It's notable that while eyesight is better in wolf form, it is also worse in one way; lack of color. Smell and hearing are particularly advanced, and often seem to take control over the other senses, in a sense. Humans are ruled by their eyes, but in wolf form a lycanthrope is likely to be very scent-orientated.

Werewolves have a very high pain tolerance and healing factor; they have to in order to be able to withstand the violent and quick way in which their body slides from one form into another. This healing is also what lends them extended life; the living around roughly one-hundred and fifty years without much difficulty, if healthy.

However, despite this regeneration, their bodies are incapable of tolerating silver. Of course, so is the average homo sapiens' body, but the effects are far more noticeable and serious to a member of homo lupus. It causes irritation to their skin if even touched. While a loup-garou is normally impervious to any but the strongest of diseases, never catching the common cold and healing their bodies at a stunning rate, silver is nearly always fatal. Also, a werewolf can be killed the same way any other animal can, assuming you can cause enough damage. They can not recover a lost limb, head, or a severed spinal cord. Even regular bullets can do the trick. The loss of blood, or simply running out of energy after healing themselves, can cause death as well.

Though they can become wolf or human at any time they wish normally, holding a transformation off during the night of a full moon is painful, and ultimately impossible. Transformation from man to wolf is quick but not painless. Bones pop and muscles distort. Though many would claim the transformation is more euphoric than anything else; it's a calling their bones ache for.

DOMINANT

Dominant loups-garoux stand tall and stiff, holding their ears forward and erect, and their hackles might bristle. Often their tail will be held vertical and curled toward their backs. This is a display which shows the lycanthrope's rank to all others nearby. A dominant loup-garou may stare penetratingly at a submissive one, pin it to the ground, "ride up" on its shoulders, or even stand on its hind legs.

SUBMISSIVE (ACTIVE)

In active submission, the entire body is lowered, and the lips and ears are drawn back. Sometimes active submission is accompanied by a rapid thrusting out of the tongue and lowering of the hindquarters. The tail is placed down, halfway or fully between the legs, and the muzzle often points up to the more dominant animal. The back may be partially arched as the more submissive humbles itself to its superior. The more arched the back and more in the tucked tail indicates a greater levels of submission.

SUBMISSIVE (PASSIVE)

Passive submission is more intense than active submission. The loup-garou will roll on its back, exposing its vulnerable throat and underside. This is often accompanied by whimpering. The dominant, depending on the offense, climb on top of the wolf in this position, pinning it down and staring it in the eye until it is content with the gesture of submission.

ANGRY

An angry werewolf's ears are erect, and its fur bristles. The lips may curl up or pull back, and the incisors are displayed. They may also snarl.

FEARFUL

A frightened lycanthrope tries to make its body look small, therefore less conspicuous. The ears flatten down against the head, and the tail may be tucked between the legs, as with a submissive werewolf. There may also be whimpering or barks of fear, and the werewolf may arch its back.

DEFENSIVE

A defensive lycanthrope flattens its ears against its head.

AGGRESSIVE

An aggressive lycanthrope snarls and its fur bristles. The werewolf may crouch, ready to attack if necessary.

SUSPICIOUS

Pulling back of the ears shows a loup-garou is suspicious. In addition, the werewolf narrows its eyes. The tail of a werewolf that senses danger points straight out, parallel to the ground.

RELAXED

A relaxed loup-garou's tail points straight down, and the werewolf may rest sphinx-like, or on its side. The tail may also wag. The further down the tail droops, the more relaxed the werewolf is.

TENSE

An aroused loup-garou's tail points straight out, and the werewolf may crouch as if ready to spring.

CONTENT

As dogs do, a lycanthrope may wag its tail if it is in a joyful mood. The tongue may loll out of the mouth.

HUNTING

A werewolf that is hunting is tensed, and therefore the tail is horizontal and straight.

PLAYFUL

A playful loup-garou holds its tail high and wags it. The werewolf may frolic and dance around, or bow by placing the front of its body down to the ground, while holding the rear high, sometimes wagged. This is reminiscent of the playful behavior executed in domestic dogs.