Pathfinder Creature Feature: Werewolves and other forms of Lycanthropy

[@theakspud]

Much love from Alaska. We gotta watch out for canadians every full moon. They emerge from their maple dens to feed on towns folk in their hybrid moose forms

[@carlborneke8641]

Weremoose? That’s definitely something I have to include in my setting!

[@adamberg8939]

Oh no, our secret is out - for now. Come next full moon, our secrets will once more be seen as farce and our igloos and polar bears left alone

[@flibbernodgets7018]

Don't Starve has a Canadian lumberjack character who's a werebeaver.

[@robintunkel4717]

I miss living in Alaska. Hi to all AK Savages!

[@rune5916]

Yes. Werewolves are my favorite horror monster ever. So glad to get more information on them in the pathfinder setting. 🎉

[@TheMythkeeper]

This was a fun one to put together! Glad you all voted on this vid

[@MusMasi]

werewolves

[@presidenttogekiss635]

I unironically love Wererats, specially how its the one curse of its kind that actually makes sense to be spread voluntarily.

[@TheMythkeeper]

That is a great little detail about wererats and one that I only learned in doing research for this video.

[@mudscuffer]

What do you mean? If it was mentioned in the video I must have missed it.

[@leroyp2212]

One of the best lore channels on KZbin and not just for pathfinder. The way you make your videos with so much information and put the videos into different parts just shows how much love goes into your work thank you for all you do

[@TheMythkeeper]

Thanks so much for the kind words!

[@ClawedReaperII]

You've been my intro to pathfinder lore and i love your whole channel! You do an excellent job covering history and lore surrounding each subject. It feels like a history class more than a youtube channel (and i mean that as a huge compliment).

[@TheMythkeeper]

Thank you, I really appreciate that! Historian is my general vibe.

[@billysims9282]

I really hope OwlCat isnt done making Pathfinder games. These vids make me want to start a new run

[@TheMythkeeper]

Me too! I really want to see a Shackles game

[@DHTheAlaskan]

​@@TheMythkeeperI want to see one set in Andoran but The Shackles would be cool.

[@CooperativeWaffles]

Lon Chaney Jr. smiles upon you from the Great Moving Picture Theatre across the Vail each time this is viewed. Thank you, oh honored Keeper of Myths.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Haha! Love this

[@scottyoung6564]

I noticed that PF lore has werewolves abiding by the "Alpha" rules by strength and (if needed) by force kind of society for their pack structures. In real life, that view of wolf social hierarchies is attributed to a biologist who studied non-related wolves in captivity, and when he observed wild wolf-packs they followed a family structure with the matriarch and patriarch at the top, rather than by force or strength. It would be interesting to show those as contrasts in a home-brew world (or a specific region in Golarion) where several Natural Werewolf families living together have a more co-operative and familial hierarchy and families celebrating groups pledging to form new packs like new families being born into the community (festivals that would put an extravagant wedding to shame) while groups of natural and/or afflicted werewolves are held together by the need to survive and strength is required to keep the afflicted in line when they frenzy. Could maybe add something about the new Arch-type for lycanthropes from Howl of the Wild being a path the afflicted walk to stay in control of the beast (since it forces their transformation under the full moon, but not a frenzy or fugue state).

[@TheMythkeeper]

I think this is one of those places were you wouldn't need to adjust this for a homebrew world or a specific region in Golarion, but just adjust it in your Pathfinder games in general. The creators are quite open to retconning things when the zeitgeist shifts and it would make sense for you to feel free to apply such adjustments in your own game. If werewolves as written don't reflect the behavioral patterns of real-world wolves then its an easy adjustment to make.

[@ackbarreserve]

34:02 did they just, unapologetically, called a gang of wererats "THE RAT-STREET BOYS"? My sides have been launched over the moon

[@TheMythkeeper]

Yes, yes, they did. Rat-street's back, alright?

[@JurisTruedge]

My goodness you Have expanded the Whole Of Galorian for me. And for that I thank you.

[@TheMythkeeper]

You're very welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@cliffwood7386]

Perfect timing, a new video just as I'm taking lunch! Loving the videos.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Awesome, thanks for watching.

[@46jerdboy]

Excited for another Mythkeeper video!

[@marcussimoes2909]

A perfect novel about this topic it's: Dave Gross Pathfinder Tales: Prince of Wolves

[@TheMythkeeper]

Excellent recommendation!

[@wojciechchestowski6003]

As an old Werewolf: The Apocalypse/The Forsaken veteran, it's nice to see that the shape-sifter game in Pathfinder is going strong 🦾

[@TheMythkeeper]

Lycanthropes make for great villains (you never see them coming) and Beastkin make for great PCs. Curse of lycanthropy also makes for a really excellent challenge for a PC in the mid-game. Also, I too am an old Werewolf: Apocalypse veteran!

[@carlborneke8641]

I have this idea for a Druid character who specializes in Lycanthropy despite not being one himself. He discovered an alternate way to help The Afflicted when curing the curse isn’t possible. This method is basically helping the human and the beast find peace with each other so that they can become more like Natural Born. This method is of course not perfect and very dangerous. The Afflicted still won’t be able to live in civilization and have to accept a life as wild a animal but at least they will be at peace and not hurt anyone. This of course led to the creation of a community of Lycanthrope Druids who do their best to take care of each other and prevent The Afflicted from spreading the curse.

[@TheMythkeeper]

This is a great concept, especially for a character from the Darkmoon Vale or from Ustalav were lycanthropy is fairly common.

[@carlborneke8641]

@@TheMythkeeper Thanks 😊 I have always liked the idea that a part of the reason for why the Afflicted rampage is because the human side tries to suppress and reject the beastly side. With an internal conflict like that it’s not that difficult to understand why they lose control.

[@efraim3364]

saw one drinking a Pina Colada at Trader Vic's and his hair was perfect

[@TheMythkeeper]

Awooo! Werewolves of London.

[@efraim3364]

@@TheMythkeeper kids these days wont get it

[@beamrunner0471]

never really liked werewolves, but this video is still pretty good

[@TheMythkeeper]

They're a great way to surprise your players with a character that seems meek on the outside but is in fact very powerful in their other form.

[@MusMasi]

@@TheMythkeeper before you used polymorphed dragon

[@TheMythkeeper]

@@MusMasi Also works ;-)

[@HuevoBendito]

Everyone says "werewolves," but they never ask "howwolves."

[@TheMythkeeper]

😂

[@sullyb23511]

Or the ever elusive why-wolf."

[@redfaux74]

That's the best I've heard on Lycanthropes as well. I would've loved this work and art 30 years ago when I was a DM. Thank you sir. ❤

[@TheMythkeeper]

You're very welcome! And thanks for watching and commenting

[@junoeggers8878]

I don't play pathfinder, but I loved this video. Thanks for putting it out. I know it must have taken a log time to get everything together. I greatly appreciate your work.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Glad you enjoyed it! I'm always pleasantly surprised when non-PF players find my channel and still get something out of it!

[@edwardchytil8868]

This was good, I already suggested golems so I will wait patiently for that video!

[@TheMythkeeper]

It's coming! Actually written and recorded now, but there are a couple other creature features between now and then.

[@AmericanAurochs]

Now that I (finally) have time to finish this video; I have to say well done yet again! Lycanthropes (therinthropes?) are some of my favorite monsters. Thank you for this!

[@TheMythkeeper]

You're very welcome, and thanks for watching!

[@AmericanAurochs]

@@TheMythkeeper Also, thank you for calling them beastkin and not Paizo’s other name for half-lycans.

[@DHTheAlaskan]

Werebears are my favorite variety of lycanrhrope, because I am a sucker for good aligned monsters, I'm an Alaskan so they tend to be an iconic animal for us and they happen to he one of my favorite land carnivores.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Werebears might be my favorite too ;-)

[@yellowbeard1]

Thank you for making all the great Pathfinder videos. It’s really nice to have someone with a smooth voice who isn’t talking into a potato.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Thank you so much for the support and I’m totally glad I sold that potato 🥔

[@Thegenderfluiddinosaur]

Love your videos also do you think we could see some of the Darklands creatures Ik Paizo did a book on them a few years back for 1e

[@TheMythkeeper]

Yes sir. Darklands is definitely going to get a longer video, treated like a regional deep dive. There was also a lot of excellent Darklands concept that was released along with the old Second Darkness AP.

[@Thegenderfluiddinosaur]

@@TheMythkeeper makes sense Darklands is a pretty fun region so looking forward to seeing it!!

[@CooperativeWaffles]

Would love a pre- PFc PathFinder Core) version. I am not a fan of upcoming changes to UnderDark. Especially, the Remastery removal of "dark demihumans" as lies and falsified tales by an untrustworthy PathFinder.

[@TheMythkeeper]

@@CooperativeWaffles Unless there's a new Darklands source book coming I imagine my Darklands content will be heavily based on the 1e lore for now

[@jrpower714]

Keep up the great work! I look forward to these videos each week!

[@burningbronze7555]

Two things can you please make a massive all video list for long listening and can you please make an asura video.

[@TheMythkeeper]

I just finished editing a video about the Asuras. That one is due out in about a month or two? I think. My backlog has been growing and I do a weekly drops so I'm not exactly sure. I'll also take your suggestion on the all-vids list.

[@burningbronze7555]

@@TheMythkeeper yes!

[@istrukalya]

I would love to see a Darklands deep dive from you!

[@TheMythkeeper]

Im working on it!

[@whoatethecat5410]

First off I just want to say that I love your videos. Are you putting on an accent? They way you say certain words sounds like you’re trying to sound English.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Thats just because I actually am English, I just moved to the US so long ago that I lost most of the accent.

[@whoatethecat5410]

@@TheMythkeeper of course, that makes so much sense. It’s so weird hearing people who’s accents have started to change.

[@harrij.9542]

Requesting in-game lore for Pathfinder Society. Thanks,

[@TheMythkeeper]

Its coming! Still a little ways out for now.

[@Jo-Heike]

Exciting.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Thanks for watching!

[@crunchybotrightnow4472]

In Pathfinder: Wotr many spells and abylities do extra dmg to werewolfs but yuo never encounter them, such a shame.

[@HPCthulhu2011]

The werewolf of folklore compared to historical records are clearly not equal so as an interested audience, the werebeast served as an agent of revenge where lawful means do not exist and belief has to be strong and that makes them environmental cult mysteries that are more dangerous if they are exposed. How deeply embedded is this branch because it could create a different adventure were you have packs, clans, lodges, and a whole tribe at work which is quite different than an invasive monster. So it is almost as if any monster could be substituted into this one video and that explains everything.

[@polarisjos]

I see werewolf, I click. I see Pathfinder, I click faster.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Haha! Awesome

[@cidlunius1076]

I have a lycanthrope player in my game so I hurriedly sent this their way to give them ideas of the various tribes and peoples that are afflicted and cursed

[@TheMythkeeper]

Rock on! Thanks for sharing the vid!

[@Skin1in]

Interesting video, but where are *werehouses* ?

[@TheMythkeeper]

🤣

[@dondon2349]

Hi MythKeeper, really enjoy your in depth content. Have you ever thought of publishing your videos as a podcast? Since it's audio driven, I guess, it wouldn't loose much and gain a little more lecture feeling ;)

[@TheMythkeeper]

I have recently published my full playlist as a KZbin audio podcast actually- but truthfully I have no idea how that’s supposed to work 😅

[@donniesnyman2517]

I would love to see a weregorilla💖

[@LontEnCaras]

can all humanoids get lycanthropy? I mean, can ysoki become wererats, or Iruxi become Werecrocodiles? Or are some Ancestries immune to the curse?

[@TheMythkeeper]

AFAIK, all humanoids can become lycanthropes, although I admit some combinations seem very weird. This is what happens with a kitchen-sink type setting. (My personal favorite, Android Werewolves...)

[@NSG0079]

In a recent Starfinder adventure path, an NPC android rises as a vampire. So I say why wouldn't afflicted androids change into protogens during a full moon?😹

[@TheMythkeeper]

@@NSG0079 Its a magical curse that affects the spirit. The transformation is magical and not biological in nature, so an Android would transform just as easily as an Android druid can use wildshape. It works.

[@MusMasi]

@@TheMythkeeper Robowolves?

[@TheMythkeeper]

@@MusMasi 😆

[@Pathsfound]

Commenting here since I don't know where else to reach out - would Mythkeeper be interested in a volunteer editor?

[@TheMythkeeper]

Hmmmm... possibly. Best way to each me directly is to send me a private DM using the Instagram link in my profile.

[@Pathsfound]

@@TheMythkeeper sent!

[@TheMythkeeper]

@@Pathsfound 🤔... and yet not recieved.

[@Pathsfound]

@@TheMythkeeper You might need to check your message requests, it's a separate tab within the messages!

[@TheMythkeeper]

@@Pathsfound Thank you so much! I'm such a noob.

[@thewashwizardrestorationmagic]

Love your videos man 🙌

[@TheMythkeeper]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@boldcitylongsword9941]

Did Paizo update the Entothrope monsters for 2nd edition?

[@TheMythkeeper]

I don't believe so, but it would be a quick and easy adjustment to create one

[@the_chosen_one5642]

ALGORITHM LETS GOOOOO

[@AmericanAurochs]

AAAWWWWHHHHOOOO!!!!!

[@TheMythkeeper]

🐺

[@cernunnos_lives]

Meow?

[@AmericanAurochs]

@@cernunnos_lives A cat? Food!!!

[@elementaryelknone6854]

Weredinosaurs exist as of the Ancestry Guide. Suggests T. Rex as a Beastkin animal

[@TheMythkeeper]

I have to assume that this is one of the more rare ancestries, but in places like the Mammoth Lands where dinosaurs are fairly abundant this makes a lot of sense to me. This isn't anywhere in the official guidebooks so take this with a pinch of salt, but it occurred to me writing this video that the curse of lycanthropy could mutate in different regions, reflecting the 'beasts' local to the region. So Werebears in the Linnorm Kingdoms, Werewolves in Ustalav, Weresharks in the Shackles and likely Weredinosaurs wherever those are common. Werejackals and werehyenas could also be a thing in some of the Garundi steppes.

[@tomkerruish2982]

Yes, but do they straddle the line in discord and rhyme?

[@TheMythkeeper]

🤣 Who knew werewoves were so musical?

[@tomkerruish2982]

​@TheMythKeeper Actually, pretty much everyone from my generation. After all, no mere mortal can resist the evil of the thriller. (Vincent Price was an awesome actor.)

[@namelesssomebody2557]

I have to wonder if Wererats sometimes pass themselves off as Ysoki (Ratfolk) and their social relationship with the goddess Lao Shu Po.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Its possible, but like other were creatures some will lose control under the full moon. Most prefer not to interact with humanoids in their hybrid form and will instead just try to appear human or elven or whatever.

[@davidpotts2299]

Nice great video

[@godking]

Werewolves the original furries

[@verityverri6506]

Hey, I love your work, and therefore I care a lot about it, so I feel like letting you know, Gipsy is a slur, the proper term for us is "Roma".

[@TheMythkeeper]

Sorry, deeply apologize for that. I should have caught it in the edit at least.

[@verityverri6506]

@@TheMythkeeper it happens, and nowadays too many people are still unaware (or haven't internalized) that it is a slur. I'm grateful for your work and for being so open to criticism. The world could use more people like you.

[@johnsteiner3417]

So, rat people contracting wererat curses and cat people getting werecat curses. What's that like?

[@TheMythkeeper]

Just extra ratty I guess! 🤣

[@Aedrion-]

I do wonder how one can be both unaware of changing at night in some cases but be basically in control and indulgent in others? Is there a sort of phased system where initially, one might not even be aware of the curse and after prolonged time, they are not only aware but fully conscious in their bestial forms?

[@TheMythkeeper]

Yeah this is exactly right. I'd imagine its a bit like lucid dreaming ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucid_dream ) where the first time someone wakes up from such a dream they're like "That was a weird night..." but in speaking with others who might also experience them they eventually learn to recognize they're in a lucid state, and eventually can control their own dreaming. Its not something that will happen automatically over time, but is something that requires an active desire from the lycanthrope to acknowledge and master the change. If someone is being willfully ignorant, they may remain undetected for years.

[@Aedrion-]

@@TheMythkeeper What an excellent description! And you *do* read all the comments! Awesome, I was playing Pathfinder Kingmaker and realised I knew so little of the world it takes place in. Now I watch your videos like a crack addict to understand what characters mean when they're from Numeria and why I am able to re-assemble a write mounted laser :D Plenty of lycanthropes in that game too, especially in Irovetti's place, which is kind of confusing.

[@yaelz6043]

Lycan-thrope. Lycan. Yet it still applies to bears and rats.

[@tomkerruish2982]

The proper term is 'therianthrope', but you know how it is.

[@yaelz6043]

@@tomkerruish2982 so there IS a term for it, thank you.

[@zenvariety9383]

​@@tomkerruish2982wouldn't be surprised if they use Therianthrope in the remaster when referring to all were creatures.

[@regoso8580]

how do things like the Ysoki(ratfolk) interact with wererats. that goes the same for all the other Lycanthrops and there animal folk counter parts.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Ysoki would likely turn into a more feral version of themselves. I suppose in some ways it would not that different from a human being bitten by a were-ape.

[@iceytonez]

Hey Mythkeeper, just letting you know if you didn’t already that the term “g*psy” is considered a derogatory slur to Romani people in the real world

[@TheMythkeeper]

Thanks for the call out, and I apologize, I should have used the word 'itinerant' there instead

[@iceytonez]

All good, just making sure you knew for future reference and all that

[@GoodLuckCharm.0721]

Goblins Orcs or Trolls please!

[@TheMythkeeper]

Goblins are covered in my Smallfolk ancestry guide and Trolls are covered in my Classic Monsters creature feature. Orcs have a lot of coverage on the channel right now. There is an Orc Ancestry guide, and there's also a Regional Deepdive on the Hold of Belkzen. If you're still craving more orc content though, also check out my Sodden Lands deep dive as I talk about the Matanji rain orcs in that video.

[@GoodLuckCharm.0721]

Okay thank you kindly! 👍

[@thearyeh77]

What happens when natural lycanthropes mate with non afflicted or non-wer-humans and have kids? Beastkin?

[@TheMythkeeper]

Yep, beastkin.

[@carlosn9080]

Lobo hombre en paris... Su nombre es Denis

[@lamMeTV]

nice lore but not what I was looking for

[@cernunnos_lives]

Deep dive into the denizens of Hell and the Abyss (unless you already did it & my blind ass didn't see it).

[@TheMythkeeper]

First I'd say, if you haven't watched it yet, my Outer Planes Guide Part 2 is about Hell, the Abyss, Abaddon and the Maelstrom. I have also published a video on Devils & Devil Demigods in my fiendish series, and one on the Daemons of Abaddon. The video on Demons of the Abyss is not out yet, but its ready and due out shortly (available already for MythWatcher's Club members).

[@chalzen1012]

Where wolf, where castle...

[@asepsisaficionado7376]

I personally cut out all non-mammalian lycanthropes from my campaign settings. Lycanthropy should be like rabies, only transferable to other mammals and through saliva and similar fluids.

[@wolffrdu6463]

did they are werefox ?

[@TheMythkeeper]

I imagine that werefox's exist but are a rarer breed

[@zenvariety9383]

Yeah more likely beastkin PCs will be werefoxes.

[@wolffrdu6463]

ok@@TheMythkeeper

[@CheerfuEntropy]

If I had setting with wearbears on the first full moon the infected would just eat their own weight in garbage and fall asleep til spring

[@TheMythkeeper]

Ah, that explains what happened to me last year...

[@kktallman6257]

I know you didn't mean anything by it. But "Gy*sy" is a slur against the Romani people of our world and it's use in any context should be avoided.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Thanks for the call out, I should have used the word 'itinerant' there instead

[@arbiter4973]

team jacob

[@TheMythkeeper]

🤣

[@maglor159]

Werewolves? Where Wolves?

[@KeeperOfSecrets-42069]

Who wolves?

[@TheMythkeeper]

Why wolves?

[@warlockghovat5745]

There wolf.

[@jacksonhorrocks4281]

I bet this comment is too late for you to see it

[@TheMythkeeper]

You bet wrong 😅

[@jacksonhorrocks4281]

@@TheMythkeeper Aaaah!

[@carlosn9080]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Blanco_Romasanta this is a "werewolf" from my home town. I think the last trial for been a werewolf.

[@TheMythkeeper]

Fascinating case! Thank you so much for sharing