Post by Jonas Predgrad on Dec 12, 2007 20:06:30 GMT -5
Werewolves
[/li][li]Werewolves, also known as lycanthropes, are mythological or folkloric people with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or wolflike creature, either purposely, by using magic, or after being placed under a curse. The medieval chronicler Gervase of Tilbury associated the transformation with the appearance of the full moon. [/li][li]The name most likely derives from Old English wer (or were) and wulf. The first part, wer, translates as "man" (in the sense of male human, not the race of humanity). They are effected by the moon as is obvious to anyone knowing a wolf, but the older the werewolf the more animalistic they become as a human, and the more in control they seem to be when the animal comes out. Being a werewolf also seems to add a number of years to your life.
[/li][li]Historical legends describe a wide variety of methods for becoming a werewolf, Olaus Magnus says that the Livonian werewolves were initiated by draining a cup of specially prepared beer and repeating a set formula. Ralston in his Songs of the Russian People gives the form of incantation still familiar in Russia. According to Russian lore, a child born on December 24 shall be a werewolf. Folklore and literature also depict that a werewolf can be spawned from two werewolf parents.
[/li][li]A notable exception to the association of Lycanthropy and the Devil, comes from a rare and lesser known account of a man named Thiess. In 1692, in Jurgenburg, Livonia, Thiess testified under oath that he and other Werewolves were the Hounds of God.[16] He claimed they were warriors who went down into hell to do battle with witches and demons. Their efforts ensured that the Devil and his minions did not carry off the abundance of the earth down to hell. Thiess was steadfast in his assertions, claiming that Werewolves in Germany and Russia also did battle with the devil's minions in their own versions of hell, and insisted that when werewolves died, their souls were welcomed into heaven as reward for their service. Thiess was ultimately sentenced to ten lashes for Idolacy and superstitious belief. Many current werewolves, however believe just that.
[/li][li]A distinction is often made between voluntary and involuntary werewolves. The former are generally thought to have made a pact, usually with the Devil, and morph into werewolves at night to indulge in mischievous acts. Involuntary werewolves, on the other hand, are werewolves by an accident of birth or health.
[/li][li]Werewolves have several described weaknesses, the most common being an aversion to wolfsbane (a plant that supposedly sprouted from weeds watered by the drool of Cerberus while he was brought out of Hades by Heracles). Various methods have existed for removing the werewolf form. To kneel in one spot for a hundred years, to be reproached with being a werewolf, to be struck three blows on the forehead with a knife, or to have at least three drops of blood drawn have also been mentioned as possible cures. Many European folk tales include throwing an iron object over or at the werewolf, to make it reveal its human form.
[/li][li]Becoming a werewolf simply by being bitten by another werewolf as a form of contagion is common, along with another form of this being "licked" by a werewolf to turn one's self (in this case the person is continuously a werewolf but has total control over the form, and has no blood lust, but gains increased strength and agility)
Shapeshifters
Shape-shifters similar to werewolves are common in tales from all over the world, though most of them involve animal forms other than wolves. Animagus fall into this catagory as they are willfully changing into the animal which represents them.
Vampires
[/li][li]Vampires are undead mythological or folkloric beings who feed by draining and consuming the blood of human victims. The term was popularised in the early 18th century, after an influx of vampire folklore from the Balkans and Eastern Europe into Western European culture. Folkloric vampires were depicted as revenants who visited loved ones and caused mischief or deaths in the neighbourhoods they inhabited when they were living. They wore shrouds, did not bear fangs and were often described as bloated and of ruddy or darkened countenance, markedly different from the true vampire.
[/li][li]It is not possible for a female vampire to bear children, they are dead and so tehy can not create a life. However, it has been known for male vampires to sire children with humans.
[/li][li]The notion of vampirism has existed for millennia, nearly as long as Vampires have; cultures such as the Mesopotamians, Hebrews, Ancient Greeks, and Romans had tales of demons and spirits which are considered precursors to modern vampires. However, despite the occurrence of vampire-like creatures in these ancient civilizations, the folklore for the entity we know today as the vampire originates almost exclusively from Southeastern Europe. Belief in such legends became so rife that in some areas it caused mass hysteria and even public executions of people believed to be vampires. Although the original lore has been distorted due to new fictional references such as Dracula, there are many ways to destroy a vampire; decapitation, a stake to the heart, incineration and exposure to sunlight are commonly cited.
[/li][li]Ture vampires Are pale with strangely blue eyes and drink blood for sustinance. While not off put by anything religious fire, decapitation, and a steak to the heart are deadly. The most potent way to kill a vampire however is to give it teh blood of a dead man.
[/li][li]In Durmstrang they are not allowed anywhere in the school without a chaparone as some are not to be trusted. This is also why curfews are so strictly imposed.
Both?
To have both vampire and werewolf blood is possible, but only as a bloodline trait. It is not uncommon for A vampire to attack the family of a well known werewolf or vice versa, just to spite the family. Therefore having both in your blood is possible, but very unlikely. It is also possible to be decended from one and bitten by the other. Although this is not nearly as common as you would think.[/center]
