Description

Several symptoms can be displayed in those infected with lycanthropy. The afflicted may be plagued by vivid nightmares, and the wounds they received from their lycanthropic attacker may be deep and visible. Those infected with Sanies Lupinus may find themselves running into wild creatures, suffering strange injuries, or feeling drowsy before suddenly experiencing their senses sharpening. While not transformed, werewolves may find that they've grown more hair in unexpected places, such as their ears. Werewolf claws grow rapidly, and their fur has a tendency to become matted.

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The most important and obvious effect of lycanthropy is the beast transformation itself. While in beast form, the lycanthrope has increased height and altered proportions, with one strain being recorded as having increased shoulder width, lengthened arms, narrowed hips, and increased leg height. The physical alteration grants the werebeast enhanced strength, speed, resilience, and stamina, as well as enchanted claws that can harm creatures that are immune to conventional weaponry. Lone werewolves are almost never far from their pack; engaging them alone is a grave mistake. A werewolf's howl can not only call other werewolves to the beasts' aid, it can call forth regular wolves and bears as well. Werebeasts are affected mentally as well, as they experience intense bloodlust. In extreme cases, the victim experiences difficulties remembering what they did while transformed, or they become delirious. Werewolves who starve themselves can turn feral, putting them at risk of being unable to control their base impulses should they encounter a mortal. Starving werewolves may kill impulsively or find their self-control is only restored when their hunger is sated.

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Lycanthropes are commonly believed to have an aversion to specific herbs. Canis root is believed to ward off werebears, while wolfsbane and belladonna are both known to be poisonous to werewolves and are used as components of remedies for the disease. The juice of ripened belladonna berries causes a werewolf's veins to shrivel, and wolfsbane petals render their bones brittle. Poisons and silver weapons are also considered especially effective against werewolves. Even the weakest of poisons are effective against towering werebeasts.

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The circumstances of the transformation seem to vary wildly between individuals or strains of lycanthropy. Some lycanthropes transform every full moon, while others transform every night. Others seem able to choose when they transform, and some have the ability to resist transforming entirely. The strength of a lycanthrope's bloodlust also varies. Some individuals experience an uncontrollable desire to kill, and others are able to maintain nearly complete control during a transformation. In the worst cases, an individual who lacks the willpower to control a transformation may turn feral, becoming little more than a mindless beast. Generally, werebeasts do not revert to their original form upon death, but there are some exceptions to this rule.

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A few effects of lycanthropy are present outside of transformation. The aforementioned bloodlust being a notable instance, as even in human form, the afflicted may still feel the desire to hunt and kill. Lycanthropes are immune to all diseases and experience fitful sleep. They also may retain subtle physical traits outside of beast form, such as scents or small patches of fur. Lycanthropy also has spiritual effects that persist after death. Most lycanthropes go to Hircine's Hunting Grounds after death, rather than the afterlife they would otherwise have received. However, this doesn't always seem to be the case. A priest from the Cult of the Ancestor Moth who lived during the Interregnum described the notion of Hircine "claiming" the souls of all lycanthropes as "poetic and misleading," stating that mortals decide the destinations of their own souls through the choices they make in life. A notable example of werewolves who were directed somewhere other than the Hunting Grounds is the werewolves who served King Styriche as soldiers in the Gray Host. The entire Gray Host, including its werewolves, were damned to Coldharbour due to a pact Styriche made with Molag Bal. Another notable example was Faolchu the Changeling, whose soul was pledged to Molag Bal when Angof the Gravesinger resurrected the werewolf in his conquest of Glenumbra. After Faolchu's defeat, his soul was sent to Coldharbour, where he was punished by Molag Bal for his failure to keep the Lion Guard from retaking Camlorn.

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Hircine can grant great power and control over lycanthropy to favored worshipers. These boons are usually granted by specific artifacts, such as the Ring of Hircine. Additionally, those favored by Hircine may be granted the ability to transform entirely into a beast as opposed to a werebeast. For example, Hircine's Packmaster has the ability to transform into a wolf rather than a werewolf.

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Circa 2E 582, the Gray Host developed a mysterious disease to target rogue werewolf packs in Blackreach. The incubation of this disease is known to vary between individuals. The disease forces a lycanthrope into their beast form and drives them feral as their minds degrade. The victims of this disease lose their mind and the ability to control their transformations. One of the most dangerous effects of this disease is that it is contagious; those who are near someone with this infection can become infected themselves. An alchemist named Rasir was able to create a cure for the ailment, which had been devastating the Dark Moon Grotto werewolf refugee community.