Lunarwilds are a blighted species of "were-beings," including werewolves, that have lasted to present day. In their base state they look human and are not infectious, but they can transform by will or under the moonlight into a different form (not necessarily a wolf, but usually an animal) that is much more animalistic and infectious, with any bitten creature also becoming infected with the Lunarwild blight. Lunarwilds have severe reactions to silver.

Genesis

Lunarwilds are an infectious species, with the bite of any Lunarwild in beast form having a high likelihood of inducing the transmutation into the species. This infection is magical in nature, functioning more as a curse, allowing them to infect inorganic beings—though the likelihood of infecting beings that are not at least partially organic is much lower. Lunarwilds in base form have an extremely low infectivity; a human bitten harshly several times may not transform. In partial shift, their infectivity is moderate.  

Once an individual is bitten, they will experience symptoms of fever, restlessness, and insomnia. They also have more energy, counteracting the typical effects of sleep deprivation. These last for around three days before returning to a mostly stable state, if with gradually increasing strength and enhanced senses. When the next full moon comes, around a month after the bite, then a transformation will be triggered. This first transformation does not require being bathed in the light of the full moon, but the individual will become very agitated trying to get somewhere to bathe in the moonlight; they will not have full cognition during their first transformation, but it can be more confusing and distressing if the transformation is done away from the moonlight. 

A more gradual transformation can be induced by swallowing a Lunarwild's saliva (which typically does not have a particular taste, but does carry the Lunarwild's scent, which in turn affects the experience of flavor) over a period of time. The individual would gradually become able to perceive the scents of Lunarwilds more clearly, and their senses gradually become enhanced, along with the development of instincts that draw them to stay with pack. Their pupils slowly develop tapetum lucidum, and they start producing purrs and growls, whether intentionally or not. 

Other Lunarwilds will know that the individual has reached the tipping point when the individual's Lunarwild scent suddenly increases in intensity—not as strong as a proper Lunarwild, but clearly no longer the same. Before this tipping point, they may experience partial transformations and altered cognition during the full moon, but their changes are still reversible if they stop consuming Lunarwild saliva. After this tipping point, on the night of a full moon, their first transformation will be triggered, and their Beast cognition will form.  

Abilities

Base form:

• Cognitive Enhancement: Slight enhancement in cognitive abilities. 

• Physical Enhancement: Significant increase in strength, allowing them to lift cars with some effort. 

• Extended Lifespan: Approximately 1.5 to 2 times their original lifespan. 

• Partial Shapeshifting: Partial shapeshifting of beastly characteristics. 

• Full Shift: Full shift to their Beast form. 

Beast form:

• Physical Enhancement: Significant increase in strength, allowing them to lift cars with ease. Generally, they can comfortably maintain a running speed of 50-60 mph (~80-100 kph) without tiring, with much higher sprint speeds—though there may be variations depending on their beast form. 

• Sensory Enhancement: Significant enhancement in senses of sight, smell, hearing, and taste, and incredible pain resistance. 

• Regeneration: Incredible regeneration abilities, able to recover in seconds to minutes so long as their head is not cut off or their heart is not pierced with silver. 

• Partial Shapeshifting: Alteration of their shape to change some beastly characteristics. 

• Instinct: Though they lose a significant degree of higher cognitive abilities, they have strong intuition and instinct in regards to who and what is dangerous or safe. 

Characteristics

When not transformed, Lunarwilds look more or less identical to how they looked before being bitten, save for the presence of tapetum lucidum and the ability to produce certain sounds like purrs, growls, and howls, regardless of the species they resemble. They tend to run slightly warm but not to the point of fever; more notably, they can maintain their warmth in cold surroundings much better than their original species. Cold hands do not occur for Lunarwilds nearly as often as they do for humans.  

Beast Form Characteristics

When transformed, Lunarwilds take the form of some kind of beast. Most are reminiscent to real-life animals, with some being more realistic and some having more unusual or unnatural characteristics. The appearance depends on what feels right for the soul, and tends to be stable but can shift over time. Lunarwilds in beast form cannot speak human languages, but can communicate with scents, howling, growling, and other animal noises; they can instinctively understand each other, even when meeting for the first time.

• The vast majority of beast forms are mammalian creatures, resembling wolves, cats, bears, etc., with most being vaguely wolf-like even if they mostly resemble another creature. They may resemble other non-mammalian species, and they may have structures such as scales, feathers, and wings, but the majority of their body should be covered in fur.

• They can be larger than the animals they resemble. They are generally no smaller than the size of the animal they most resemble, and no larger than 2-3 times their original height.  

• They must have sharp teeth, and usually have sharp claws, but these can be retractable. 

• Their saliva and other fluids have a shimmering quality like moonlight. 

• They must have moon-like eyes on black/dark sclera. They are highly reflective and may or may not glow. Normal Lunarwilds do not have pupils or additional patterns, but combinations with other blights or magical species may alter presentation. For instance, Lunarveins (Altervein Lunarwilds) have slit pupils. 

Transference Enchantment

Normal clothes will not transform with Lunarwilds, but there are ways to enchant clothing and other items to be included in transformations, whether they only appear on one form or change size, appearance, and/or placement depending on their form. 

Lemma employs ritual magic that they incidentally created without even being aware of it being ritual magic; they thus freely shared it with other Lunarwilds. Since the effect is minor and specific, its effects are maintained well despite widespread knowledge of it. This enchantment, generally referred to as the transference enchantment, is known of by most Lunarwilds, with at least one member in each pack knowing how to use it. Since it does require some skill and memorization, not everyone learns it. 

This enchantment requires that the clothes contain or are made of parts of their beast form, such as their fur or parts of their keratinous structures. In traditional packs, many shear off a portion of their fur to use as a prominent part of their clothing. Any materials taken from the beast form will grow back in seconds to minutes due to their regeneration.

The Beast

A defining aspect of Lunarwilds is their "Beast." This can almost be thought of as a second personality born of the individual's fundamental emotions and instincts on the night of their first transformation. Note that "Beast," referring to the cognitive entity, is capitalized; the "beast form," the physical shape, is not. 

Some think of their Beast as a separate being, some think of it as another version of themself, and others have other ways of thinking about it. The Beast can overtake or blend with the individual's primary cognition depending on the circumstances: 

• During a full moon, when the Beast form is triggered, the Beast personality takes over entirely. Afterwards, the experience is remembered as dreamlike. The transformation can be prevented if no contact is made with moonlight, though they feel more restless and have a strong desire to run outside on full moons. 

• If the Beast form is voluntarily taken, not during a full moon, the Beast blends with the original cognition, allowing for a fair degree of reasoning and restraint. A Lunarwild experienced with restraint could safely interact with non-blighted individuals, though it is still considered risky. 

• When partially transformed, the mentality blends with the original cognition, which may lead to behaviors such as growling at those disliked. A partial shift can range from primarily base form (akin to kemonomimi) to primarily beast form (akin to anthropomorphic animals), though there is no requirement for specific elements present in a partial shift. Note that the original psyche must be present; a Beast cannot walk and talk like a person on their own. In beast-leaning shifts, the Lunarwild is still capable of human (or other original species) speech and behaviors, though they are closer to their instincts. They can enjoy the essence of being a beast while still experiencing it with their (mostly) full rationality—as opposed to voluntary full shifts, where a degree of reasoning and restraint is maintained but they are strongly on the side of their Beast in psyche.

The Beast's desires always reflect the individual's deepest desires, if with a significant loss of inhibition and blended with a compulsive desire to infect others. As such, transformed Lunarwilds tend to be violent towards non-infected individuals, though they may be able to refrain from aggression towards those they consider close and trustworthy. That said, they can be playful and affectionate with other Lunarwilds, with many engaging in cuddle piles or grooming sessions. 

They can also experience mating cycles; though any children born would match the original biology of the parents, there is a high likelihood of infection through the process of gestation and birth, making it another way for the blight to propagate. If the Lunarwild is extremely stressed, anxious, and/or unhealthy, they may not experience cycles until they are well again.  If an individual does not wish to experience mating cycles, they can be suppressed with medicinal, magical, or magitechnological means as well. Medicinal means, which were common before the Age of Reunion, might have some effects like nausea, cramps, etc., though magical and magitechnological means can usually suppress them with no issues. More details can be found on the blighted reproduction lore page. 

The Lunar Embrace

Letting the Beast take control every now and then is healthy for Lunarwilds; this is referred to as undergoing the Lunar Embrace. This improves their mental health, physical health, cognition, self-understanding, and more. To experience the Lunar Embrace, a Lunarwild will need to bathe the majority of their body in the light of the full moon for around ten seconds. If a sliver touches them or they see the moon but it's not enough to cover them entirely in moonlight, they will become very agitated and potentially aggressive as they try to stand in the moonlight. 

If a Lunarwild's Beast is suppressed for too long or can't fully express itself, then the Lunarwild might feel stressed, anxious, and in extreme cases, physically ill. Most packs decline to employ methods that can completely suppress their Beast, though some individuals may choose to do so despite consequences; it will never be fully fatal. 

Generally, 4-5 hours of the Lunar Embrace each full moon is what members of a normal pack get, and this provides full benefits. 1-2 hours each full moon is unsatisfying but sufficient for around 6 months. Skipping a full moon leads to an individual being more prone to anxiety and stress; skipping two will lead to headaches and antsiness; skipping three may lead to horrible migraines and body pains. By the fourth full moon with no transformation, Lunarwilds may practically become rabid trying to move into the moonlight, likely to voluntarily or instinctively transform as part of their attempts, though it is only under the full moon that their Beast will take over entirely. 

Voluntarily transforming outside of the Lunar Embrace can confer some mild benefits as well. If the Lunarwild has not been regularly engaging in the Lunar Embrace, their Beast will be closer to the surface and they may not have as much control over their instincts. That said, if an individual never accepted the Lunar Embrace but spent the vast majority of their time transformed, they will not experience any negative effects. Sometimes, these individuals become so entrenched in their beast form that they are much more their Beast than their sapient cognition; sometimes, they may forget how to transform back to their base form. These individuals are referred to as feral Lunarwilds.

During a lunar eclipse (blood moon), Lunarwilds can still experience the Lunar Embrace—though their base cognition will also be present, blended with their Beast's cognition. Despite this, they receive full health benefits. 

Feral Lunarwilds

A feral Lunarwild is one whose cognition is dominated by their Beast and who has forgotten how to shift back to their base form. There are two requirements for this to occur: they spend a very long period of time in their beast form without shifting back, and they let go of the more rational aspects of their cognition and allow their Beast to lead their thoughts and actions. 

While this can be done entirely voluntarily, it is more likely to be caused by stressful situations, such as needing to survive in the wilderness or going through traumatic situations where the Beast might take over to protect the rational mind. For more chronic survival states, the Lunarwild will generally have stayed in their beast form for at least a year, experiencing a gradual disappearance of their rational thought. A single traumatic situation is generally insufficient to cause ferality, but repeated traumatic incidents where the individual does not shift back afterwards can lead to ferality within a few months. 

A feral Lunarwild can lose their grasp of language wholly or partially. They may understand certain words or the gist of what is being said, or it may be meaningless noise to them and they must rely on tone and body language. They can still instinctively understand other Lunarwilds and communicate with scents, howling, growling, and other animal noises. They tend not to be aggressive towards other Lunarwilds and other blighted, unless the individual threatens or harms them; they recognize a sense of familiarity and belonging among the blighted. 

Feral Lunarwilds can be rehabilitated, returning their rational thought and ability to shift. The Lunarwild must have some desire to recover; those who voluntarily become feral are very difficult to rehabilitate, while those who became feral due to stressful circumstances outside their control are likely to recover. The process generally involves placing the feral Lunarwild in a volunteer or blood-related pack, where they should be spoken to as if human and welcomed into the pack activities. Scenting and bonding with the pack, in addition to helping them feel safe, welcome, and comfortable, may help the rational cognition start to emerge. They will first begin to recover their understanding of language, which comes in parallel with sparks of rational thoughts. Over the course of months, they will come to understand their situation, and their cognition will stabilize into a blend of their Beast and rational self, similar to regular Lunarwilds who voluntarily shift. Once they reach this stable state, they must go through the Lunar Embrace. The Beast cognition will take over entirely once more, but at the end of the night, it shall sleep. If successful, the Lunarwild will wake in their base form, their mind and self restored. 

Rehabilitated Lunarwilds do not generally have a significant risk of relapse—though they may still become feral again if put in circumstances that any Lunarwild may become feral in. In many cases, the most prominent lasting effect is that their Beast tends to be more present in the Lunarwild's base form. Their instincts are easier to sense in base form (but are not compulsive) and they can more easily push their Beast to the surface, which might make them less verbal and more likely to communicate with animal sounds (growls, purrs, etc.) and body language (baring their teeth, nuzzling others, etc.). 

Pregnancy & Pups

A Lunarwild pregnancy generally has less severe symptoms compared to a natural pregnancy of the species. In the case of Lunarwilds who were originally human, they still experience morning sickness and cravings, but these are less intense. They maintain self-sufficiency during their pregnancy; they are always able to move on their own until labor. The birth itself can be difficult, but it tends not to be as painful. If the Lunarwild's beast form is larger, it may be more comfortable to give birth in beast form—their muscles are also stronger. It is safe to shift between base form and beast form throughout the pregnancy, though if one shifts into their beast form during labor, it is not recommended to shift back. 

The children of Lunarwilds are generally referred to as "pups." A Lunarwild litter typically has 1-4 pups. There is around an 80% chance for the children to be born as Lunarwilds. If they are not, depending on the pack, they may be blighted right away or raised as human and given the choice once they come of age. Pups who are born Lunarwilds may be in beast form or base form at birth; it is common for their form to match the form that their dam takes during labor. 

Fertile and intersex Lunarwilds will start producing milk throughout pregnancy, with mature milk only ready for nursing immediately after birth. Lunarwilds can have one or multiple pairs of nipples regardless of sex, much like real-life canids (though they are typically hidden under their fur). Fertile Lunarwilds typically have 3-4 pairs in beast form or when partially shifted, and these can produce milk for breastfeeding pups. In the last few weeks of pregnancy, their belly fur in beast form typically becomes softer and thinner, making the nipples easier for nursing pups to find. Most Lunarwilds prefer to nurse their pups in beast form, and allonursing (nursing pups that aren't theirs) is very common in traditional packs. Pups must be nursed for at least 2 months for healthy growth, at which point they can start consuming meat in their beast form, though they are often still nursed until what is typical for their original species. This is around 2 years of age for humans, after which they can be transitioned to solid foods while in their human form. 

Pups that are born as Lunarwilds will often be very in-tune with their Beast and be just as comfortable in their base form, beast form, or in partially shifted forms. They will often chirp for their caretakers to feed and tend to them, and will continue to make animal noises as a normal part of their communication throughout life. The beast form, along with the Beast cognition, tends to develop at a rate similar to wolves: 

• They are pups until around 3 months old. They are small, often having smaller teeth along with smaller and softer keratinous structures (such as horns, claws, and/or hooves). Some of their keratinous structures may not be present at all. If they have horns as an adult, they may appear as nubs at birth. Markings tend to be less defined. 

• Their juvenile stage is around 3 months to 2 years old. Their build is somewhere between their pup state and their mature state. Their claws, hooves, or other foot structures will be fully developed. If they have horns, they will be partially grown. Markings tend to be more defined at this point. 

• Their mature stage is reached at around 2 years old. Their anatomical features are that of an adult beast, and their teeth, claws, and other structures are fully developed. The Beast cognition is also mature, with its instincts fully developed. However, they can still grow in size very slowly. The typical Lunarwild starts their mature stage as the size of an adult wolf, and reaches their maximum size at around 18-20 years of age. 

Pups born in a pack are typically communally raised rather than just by the birth parents. Depending on the pack's culture and the parents' preference, their pups may be considered children of the whole pack or the parents may be more involved in raising them. Pups that are born in the same year and raised communally are typically referred to as nestmates. This term arose from how in some packs, especially traditional ones, they share a communal childhood nest that is always guarded by pack members. Nestmates are not inherently considered siblings (though many siblings are also nestmates) and in general can have any relationship as they grow up. 

Given the high conception rate of Lunarwilds in mating cycles, unplanned pregnancies are a real concern. There is no taboo surrounding contraception or abortion in traditional packs, though after birth, pups are considered precious beings that should be taken care of. Lone Lunarwilds not part of a pack may choose to give up their pups to a pack to be raised, and some packs are very open to this while others are not. 

Injury, Regeneration, and Silver

Lunarwilds are not significantly more resilient to mundane harm than their original species—a blade, a bullet, or a fall can hurt them just as it would anyone else. Their healing abilities are significant, allowing them to recover quickly, though the presence of silver can cause meaningful harm. 

Regeneration

Base form: Lunarwilds heal from mundane injuries roughly twice as fast as they would have before turning. Their blood regeneration is significant, making them unlikely to die from blood loss even if they are excessively bleeding. However, they cannot regenerate lost limbs or recover from catastrophic injury while in base form. Injuries to their organs such as their heart or brain cannot be healed quickly—for that, they need to shift. If they are nearing death (such as by injury to the heart or brain) they may instinctively shift to their beast form to recover, potentially entering a temporary feral-like state. 

Beast form: Regeneration becomes dramatically more powerful. Local injuries such as cuts and bruises close within seconds, and a severed limb will regrow within minutes. Combined with their incredible pain resistance in this form, most mundane injuries barely register as an inconvenience. However, a severed head or a heart pierced with silver will still kill them.

Note that Lunarwilds do not normally scar. Regeneration in beast form is thorough enough that even lasting injuries from before their turning are erased. Any lasting scar, missing limb, or other permanent physical mark on a Lunarwild indicates either a magical cause of injury or silver that is still lodged somewhere in their body.

Silver

Silver is the one substance that meaningfully harms a Lunarwild regardless of form, though the severity and immediacy of the reaction differs sharply between base and Beast form.

In base form, silver behaves more like a severe allergy than an acute injury. Simple contact—holding a silver object, wearing silver jewelry—causes a stinging discomfort, but nothing dramatic enough to draw attention in the moment. If contact is prolonged, a burn will surface an hour or so afterward. If silver breaches the skin—a cut from a silver blade, for instance—the wound becomes inflamed within an hour or few, slow to close, and generally unpleasant, though not acutely agonizing. Mundane treatment is generally sufficient. 

In beast form, silver contact is immediately and severely painful. Touching pure silver produces a burning sensation that feels both hot and cold at once, comparable to pressing a hand against a hot stove, and will leave a serious burn.

The reaction is also destructive to the silver itself. Pure silver in prolonged contact with a Lunarwild will slowly break down into a harmless gas, visible as a faint, shimmering steam rising from the point of contact. If a wound contains pure silver—a silver bullet, for example—the wound will not close while any of it remains, continuing to hurt, bleed, and steam. An object the size of a bullet can take anywhere from days to weeks to fully dissolve this way if left untreated.

These effects depend on the object being at least roughly 80% pure silver. Below that threshold, the metal is considered impure, and its effects are considerably milder:

• 80%+ purity: Dissolves entirely into steam over time through contact with a Lunarwild in beast form. Causes the full hot-and-cold burning reaction, and a wound containing it will not close. Causes the "allergic reaction" in base form. 

• 50%–80% purity: Painful and stinging to the touch of a Lunarwild in beast form, but does not dissolve or steam. A wound containing metal in this range can become a chronic, unhealed injury for as long as it remains lodged. Tends not to cause any reaction in base form with short contact, though wearing jewelry for hours can still cause a reaction.

• Below 50% purity: Negligible effect beyond a mild sting on contact in beast form. Generally safe for handling in base form, but jewelry is still inadvisable. 

A wound containing lodged silver is generally static—it will not heal properly, but it also does not actively worsen unless the object itself is sharp. As such, there is no risk to a Lunarwild's overall health to wait; a Lunarwild can function indefinitely with an unhealed wound, aside from the ongoing pain.

Whether the body can work an impure lodged object toward the surface on its own depends on depth. Superficial silver may gradually be pushed out over time, similar to a splinter. A piece embedded deep enough may instead become encapsulated by regenerating flesh after roughly a day, sealing it away without fully expelling it—the wound closes just enough for the Lunarwild to function normally, even though the object remains inside. Pure silver never encapsulates this way, since the steam it continually produces needs somewhere to escape, keeping the wound open until the silver is fully dissolved or removed.

A Lunarwild shot with a silver bullet, for instance, has some options. They can remain in Beast form, where pain resistance makes the injury bearable, and travel to seek help. They can shift back to base form to attempt removal themself, though the drop in pain resistance means they risk passing out partway through. They can also try to claw the object out while still transformed, with variable success depending on how deeply it's lodged. Ideally, a Lunarwild reaches a pack, who can remove the silver for them in either form.

Once silver is fully removed, a wound heals normally and with no scar, regardless of how long it was lodged or how severe the injury became in the meantime.

Restraint and Containment

Because impure silver does not dissolve, it can be used as a practical restraint—chains or a collar, for instance—though wearing it is a source of ongoing pain rather than immediate danger. Transforming while restrained in impure silver is significantly more painful than an unrestrained shift, but not impossible; a Lunarwild pushing through the pain can often break a restraint that isn't otherwise reinforced. If the restraint holds regardless (through magical reinforcement or similar means), it will dig into the flesh as the Beast's body strains against it, causing severe injury—but so long as the head remains attached and the spinal cord intact, the Lunarwild will survive. In these cases, the body may regenerate around the restraint rather than fully closing over it, leaving enough space for the Lunarwild to continue functioning; the resulting injury can be gruesome to witness even as the Lunarwild remains very much alive.

Pure silver is a poor choice for restraint by comparison, since the same reaction that makes it agonizing also causes it to slowly dissolve away. Additionally, its nature as a soft metal means that successfully shifting will easily break the restraints. 

During the Age of Secrecy, supernatural hunters or paranoid townspeople might make use of such restraints for Lunarwilds or those suspected to be something of that nature. Of course, this practice is considered cruel, and there are significant legal consequences for restraining a Lunarwild with silver in united society during the Age of Reunion. 

Intimacy and Reproduction

For detailed lore on intimacy and reproduction of Lunarwilds, see the link pinned in the #sinnamon-and-spice channel (18+) of the Ideation server. 

You can design your own Lunarwild, though Auspice offers commissions for beast forms:

• 30 USD base price: notion design in Inka style

• 40 USD base price: notion design in Flint style

• 50 USD base price: notion design in Airbrush style

• For custom designs, refer to Auspice's general design commissions. 

Please use this form:

Name:
Gender:
Pronouns:

Inspiration: (optional; song, vibe, or non-character image, following notion Edeia base spec rules)

Animal Inspiration: (typically mammals - wolf, panther, bear, rabbit, etc. Non-mammals, complex creatures, and fictional creatures may require additional fees.) 
Primary Fur Color: (1 color only; typically, lighter and darker shades may be added as gradients or markings) 
Keratin Color: (for claws, horns if any)
Eye Color: (should be a color with contrast from black)
Base Form: (optional, link to their base form)

Extra Specs: (optional, for fees; can add horns, spines, markings, additional colors, specify no markings, specify teeth color, etc.)

The Lunarwild blight is one that hybridizes well with other blights, making chimeric Lunarwilds relatively common compared to other chimeric blighted. Notable ones are listed below. 

Lunarveins are individuals who are afflicted by both the Alteric blight and the Lunarwild blight. They are fairly uncommon, as hybridization generally can only happen by choice and not by accident, and the process of siring on the Altervein side must be quite deliberate. 

Genesis

There are three ways to become a Lunarvein: an Altervein is turned by a Lunarwild, a Lunarwild is sired by an Altervein, or a Lunarvein turns an individual with both blights at the same time. 

Altervein → Lunarvein

Alterveins have considerable resistance to further changes in their form. Even if an Altervein is bitten by a Lunarwild in beast form, there is a fairly low chance for it to take. Generally, an Altervein will need to be bitten several times—either at once or over an extended period of time—for the bite to take. Some may be practical about the process, while others have some fun by tussling with or sharing a mating cycle with a Lunarwild. If an Altervein regularly shares mating cycles with a Lunarwild, even if the Lunarwild never fully shifts, there is a decent chance for the blight to take after a number of years. 

Once the bite takes, the Altervein will not experience fever, but they do feel restless and are unable to sleep for around three days. When the next full moon comes, the first transformation and formation of the Beast cognition will take place as normal. 

The gradual transformation is not effective on Alterveins. 

Lunarwild → Lunarvein 

A Lunarwild can be sired by an Altervein, though there are some considerations. A Lunarwild's regeneration is significant, making it difficult to fully drain them. If the process is started and then stopped without fully draining the Lunarwild, then the Lunarwild will just become weak and ill for a day  before returning to normal health. While an Altervein may enjoy the feast, it can begin to feel excessive if they drink too slowly and still aren't finished after several hours. An Altervein that is good at "speed-drinking" may be able to finish after half an hour, compared to the minutes it often takes to drain a normal human. 

An alternative option is to provide the Lunarwild with something that will slow or stop their regeneration. While there are various options, the most comfortable and "standard" method is to give them a solution with a small amount of silver to drink, enough to slow their regeneration enough without causing discomfort. If too much silver is added, it will burn them going down and cause pain and nausea, though it won't kill them on its own. 

Otherwise, the turning process and upbringing is fairly typical of normal Alterveins. 

Dual Blighting

Dual blighting requires a Lunarvein to make sure both blights are transmitted through their independent ways. Generally, they will first give their blood, then fully or partially shift to give the bite of their Beast while draining the individual at the same time. The individual will first experience the Altervein turning process, becoming a full Altervein while the Lunarwild blight is still at work. They will be more restless and often require soothing or settling by feeding for three days, and then they will transform and form their Beast cognition at the next full moon. 

Characteristics

Lunarveins have the general characteristics of Alterveins and Lunarwilds where they do not conflict. Their base form has the appearance of a normal Altervein, and their beast form has the appearance of a normal beast form with the addition of slit pupils. The pupils can be dark or light—whichever is more visible on their moon-like iris. They can also extend their fangs in their beast form, just as they can in their base form. 

As undead, they do not produce any body heat, lacking the natural warmth of living Lunarwilds. They cannot biologically reproduce and do not undergo mating cycles. They still have their Lunarwild scent glands and can scent and bond with others, but the scent tends to be more soft or faded.  

Like Alterveins, they only need blood to survive and cannot consume any normal solid food. They can consume blood-based food items developed through the research efforts of SANP, and many enjoy a slab of imitation meat dripping with fresh blood poured over it as a treat every once in a while. 

Like Lunarwilds, they can experience the Lunar Embrace and go on a Lunar Hunt. Instead of consuming meat, their Beast will only drink the blood of their kills, perhaps leaving the flesh for other Lunarwilds, Carriophors, or natural scavengers. Depending on how much blood they consume, their need for blood may may be reduced or even entirely satisfied until the next Lunar Hunt. For a human Lunarvein, a sufficient amount is around the equivalent of draining 2-4 deer. Larger beasts may need to eat more and smaller ones eat less, but the mechanism of this is magical, so while there may be some variation, the difference is not extreme. 

After a successful Lunar Hunt, they can safely avoid consuming any blood for the entire month. However, many still experience cravings, especially fledglings and other young Alterveins, and will "snack" on some blood to satisfy the cravings. Only fledglings would be at risk of attacking a person as soon as they smell blood, and generally for no more than a year. 

Carrionwilds are individuals who are afflicted by both the Carriophum blight and the Lunarwild blight. Given the high degree of contact between the two species, there are a fair number of Carrionwilds present in pack-flock pairs. 

Most pack-flock pairs agree not to deliberately cause trouble for each other, including blighting the other species without consent, though since Lunarwilds have limited lifespans and Carriophors do not, some choose to deliberately become a Carrionwild. 

Genesis

Carrionwilds typically either start as a Carriophor or a Lunarwild, though it is possible to be infected by both blights at once if a Carrionwild bites an individual. However, the blights do not "blend" and are technically transmitted as distinctly separate infectious agents. 

Both Lunarwilds and Carriophors, like other blighted, have a general resistance to becoming afflicted with additional blights. Lunarwilds can tolerate bites from Carriophors quite well without a significant risk of infection, especially if they are treated with any regular kind of disinfectant. Eating Carriophum-contaminated flesh is still likely to cause blighting. 

If a Lunarwild is blighted with Carriophum, with or without their intention/consent, the pack will often ask them what they want to do. The options are usually: 

• Try to purge the infection before it sets in (varying successfulness)

• Die as a Lunarwild 

• Join the paired flock 

• Depart from the pack-flock and find their own way

A Carriophor that is bitten by a Lunarwild also has a decent chance of becoming afflicted with the Lunarwild blight. If the blight takes, then they will experience restlessness typical to Lunarwild bite symptoms; the next full moon, their Beast will take over, and afterwards, their form will change to one resembling their original species (e.g. a humanoid form if they were human). 

Generally, Carrionwilds who remain with the pack-flock will spend most of their time with the flock but still join the pack for Lunar Hunts. 

Characteristics

Carrionwilds typically have a main appearance reminiscent of their original species with: 

• Black eyes or no eyes 

• Sharp teeth 

• Wings (typically bird-like) 

On the full moon or by choice, they can take their beast form, which looks like a typical Carriophor but may have black eyes or no eyes. Like with Lunarwilds, the Beast personality develops as a distinct entity in their psyche, and takes over during the full moon. 

Carrionwilds have the diet of Carriophors, but will also target living prey (especially during Lunar Hunts), which is not typical of Carriophors. 

Their Lunarwild scents are less prominent, more of an echo that is easily overpowered by the normal smell of a Carriophor.