Werewolves and Lycanthropy

Player-known lore compiled from sessions 6–22. Speculation labeled Party believes… / Unconfirmed:. Distinct threads: true lycanthropy (curse, full moon, wolfsbane) vs Court of Wolves (wolf-mask cultists who turned out to be vampire thralls, not werewolves).

Van Richten Werewolf Manuscript

See Dr. Rudolph van Richten and Monster Hunters for hunter network, aliases, and Court of Wolves arc. Full treatise text: Van Richten Werewolf Manuscript.

How the party obtained it

• Won from Arturi Radanovich during the Game of Stories at Tser Pool (Session 6 @ 01:43:05)
• Short werewolf treatise signed Rudolph van Richten beneath the title (Session 8 @ 00:31:16)
• Irredel read it aloud at campfire before Vallaki (Session 8 @ 00:27:42)
• At Tser Pool, party heard copies of van Richten's broader Monster Hunting Guide are circulating; Doru once owned a copy—distinct from this shorter werewolf treatise (Session 6 @ 00:59:22)
• After reading, party sought the signed author to answer open questions (Session 8 @ 00:31:36)

What the manuscript teaches (party knowledge)

Party framing: transmitted curse (not born with it) → hope for spell of removal before first transformation (Session 8 @ 03:18:12).

Manuscript vs party experience

Barovian Werewolf Lore & Geography

Lake Baratok pack

• Childhood legend (Ireena Kolyana): shape-changing wolves hunted near Lake Baratok west of Vallaki; legends say they "went to sleep" when the devil did ~100 years ago (Session 8 @ 00:24:57)
• Kasimir Velikov: werewolf pack normally hangs around Lake Baratok; unusual to see one far from usual range (Session 10 @ 00:10:38 — party recap cites Kasimir)
• Ezmerelda d'Avenir: werewolves normally hunt far side of Lake Baratok but have been venturing farther — possibly leadership change (Session 14 @ 00:25:57)
• Party calls Lake Baratok area "werewolf capital" of Barovia (Session 13 @ 02:16:07)
• Werewolf den rumored near Khazan's Wizard Tower (Session 13 @ 03:12:15)

Western forests — wolf-shifters (Tommy)

Undead bridge knight Tommy (Order of the Silver Dragon) warned:

• Dread lord's servants take many forms in the forests (Session 7 @ 02:31:53)
• "Those who walk in the skin of wolves" haunt forests to the west (Session 7 @ 02:38:28)
• Shifters change form — walk as wolf, walk as man (Session 7 @ 02:43:07)
• Party linked this to regenerating wolves and lycanthropy concerns (Session 8 @ 00:26:35)

Court of Wolves legend vs reality

Legend (Kasimir Velikov, Session 9 @ 01:59:51):

• Centuries ago when Vallaki formed, a werewolf pack sought to walk among — and rule — civilized folk
• Established a secret shadow society: "Court of Wolves"

Party experience — mostly not werewolves:

Party theory (Session 17): vampires kidnap victims → partial transformation in moon room → profane ritual north → werewolf army (Session 17 @ 02:33:50) — Unconfirmed strategic end-state.

Dr. Rudolph van Richten (as Father Bryce) dismissed active werewolves in town; party remains skeptical given disappearances (Session 12 @ 00:36:25).

Silver — Rules of Engagement

From manuscript & hunters

• Manuscript: silver or "chill of death's power" needed to truly put a werewolf to rest (Session 8 @ 00:27:42)
• Party linked death-power to necrotic damage when spooky wolves regenerated through ordinary harm (Session 8 @ 02:27:15)
• Szoldar / Yevgeni (wolf hunters): silver is how you deal with werewolves (Session 9 @ 03:10:11)
• Werewolves regenerate health in combat (Session 8 @ 02:27:15, 03:05:59; Session 13 @ 01:39:43)

Vallaki silver access

• Town guard hoards silver weapons; wolf hunters exempt under Baron Vargas Vallakovich (Session 10 @ 00:18:15)
• Party still sought a silver dagger (Session 13 @ 00:56:31)
• Ezmerelda d'Avenir loaned silver short sword at tower (Session 14 @ 00:16:53)
• Ember used Ezmerelda's silver shortsword for crits vs werewolves on Old Svalich Road (Session 13 @ 01:14:28)
• Silver valuable against night hags as well (Session 21 @ 00:48:47)
• Mysterious alley ally killed wounded Court assassin with silver dagger (Session 12 @ 02:59:10)

Containment

• Dr. Rudolph van Richten: silver needed to restrain afflicted who transform uncontrollably; possible permanent measure if containment fails (Session 12 @ 00:39:34)
• Church basement: silver shackles for Irredel on full-moon night (Session 21 @ 01:25:59; Session 22 @ 00:32:00)

Lycanthropy — Cures, Suppression, and Limits

What does NOT work (party-tested or NPC-stated)

Wolfsbane — ingredient & potion

Ingredient rules (Dr. Rudolph van Richten / Father Bryce):

• Rare flower blooming in full-moon light (Session 12 @ 00:22:31)
• Dried wolfsbane acceptable if harvested at full bloom and properly preserved (Session 12 @ 00:23:46)
• Baron Vargas's library herb-lore tome confirms: potent only at full bloom; mages preserve dried stock (Session 12 @ 01:38:07)
• Party recovered dried wolfsbane from Khazan's Wizard Tower chest (Session 13 @ 03:13:46)
• Delivered to Bryce; full-day brew; ready morning of 8th; can stock ~two months of doses (Session 15 @ 01:19:01)

Potion rules (Dr. Rudolph van Richten / Father Bryce; Nightingale relayed rules Session 17, Session 17 @ 00:39:32):

• Take on night of full moon before nightfall
• Effect: transform into a normal wolf (not feral werewolf); retain mind and senses
• Does not stop mid-transformation, cure existing werewolf form, or allow willing shift back until effect ends (Session 17 @ 00:39:32; Session 19 @ 01:33:03)
• Too early on 8th morning — Irredel saved dose for 9th (Session 17 @ 00:39:25)

Permanent cure leads

Irredel's Lycanthropy — Party Timeline

Infection (Session 8)

• Bitten right forearm in second wolf ambush near Vallaki (Session 8 @ 03:16:28)
• Healing closed other wounds; bite stayed raw → party believes curse transmitted (Session 8 @ 03:16:47)
• Sildir and Mercurio also bitten; wounds healed normally — party believes they passed saves (Session 8 @ 00:40:00, 03:14:18)
• Full moon six days away at valley-gates camp (3rd of Neyavr) (Session 8 @ 00:32:18)
• Dead wolf reverted to human man on death — werewolf confirmed (Session 8 @ 03:11:37)

Vallaki diagnosis (Session 9)

• Gate screening: guards checked teeth, waved garlic; party passed (Session 9 @ 00:10:24)
• Father Bryce confirmed werewolf mark; curse taken root (Session 9 @ 00:33:14)
• Suppression ritual scheduled; full moon five nights out (4th of Neyavr, late entry) (Session 9 @ 00:36:29)

Progression symptoms (Sessions 17–21)

• Dream: forest chase, full moon, uncontrollable hunger (Session 17 @ 00:07:10)
• Veiny hands, longer nails, faint hunger on waking (Session 17 @ 00:07:10)
• Dream: bone-throne woman in pelts/red war paint—offered strength; woke taller, stronger, hairier, burning hunger (Session 19 @ 00:17:37)
• 9th morning: took wolfsbane dose (Session 19 @ 00:37:16)
• Afternoon 9th: fever, heavier build; collapsed en route from windmill (Session 21 @ 00:43:49)
• Early transformation signs despite wolfsbane → church basement silver shackles (Session 21 @ 01:25:59)
• Lady Fiona Wachter does not know Irredel is werewolf (Session 20 @ 00:52:02)

Full moon night — 9th of Neyavr, midnight (Session 22)

Complications:

• Synthetic moonstone shards (Volenta's Court lab) in Irredel's bag ~two days — counteracted wolfsbane (Session 22 @ 00:40:00)
• Moonstone: alchemists synthesized stone imitating full-moon effects; not a natural mineral (Session 22 @ 00:40:00)
• Shards removed from proximity before midnight

Physical events:

• Irredel felt moon power despite no visible moon in basement (Session 22 @ 00:52:00)
• Partial transform: muscles bulging, fur, snout; silver shackles strained loose (Session 22 @ 00:52:00)
• Bit Sildir's left arm; Bryce amputated below elbow (Session 22 @ 00:58:00)
• Woke human form, healthier than before; shackles had come loose (Session 22 @ 01:00:00)

Midnight vision (Session 22 @ 01:09:00):

• Same feral woman from Session 19 dream (war paint, bone-throne imagery) at edge of a pit
• Irredel asked "what will it cost me?" — told she could be her own master; "You live" if she seized strength
• Out of desperation ("I'll do anything to avoid [becoming a monster]"), accepted and took the woman's hand to climb out (Session 22 @ 01:14:00)

What Irredel told the party afterward:

• Claimed she remembered only lunging at Sildir, then blackout — did not describe the vision when Sildir asked (Session 22 @ 01:24:50)
• Told Mercurio/Saturno she found a "wellspring of resolve" — sheer stubborn will not to become a monster; continue serving Tyr (Session 22 @ 01:26:11)
• Said vision felt "psychological" — reflection of resolve, not supernatural (party's understanding of her account) (Session 22 @ 01:26:11)
• Did not elaborate on vision details, bargain, or agreement (Session 22 @ 01:26:11)
• Sildir believes she overcame it through will alone (Session 22 @ 01:26:11)

Aftermath:

• Irredel staying church basement until morning; future full moons: wolfsbane + avoid moonstone (Session 22 @ 01:28:00)
• Shackles re-affixed overnight by her choice (Session 22 @ 01:00:00)
• Sildir lost left arm; Ember offered mechanical arm (Session 22 @ 01:20:00)

Werewolf Encounters — Field Notes

Session 7 — ordinary wolves

• Six wolves on cliff road; two larger wolves watched without joining (Session 7 @ 01:30:56)
• Dead road wolf had iron bolts, not silver (Session 7 @ 00:51:44)

Session 8 — regenerating ambush wolves

• "Spooky" wolf healed damage each turn (Session 8 @ 02:27:15, 03:05:59)
• Wolves seemed human-intelligent in observation (Session 8 @ 00:26:00)
• One slain wolf reverted to tan-skinned man in worn linen pants (Session 8 @ 03:11:37)
• Ireena Kolyana never targeted by monsters in fights (Session 8 @ 03:16:28 — party observation)

Session 13 — Yakov & Razvan

• Claimed Krezk hunters; ambushed party on Old Svalich Road (Session 13 @ 01:10:29)
• Transformed into werewolves in combat (Session 13 @ 01:14:28)
• Party victorious; silver shortsword effective (Session 13 @ 01:14:28)

Session 10 — Court assassins (not lycanthropes)

• Regenerate wounds; defeated after long fight (Session 10 @ 02:20:14)
• Faces: sunken, pallid, feral; elongated incisor fangs (vampire, not wolf) (Session 14 @ 00:23:55)

Court of Wolves — Moon Technology

Moon chamber (Sessions 17–18)

• Underground chamber: levitating miniature moon replica; roof porthole and lens; waxing gibbous phase when found (Session 17 @ 01:55:23)
• Lever shifts lens onto moon replica (Session 17 @ 01:55:23)
• Irredel entranced by device — similar to lycanthropy dreams (Session 17 @ 01:56:34)
• Party theorized werewolf conversion device (Session 17 @ 01:55:23)
• Irredel collected crushed werewolf-transformation stone from moon room for study/keeping away from her (Session 18 @ 01:55:03)

Synthetic moonstone (Session 22)

• Potent enough to counteract wolfsbane potion and trigger transformation signs early (Session 22 @ 00:40:00)
• Origin: Volenta's Court lab (Session 22 @ 00:40:00)
• No party-known "sunstone" opposite (Session 22 @ 00:40:00)

Full Moon Calendar (party tracking)

Vallaki Gate Screening

• Guards tested for vampires/werewolves: teeth inspection, garlic waved for reaction (Session 9 @ 00:10:24)
• Irredel passed; party kept affliction quiet (Session 9 @ 00:13:55)

Open Questions

• Can Abbey of St. Markovia abbot permanently cure transmitted lycanthropy?
• What exactly is the crushed transformation stone from the moon room?
• Are Lake Baratok werewolves organized under new leadership — and linked to Court at Lake Zarovich?
• Bone-throne feral woman: same figure in Sessions 19 and 22 dreams/vision — what were the terms of the bargain Irredel accepted? Unconfirmed; Irredel has not told the party (Session 22 @ 01:26:11)
• Will Remove Curse work on Irredel if obtained?
• Long-term: wolfsbane every full moon vs finding permanent cure before embrace-path triggers

Sources by Session