Jackalwere

Jackalweres were treacherous antherions, jackals able to assume the form of a human. They used this power to lure in those that took pity on them before viciously slaughtering them.

Description
In a jackalwere's true form they were indistinguishable from a regular jackal, standing at three feet (.9 meters) tall. When disguised as a normal humanoid they were somewhat haggard but otherwise indistinguishable from normal members. Their humanoid forms were not strictly fixed and could be changed after they returned to normal. When donning their hybrid form they were fearsome monsters with a coat of fur and jackal's head but a bipedal figure. In both human and hybrid form they normally stood six feet (1.8 meters) tall. Like most lycanthropes, a jackalwere's true form was revealed when it died.

Personality
While in their jackal forms jackalweres were bolder and more aggresive than regular jackals. They were pack creatures that preferred the company of jackals and other jackalweres as opposed to other beings. The outward displays of helplessness often seen in their human forms were ruses intended to lower their victims guard. Due to their innate link to a trickster deity jackalweres were born liars. Any attempt by a jackalwere to be truthful caused them literal pain, so much so that it was visible to the perceptive eye.

Abilities
Jackalweres could shift between their three forms at will depending on situation. Their humanoid forms possessed no significant combat advantages, as opposed to their jackal or hybrid forms. Without a weapon jackalweres were reliant on the rending power of their bestial maws, as their claws couldn't be used as effective weapons. This was rarely a problem in any sense, as normal folk could not harm a jackalwere without magical or silvered weaponry.

Regardless of their form the gaze of a jackal was incredibly dangerous, capable of lulling the unsuspecting into a ten minute long trance. This power had to be used sparingly as it possessed numerous crippling limitations. Their slumber inducing stare only worked on those in a state of calm, meaning that those the jackalwere frightened, excited, or provoked would be too mentally stirred to be put to sleep. It also didn't work on other jackalweres or any entity incapable of being magically charmed. Those that resisted were generally not able to be hypnotized for some time, and it was always possible to shake the victim awake.

Combat
Because of the limitations of their gaze power jackalwere could not merely rush their opponents and hope that it worked. Instead jackalweres first would attempt to lure their victims into a false sense of security before using their powers and dragging them off. In the event this failed jackalweres would be left with two options; flee from the potentially agitated target, or attempt to quickly savage their prey if they seemed weak. In order to make a hasty retreat a jackalwere might attempt to use their sleeping powers on an oblivious foe.

When in combat their thirst for blood often led them to attack with their fangs rather than weaponry on hand, although they still had common sense and would use weapons when appropriate. Due to their love of tearing flesh they had a strong preference towards weapons that could cut and slash. Once an opponent had fallen to a jackalwere it was normally not long before they feasted on the corpse, regardless of their form.

Ecology
In order to mate jackalweres had to return to their natural forms, with the result being a litter of 1-4 jackal pups produced by the female jackalwere within five months. Although they could breed with normal jackals, the pups would be relatively normal, if strangely aggressive. Only when two jackalweres bred would the result be young jackalweres.

Jackalwere young were indistinguishable from normal jackalpups, and grew especially quickly. It appeared that jackalweres aged at a rate triple to that of humans, with a three year old jackalwere appearing like a nine year old human child. After becoming two years old jackalweres pups were no longer locked into their first form and could assume their hybrid state. At three years old their jackal forms became fully grown and they were capable of assuming human shape.

History
The origin of jackalweres was generally agreed to have been the result of magical tampering by a powerful trickster entity. Earlier accounts told of a battle between primal humanoids and animals fighting for survival in a world ravaged by the war between gods and primordials. A once great nation of intelligent, primal jackals, having been left in ruins after series of conflicts with an ancient human tribe, held only the few survivors from the conflict. After howling in anguish, fear, and rage, the primal spirit Dark Sister, otherwise known as Whisper, would here their cries and bestow upon them her gifts for deception and roguery. In more recent versions however, jackalweres were far more demonic in nature, having been uplifted by the demon lord Graz'zt from normal jackals and given both speech and transformation abilities. Graz'zt supposedly empowered them in order to serve his lamia servants rather than for their own benefit.

Appearances

 * A jackalwere appears in the novel Shadowdale and is slain by Kelemvor Lyonsbane.