Wendigos

Origin
After the successful rituals which brought Werewolves into being, they became popular, and were extremely successful at surviving. Some were actually too successful. The wild game that they relied upon became scarce. They hunted the land until it had no more to offer them. In search of food, they began to look to the other nearby tribes. Not to ask for help, but to search for prey. They found Humans to be easy prey, and soon began to prey upon them. This caused great rage and disgust from other tribes, and war broke out. Those who dined upon the flesh of man became known as Wendigos. In an effort to punish and cripple them, a curse was laid upon them. Their bodies were twisted and became vile, hardly resembling the Werewolves that they once were. They were cursed with unending hunger, which could never be sated. They turned on one another, killing and consuming their own. This aided the other tribes and pushing them out, and slaughtering them. The few that remained fled to the Canadian wilderness, where they disappeared, and soon passed into legend. That was, however, not the extent of the Curse of the Wendigo. The curse also punished any Human who dined on the flesh of another Human, regardless of circumstances, by turning them into a Wendigo.

History
After they were driven out of their homelands, and all but a few small remnants of their population being slaughtered, Wendigos hid deep in the wilderness, and for a long time, stayed out of the spotlight of history. There remained stories of creatures in the woods preying upon those who dared to venture out alone, grotesque creatures which dined on raw flesh. There are, however, a few cases where the Curse of the Wendigo came again.

Winter, 1846. The Donner Party becomes trapped in the Sierra Nevada mountains by a blizzard. Food and water begins to run low. If they do not do something soon, they will starve. And something they do. In their desperation, they begin to eat the corpses of their fallen friends and families. The hunger grows, but so does their strength. They survive the winter, and continue along to their California destination. Soon after, Wendigos are reported in California for the first time.

Appearance
Wendigos, like their Werewolf predecessors, have two forms. Human form, and Beast form. Regardless of what form they are in, they are cursed with endless, insatiable hunger. In Human form, they are the same as Humans, ranging from 4.5 to 6.5 feet in height.

In Beast form, they are much different. They can range from 4.5, to a staggering 8 feet in height. Their appearance varies greatly, with the smallest changes being to posture, teeth, and claws. Individuals may also exhibit changes such as fur growth, bony protrusions, such as horns and antlers, increased muscle mass, and changes in the shaping of their legs. Also, when in Beast form, all of the internal organs shrink, with the exception of the heart, lungs, and stomach. This is most likely an adaptation to allow the individual to consume the maximum amount of flesh possible.

Behavior
Wendigos tend to fall into one of two categories. Their are those that give in to the hunger, violent, insane individuals who revel in the feasting upon the flesh of another. Then, there are those who try to resist the temptation, the hunger. They hate what they are. The second sort tend to be quieter, and quite shy, but are always in pain due to the intense hunger.

Wendigos on the hunt are cunning beasts, capable of recognizing dangers. While they can recognize dangers, this does not mean they will retreat due to them. They have been known to disregard threats, if they believe they can still take down their prey. The one exception to this, is fire. Regardless of what form they take, they are terrified of it. Flares, campfires, and the sort are actually highly effective defenses, as the creatures will flee from the fire.

Abilities
While in Beast form, Wendigos are known to possess heightened aggression, strength, and agility. Also, their sense of smell is greatly heightened. They have the strength to tear entire limbs off of prey with great savagery. Wendigos have the ability to incite fear in their prey, even if the prey is unaware of the Wendigo's presence. This can be used to make the prey leave safety, and move into a place where they are an easier target.

Weaknesses
While Wendigos do pose a serious threat to the unprepared individual, they have a few flaws that can be exploited to great effect. First of all, is their fear of fire. They will flee at the sight of it, if there is enough of it. The flame of a lighter can give a Wendigo pause, and they have been observed to circle, all of their attention on the flame, as if they are unsure of what to do. A flare suddenly being sparked to life can cause a Wendigo to give up the hunt entirely, and flee. Often, however, they will simply go off to find easier prey. Wendigos will avoid campfires, staying entirely out of the light of the flames. They may stick around, and pick off individuals foolish enough to venture into the darkness however. A bonfire will keep Wendigos far at bay, as the creatures will keep miles between them and it.

Another flaw has to do with their vision. They can track moving objects exceptionally well. However, their attention seems to pass over things that are not moving. If they have not yet located prey, and it does not move when they look over the area, it can often avoid detection. However, if the Wendigo gets too close, it can simply detect the prey by scent, and will attack it all the same.

Diet
Wendigos are strictly carnivorous. They eat flesh, and only raw flesh. In all technicality, they can eat normal food while in Human form, but only in small amounts. In addition to this, the food is said to taste vile. Eating too much normal food will cause the Wendigo to become ill. Eating small amounts of normal food can help to keep the hunger at bay, but it is a dangerous game, as even the smallest slip up has dire consequences.

Lifestyle/Lifespan
Wendigos have been found to have a lifespan shorter than that of Werewolves, averaging at about 80 to 90 years, with rarer cases of individuals even managing to reach 110 years of age. They tend to be more solitary, living away from people, most often in an effort to keep others safe from their endless hunger.

Reproduction
Wendigos have a fertility rate of about 15%. They can mate with other Wendigos, Humans, Werewolves, and Demons. For the most part, the child will always inherit the curse, meaning that they will be a Wendigo. The only exception to this rule is with Humans, in which case there is a 50/50 chance. It is not uncommon for Wendigos to end up eating their own young.

Mating is not the only way that a Wendigo can be brought into the world, however. Humans who consume the flesh of another Human will become afflicted by the curse as well, effectively creating another Wendigo.

Death
It is said that, like Werewolves, Wendigos go to the Great Hunt after death. However, their fate there is a bit less grand, becoming the prey of the eternal hunts, fated to die over and over again.

Ranks
Rank E - Scavenger - The weakest of Wendigos, these individuals are cursed with the inability to transform. They are little more than humans with endless hunger, and a rather aggressive and/or solitary attitude.

Rank C - Cannibal - Weaker Wendigos, their changes are small, mainly having to do with the eyes, teeth, and claws. Small horns and some fur may appear. They are fast and voracious.

Rank B - Butcher - These Wendigos can change quite a bit in their Wendigo form. Much of their appearance changes, from growing fur, their entire skeletal structure changing, horns growing from their heads, etc. They are stronger than Humans, and faster than most.

Rank A - Blood Dog - Very dangerous individuals. In Wendigo form, they are masters of the hunt. Their very presence is known to cause irritation and nervousness, even if the prey is unaware of the Wendigo's presence. They are strong, fast, and cunning.

Rank S - Mist Stalker - The most dangerous of Wendigos. These individuals have supernatural powers, that remain unexplained. When they hunt, a thick fog is known to cover the area, making it harder for prey to escape, defend itself, and even be aware of the beast. They are unmatched by any Human in terms of speed and strength. They can cleave a full grown man in two with a single swipe with ease.