Lupion

Lupions (common name: lycans) are a magical creature found in nearly all realities within Dimension Alpha. They are semi-human beings whose natural form is a mixture of humanoid and lupine, but can change their form to fully human, fully wolf, or anywhere in between.

Description
In their natural, "intermediate" form, a lupion is shaped more like a human than a wolf. That said, they have a gray fur coat, which is nearly always silver in High lupions but ranges from medium gray to medium-dark gray in Low lupions. (Low lupions with extremely dark coats have been documented, but are very rare.) They have black hair on their heads (which may turn white with age). Their eye color varies depending on the color of their essence, and their sclera are the same color as their irises.

In human form, lupions look like normal humans, but nearly all have black hair.

History
The origins of the lupion race are unknown, but they are assumed to be descended from former humans. Their first documented appearance occurred in 1679 A.D., but hardly anything was known about them until the late 1700s, when a lost and wounded soldier in the War for Independence was taken in by a lupion village. This man, Elias Wright, was able to learn quite a bit about these creatures, and he kept up faithful notes in his journals.

Originally, lupions kept entirely to themselves, living in tight communities in the wilderness. But as Western civilization expanded and lupions were able to study humans better, parts of the community slipped secretly into American society, tempted by the wealth and prosperity of the civilized economy. This movement became necessary as the wilderness began to disappear, and those without the power to create a niche were left out in the cold.

Over time, a rift began to form between the integrated and unintegrated lupion communities, both ideological and physiological. The lupions who lived in the niche villages began to have lighter fur from the higher concentration of magic, and to look down upon their less fortunate brethren. At the same time, the lupions living within human society had been opened to a whole new world, and considered the hidden ones snobby traditionalists clinging to antiquated ideas. The "High" and "Low" lupion classes were formed.

In recent years, in certain timelines, low lupions have become more open about their true form in human society, and are coming to be accepted by the humans. Human-lupion marriages have skyrocketed. Lupions have also been integrated into some public school systems, though their differing physical makeup often bars them from participating in sports, and they still experience discrimination.

Weaknesses
Proper medical research on lupions is virtually nonexistent at this time, but certain disadvantages have been noted compared to humans. Lupions mature at the same rate as humans, but have an average expected lifespan of only about 50 years. (A lupion who has lived in a niche most of their life may see another 5 to 10 years.) They also have very poor eyesight, requiring corrective lenses in order to function among humans.

Transformation
A lupion transforms by casting a spell the same way any other spell is cast. The transformation spell does not have to be maintained or focused. They can transform partially and selectively if they so choose.

The transformation is usually reversed only by conscious act of the caster, but an adrenaline spike may reverse the spell forcefully.

Physical effects
A lupion's transformed states have the same physical ability as its natural state, meaning a lupion has nothing to gain from reverting to their natural form. In fact, because of the "natural" form's awkward physiology, a lupion who uses their human form regularly is actually slightly more physically capable than a human—specifically, faster and more nimble.

Culture and Traditions
Lupions of both classes are very tradition-oriented and tend to resist change. Many traditions are derived from their religion, the Harmony, which is effectively Christianity with different names and phrases. Those that are not may or may not be neglected by Low lupions, depending on their level of integration and personal preferences.

Lupion culture is founded on two things: music and calling. Youth are encouraged to find their calling and niche from an early age, and parents will equip their child the best they can to reach that niche. Because of this specialized, accelerated personal development (as well as, to a lesser extent, their relatively short lifespan), a lupion is considered an adult at age 15. (Where human laws have been tweaked to accommodate lupions, the legal age of majority for lupions is still 18.)

Traditions and religious instruction are generally passed down through songs. Lupions have exhibited a general natural aptitude for music, and very rarely will one find a lupion that cannot play at least one instrument.

High lupions
Most niche-dwelling communities are independent, family-based tribes. While no laws discriminate between men and women, men traditionally hold positions of leadership within households, clans, and tribes.

Except for the ruling household, all adult lupions hold roughly equal social status. The leadership of a tribe is hereditary, passing from the parent to the first child that accepts the position. The children of the chief hold an elevated position over their peers, but tradition and culture ensure that they don't get too snobbish. Lupion chiefs have and utilize a board of advisors, a somewhat independent group of elder lupions who appoint their own members.

A confederation of tribes occurred in the Mythiverse, after Chief Doriv Arrna's grandfather convinced the tribes of the Great Plains area that a more united front would be necessary to preserve the society. Tribes remain largely independent and self-governing, but are required to assist when another tribe in the Confederation needs aid, and tribes share a basic framework of laws.

Low lupions
Low lupions maintain the family structure of their ancestors, but generally conform to the governance structure of the human communities in which they live.