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Necrotherians: The Twisted Hybrid of Lycanthrope and Undead

Alright, folks, let’s talk about something truly bizarre and terrifying: Necrotherians. These creatures are an unholy combination of lycanthropes and undead, the worst of both worlds wrapped up into one horrific package. Imagine the raw primal fury of a werewolf paired with the relentless endurance of the undead. Yeah, it’s as bad as it sounds. I recently ran a 3 day campaign for D&D in a Castle and I am exploring what happened at my table and because of one of the players these unholy abominations were created in my mind. And since I love creating things and sharing them with all of you, I thought why not take things to the website and see how people react. Now all of this goes along with the Nex Vita organization who are looking to make such things, but you can use Necrotherians in your D&D game without needing to use Nex Vita if you so desire.   So, how does one even create these monsters? Why would you? And what would these creatures bring to the table for your campaign?

How Necrotherians Are Made

In most D&D settings, lycanthropes are powerful creatures tied to curses and the natural world, while undead are walking abominations that defy the cycle of life and death. So how do you mix the two? Well, you’ve got a few options:

• Dark Rituals: Some evil mages or necromancers (because who else, right?) might attempt to merge the curse of lycanthropy with necromantic magic. This usually involves something like blood sacrifices, desecrated lunar cycles, and a healthy dose of twisted experimentation. The goal? Create an unstoppable soldier that regenerates like a werewolf but doesn’t have that pesky problem of dying.
• Failed Resurrections: Sometimes, a lycanthrope might be brought back from the dead incorrectly, whether due to a botched spell or deliberate tampering by someone with ill intent. What you get is a half-rotted, half-shifted beast that retains both its animal instincts and the cold logic of undeath.
• Cursed Burial Grounds: Maybe a lycanthrope dies and is buried in a place steeped in necromantic energy. The dead don’t always rest peacefully, and in this case, the creature rises again, now part of the walking dead but still cursed with its lycanthropic nature.

Advantages of Necrotherians

So, what makes these things terrifyingly effective?

1. Undying Regeneration: Like a regular lycanthrope, Necrotherians can heal from most injuries, except silver or holy damage. Now add the undead’s resistance to exhaustion and necrotic damage, and you’ve got something that just won’t stay down. They don’t tire. They don’t feel pain. That’s nightmare fuel right there.
2. Blended Strengths: Imagine the tactical flexibility of a were-creature — their ability to shift between forms, heightened senses, and animal savagery — combined with the undead’s immunity to things like poison or mind control. Necrotherians might be tougher to control than your typical undead servant, but when they’re unleashed, they can rip through almost any opposition.
3. Infectious Power: Some variants of Necrotherians could still spread lycanthropy while being carriers of a deathly rot or disease. So, not only could they turn your best fighters into feral beasts, but they might also leave a trail of undead infection in their wake. A win-win for evil masterminds everywhere!

Disadvantages of Necrotherians

Okay, so these guys sound like a real problem. But, like any creature with dark origins, they aren’t without their flaws:

1. Unstable Creation: Combining the curse of lycanthropy with necromantic energy isn’t exactly a well-established science (thankfully). Many Necrotherians are mentally unstable, often locked in a constant battle between their animalistic rage and the cold, emotionless nature of undeath. This can make them unpredictable, sometimes turning on their creators or allies in a blind frenzy.
2. Double Weaknesses: Just because they’re powerful doesn’t mean they’re invincible. Necrotherians inherit weaknesses from both of their natures. They’re vulnerable to silver like normal lycanthropes, and they’re still susceptible to radiant damage or being turned, as undead are. A well-prepared party can exploit these weaknesses to bring them down.
3. Mindless Rage: While their undead half might give them more control over their hunger for flesh, it doesn’t always make them strategic. Many Necrotherians struggle with a constant need to feed or destroy. This can lead to them being baited into traps or making poor decisions in combat, relying on brute force rather than cunning.

Using Necrotherians in Your Campaign

Necrotherians are perfect for a DM looking to introduce something new and unsettling into a campaign. They’re not just another werewolf or skeleton warrior — they’re the embodiment of twisted magic gone wrong. Here are a few ways to incorporate them:

• The Failed Experiment: Maybe the party stumbles upon a mad necromancer’s lair, only to discover he’s been trying (and failing) to create the perfect Necrotherian soldier. The PCs might have to deal with several unstable prototypes before facing a perfected version.
• The Lycanthropic Plague: What happens when a lycanthrope infected with necrotic energy escapes into the wilderness? The PCs might have to race against time to stop the creature from spreading its dual curse to innocent people, creating a wave of Necrotherians.
• Betrayal in the Ranks: Perhaps the party has an ally who’s a lycanthrope, but after being killed in battle, they’re raised as a Necrotherian by the villain. Now, the party has to face their former friend, now a deadly undead beast.

In conclusion, Necrotherians bring a fresh twist to lycanthropy and undeath, blending the best and worst of both. They’re fearsome, relentless, and morally complicated creatures that add depth and challenge to any campaign. Just be ready for your players to shudder when they realize what they’re facing. Stay Tuned as I continue to explore some of the options with these amazing D&D creations.

Thanks for Reading. Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy!