Moon Beasts

An affliction like lycanthrophy except that it only seems to strike non-sentient animals. Carnivores seem to be the most affected because they could feed on a diseased creature — it most definitely has the ability to cross species boundries. Creatures that have the disease can be identified by the lack of any iris in their eyes — their eyes all have a milky white appearance. Creatures with the disease will be more aggressive and hungry, eating up to twice the meat they ate before.

The real horror of a moon beast happens during the first full moon after the disease has reached its terminal stage (typically 1 week per 10 pounds of the animal). Under the sway of the full moon those with the disease turn into murderous monsters. They change shape physically, often appearing more as demonic creatures attempting to take the form of a natural animal. Extra limbs, poisonous spit, tentacles, and demon-fire are all fairly common mutations. They will stay in this form, night or day, for the next 6-8 weeks before the disease finally kills them.

The diseased body will then give off a sickly sweet odor as it slowly decomposes, attracting scavengers. These animals will serve as the carriers for the next generation of moon beasts. Habitat

Exactly the same as those not afflicted with the disease until they have reached terminal stage. When mutated the animals will blindly destroy anything in their path. Because the mutation feeds off the body, any creature that has become a full moon beast has no need to rest or eat, until just before death when they will eat as much vegetation as they can stuff into their mouths.

Any beast still in the incubation stage will resemble a normal creature of its type — with the only noticable difference being a greater desire to eat other animals. Once the disease has control over the animal's brain (as seen by the white eyes) it will double the normal amount of food it will eat daily and become far more aggressive. If attacked in this state it automatically qualifies for fercerious attack. When the moon beast is awakened and has mutated it gains the effect of Berserker's Rage until it finally dies.

1 quantity per 10 pounds (MR1; Wards, Earth, Water) of the carcass can be retrieved as the body rapidly decomposes it is impossible to salvage any organs after two days. If the organs can be retrieved the body will then give 1 quantity per 8 pounds.