Lycanthropes, vampires, and mummies amongst the Monkey Folk of Mystara
by Cab DavidsonAll of the simian characters are closer to humans than any other playable species, and as such some afflictions that affect humans also impact upon them. They can become lycanthropes or vampires, and populations of simian were-creatures are far from unknown.
Nobubele were-tigers are commonly found in and around Ulimwengu, and indeed mixed groups of Karimari and nobubele were tigers are of huge concern to the secretive Karimari, who fear their spread outside of the region may lead to others learning too much about their presence.
A recent concern among the wang oranye has been the presence of lycanthropy on the Cestian coastline they typically head to when young. Recently spread there from Thyatian trading vessels, the ever curious wang oranye seem particularly prone to antagonising the were rats, and many have become infected.
In the shaydaan tribelands, it is the devil swine strain of lycanthropy that is most common, with those who survive attacks and become devil swine being both feared and revered within their communities. Indeed many reach high rank within their troops, but ultimately this tends to lead to such losses among them that the whole troop is weakened. At present the number of infected individuals is relatively low, but every few years it rises to almost plague levels and whole troops are lost.
Vampirism is less common among the simians but does occur. One coven of phanaton vampires on the Isle of Dread is known and feared by natives of Tanaroa and surrounding villages, appearing (as phanaton often do) as the sun falls, apparently seeking to trade fruits for other goods, and charming villagers away. Combined groups of native and Tanaroan and rakasta warriors sent to deal with this coven have been lost, and it is unclear where this group is hiding or what can be done about it. One notable yazarian vampire is known to stalk the cold deserts highlands of Denagoth. His name is lost to time, and he shuns the company of his own people, preferring to prey on elves and humans. Some say he is old enough to remember the Before Time of is people, and sought out vampirism as a way of living long enough to lead them back to the stars. If this is the case, he’s not (currently) saying.
In the former Nithian colonies of Arypt, under lost, jungle covered pyramids disturbed only by the howling of monkeys and the avaricious predations of adventurers, are creatures mummified by members of cults of ages long past. Among them are literally hundreds of mummified shaydaan, whole troops taken from their lands with the blessing of their entropic patron, an army of the rotting dead awaiting the time they will be called on to serve their masters once more.