Ordinary jackals tainted by demonic power, jackalweres haunt roads and trails, waylaying and murdering those they meet.

A jackalwere has three physical forms that it shifts between. In its true form, it is indistinguishable from a normal jackal. It can take human form, often appearing gaunt and affecting a wretched demeanor to beg goodwill from strangers. When travelers welcome a jackalwere into their midst, the monster adopts its human-sized hybrid form, with the fur and head of a jackal but standing on two legs as it attacks.

!!Beguilers and Cowards

The demon lord Graz'zt created jackalweres to serve his devoted servants, the lamias. Reaching out from the Abyss, he bestowed jackals with the gift of speech and the ability to assume humanoid forms. A jackalwere is born to lie, and perceptive creatures might notice it wincing in pain when it speaks the truth.

A jackalwere prefers to fight alongside jackals and others of its kind. Under the direction of jackalweres, jackals are fierce and loyal companions.

!!Supernatural Servants

Jackalweres kidnap humanoids for their lamia masters, condemning victims to a lifetime of slavery or an agonizing death. A jackalwere's magical gaze renders a foe unconscious, allowing the monster to bind a creature or drag it away.

A jackalwere might also use its gaze to incapacitate a deadly enemy long enough to make good its escape.

!!Jackalwere

Shape-Shifting Trickster of the Wilds

Indistinguishable from jackals in their natural form, jackalweres shape-shift to deceive others. These shape-shifters can take three forms: a jackal, a human, or a monstrous hybrid of the two. Jackalweres are easily mistaken for werewolves, but jackalweres aren't supernaturally afflicted—their jackal forms are their natural state. Jackalweres also possess magical gazes capable of putting foes to sleep, allowing jackalweres to play their tricks unimpeded or get the upper hand over threats.

Jackalweres dwell in inhospitable wildernesses and pride themselves on their cleverness. They take offense at those who travel through their lands without leaving a gift of treasure or fresh game. Roll on or choose a result from the Jackalwere Tricks table to inspire how a jackalwere repays such slights.

Strange shapeshifting creatures that can assume jackal or human form

Despite the name, Jackalwere are not ordinary lycanthropes; their condition is not contagious, for example. These strange creatures can assume the form of a somewhat larger-than-normal jackal or that of a man. They are rarely (1 on 1d6) found leading a pack of ordinary jackals, but otherwise will be hunting by themselves.

Strange shapeshifting creatures that can assume jackal or human form

A jackalwere is a malevolent beast who can assume human form (and hence not a lycanthrope, since lycanthropes are men who can assume animal form). They will mingle with people, choosing easy targets to victimise. Living for the thrill of murder, many times they will consume the remains of their prey. Often they steal the victims' possessions, assume their identities, and go on to the next town. A jackalwere often uses their gaze attack, those who fail their save vs spell will fall into a deep sleep, to immobilise their prey. During melee a jackalwere will most often attack with a weapon. These foul beasts are immune to normal weapons, they must be attacked with iron or magical weapons. Jackalweres sometimes prefer the company of normal jackals and rarely can be found living among them.