Vathak 5e Racial Ecologies – The Witchwolf by Rick Hershey is a role playing game supplement published by Fat Goblin Games for use with Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result.
The supplement is available as an eight-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $5.16 although it was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. Two pages are the front and rear covers, one the front matter and one the Open Game License.
The Witchwolf starts with a bit of fluff, then explains that witchwolves come from a mixture of two bloodlines. All witchwolves are of romni lineage and have trace amounts of the hag blood found in that people. This was then combined with the blood of a werewolf. Witchwolves hide their true nature out of fear of what might happen to them, and their blood means they are drawn to extremes of either good or evil, fighting against or for the Old Ones.
Bestial Visage explains that witchwolves look generally normal, but there are giveaways and their features change when they shapechange. They can also be infected by full lycanthropes.
Moon & Manners explains that witchwolves are passionate and intimidating and often feared. They may rob and kill or become mercenaries or seek to help. They have few conflicts with other witchwolves and such are most often are about territory. They have much more problems with others, being considered cursed, abominations and similar.
Hunt in the Night explains they run the gamut of alignments, though are usually lawful or chaotic.
To Run with the Pack explains they often dwell with others of their kind and the packs are often led by witches.
Primal Faith explains the constant in them is that they worship the moon.
To Belong Amongst the Wolves explains that they are drawn to a life of adventure and often are inspired by the tale of a pack of werewolves and witchwolves who fought against the Spawn of the Old Ones.
Names has example male, female and pack names.
A sidebar has witchwolf traits and one page is another piece of fluff.
Vathak 5e Racial Ecologies – The Witchwolf in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and is short enough that these are not needed. Navigation is okay. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of errors. There are some colour illustrations. Presentation is good.
With some tweaks, this could be used in settings other than the Shadows over Vathak setting for which it is intended, especially those of a darker nature, such as the various iterations of Ravenloft. The witchwolf itself gives options similar to those of lycanthropes without granting them all or the issues with lycanthropy. At full price, though, this is an expensive supplement. Vathak 5e Racial Ecologies – The Witchwolf can be found by clicking here.
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