Apex-Werewolf

Apex-Werewolves are a type of cursed creature within the novel ''Dark Blaze. ''They are the most powerful of the canine cursed creatures and retain their intelligence when they transform.

Background:
Darryl M. Finch-Ellis wanted werewolves to be a part of his novel, however, he wanted a particular type of lycanthrope and chose to have the image more akin to the werewolves in The Howling, Dog Soldiers and the Underworld series, as opposed to the more traditional wolfman seen in the Wolfman film or the more four legged werewolves, chiefly seen in An American Werewolf In London.

In regards to the apex-werewolves, Finch-Ellis desired to have larger, stronger and more intelligent werewolves who can transform at will, making them much more of a dangerous foe. To achieve this, Darryl split the lycanthropes up into two sub-species, the feral werewolves (the traditional werewolves), and the apex-werewolves - these new werewolves who would be the pack leaders of sorts to the lycanthrope species.

Origins:
Not much is known about the apex-werewolves, as they are not made the same way that the feral werewolves are made. Finch-Ellis has hinted that the apex-werewolves are the personal victims or children of Lupus Dei, the originator of the lycanthropes.

Characteristics:
At the vision of the full moon, the lycanthropes transform into their beastral form where they grow larger in size, longer limbs, more canine-like rear legs, sharp claws and the heads of large wolves. Feral werewolves are at a minimum, 7ft or taller. They are not larger than apex-werewolves, and will be subservient to any apexes in their vicinity.

Apex-werewolves can transform into their beastral form at will (unless cursed like the Great White Wolf), where they grow similar to feral werewolves but are much larger and stronger than their feral counterparts. They usually grow a minimum of 8ft in height, and retain their intelligence when in their beastral form, meaning they can lay out more coordinated attacked - this was seen during the Strigoi-Trupp's battles against the pack under the Great White Wolf's command.

Although they have weaknesses that can slow them down or even injure them temporarily, they cannot die unless they are decapitated. Decapitating an apex-werewolf is a herculean task, seen only when Friedrich von Laaber transformed into his great-bat form and tore off the Great White Wolf's head.

Their toughness in battle is shown by the Great White Wolf during Hadrian's 1915-1916 Chapters, and also when Friedrich von Laaber retells the story of how he, Mirko Vukas and Basarab Voivode had to team together in their great-bat forms to defeat Brecca the Black, who had campaigned in Germany, the homeland of the Thule.

The difference in difficulty between Brecca the Black and the Great White Wolf could be explained through Brecca being more sane and in control of his beastral nature as he was not cursed to remain in said state, unlike the Great White Wolf.

Appearances:
The Great White Wolf is seen within Dark Blaze, whilst Brecca the Black is only mentioned in a story relayed by Friedrich von Laaber.

Powers & Abilities:

 * Increased speed.
 * Super strength.
 * Increased hearing.
 * Super sense of smell.
 * Super durability.
 * Can transform into a lycanthrope whenever they like.
 * Terror over strigoic creatures (due to sense).
 * Increased tracking skills.
 * Immortal.
 * Superiority over lesser lycanthropes.
 * Retains intelligence when in beastral form.

Weaknesses:

 * Holy water.
 * Fire.
 * Silver.
 * Cast-iron.
 * Palo Santo.
 * Mountain Ash.

Trivia:

 * The werewolves are based on the Northern European and Wallachian lore.
 * The werewolves seen in Dark Blaze are akin to those from The Howling, Dog Soldiers and Underworld.
 * As with pop culture, Finch-Ellis has made lycanthropes and strigoii natural mortal enemies.
 * Apex-werewolves are pack leaders.
 * Brecca the Black was named after Breca the Bronding from the Beowulf poem.
 * The Great White Wolf was partly inspired by William from the Underworld series.