Landslide

The Landshark

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  S P E C I E S Amazonian Jaguar H E I G H T 120 cm // 47 inches at shoulder C O L O R Melanistic black

  E Y E S Blue W E I G H T 394 kg C L A W S Large, talon-like

  T E E T H A little extra length in canines S E L F C O N T R O L Full O T H E R Subtle dorsal mane

  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  A B I L I T I E S
  Were-jaguars have a number of forms and abilities. Their basic form is humanoid, where in they use the least amount of energy and mass. The second is a feral jaguar form ranging in three different colors; melanistic, classic, or white (extremely rare, 1/1000000 individuals throughout history), between these two forms is the large, menacing half-beast form that is capable of moving bipedally or quadrupedally. Because the half-beast form requires so much energy to obtain and hold, it is typically only maintained for very short amounts of time, 5 hours is the average maximum for most individuals. Humans who are turned into were-jaguars are typically incapable of achieving half-beast form for several hundred years, even with sufficient practice. When were-jaguars shift between these forms, their entire anatomy changes, bones snap break, even pulverize; muscles stretch, snap, and twist; and then relocate and rebuild into the needed form, making were-jaguars uniquely vulnerable when transforming. Unlike many other varieties of weres, Metztlitin maintain full cerebral awareness regardless of form, they are also not controlled by any external force such as the moon.
  
  The two primary abilities of the were-jaguar are their accelerated healing factor and shadow-leaping. Shadow-leaping is an ability where in the were-jaguar is capable of blending in and hiding in places with low light levels. Their physical mass dissipates into a thin, sheer smoke-like veil. Shadow-leaping can only be done when the were-jaguar is in feral form.
  
  
  H I S T O R Y

  Worshipped for centuries

  by pre-columbian cultures, were-jaguars were first prominent in the formative pre-classic Olmec era where their shadow leaping ability was noticed. Humans believed the were-jaguars ability to turn into shadows and blend through the environment was the jaguar leaving the world of the living and entering the afterlife before returning.
  
  For centuries the were-jaguars were worshipped as deities and monarchs by the pre-Colombian cultures of South America. They were adept warriors and defenders, powerful leaders. Cultures developed around the were-jaguars (Aztecan Nahuatl, "Metztlitin" or, "moons") as lord and religious leaders, culminating in the Aztec empire where human conviction in the Metztlitin reached its height. The jaguars had become rapacious and libertine, thriving in seats of power that they abused thoroughly. At the same time the growing population of were-jaguars became a psychological strain on their own species as a whole, as were-jaguars like their feral counterparts are largely highly independent and introverted individuals.
  
  In order to maintain their accelerated healing and shadow-leaping abilities, jaguars must consume large quantities of undegraded (uncooked) proteins. On occasion they would consume human flesh, and as centuries passed, religious leaders began demanding sacrifices to the Metztlitin. These sacrifices were performed since the height of Olmec culture, and the were-jaguars grew to believe as the humans did that they would gain power and sustenance exclusively from human flesh. Throughout the eras these sacrifices became more brutal, more frequent, and more sinister. As time went on the socio-economic gap between the Metztlitin and humans grew greater, with the Metztlitin holding every position of feasible power from the royal house, to religious seats, to enforcers, and humans serving them under the threat of being consumed. Many were snatched for consumption regardless of poor or excellent service to the were-jaguars, in routine sacrifice.
  
  As tensions amongst the Metztlitin themselves began to rise due to cramped territorial spaces and inability to maintain their natural social structure, the Metztlitin began to turn on one another. Frequent murder plots, violent mass-killings, cannibalism, and rivalries for power began to tear apart the Metztlitin and weaken them as a force on the whole. The humans quickly became aware of the social unrest amongst their overlords and took the opportunity to turn on them. Within a period of two weeks, the majority of Metztlitin were killed in a mass murder plot constructed by the humans in the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. The were-jaguars were forced to flee to other tribes, try to hide amongst the Aztecs, or flee to the wilds and live as ferals.
  
  For many decades following, the were-jaguars were identified and hunted by humans. With the advent of the era of discovery, the majority of remaining Metztlitin traveled to Spain and Portugal. The world population of Metztlitin-type were-jaguars stands at around 40 individuals, with 60% of the population in Spain and Portugal, 20% remaining in South America, and the last 20% scattered worldwide.
  
  
  
  B I O L O G Y
  When the human species was largely compact in size during the classic pre-colombian period, so too were Metztlitin individuals. Their feral forms would measure roughly the same as a wild jaguar's. As the human and were-jaguar species grew larger, the were-jaguar's feral forms began to outweigh and loom over the natural jaguar. In human form the average male were-jaguar is 5'5"-5'8" and 27-38 inches tall as a feral. The average female is 4'11" to 5'6" in human form, and about 25-33 inches tall as a feral. Humans turned into were-jaguars will maintain their natural height, and that height will translate to feral form (for example, Desmond Saryenkov is 6'8" and nearly 300 lbs, as a jaguar he is almost the size of an adult grizzly bear.)
  
  Metztlitin are capable of eating any food a human is, and it is important for them to maintain a well-rounded omnivorous diet. They must consume uncooked, undegraded protein (best in the form of freshly killed or even living meat) in order to support their accelerated healing factor or the enzymes that control the expedited reconstruction can not be produced by their bodies. Were-jaguars are capable of becoming vegetarians, but they will lose their accelerated healing factor, and subsequently their augmented lifespan. Often times this loss is permanent, as their bodies lose the ability to produce reconstruction enzymes and stem cells following meat deprivation. A human turned were-jaguar has less than 24 hours to consume a reasonable amount of fresh meat after being turned to foster the enzymes from their sire, or the lifespan and healing abilities will never form to begin with.
  
  Like their height, the were-jaguar's lifespan has increased over the course of their evolution. 150-200 years was the average at the height of the Olmec civilization, in the more modern era of disease control and prevention, and readily available food, their lifespan has made an incredible leap to 400-500 years for healthy individuals who participate in consuming fresh kills.
  
  Like their feral counterpart were-jaguars are largely independent and maintain large territories as individuals. They like to go unimpeded and are typically loners. With the exception of mating. Female Metztlitin experience a period of heat once a year for roughly two weeks. During this time they are sexually aggressive and insatiable until the time period has passed or they are pregnant. Male Metztlitin typically do not maintain relationships with their partners - human or were-jaguar - and typically love and leave. Gestation for a pregnant were-jaguar is no different from a human, 9 months of heartburn and ridiculous cravings with the exception of an additional need to consume large quantities of raw flesh to sustain the fetus's growth. Metztlitin type were-jaguars are not capable of mating with any species outside of humans, other weres of panthera genus (tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards), and their own. It should be noted that it is much easier for a male Metztlitin to impregnate a female of another species than it is for a female Metztlitin to become pregnant by another. The trade off of this is that human females carrying Metztlitin offspring will often die or suffer heavily in childbirth, and often times female Metztlitin bodies will reject the weak genetic materials of male humans, leading to large numbers of miscarriages in female were-jaguars mating with human males.