The Loup-Garou Tradition

While Brittany has its Bisclavret, Normandy developed a particularly rich werewolf tradition, perhaps influenced by Norse berserker lore. The Norman loup-garou differs from popular Hollywood depictions—transformation is usually voluntary, hereditary, or punishment for specific sins rather than infectious curse.

Norman werewolf lore recognizes several types: - Voluntary werewolves: Those who use belts of wolfskin or magical ointments to transform - Hereditary werewolves: Seventh sons of seventh sons, or those from cursed bloodlines - Penitential werewolves: Sinners condemned to wolf form for seven years - Berserker echoes: Warriors who channel wolf-spirits in battle fury

The cure varies by type. Voluntary werewolves must have their magical items destroyed. Hereditary ones need blessing by a bishop or pope. Penitential werewolves can only wait out their sentence, though showing kindness to one shortens their term.

Guillaume the woodcutter found a wolf caught in his trap one winter morning. Instead of killing it, he saw intelligence in its eyes and freed it. The wolf licked his hand and disappeared. Seven years later, a stranger appeared at Guillaume's door during a blizzard. "I owe you a debt," the man said. "Seven years ago, you freed me from your trap and shortened my penance by a year. I've come to warn you—your neighbors plot to burn your cottage and claim your land. Take your family and leave tonight." Guillaume heeded the warning, and indeed, his cottage burned that night. But his family survived, and the plot was exposed. The stranger was never seen again, but Guillaume's descendants still leave meat at the forest edge each winter—payment on an old debt.