Hircine
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Hircine is one of the group of powerful daedric beings known as the Daedric Princes. His sphere of influence is the hunt, in particular, hunting humanoid mortal races.
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[edit] Description
Hircine's physical appearance is almost universally that of a very muscular, well-built humanoid male, typically dressed in the manner of primitive humans, with a loincloth or skirt made of animal skins. His face is completely hidden behind a helmet made of an intact deer skull, complete with with large antlers. He is usually depicted carrying a spear, and often accompanied by one or more animals, such as werewolves.
Hircine's existence revolves around the hunt, which is often called the "Sport of the Daedra" or the "Great Game". In this case, the prey typically consists of members of the mortal races, or other powerful mortal creatures such as unicorns. Unlike other, more blatently "evil" Daedric Princes, Hircine's violence against mortals is strictly limited to the context of his hunts; he holds no more animosity towards humans that humans hold towards deer or other prey animals. Since the thrill of the hunt, moreso than the ultimate capture of prey, is Hircine's prime motivation, he ensures that his prey always has at least some chance of escaping alive, though such escapes are rare. He is also known to set up hunts without his own direct participation, with mortals as both hunter and prey, and provide rewards for effective hunting.
Hircine has a number of artifacts tied to his name, include the Savior's Hide, the Spear of the Hunter, and a number of attribute-enhancing amulets and rings.
[edit] Lycanthropy
Hircine's most blatant effect on the mortal plane is his creation of lycanthropy. This supernatural disease, similar to polyphoric hemophilia, affects the humanoid races, causing them to change form. In the case of lycanthropy, the change occurs based on the phase of the moon, such that once a month, the victim's physical form will take on the aspect of some animal. The most common form of the disease products werewolves, but a number of other variations exist, including werebears, werelions, and werecrocodiles.
Hircine is considered the patron god of the lycanthropes, and acts to protect them. For example, victims of lycanthropy are known to be otherwise immune to diseases, including other supernatural ones such as corprus and polyphoric hemophilia. Hircine also produced a daedric artifact, Hircine's Ring, which is capable of imparting some measure of control over the disease, as well as permitting an otherwise healthy person to undergo a similar transformation.
[edit] The Bloodmoon
Once every era, Hircine takes part in a ritual hunt on the mortal plane. The time of the hunt is signified by the Bloodmoon Prophecy, which provides three signs (the last of which is the Blood Moon itself, where Tamriel's normally white moon Secunda turns red.) The specifics of the hunt vary by era, but each revolves around Hircine selecting, and hunting down, one or more mortals as prey. Typically the Daedra Lord will unleash a pack of lycanthropes ahead of his arrival, and challenge any survivors to one on one combat.
The most recent occurrence of the Hunt was on the island of Solstheim, near the Morrowind/Skyrim border, shortly before the end of the Third Era. This hunt is believed to be the only case where Hircine lost, having been defeated by the Nerevarine.
