The Roman Werewolf has a long and distinguished tradition, as one would expect from an Ancient Family such as mine. My people migrated to the banks of the Tiber with Aeneas and his spoilt son, having moved to Troy from the Steppes. We do acknowledge the possibility of a very distant cousinship with mere barbarian werewolves. But in this, as in so many things, Romans are different. By which, of course, I mean "superior." We are civilized. For example, Roman Werewolves never devour small children. At least not unless it is absolutely necessary.

As a general matter, under the influence of the full moon, barbarian werewolves rampage about the fields and forests eating stray sheep and the occasional human. It's a call of the blood you see, which seems to run in the mother's line. We Romans, being patrilineal, have been able to contain and control matters in a more satisfactory manner. Although one must admit that Luna calls more strongly to children born of marriages contracted cousin to cousin. (It's a very Roman thing really. We prefer to keep the property in the family. So to speak.)

One hears gossip that we have Germanic ancestry, but that is errant nonsense. My family lived in Latium before Romulus and Remus were even thought of. In fact, family tradition holds that it was a many-times-great aunt of mine who took care of the twins when they were abandoned to their fate at the behest of their vicious uncle. It is a base lie that auntie was no better than she ought to have been. The word "lupa" has been so misconstrued. Although I've no wish to brag, it was a Lycanthropus who came up with the idea of constructing the pomerium when Rome was established. And it was a Lycanthropus who led the charge when Romulus gave the signal to seize the Sabine women. An unsung Lycanthropus stood at Horatius' side during the famous Sublician Bridge incident. (Many times-great-uncle Marcus became a trifle carried away, as sometimes happens under the influence of the daytime moon. Livy couldn't quite believe what he was told and so changed the story a bit. But I ask you, is it likely that one man alone could prevent an enemy army from crossing a bridge without the assistance of nicely effective fangs and claws?)

Ah those were the good old days. Alas, we live in a degenerate age. George Romero had the audacity to offer me a part in Dawn of the Dead, but only if I'd work for scale! I had to explain to him that I'm not a reptile.