In continental Europe, lycanthropy was so strongly associated with witchcraft that being a werewolf was a common accusation at witch trials. Many believed that werewolves were witches who practised black magic. Despite their reputation, there were some who were respected heroes, such as Old Thiess of Kaltenbrun.

The Livonian werewolf Thiess and his companions turned into wolves, crossed the sea and descended into hell to fight the Devil and his witches, who had robbed the people of their crops. When they won, the werewolves scattered the cereal they recovered over the fields of the peasants and noblemen.

Thiess said that if he breathed into a jug three times and then proposed a toast, he could pass on his ability to someone else, but he had not yet found anyone worthy of this. Was there ever anyone remaining in Kaltenbrun who could continue the fight or was Old Thiess the last one able to protect the crops from evil witchcraft?

Find out more about shape-shifters like Old Thiess from The Book of Forgotten Witches!

Illustration by Lilla Bölecz