Weres (short for werewolf or were-beast) are magical creatures which traditionally change physical form involuntarily at regular intervals, particularly on the night of the full moon. This change traditionally brings with it instincts so strong they override any consideration of conscious will as well as an insatiable hunger for meat. Traditionally weres are cursed humans ("Were" or "wer" is a Germanic word meaning "man", literally "who"). Also according to tradition weres heal quickly and are weak to the element silver, which is supposed to be deadly if it enters the body. Recently, though, there have been a great many variations on the same idea.