Category:Löwen

A Löwen (pronunciation: LØ-vin, Grimm: LOH-win; Germ. Löwe "lion", plural Löwen) is a lion-like Wesen.

History
The Löwen were once kings of a jungle area, somewhere in Africa, but were captured and forced to fight in the gladiatorial arena by the ancient Romans. Following their capture by the ancient Romans, at some point in the past the Löwen began the Löwen games, where they force other Wesen to fight to the death; in the modern day, however, this is rare.

Physiology and habits
They are naturally aggressive, competitive, and violent. Despite this, they are still capable of peacefully living amongst humans, and having normal lives. Male Löwen grow a large mane when woged, which may serve as an indicator of the sexual maturity and health of the Löwen, as it does in regular lions, while females have much less hair, and slightly less pronounced features.

Löwen who do still hold the games also take the gladiator philosophy seriously for themselves, and don't mind dying in combat. According to Monroe, not all Löwen are into the games, but all are furious and vicious. Löwen are highly carnivorous; according to Monroe, "they will rip off your face, then eat it." This implies some Lowen actually eat humans.

Abilities
They are much faster and much stronger than humans, able to casually overpower and kill them. Löwen physical prowess is reputable, so much that when trying to physically enhance her son, Genio innocuo Dr Higgins, chose Löwen DNA to do so. Due to their own powers, Löwen don't fear Drang-Zorn, who are incredibly powerful Wesen. One Löwen was easily able to hold Monroe, while a few of them were even able to overpower a Skalenzahne (admittedly using lassos). They are also incredibly fast, and can perform lion-like jumps, as well as being able to move with incredible stealth, able to sneak up on the victims, much like how actual lions hunt. Despite they are not as strong  as Grimms, as Nick was able fight with one (however, it should be noted that the Löwen in question was young and inexperienced). They are also incredibly durable creatures, able to take incredible force, such as being repeatedly punched in the head by a Grimm, or thrown across the room, and recover mere minutes later. Löwens have razor sharp claws and teeth, and like actual lions, generally kill their victims by biting their necks or slashing their throats.

They're history led to a group Löwen led by Leo Taymor in Portland to force other Wesen to fight in secret cage death matches. The cage is surrounded by mystical symbols going back to the times of ancient Rome, and much of the ceremony around the games also comes from this era, including the thumb up/thumb down to indicate mercy or death. They caught the other Wesen on horses with rope lassos. They also keep them in cages, and feed them other Wesen or human meat, normally from the losers of the previous fight.

A Genio Innocuo named Pierce Higgins whose mother had spliced his genes with that of a Löwen's, killed his friends because he split into two identities; one that of the mellow, intelligent Genio Innocuo, and the other the competitive and violent Löwen.