User blog comment:Inept Wiki User/Cosmos in the Lostbelt: Post-Prologue, Pre-Anastasia Information & Speculation/@comment-4802891-20180327155958/@comment-4802891-20180327170153

For the non-regal clothing, it could be explain by him losing his status somehow. Like, for example, if Anastasia (nicknamed "Tsarina of the Land of Beasts") usurped his throne. In that situation, the Oprichnina would either be under the control of Anastasia and Kadoc, leaving Ivan alone, or alternatively a rebellous group fighting against them, lead by the former Tsar instead.

I'm also under the suspicion that the theriamorphosis (yes, that's not a word lol) of the people of Russia isn't natural at all, but rather a curse. According to Russian folktales, (were)wolves are people who enraged the Devil. Viy is a demon, so maybe he is responsible for this, alongside the permafrost?

Or maybe this is Kadoc's doing. He is supposed to be a low tier magus though...