I'm now at the Infamous scene and I wonder, if Halsin is not a very competent archdruid , because he doesn't seem to be in control of his shapeshifting, or If he is indeed a werebear, which would make his accident shapeshifting maybe a bit more believable.
I think you are right that he might be a werebear!!!
I finally had the time to watch the whole panel (and the infamous bear scene 😂), and I think it would make a lot of sense. Maybe they took this part of Helia's story and made Halsin a werebear.
I was always a bit surprised - and shocked - that this kind and friendly druid would kill the goblin kids, when he manages to free himself in the goblin camp. There was quite a bloodbath there. It would make sense if he lost control in his bear form, because he was under great emotional distress.
