Shapeshifters

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Shapeshifters

Powers ♦ Relations with other species ♦ Roles Shapeshifters are humans who can turn into a particular species of animal at will. Shapeshifters are born, not made. There are families of shapeshifters who can all turn into cats, for example. The form is inherited rather than chosen. Animal forms vary, but all shapeshifters can turn at will. Sadly, this transformation does not include clothes unless they are made of material taken from the relevant animal. So shapeshifters tend to avoid changing in public places. Some shapeshifters specialize in taking a half-human, half-animal form, and may be known by other names e.g. merpeople, selkies, satyrs etc. Dragons It is said that the first shapeshifters were descendants of fae who transformed into dragons, and who could take any form when they walked on Earth. These powerful creatures were worshipped by mortals and widely feared by the supernatural community. The last family of dragons were wiped out two thousand years ago by witches who sought to break their power. They left only one alive, the youngest dragon princess, and cut off her access to the Other Realm to dampen her powers. Shapeshifters today are her direct descendants, but having lost all connection to the fae, they have nothing like the power that the dragons once had. Some believe that shapeshifters still carry that latent power within them, if only it could be awakened by the fae. Some even think that this has already been done, and that the fae keep dragons in the Other Realm to fight their battles. Whatever the truth, no dragon has been seen in London for a very long time. Powers Strength: 2 in human form, 2-4 in animal form (normal); 2-4 in human form, 4-8 in dragon form (dragon) | Magic: 0-3 Shapeshifters have slightly enhanced strength and endurance compared to normal humans. They can also exhibit traits of their animal forms while still human e.g. greater agility, sense of smell, ability to see in the dark. These vary depending on the animal they turn into. Their animal form is often but not always stronger than their human form. For example, a shapeshifter who turns into a hawk wouldn't be stronger in hawk form but they would have the ability to fly. Strengths All shapeshifters have the following abilities: • Enhanced strength, agility and fast reflexes in human form. • Can change into a particular animal at will. • Retain their intelligence and will in animal form. • Can use their animal senses while in human form. • Can sometimes turn into a halfway form between human and animal, or deliberately choose to transform only in part e.g. growing a tail. • Natural influence over animals of their type. • Can become a familiar. Shapeshifters can gain the following abilities with the help of the fae: • Can retain clothes when shifting from human form and back. • Can take on another animal form, only by killing a shapeshifter with that form. • Can become a skinwalker (imitate the forms of other humans), only by killing a family member. • Can mimic skills and draw on experience of humans they shift into ("I know kung fu"). However, they cannot mimic magic. Dragons have the following abilities: • Can become a dragon in the Other Realm or in territory owned by the fae. • Can learn multiple animal forms through contact with other shapeshifters. • May have an elemental ability e.g. breathing fire. (This must be learned.) • May access dragon strength in other forms. (This must be learned.) • May force other shapeshifters to obey their orders. (This must be learned.) Weaknesses • Cannot magically transform along with their clothing. • Cannot talk in animal form. • Young or inexperienced shapeshifters may find it difficult to control their instincts when in animal form. Relations with other species Fae: Wary respect is a common attitude towards fae, as they are capable of granting shapeshifters additional powers such as turning into other animals or even mimicking people, but they are also capricious beings. Few shapeshifters ever encounter fae, and those that do may regret it. Ghosts: Shapeshifters can see and communicate with a manifested ghost, and their animal senses make them a little more sensitive to ghostly activity. They cannot otherwise affect a ghost (this is seen to be a witch's job), and they have various superstitions about them. It is said that shapeshifters who died in their animal form and do not pass on are trapped as animal-spirits, thus giving rise to the various legends about ghostly dogs and so on. Humans: Shapeshifters are among the best supernatural species when it comes to blending in with human society. Of course, they have to find a place away from humans when they want to transform, but otherwise they tend to be quite happy among people. Meta Humans: Shapeshifters get on quite well with meta humans, as it is easy to consider a shapeshifter to be a particular sort of meta human. When meta humans group together, shapeshifters who want to be more integrated into human society are often drawn to them. Other shapeshifters are far more insular and shun anyone but their own kind. Shapeshifters: They usually live together in family clans, grouping together with their own kind. Others prefer to live in human society and can mix well with meta humans. They have a strong sense of pride and loyalty to each other, as other supernaturals tend to look down on them. Vampires: The most hated species. Shapeshifters can be turned into vampires, but in doing so they lose all their previous abilities, and are thus considered lost souls. Vampires treat shapeshifters with contempt. Werewolves: They would seem to be natural allies, but werewolves are unusual in that they can't control their transformations and are therefore dangerous in wolf shape. Sometimes feuding occurs as a result of wolves killing shapeshifters or rivalries spring up due to the werewolves' numerical and physical superiority. But these differences are always forgotten in the face of a common enemy such as vampires. Shapeshifters and werewolves can become good friends, especially in a mixed group of meta humans where everyone is expected to support each other. It's possible for the presence of a transformed shapeshifter to calm a wolf, especially if they have a strong bond. They also have the advantage of being immune to a werewolf bite. Witches: Witches are considered the arbiters of the supernatural, and as such often act to control or limit the freedom of shapeshifters. However, their magic can be beneficial to shapeshifters and they are much more likely to protect a shapeshifter over, say, a vampire, especially the rarer types. As such, shapeshifters tend to accept the role that witches play in the supernatural world and some even act as bodyguards to witch allies. The more rebellious types do resent witches, however, and can be hostile towards them. Roles There are relatively few shapeshifters in London, and as such they are less hierarchical. Most shapeshifters belong to the Hillingdon Clan. Level 1 Younger or less experienced members of the clan. They are taught how to control their shifting and other useful skills by older members. Level 2 Senior Clan Member Older or more experienced members of the clan, who act as mentors to younger members, teaching and guiding them. Level 3 Clan Leader The leader of a group or family of shapeshifters. They are responsible for the clan's well-being and for dealings with other supernatural types. Level 4 Dragon For a shapeshifter to achieve the status of Dragon is unheard of in modern shapeshifter society, but their legend lives on. Dragons are revered across shapeshifter clans, and by all types of shapeshifters. Level 5 Dragon King/Queen Entirely mythological. This could never actually happen... could it? back to navigation

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