Shifters

Shifters are a race of humanoids from a planet nearby The Black Heart's birthplace, Xyxz, thousands of light years from Aldyn. Using its dark powers, The Black Heart turned the humanoids into shifters, strange bestial figures that can turn into animals at will, but only at the cost of their own personality. It uses them as his spies and watchers, ever gazing in the distance.

Life of Shifters

Most Shifters follow the life set for them by their “father,” but some go their own way, attempting to blend into the world and escape the watching eyes of The Black Heart. This rarely succeeds, and usually Shifters are forced back into their old ways, the watchful eye of The Black Heart scaring them into submission.

A Lifelong Battle

Shifters lose part of themselves everytime they use their powers. Shifters have reported that The Black Heart sees through their eyes and speaks in their ears while they go into beastform, and each time they enter it becomes harder to leave the form. Many try to avoid ever shifting, but the animalistic thrill brings all shifters back into The Black Heart's watchful eyes.
Recently, experimental technology has been used on a small scale to remove The Black Heart's influence from shifting. However, little is known about the long term impacts or whether or not it has been successful.

DND Mechanics

• Ability Score Increase. When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. You can't raise any of your scores above 20.
• Creature Type. You are a Humanoid.
• Size. You are Medium.
• Speed. Your walking speed is 30 feet.
• Bestial Instincts. Channeling the beast within, you have proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Acrobatics, Athletics, Intimidation, or Survival.
• Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.
• Shifting. As a bonus action, you can assume a more bestial appearance. Your eyes darken, sometimes to fully black, and the voice of The Black Heart speaks in your ears. This transformation lasts for 1 minute, until you die, or until you revert to your normal appearance as a bonus action. When you shift, you gain temporary hit points equal to 2 x your proficiency bonus. You can shift a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
• Languages. Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character. The Player’s Handbook offers a list of languages to choose from. The DM is free to modify that list for a campaign.

Beasthide

• Beasthide. Whenever you shift, you gain 1d6 additional temporary hit points. While shifted, you have a +1 bonus to your Armor Class.

Longtooth

• Longtooth. When you shift and as a bonus action on your other turns while shifted, you can use your elongated fangs to make an unarmed strike. If you hit with your fangs, you can deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Swiftstride

• Swiftstride. While shifted, your walking speed increases by 10 feet. Additionally, you can move up to 10 feet as a reaction when a creature ends its turn within 5 feet of you. This reactive movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks.

Wildhunt

• Wildhunt. While shifted, you have advantage on Wisdom checks, and no creature within 30 feet of you can make an attack roll with advantage against you unless you’re incapacitated.