Shifters
Basic Information
Anatomy
Shifters are bipedal humanoids with bilateral symmetry; they have two legs and two arms. Physically they look like teddy bears, have roughly ursine heads, large hands and feet with claws like bears.
They are always albinos, which look different upon hatching from their cousins with white fur. Their blood is a dark crimson/scarlet, and so instead of pink, it appears almost black. Their colorless fur has a grey cast to it, with any scales being shock white. Their eyes glow slightly, like Dragons, and they have an inner pupil and an outer pupil with a complex lens that focuses light on multiple types of photoreceptors, allowing them to see in a wider range of the EM spectrum.
They also have larger patches of dragon-like scales in readily noticeable locations. Their tails are only slightly truncated versions of a dragon's tail, being nearly as long as their legs. Shifters have scales around their eyes, around their necks and down their backs, and often have facial or jaw spines and/or crown horns.
Their blood is very much that of their dragon parent, and they have the typical genital configuration for an Obsidian, though they are usually of one sex or the other. It is uncommon for a Shifter to be an intersexed hermaphrodite, like their dragon parent, but not unheard of.
Biological Traits
The average Stage 1 Hybrid lives 30000 to 50000 years.
Genetics and Reproduction
Shifters have differentiated sexual dimorphism, generally referred to as male and female.
Male genitalia consist of a long, thick penis concealed in a cloaca that is just behind where their legs meet their tail. They have no external genitalia, including the scrotum, as everything is inside their cloaca. The penis does have a knot, and many small nodules and nubs to stimulate their partner while mating. In every way it seems to be similar in shape, size and function to a dragon's, including being prehensile.
Females have a cloaca in the same location as males, as well. They have no penis, and while their clitoris is normally sized for a female, it can become erect during mating, and is somewhat prehensile. When mating, females sometimes try to slip their clitoris into the "wrong hole" to stimulate their partners into greater ejaculations.
Shifters are the product of matings between and Obsidian and a Stage 2 Hybrid or between two Stage 2 Hybrids. When two Stage 2 Hybrids mate the result is even odds between the offspring being a Stage 2 Hybrid or a Shifter. Stage 2 Hybrid and dragon pairings always result in Shifters.
They are oviparous, always siring or laying a single egg. When a male sires with a dragon, another dragon will mate with their dragon, too, to produce a proper brood of a size that won't draw attention from normal citizens. A single egg being laid is seen as a very unlucky sign.
Growth Rate & Stages
Like Zanth, Shifter cubs are born blind and deaf, mostly helpless, and needing a great deal of care. When they hatch from their eggs it is impossible to look at the newly fledged cubs and determine their sexes. As both male and female Stage 2 Hybrids have cloacae, their sexes have to be determined in a more "traditional" manner, and one of the attending elders will insert a finger into the cub's cloaca to determine the presence, or lack thereof, of a penis. If one is found, the cub is treated as male until maturity when any hermaphroditic traits will be made more obvious.
Hybrids are devoted parents, and both the male and female take an active role in child rearing. Females do not need to nurse their cubs, as the eggs they hatch from provide all the nutrients they need. They only need to be cared for until about three months when their eyes and ears open and they can see and hear. Until that time, they can only understand their world through their psionic senses, which are still quite potent.
Shifter cubs cannot be raised along side even Hybrid cubs, because of their psionic differences, and because of their training requires more intense focus from an early age. Shifter serve the Obsidians as Agents of the Throne, granted latitude and authority extending from the Emperor, at the cost of needing to be in absolute control of themselves every moment of their lives. The conditioning they receive early in life helps cushion the blow that they won't have normal lives, though they have been known to find love, companionship, and even mates. Like all Zanth, Shifters are not immune from finding a dragon bondmate, but it is rare since they don't associate often with many outside of the Emperor and his immediate court, most of whome are Hybrids.
Special Note: Hybrid cubs, however, will never know which dragon is their parent because that isn't the dragon way. While the parent might take an interest from time to time, they don't even pay much attention to their dragon offspring. This is not to say they don't care. It's just dragons take a much longer view of time, and the day-to-day is of almost no impact to them. Thus, they only care about something when they need to, or have time to do so. Still, they cherish all of their offspring, and if they fond out one has been harmed or killed... well, there's a reason that a dragon's wrath is feared.
Hybrid cubs become sexually mature around the age of 1000, when they are considered adults. As Shifters are raised separately from even the Hybrids, they are brought before the elder Hybrids and Shifters of the Palace community, typically for the first time, where they are made to swear their first blood oaths to the Obsidian Throne, resulting in their first oath scar. They do not swear allegiance to anything else, including specific Emperors or their community. Only the Throne, and by limited extension anyone who has the legitimate claim and right to sit upon it, is the concern of the Shifters. They are tasked with keeping the Empire intact, and failing that, making sure that it can be restored. To that end, they cannot have their loyalties divided.
Following their swearing in, the community celebrates their coming of age with a hedonistic party at which the newly fledged Hybrid will experience their first, and often only, true sexual encounters, usually with both sexes and possibly species. As with normal Zanth, there is no taboo against homosexuality.
Following their sexual maturation, a Shifter will have attained their full stature and mass, and they will be assigned a mission, for there are always things that need doing to protect the Empire. For a Shiftrer there are no avenues for advancement with the Obsidians as their position in the Empire is already as high as can be obtained. The Shifter is the pinnacle of Zanth advancement, and their service to the Empire is as essential as it is secretive.
Ecology and Habitats
Shifters serve the Obsidian Throne in the most direct manner, as direct agents who act only for the greater good of the Empire and its continued existence. They swear a blood oath to the Throne only. The specific wording of the oath makes it clear that their duty to the Throne is only to one who sits upon it legitimately, having proven that they have the undisputed right to declare themselves the Emperor. Once their oath is sworn and their chest scarred by their own claws, their blood drawn to bind them to their word, then they are given the absolute trust that grants them their exceptional authority.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Shifters are no longer obligate carnivores. Their bodies are draconic enough that they can now consume just about anything for energy, and some have been known to "recharge" by spending time in the sun, like Obsidians. While they don't metabolize sunlight in the same way, they do take in the warmth and use it to both fuel their metabolisms, and keep them out of cryogenic torpor.
Shifters do not react to alcohol, and because their internal body temperatures are even higher than Stage 1 Hybrids, they cannot get truly drunk. However, they can become intoxicated by strong spices like cinnamon, like Obsidians.
Biological Cycle
Shifters are hot-blooded creatures, like their normal kin, and when the weather gets colder, they also become more lethargic. They do not enter into a true hibernation state, but they are able to sleep for extended periods without the need for food, water, or movement. Their bodies will slow significantly, to the point where they will only be active for a few minutes every few weeks. Raising the temperature of their environment will increase their activity levels, and bring them back to normal rates. This is a common trick used by Shifters to elevate their body temperatures so they can stave off hibernation.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Shifters do not share the same cultural upbringing as their normal cousins, or even their Hybrid ones, and have a more draconic social order, placing only the Obsidian Throne at the top, then dragons alongside themselves, and everyone else, including their normal kin below them. This is not to say they look down on anyone. It's just that when a Hybrid must decide between several authorities, this is how they will decide who to follow, and how quickly to get something done.
Facial characteristics
Shifters have ursine faces, with broad skulls, small muzzles, and large fangs capable of crushing bone. Their eyes are average sized for their faces, and they have a good field of view, but because of their photosensitivity, they wear polarizing lenses, in either glasses or goggle form factors, to protect their eyes. Their noses are wide and typically dark in color. Their eyebrows are expressive, but aren't extremely obvious. Their lips cover their fangs completely, and when in an aggressive stance, their tend to bellow ferally for intimidation. Shifters have patches of scales around their eyes, behind their ears, and around their necks. They also tend to have jaw and facial spine or crown horns.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Shifters can always be found on Lair, in the Throne and Military districts. They are always engaged in Imperial business. Proper protocol for interacting with them is to not.
Average Intelligence
Shifter intelligence is on par with human normal.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Zanth have extremely sensitive hearing from subsonic, visual sensitivity in the visual and ultraviolet ranges, and fairly sensitive senses of touch, taste and smell. Zanth engage in blood oaths, but do not have any particular advantages in nociception.
All Zanth are telepaths. They have specific advantages common across all of the species, though they tend to be sensitive to biological states, like emotional stress, biological stress, pregnancy, and injuries. The only special advantage they have is the ability to know at a glance if someone has broken their word. This is a concern for them only when its another Zanth.
Shifters are considered active psionics, and all of them have physical manifestation abilities like Jumping or Telekinesis. They are well known for these abilities, specifically when used in conjunction with their Overload ability. Overload is a trait common only to Shifters, and it is from this ability that they derive their name. The more emotional a Shifter becomes, the more powerful his abilities become. Shifters are taught from an early age to control their emotions with a level of discipline that would put a Vulcan to shame. Consequently, they are also seen as cold, heartless bastards and people with whom one should not .... anyway...
More information on Overload.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Shifters are considered to have a symbiotic relationship with Obsidian dragons. They have a need to serve the Obsidian Throne, and in return receive a great deal of authority and protection from them. Additionally, individual Shifters may have a personal connection to specific dragons, and their bonding is stronger and much more intimate.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Shifters share the same naming conventions as their normal kin.
Male names tend to be breathy, containing h's and x's in locations to emphasize the hard exhale part of the name. Examples include Mikh (/micah/), Kohr, and Alexander.
Female Zanth names tend to sound pleasant or soft. Examples include Tylora and Raina.
Adults do not receive their names until they reach the age of majority. When they have sworn their First Oath, they are officially named by their elders, who also assigns them to their first mission. Until then, cubs respond to a specific psychic impulse their instructor has conditioned them to respond to.
Beauty Ideals
Shifters are trained to control their sexual urges and not to react to anything that might lead them into Overload. However, they are Hybrids, and like their Hybrid cousins they find dragons attractive and beautiful. The only stimulus they specifically seek is to find the dragon who can smell their unique scent. Other than that, they are willing to partner with other Zanth, Hybrids and/or Shifters, but it is purely for companionship and physical release. When they are being sought out as a mate by a non-dragon, dressing in the manner of dragons, including makeup and coloring, goes a long way to attracting their attention. This goes for both males and females. They are up front about the fact that they will not be an emotionally rewarding partner. Because of this, they tend to only form relationships with other Shifters who understand their needs.
Gender Ideals
Shifters regard sexuality and gender relations as emotional stimuli and therefore something they need to control. That isn't to say that they don't have gender identities or sexual preferences. Quite the opposite. Most Shifters are, after all, the product of an organized eugenics project that emphasized sexual activity between two species to produce a third. Their mental state on this matter, when they allow themselves to indulge, is pansexual.
As they are all seeking a dragon to mate with, the typical notions of sexuality and gender are somewhat more fluid than is typically normal. Consequently, when they are partnering with a non-dragon while they find their dragon bondmate, they do not worry about gender or sexual orientation. Indeed, a Shifter will be as happy in a relationship with one of his or her own gender and be childless as they would in a heterosexual relationship with dozens of offspring. Unlike their normal cousins, they don't need to improve their status, and so their reasons for seeking partners is not the same. The only breeding they care about is with their dragon bondmate, should they find him.
Courtship Ideals
For a Shifter, courtship consists of the prospective partner understanding fulwell that the Shifter will not and cannot be an emotional anchor. While they seem stable, their discipline requires that they not be subjected to external stressors that could disrupt their control over their emotions and send them spiraling into Overload. As such, they most they will be is an outlet for mutual physical release and should this result in pregnancy, they won't be able to provide any sort of comfort or personal support, though they will financially support their offspring.
There are two exceptions to this. The first is with another Shifter. With another Shifter, they can know and completely trust that they won't be using them as a crutch, and can, and will, emotionally support them. This is because the techniques they learn reinforce one another when in groups. Shifters live in communes away form others for this reason. Sexual relationships are very common.
The other is with their dragon, should they find him. The reason for this is that dragons take a long view of things, and so tend to be emotionally stable, at least in ways that don't stress out their Shifter partner. While they have tempers, are prone to rage and fits of anger, they get over them on their own, and a Shifter can step away long enough to not be caught in the intense psychic backlash. Additionally, dragons are psionically powerful, and they can help a Shifter they care about shut down an out of control Overload.
Relationship Ideals
Shifters don't worry about relationships. As noted previously, they only really seek relationships with other Shifters and dragons. It's safer taht way.
Average Technological Level
As Shifters came about as a result of integrating with the Obsidians, the only technology level they have ever known is that of the Empire.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Shifters speak the language of the Zanth, a deep, growling language that contains many words unpronounceable by humans. They also speak High Draconic, many of the human languages, and some Amboran tongues. Because Zanth society is so uniform in the Empire, there is really only one language they use.
Common Dress Code
Shifters dress exclusively in their uniforms, which consists of a pair of leather pants that move easily, shirt with short, but stiff upright collars and vest tailored around their spikes, spines and ridges, both of which must also move easily, and a long flowing overcoat/duster/opera coat that helps conceal their tails. They wear goggles or glasses to protect their eyes due to their photosensitivity. These clothes are typically black and white, and are durable, rugged, and usually the equivalent of bulletproof.
When they are around other Shifters and dragons, they don't generally wear clothing. They don't want to block their scent from potentially finding their dragon.
Common Taboos
Unlike other Zanth, Shifters do not make Oaths. Their duty to the Throne is all-encompassing. The only other Oath they will ever swear is to their dragon, and even it cannot come close to the binding power their First Oath has. Anyone who tries to elicit an Oath from a Shifter will quickly find that they are barking up the wrong tree.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Shifters are respected and feared inside the Empire, and universally feared outside the Empire. The Sergal give them wide berth, and even the Alliance has adopted a policy of never accepting a contract where a Shifter is involved. The sheer number of Scars, however, attests to the number of fools willing to push the issue to its supreme end.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Ursus Sapiens Draconis
Origin/Ancestry
Show spoiler
Genetic meddling with the base Zanth genetic code by Kitsune and/or the Mother
Lifespan
30000 to 50000 years.
Average Height
3.0 m to 3.3 m
Average Weight
350 kg
Average Length
n/a
Average Physique
The average Shifter is as strong as the top power lifters. On average, they can lift anything even the strongest human can, and they are equivalent to their revered Obsidians. This is before they amplify their strength with their telekinesis.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Shifter fur coloration is exclusively ash grey and shock white. They are albinos and have no patterning in their fur, so it is always solid. Because they rely in their natural look as a warning to others against starting trouble, they rarely modify themselves.
Related Organizations
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