Shifters
Shifters are a human-based society of people who have descended from therianthropes. They were once cursed by The River Lord, an Archfey. However, they have adapted over time and made a culture and society out of their "affliction." It's unknown whether this society founded the Circle of the Moon, or if the Circle of the Moon took them in, but their cultures are deeply intertwined. Though not all Moon Druids are shifters and not all shifters are druids, they share the same community. There are several subtypes of shifters that are usually determined at their coming of age ceremony.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Age. Shifters are quick to mature both physically and emotionally, reaching young adulthood at age 10. They rarely live to be more than 70 years old.
Size. Shifters vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to up to 7 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. You have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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 can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Keen Senses. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
Silver Vulnerability. You take double damage to silvered weapons and silver often burns to the touch.
Shifting. As a bonus action, you can assume a more bestial appearance. 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 your level + your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1 temporary hit point). You also gain benefits that depend on your shifter subrace, described below. Once you shift, you can’t do so again until you finish a short or long rest.
Languages: You can read and write Meldran Common, druidic, and one other language of your choice.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2.
Tough. You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.
Shifting Feature. Whenever you shift, you gain 1d6 additional temporary hit points, and while shifted, you have a +1 bonus to your AC.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2.
Fierce. You have proficiency in the Intimidation skill.
Shifting Feature. While shifted, you can use your elongated fangs to make an unarmed strike as a bonus action. 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.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity and Charisma scores increase by 1.
Graceful. You have proficiency in the Acrobatics skill.
Swift Stride. Your walking speed increases by 5 feet.
Shifting Feature. While shifted, your walking speed increases by an additional 5 feet. Additionally, you can move up to 10 feet as a reaction when an enemy ends its turn within 5 feet of you. This movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2.
Natural Tracker. You have proficiency in the Survival skill.
Mark the Scent. As a bonus action, you can mark one creature you can see within 10 feet of you. Until the end of your next long rest, your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make to find the marked creature, and you always know the location of that creature if it is within 60 feet of you. You can’t use this trait again until you finish a short or long rest.
Shifting Feature. While shifted, you have advantage on Wisdom checks.
Shifter Features:
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Age. Shifters are quick to mature both physically and emotionally, reaching young adulthood at age 10. They rarely live to be more than 70 years old.
Size. Shifters vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to up to 7 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. You have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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 can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Keen Senses. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
Silver Vulnerability. You take double damage to silvered weapons and silver often burns to the touch.
Shifting. As a bonus action, you can assume a more bestial appearance. 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 your level + your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1 temporary hit point). You also gain benefits that depend on your shifter subrace, described below. Once you shift, you can’t do so again until you finish a short or long rest.
Languages: You can read and write Meldran Common, druidic, and one other language of your choice.
Beasthide
Stoic and solid, a beasthide shifter draws strength and stability from the beast within. Beasthide shifters are typically tied to the bear or the boar, but any creature known for its toughness could apply.Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2.
Tough. You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.
Shifting Feature. Whenever you shift, you gain 1d6 additional temporary hit points, and while shifted, you have a +1 bonus to your AC.
Longtooth
Longtooth shifters are fierce and aggressive, but they form deep bonds with their friends. Many longtooth shifters have canine traits that become more pronounced as they shift, but they might instead draw on tigers, hyenas, or other predators.Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2.
Fierce. You have proficiency in the Intimidation skill.
Shifting Feature. While shifted, you can use your elongated fangs to make an unarmed strike as a bonus action. 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 shifters are graceful and quick. Typically feline in nature, swiftstride shifters are often aloof and difficult to pin down physically or socially.Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity and Charisma scores increase by 1.
Graceful. You have proficiency in the Acrobatics skill.
Swift Stride. Your walking speed increases by 5 feet.
Shifting Feature. While shifted, your walking speed increases by an additional 5 feet. Additionally, you can move up to 10 feet as a reaction when an enemy ends its turn within 5 feet of you. This movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks.
Wildhunt
Wildhunt shifters are sharp and insightful. Some are constantly alert, ever wary for possible threats. Others focus on their intuition, searching within. Wildhunt shifters are excellent hunters, and they also tend to become the spiritual leaders of shifter communities.Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2.
Natural Tracker. You have proficiency in the Survival skill.
Mark the Scent. As a bonus action, you can mark one creature you can see within 10 feet of you. Until the end of your next long rest, your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make to find the marked creature, and you always know the location of that creature if it is within 60 feet of you. You can’t use this trait again until you finish a short or long rest.
Shifting Feature. While shifted, you have advantage on Wisdom checks.
Naming Traditions
Family names
Most shifters do not have family names, but if they are expected to give one, they will give their title as the last name. Their first names are standard Meldran names.
Other names
Most shifters have a title in relation to their shifter appearance. This might be Longclaw, Sharptooth, Graymane, Thornfang, or Redpaw.
Culture
Coming of Age Rites
Though shifters follow similar cultural traditions of the other cultures of Meldran, their coming of age ceremonies vary significantly. For example, shifters typically begin being able to enter their bestial shapes around the age of 13. Their coming of age rituals are performed around this time when the community can tell that their first shift is close. This coming-of-age ritual usually takes place during the first night of a full moon with the aid of druids of the tribe. During this ceremony, the individual, boy or girl, will have fasted for the 3 days prior. After fasting and prayers to Tepeyollotl or Nox, they will dress the individual with blood runes, and send them out to hunt the night of the full moon. The child typically does not return until they have successfully shifted into whichever form comes naturally to them, and return with their hunt by the end of the 3rd day of the full moon phase. Not every child returns with a successful kill but is still encouraged as long as the transformation was successful. If it was unsuccessful, they may try again next month. This isn't uncommon as the pressure of transformation is a big deal to shifters, and often a scary transformative event, or source of personal embarrassment. Additionally, one may not shift because they haven't committed to which form suits them best. Though there are many types of shifters, the choice is often internal and based on personality. Most don't actually choose for themselves.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Shifters have beauty ideals very similar to the other tribes and societies of Meldran, but may praise the more prominent bestial traits as a sign of a curse made blessing to their people. Therefore, particularly long or thick eyebrows, claws, sharp teeth, animal-like eyes, or an abundance of hair might be seen as more desirable among their people. In most other ideas and cultural aspects, they mirror that of the other Humans of Meldran.
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