Tricksters

ready to have some FUN

Tricksters are half-spirit, half-animal creatures that can slip in and out of the physical and spiritual worlds. Unlike their shifter cousins, they are limited to a single physical form, either humanoid or animal.
Because they lack a heartbeat, tricksters are hated by humans and considered unnatural abominations not fit to walk on Rohonian soil. If they are spotted by humans they will be hunted down and "killed."
When a trickster "dies" they go to the spiritual world to heal. Once they've recovered, they return to the physical world if it's their proper season (some can leave during autumn, others only during summer, etc.). If it isn't their season, they must stay in the spiritual world. If it is their season, they must go, though they can choose which day of the season.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Each trickster's body is different as they can be any species. But no matter their body, their eyes all lack pupils.

Genetics and Reproduction

They cannot reproduce

Growth Rate & Stages

In the physical world tricksters bleed just as their body's species would, though during their season they're stronger than average and harder to kill. If killed, they recover in the spiritual world at about the same rate as their body's species would've in the physical world. E.g. a broken bone takes as long to fully heal as ours would. Chopped-off limbs grow back and are usually take the longest to do so.
When a trickster is killed, their body disappears but their pupil-less eyes do not. They remain as perfect spheres, smooth as a river stone. They're considered unlucky so humans leave them there.

Ecology and Habitats

They live best in the habitat their body species thrives in (e.g. a moose trickster form lives best in a forest with many rivers) but if their body can take it, they can live in different places. (A fish trickster could throw itself out of the water, but it'll die soon. An eagle trickster lives best in high mountains but can live in a forest.)

Dietary Needs and Habits

They don't need to eat. Some do it for fun.

Biological Cycle

A trickster can stay as long as they desire in the spiritual world--except during their season. When their season comes in the physical world, the trickster is pulled out of the spiritual world and into the physical (they can choose what day it happens, but it does happen).
In the physical world, the trickster's season is their time of strength. They are much harder to kill during their season, and most take advantage of this to wreck havoc among humans. When their season ends, and if they're still in the physical world, they get weaker and weaker. In the season opposite of theirs (summer/winter, autumn/spring) they slow down and go into a hibernation. They only wake up when the next season begins.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Some live solo, but most travel in packs.
They all consider themselves pretty equal to another, but some legends say their consider the Coyote to be their leader.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

They live typically wherever their body is best suited to.
When moving out of the spiritual world and into the physical, they choose where they appear.

Average Intelligence

Intelligent as a human. Unlike their shifter cousins, oftentimes their memories are cut short or broken from moving between the different worlds. They may be thousands of years old but don't remember when spirit binding was discovered or how they were killed the other time.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Their physical senses are as good as body's species is. E.g. a trickster with the body of a hawk has that species of hawk's good eyesight
With no heartbeat, they cannot spirit bind or be bound. But because they are part spirit, they can commune with spirits in the physical world. Spirits friendly to tricksters often give warning of nearby dangers/threats and such. Tricksters can send messages to another via spirit friends.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

They have short, simple names. Often a feature of their bodies or the species name of it. E.g. a wolf trickster will call themself Wolf, a lizard trickster will call themself Shorttail.

Average Technological Level

Those with enough skills in their paws or claws will use tools. Most don't bother. Human tricksters do.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

They can speak the human tongue and their body's species language. They can commune with spirits in and out of the physical world and do so often/constantly.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Wreck havoc among humans.

History

Once upon a time they could travel between worlds whenever and however they pleased, and heal at a much accelerated rate. But when the humans made a treaty with the High Spirits they were forced to choose a season and be bound to it. The High Spirits did make it so they would be strongest during that season, but most tricksters are still angry at the High Spirits for limiting them like this.

Historical Figures

The Coyote

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

They don't bother shifters and shifters don't bother them.
Humans hunt them and they wreck havoc among humans.
Like shifters, they don't care much about other heartbeat creatures.
They're typically friends with spirits.

Lifespan

Immortal

Conservation Status

Their numbers are unknown, but they are more numerous than shifters.