Shifter

Shifters are fierce hunters strongly influenced by their animal nature. Though they can’t fully change shape as their lycanthrope ancestors can, Shifters do become more bestial during the heat of battle, calling on the primal power of the beast within. Because of this ferocity, many Shifters prefer to be up close and personal with their prey. Shifters prefer tribes, tending to live on the outskirts of civilization, hunting nearby food to stay alive. As a coming of age ceremony, young Shifters must break out alone and return with a large enough feast to feed their family in the tribe.

Basic Information

Anatomy

In broad strokes, Shifters resemble humans with animalistic features. Their bodies are lithe and strong,and they often move in a crouched posture, springing and leaping along the ground. Their faces have a bestial cast, with wide, flat noses, large eyes and heavy eyebrows, pointed ears, and long sideburns. The hair of their heads is thick and worn long. Shifter skin and hair are usually some shade of brown.

Genetics and Reproduction

Shifters reproduce through sexual intercourse and a pregnancy period of 8 months.

Growth Rate & Stages

A Shifter's early life is similar to most mammals. They require an adult figure to take care of them for the first few months, before their own bodies are strong enough to begin to take care of themselves. Shifters tend to stop requiring parental aide completely after about 3 years of age. Shifters have a similar life span to Humans at about 80 years.

Ecology and Habitats

Shifters tend to live in very heavily forested areas. Most Shifters live in rain forests, and jungles, though mountainous tribes are not uncommon. Though these areas are their preference, many Shifters adopt the habitats of their were-ancestry.

Dietary Needs and Habits

All Shifters are carnivores and are unable to survive on vegetarian or even omnivorous diets.

Biological Cycle

Shifters reach age of maturity after only 3 years, and live until their early 80s. Many Shifters observe hibernation periods, most commonly found in Sharpfang tribes, descended from werebears.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Shifter society is very focused on hunting and survival for the pack. Many animals that Shifters descend from have pack mentalities and those characteristics are still shown in Shifter tribes today.

Facial characteristics

Shifters reflect their animal parents in many different ways. Beadeye Shifters, descended from wererats, may have a more pronounced nose and smaller eyes, while Longtooth Shifters may have a wider frame and more powerful hind legs.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Most of Morad's Shifter population live on @Zeferon due to its heavily forested landscape. Shifters are very rare on Tandris probably due to all of the open plains and deserted lands of the continent.

Average Intelligence

Shifters possess the intelligence of the average Human, but during stressful scenarios they may take on more bestial manners and tend to act on instinct first.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The two most common Shifter ancestries can be traced back to Werewolves, for the Longtooth tribe, and Weretigers, for the Razorclaw tribe. Longtooth Shifters have a more powerful sense of smell, while Razorclaw Shifters have a keener eyesight. All Shifters, no matter the ancestral lineage, have a tuned sense of hearing.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Shifters take only one name and that name tends to be based off some natural formation near their birth. Shifter tribes tend to move around so it is likely that many Shifters of the same tribe have completely unconnected names. Brook, Dawn, Redwood, Fern, Snow, and Rose are all common Shifter names.

Major Organizations

Even the largest Shifter tribe doesn't break a hundred members, though the combined population of all Longtooth and Razorclaw Shifters is in the multi-millions.

History

During the Era of War, The Moonweaver Sehanine's saint of Moonlight Lunia waged war against the Demon Prince Yeenoghu. Lunia blessed her followers with the ability to strike at the heart of the evil Lycanthropes that Lycan, an exarch of Yeenoghu, commanded. The Silver War lasted 200 years and ended when Lycan and Lunia met on the battlefield. The two figures fought above the battlefield of their armies with Lunia eventually sacrificing herself to banish Lycan deep into Drekwal. As Lunia's light faded from Morad, her followers gathered her divine light and made weapons, armor, and accessories out of her sacrifice. What no one could have predicted though, was that during the war, many of Lycan and Lunia's followers had made children. These children, called Shifters, were half Lycanthrope, half Human and were hunted down by both remaining groups. Luckily for the Shifters, the armies chasing them were relatively small after the exhausting war, and they were able to go into hiding. Many Shifter disguised themselves as large animals and waited until Lunia and Lycan's forces dispersed or forgot about them. Only resurfacing in the later years of the Era of Understanding, Shifters had created their own societies among nature. most people still mistake them for Lycanthropes, though many Shifters hunt down Lycanthropes as a way to try to clear their name.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Shifters do their best to appear cordial to the other species of Morad, as they often need help from locals when hunting down certain prey. This is often futile as almost everyone sees them as were-people and certain cities may send the town guard or passing adventurers to hunt down the entire Shifter tribe. Nonetheless, in order to be fully accepted back into society, Shifters must try to build bridges when they can.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Humans

Scientific Name

Bestia Homonis

Lifespan

80 years

Average Height

5' 7" - 6' 0"

Average Weight

130 - 180 lbs