Shifter

Shifters are humans who are born with the ability to turn themselves into the form of a specific animal and back.

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Kindred Spirits

Shifters have existed as far back as mankind and are present in many traditions across the world. Depending on who you ask, you'll hear a different version of the story behind their gift: Some traditions claim that shifters are ascended animals, permitted by the gods to reincarnate as humans for a single lifetime, and their animal shape is a reminder of who they were; Other believes every human has a guardian animal, and shifters are powerful shamans who can fully assume their guise. A few cultures still see it as a curse rather than a gift, designed to teach man humility by having them crawl like a snake or be weak and small like a rat. For most shifters, the origins or reasons have little to no practical value.

Each shifter has one specific animal form, some may turn into a wolf, while others may take flight as a hawk or owl. While in their human forms, shifters may exhibit a few peculiar traits related to their animal sides, such as a taste for specific foods, keener senses, or the occasional odd instinct response.

Of Beast and Man:

Shifter's gift often manifests very early in life, and a few shifters can't even remember what it was like not to be able to turn. For most of them though, it begins around age six, with involuntary transformations, but most will gain control over it surprisingly quickly. Yet, this often comes too late to prevent the The Veil to shatter for the shifter and their families. Fear and concern mean that it's not rare for a shifter to find their families encouraging them to suppress their gifts, or being ostracized from their homes.