Post by Tataryn on Dec 22, 2011 5:18:50 GMT -5
The Book of Shapeshifters
Government
1. The entire species is ruled jointly by an alpha male and female.
2. The two alphas are usually mates, but this is not a rule.
3. One must challenge an alpha to a fight in order to depose that alpha.
4. The keeper of the island is chosen by the alphas to watch over Shifter Island.
5. Vagabond shifters in The City usually offer their loyalty to the king of thieves.
6. The king of thieves and the alphas typically cooperate with each other and pay their own respects.
7. That king of thieves offers protection to his people in exchange for payment. No major crimes may be carried out without his permission.
8. The alphas make all decisions that concern their species as a whole. Beyond that, decisions are left to the individual.
Spirituality
1. Shapeshifters believe in the balance just as the fae do.
2. Unlike the fae, the shifters do not worship the gods. They prefer to pay homage to the earth itself.
3. When they kill, they give thanks to the life that was taken.
4. Shapeshifters tend to be very superstitious.
5. There are star readers among the species who make predictions based on the positions of the stars and planets.
6. There are also card readers who make predictions based off of pictures hand drawn onto cards; tarot.
7. The full moon in February is a fertility festival. New couples come together, older couples renew their relationships. Women weave flowers in their hair. Clothing is always optional. Matchmaking games are held.
8. The full moon in October is celebrated by friendly competition. Competitors are usually male, but there is no rule saying females can’t compete.
Culture
1. Considered traitorous by the fae, pathetic by the humans, and weak by the demons, shapeshifters are forced to stick together or else be completely alone.
2. About half of them make their home on Shifter Island, which is relatively safe for them.
3. The other half become hired help, thieves, and rogues of some sort…usually living in the City of Thieves.
4. Even loners tend to stick up for their own species if the situation calls for it.
5. Very gypsy-like, shifters tend to dislike living in one place for too long.
6. Many are fascinated by fortune telling, but very few actually know how to do it. Some simply pretend so that they may trick unsuspecting humans into parting with their coin.
7. Shifters are highly adaptive. They can live in a human city as easily as they can the wild.
8. The shifters react to their cruel world by laughing. Many are tricky little pranksters.
Biology
1. All shifters have a human form and a true form.
2. At fifty posts, they learn a half form as well. The half form is human with attributes of their true form.
3. Magic and abilities may only be used in their true form or half form.
4. Young shifters change into their true form during the full moon and when they are injured. That is all. If a shifter bites a human during the full moon, that human will become a shifter.
5. When a shifter hits puberty, they may shift at will.
6. At 400 posts, the shifter may break the curse of the moon and have complete control over shifting.
7. Shifting feels good. Amazingly good, actually. It hurts, but the overwhelming ecstasy that accompanies that pain is extraordinarily powerful.
8. A shifter’s human form will always show some subtle hint of their true form. This could be a slight tint to their hair, a strange eye shape, a hardly visible striped pattern on the skin, or anything else that is barely noticeable.
The Shapeshifter Laws
1. Do not betray the species.
2. Do not complain or hesitate if an alpha gives you an order. Obey or challenge the alpha. Choose.
3. Respect your territory for the life it provides for you.
4. Respect the territory of another pack or lone shifter for the life it provides them.
5. Do not imprison the dead by holding them to earth with your grief. Let them be reborn in peace.
6. Never abandon a child, no matter what species.
7. Do not keep slaves, for we are a free people.
8. Do not enter the Mound.
The Breeds of the Shapeshifters
Wind Sprites
1. When designing a sprite’s true form, keep in mind the raw element of that sprite. Silver wind, blue skies, yellow lightning, gray-green storm clouds, etc.
2. Any natural hair color is possible in human form.
3. In human form, a wind sprite will either have blue eyes or gray eyes.
4. Skin color will either be fair, black, or ivory in human form.
5. The average height of a wind sprite is 5’6.
6. In their true forms, they have a solid appearance but a gaseous body. Solid weapons will not hurt them without the aid of magic.
7. Sprites have large, almond shaped eyes in their true forms.
8. Wind sprites have elemental magic relating to air.
Fire Sprites
1. When designing a sprite’s true form, keep in mind the raw element of that sprite. Red embers, orange flame, blue heat, gray-black soot, etc.
2. Any natural hair color is possible in human form.
3. In human form, a fire sprite will always have blue eyes.
4. Skin color will always be black in human form.
5. The average height of a fire sprite is 5’10.
6. In their true forms, they have a solid appearance but a gaseous body. Solid weapons will not hurt them without the aid of magic.
7. Sprites have large, almond shaped eyes in their true forms.
8. Fire sprites have elemental magic relating to fire.
Water Sprites
1. When designing a sprite’s true form, keep in mind the raw element of that sprite. Blue oceans, white frost, gray rain, brown marshland, etc.
2. Brown, black, and red are the possible hair colors while in human form.
3. In human form, any natural eye color is possible.
4. Skin color will either be ivory or black in human form.
5. The average height of a fire sprite is 5’3.
6. In their true forms, they have a solid appearance but a gaseous body. Solid weapons will not hurt them without the aid of magic.
7. Sprites have large, almond shaped eyes in their true forms.
8. Water sprites have elemental magic relating to water.
Earth Sprites
1. When designing a sprite’s true form, keep in mind the raw element of that sprite. Green leaves, brown earth, magenta flowers, amethyst stone, etc.
2. Brown, black, and red are the possible hair colors while in human form.
3. In human form, any natural eye color is possible.
4. Skin color will either be olive or fair in human form.
5. The average height of a fire sprite is 5’3.
6. In their true forms, they have a solid appearance but a gaseous body. Solid weapons will not hurt them without the aid of magic.
7. Sprites have large, almond shaped eyes in their true forms.
8. Earth sprites have elemental magic relating to earth.
Angelic Celestials
1. All angelic celestials have golden feathered wings in their true forms. These wings cannot carry them higher than the forest trees and they cannot carry more than the weight of a cat while flying.
2.Red, black, and blonde are the possible hair colors for this species. Hair color may change between forms.
3. Blue, green, and brown are the possible eye colors for this species. Eye color may change between forms.
4. All angelic celestials have black skin in both forms.
5. The average height of an angelic celestial is 5’9.
6. The features of an angelic celestial tend to be strong and harsh.
7. A popular weapon choice among this breed is the broadsword.
8. Angelic celestials have ambient magic connected to the force of life.
Pure Celestials
1. All pure celestials have white feathered wings in their true forms. These wings cannot carry them higher than the forest trees and they cannot carry more than the weight of a cat while flying.
2.Blond, brown, and black are the possible hair colors for this species. Hair color may change between forms.
3. Blue, green, and brown are the possible eye colors for this species. Eye color may change between forms.
4. All pure celestials have brown or olive skin. The shade of the skin can, in some cases, change between forms.
5. The average height of a pure celestial is 5’9.
6. The features of a pure celestial tend to be innocent and sweet.
7. A popular weapon choice among this breed is the bow.
8. Pure celestials have ambient magic connected to the force of light.
Fallen Celestials
1. All fallen celestials have midnight blue feathered wings in their true forms. These wings cannot carry them higher than the forest trees and they cannot carry more than the weight of a cat while flying.
2.Brown and blonde are the possible hair colors for this species. Hair color may change between forms.
3. Brown and black are the possible eye colors for this species. Eye color may change between forms.
4. All natural skin colors are possible in this breed. The shade of the skin can, in some cases, change between forms.
5. The average height of a fallen celestial is 6’0.
6. The features of a fallen celestial tend to be soft and often brooding or sad.
7. A popular weapon choice among this breed is the whip.
8. Fallen celestials have ambient magic connected to the force of spirit.
Tainted Celestials
1. All tainted celestials have black feathered wings in their true forms. These wings cannot carry them higher than the forest trees and they cannot carry more than the weight of a cat while flying.
2.Brown, blonde, and red are the possible hair colors for this species. Hair color may change between forms.
3. Blue and amethyst are the possible eye colors for this species. Eye color may change between forms.
4. All natural skin colors are possible in this breed. The shade of the skin can, in some cases, change between forms.
5. The average height of a tainted celestial is 5’3.
6. The features of a tainted celestial tend to be cruel and cold.
7. A popular weapon choice among this breed is the battle axe.
8. Tainted celestials have ambient magic connected to the force of darkness.
Avian Werebeasts
1. All werebeasts start out with one animal form. With time, Fate may award you with additional forms.
2.By some strange genetic twist, all avian werebeasts have brown hair in human form.
3. All natural eye colors are possible for this breed.
4. All natural skin colors are possible for this breed.
5. The average height of an avian werebeast is 5’8.
6. Werebeasts cannot talk to animals, even in their true forms, without an ability that says they can. At best, they simply have a better understanding of animal body language.
7. The diet of any werebeast matches the animal of its true form.
8. Avian werebeasts have animal magic connected to birds or the myths and legends of birds. Magical abilities connected specifically to certain species can only be gained by characters influenced by that species.
Reptilian/Insectoid Werebeasts
1. All werebeasts start out with one animal form. With time, Fate may award you with additional forms.
2.Blonde, red, and black are the possible hair colors for this breed.
3. All natural eye colors are possible for this breed.
4. All natural skin colors are possible for this breed.
5. The average height of a reptilian or Insectoid werebeast is 5’10.
6. Werebeasts cannot talk to animals, even in their true forms, without an ability that says they can. At best, they simply have a better understanding of animal body language.
7. The diet of any werebeast matches the animal of its true form.
8. Reptilian werebeasts have animal magic connected to reptiles and Insectoid werebeasts have animal magic connected to insects, or the myths and legends of reptiles and insects. Magical abilities connected specifically to certain species can only be gained by characters influenced by that species.
Aquatic Werebeasts
1. All werebeasts start out with one animal form. With time, Fate may award you with additional forms.
2.Brown and blonde are the possible hair colors for this breed.
3. Blue, brown, and odd (one blue eye and one brown eye) are the possible eye colors for this breed.
4. Brown, olive, and ivory are the possible skin colors for this breed.
5. The average height of an aquatic werebeast is 5’11.
6. Werebeasts cannot talk to animals, even in their true forms, without an ability that says they can. At best, they simply have a better understanding of animal body language.
7. The diet of any werebeast matches the animal of its true form.
8. Aquatic werebeasts have animal magic connected to aquatic creatures or the myths and legends of aquatic creatures. Magical abilities connected specifically to certain species can only be gained by characters influenced by that species.
Mammalian Werebeasts
1. All werebeasts start out with one animal form. With time, Fate may award you with additional forms.
2.Brown, red, and black are the most common hair colors. Golden blonde is possible only if it matches the fur color of the true form.
3. All natural eye colors are possible for this breed.
4. Ivory, fair, and black are the most common skin shades. Golden brown is possible when paired with golden hair.
5. The average height of a mammalian werebeast is 5’6.
6. Werebeasts cannot talk to animals, even in their true forms, without an ability that says they can. At best, they simply have a better understanding of animal body language.
7. The diet of any werebeast matches the animal of its true form.
8. Mammalian werebeasts have animal magic connected to mammals or the myths and legends of mammals. Magical abilities connected specifically to certain species can only be gained by characters influenced by that species.
Philosophic Terrkas
1. These creatures are never without the tools they need for scholarly work! They can shift body parts and strands of hair into quills, jars of ink, parchment, magnification lenses, and anything else they might need that relates to that field. Should an object not connected to their body be separated from them, it will revert back to its original form.
2.Terrkas are very colorful creatures and often have hair and eyes streaked with many different colors while in their true forms. The true form of a terrka comes in so many shapes and sizes, your imagination is the limit! The only rule is that they are always bright and never dark.
3. All philosophic terrkas have red hair in human form.
4. Blue and gray are the possible eye colors for this breed while in human form.
5. All natural skin colors are possible for this breed.
6. The average height of a philosophic terrka is 5’0.
7. Terrkas generally have slight, graceful bodies with an androgynous frame.
8. Philosophic terrkas have skilled magic connected to the scholarly arts.
Battle Terkkas
1. These creatures are never without the tools they need for battle! They can shift body parts and strands of hair into knives, hammers, axes, swords, and anything else they might need that relates to that field. Should an object not connected to their body be separated from them, it will revert back to its original form.
2.Terrkas are very colorful creatures and often have hair and eyes streaked with many different colors while in their true forms. The true form of a terrka comes in so many shapes and sizes, your imagination is the limit! The only rule is that they are always bright and never dark.
3. All battle terrkas have brown, black, or red hair in human form.
4. All natural eye colors are possible for this breed while in human form.
5. All natural skin colors are possible for this breed.
6. The average height of a battle terrka is 4’11.
7. Terrkas generally have slight, graceful bodies with an androgynous frame.
8. Battle terrkas have skilled magic connected to the battle arts.
Bardic Terrkas
1. These creatures are never without the tools they need for barding! They can shift body parts and strands of hair into masks, lyres, flutes, wooden swords, and anything else they might need that relates to that field. Should an object not connected to their body be separated from them, it will revert back to its original form.
2.Terrkas are very colorful creatures and often have hair and eyes streaked with many different colors while in their true forms. The true form of a terrka comes in so many shapes and sizes, your imagination is the limit! The only rule is that they are always bright and never dark.
3. All bardic terrkas have brown hair in human form.
4. This breed will always have blue eyes while in human form.
5. Fair, ivory, and olive are the possible skin colors for this breed.
6. The average height of a bardic terrka is 5’6.
7. Terrkas generally have slight, graceful bodies with an androgynous frame.
8. Bardic terrkas have skilled magic connected to the entertainment arts.
Crafter Terrkas
1. These creatures are never without the tools they need for crafting! They can shift body parts and strands of hair into knives, magnification lenses, hammers, sewing needles, and anything else they might need that relates to that field. Should an object not connected to their body be separated from them, it will revert back to its original form.
2.Terrkas are very colorful creatures and often have hair and eyes streaked with many different colors while in their true forms. The true form of a terrka comes in so many shapes and sizes, your imagination is the limit! The only rule is that they are always bright and never dark.
3. All natural hair colors are possible in human form.
4. This breed will always have brown eyes while in human form.
5. This breed will always have brown skin.
6. The average height of a crafter terrka is 4’6, making them among the shortest sentient beings in Litharia.
7. Terrkas generally have slight, graceful bodies with an androgynous frame.
8. Crafter terrkas have skilled magic connected to the crafting arts.