The Shapeshifter

Appearance: Shapeshifters appear entirely human, with diverse features and a wide range of eye colors, shapes, and sizes. Many carry a distinctive "birthmark" somewhere on their body, a subtle mark of their supernatural nature. When shifted, they take on the exact likeness of their chosen animal, inheriting all its natural abilities. Unlike werewolves, their transformation is seamless and magical, occurring without pain or gruesome physical changes

Lifestyle: In the 1890s, shapeshifters are deeply attuned to nature, often leading nomadic lives under the stars or residing in close-knit communities called “Tribes”. They are frequently found among indigenous peoples, blending their supernatural gifts with cultural traditions and wisdom. Many shifters in this era serve as hunters, guides, or healers, using their transformations and profound connection to the land to sustain their families and communities. They thrive in environments that emphasize harmony with nature and the strength of communal bonds

Lifespan: Shapeshifters become immortal after their first transformation, but their longevity depends on their connection to nature and emotional bonds. Prolonged isolation, heartbreak, or disconnection from the natural world weakens them, making them vulnerable to decline. While resilient, they are not invincible, as severe physical trauma can end their lives. Upon death, they remain in their final form, decaying as either a human or animal based on their last transformation.

Origin

In the time of the first nomadic tribes, when humanity lived in harmony with the land, there was a small band of wanderers on the edge of an ancient forest. Among them was a boy filled with wonder, his heart drawn to the mysteries of the world. Each night, as his people slept, he would sit beneath the silver glow of the moon, singing to her and dancing in her light, as though she were a living guardian watching over them.

One harsh winter, the tribe faced near extinction. Frost consumed the land, freezing rivers and burying the earth in relentless snow. The hunters found no game, and the elders who knew the forest’s secrets could not find food. Hunger gripped the tribe, and despair spread. Heartbroken, the boy ventured into the frozen forest, following the moonlight in search of salvation.

Beneath the moon’s glow, he knelt in the snow and cried out with both hope and desperation. The moon answered. Her light pierced the dark canopy, enveloping him in a radiant silver warmth. Power surged through him, his fear melting away as his body transformed. His arms stretched into wings, his senses sharpened, and his heart began to beat in rhythm with the wild. He had become a great eagle, his feathers shimmering like frost in the moonlight.

Soaring above the forest, the boy’s newfound eyes saw through the ice and snow. Rivers, alive beneath their frozen shells, teemed with fish. With strength and precision, he dove, clutching fish in his talons and returning again and again until his people were fed. That winter, the tribe survived, carried by the boy’s courage and the moon’s blessing.

When spring came, the boy returned to his human form, but the moon’s gift remained within him. He soon discovered that her light had bonded him to the natural world, granting him the ability to take other forms, each with unique strengths and wisdom. He passed this gift to his children, teaching them to call upon the moon’s power in times of need.

Thus, the first shapeshifters were born, descendants of the boy who danced in the moonlight. Their story became a legend, carried across the earth by nomadic tribes. For shapeshifters, their ability is not just a gift but a sacred bond with the natural world, a legacy of survival and harmony bestowed by the moon herself.

Through countless generations, the shapeshifters have endured. Their forms blend with the wild, and their hearts remain attuned to the moon’s light—a timeless reminder of the power that comes from living in balance with nature.

Presently

In the 1890s, the shapeshifters of Shadewood Hollow maintain a quiet yet profound presence, their lives intricately connected to the rhythms of the land. This connection is more than cultural—it is the core of their identity and survival. However, the relentless advance of industrialization poses an existential threat. Every felled tree, polluted stream, or scarred hillside is not just a loss of resources but a wound to their very way of life, forcing difficult choices that challenge their traditions.

Unlike other supernatural factions, shapeshifters lack a centralized hierarchy. Their communities revolve around familial and tribal bonds, with structure rooted in wisdom and experience. Small tribes led by Elders serve as custodians of ancient practices and knowledge of the land, guiding younger generations. Family Heads, chosen for their leadership and unifying presence, oversee daily life, ensuring survival and maintaining secrecy. Beyond these tribal communities, Loners live on the outskirts of both human and supernatural worlds, carving solitary paths.

In Shadewood, the Shadowfang Tribe represents the local shifter community, a group deeply tied to the surrounding forests and hills. At its head is Awi Asga or Running Deer, an Elder whose profound knowledge of the land and quiet strength command respect. Awi, though revered, is increasingly challenged by younger shifters who question his cautious approach to the growing threats of industrial encroachment.

Serving as a vital emissary between the shapeshifters and the wider supernatural world is Raven Blackstone, a figure known for their diplomacy and unyielding resolve. Raven bridges tradition and modernity, advocating for measured solutions to the mounting pressures of industrialization while navigating the delicate balance between shifter customs and external alliances. Their role often places them at the center of disputes, mediating between factions and within the tribe itself.

Tensions within the community, however, continue to rise. Younger shifters, disillusioned by the gradual erosion of their lands and traditions, push for direct action—disrupting mining operations or sabotaging human encroachments to protect what remains. Others, wary of such risks, argue for integration into human society, adapting to new ways of life for the sake of survival. These divisions strain the tribe’s unity, leaving its future uncertain.

Raven’s position grows increasingly precarious as internal discord and external threats mount, but their efforts persist. Working alongside Awi, they strive to preserve the Shadowfang Tribe’s ancestral lands and pass on their deep connection to nature to future generations. Despite their challenges, the shifters remain a resilient force, adapting to a world in upheaval while holding fast to their legacy.

In Shadewood Hollow, the shapeshifters move like whispers through the trees—elusive, deliberate, and essential. Whether negotiating with supernatural factions, resisting industrial expansion, or protecting their sacred heritage, they stand as a quiet yet indomitable presence within the town’s intricate web of survival and power.

Hierarchy

Shapeshifters value independence but may gather in small familial or tribal groups for protection and mutual support:

Elders: Respected figures within the community, known for their wisdom and experience. They serve as guides and guardians of tradition, passing down knowledge to younger generations.
Family Heads: Leaders of small, close-knit groups who prioritize the well-being and survival of their members while safeguarding their shared secrets.
Loners: Solitary shifters who choose to live apart, often navigating the world with caution to conceal their true nature from outsiders.

Etiquette

Etiquette refers to a set of customary behaviors, social norms, and unwritten rules that guide how individuals interact with one another in various settings. Etiquette is not about rigid rules but about avoiding offense or misunderstandings.

Secrecy: Protecting the supernatural veil is crucial to all shapeshifters, breaks in the veil are considered reckless and may result in undesired consequences.
The Congregation: Adherence to directives is widely expected, with actions carefully weighed to align with the greater balance.
Elders: Elders are often regarded as keepers of wisdom and tradition.
The Land: A shared respect for the natural world runs deep in shapeshifter culture. Practices that preserve nature and avoid overhunting are widely appreciated.
Shifting: Transformations or mimicry are often seen as tools for survival or connection rather than casual acts.
The Young: Shapeshifter children are deeply valued, and their safety and growth are a shared concern. Teaching young shifters control and respect for their abilities is seen as a community effort.
Blending: Many shapeshifters choose to live subtle, harmonious lives within human society. Quiet integration is often seen as a practical way to avoid complications.
Lunar Significance: Lunar cycles hold meaning for many shapeshifters, who align personal rituals or moments of reflection with the moon’s phases, treating them as opportunities for connection or growth and pay respects to the being that granted them their gifts.
Neutrality: Staying impartial in supernatural conflicts is often seen as the best way to maintain balance. Acting as mediators or guides when needed.
Stories and Traditions: Passing down knowledge and cultural heritage is considered an act of care, ensuring future generations can appreciate and build on the wisdom of their ancestors.

Core Abilities

Every shapeshifter begins with these abilities:

Voluntary Shifting: Transform into chosen non-supernatural animals at will, fully replicating their physical traits and abilities. (Shifting typically requires three post rounds to complete.)
Regeneration: Recover from moderate wounds naturally through shifting or while in an animal form.
Enhanced Animal Traits: In animal form, experience the amplified senses, physical abilities, and instincts unique to the chosen creature.
Flourish Touch: Foster growth in plants, flowers, and crops through direct interaction, revitalizing greenery and encouraging abundance.

Specialization Abilities

As shapeshifters progress, they can acquire specialized abilities from the list below, learning one at a time, with a maximum of four in total. Rare abilities become available at level 3 progression.

Additionally, shapeshifters may select up to four abilities from the human specialization list. They can learn one ability from the human list and one from the shapeshifter list at a time before advancing further.

Animal Dominion: Influence animals beyond simple communication, guiding them to act in alignment with your intent.
Camouflage Instinct: Merge with your surroundings, becoming almost undetectable through scent, magic, or psychic tracking.
Dual Awareness: Maintain full human intellect, memory, and reasoning while in animal form, ensuring clarity and precision in actions.
Elemental Adaptation (Rare): Shift into animal forms specially equipped for extreme conditions—think thick hides for combat or adaptations to harsh climates.
Energy Transfer: Share life energy to heal others, though it comes at a hefty personal stamina cost.
Memory Echo: Tap into fleeting memories from animals you’ve mimicked, uncovering useful insights from their experiences.
Natural Sensitivity: Perceive subtle shifts in the environment—changes in weather, magical surges, or the approach of supernatural forces.
Pack Bond: Forge telepathic connections with your allies, letting you sense their emotions and desires even across great distances. (The pack bond must be focused on—it doesn’t come unwarranted.)
Partial Shifting: Transform specific body parts, like claws or fangs, for combat or practical purposes while remaining in human form.
Predator’s Insight: Hone those animal instincts to sense emotions, detect fear, or unveil hidden intentions in those around you.
Skinwalking (Rare): Temporarily assume the form of another human, replicating their appearance, voice, and mannerisms with uncanny accuracy.
Soothing Presence: Exude a calming aura that can pacify distressed creatures or supernatural beings, easing tension and conflict.
Swift Shift: Shorten your transformation time to a single post round, allowing you to adapt quickly when situations change.

Limitations

Energy Depletion: Repeated or prolonged transformations exhaust physical and mental reserves, leading to significant fatigue.
Form Instability: Sustaining unfamiliar or complex animal forms for extended periods can cause physical strain and force an involuntary reversion.
Memory Confusion: Prolonged time spent in animal form may blur human reasoning with animal instincts, resulting in temporary disorientation upon shifting back.
Material Constraints: Transformations do not include clothing or possessions.
Scent Recognition: While appearances can be perfectly mimicked, a shapeshifter's unique scent remains detectable to supernaturals with heightened olfactory senses.
Magic Sensitivity: Wards or spells can suppress or block their shifting abilities, potentially trapping them in a specific form.
Tracking Vulnerability: Transformations leave behind a faint magical trace that skilled witches or hunters can detect and follow.
Healing Limits: Severe injuries sustained in one form carry over to others, and may overwhelm regenerative abilities.
Identity Risk: Mimicking humans carries the danger of being exposed by those familiar with the original, especially through minor details such as tone, gait, or habits.
Tethered to Nature: Shapeshifters find themselves weakened or sluggish in environments devoid of natural life, like industrialized or barren areas.
Mark of the Wild: An unalterable physical trait—such as a birthmark, scar, or mismatched eyes—persists across all forms.
Vulnerable During Shift: The moment of transformation leaves shapeshifters briefly exposed and defenseless, making timing and location critical.

Procreation

Shapeshifters carry a unique mutated gene that enables their ability to transform into animals through magical means. This genetic trait is hereditary and can only be passed from parent to child, meaning shapeshifters are always born, never created. Offspring resulting from unions with other supernaturals may inherit a blend of traits, with abilities often reflecting the nature of both parents.

In rare instances, a shapeshifter may be born without a stable default form, earning them the name "Formless." These individuals experience a constant state of physical flux, unable to consistently maintain a human appearance. While their condition offers unparalleled versatility in shifting, it comes at a cost, often leading to physical fragility and emotional instability, making their lives uniquely challenging.