Post by Alex on Oct 30, 2019 20:51:59 GMT -5
Basic Information
Shifters are a race of people that can transform into any creature their heart desires. Their ability to transform is typically very superficial and never quite exactly like the right thing, but they can shift any time at will. When shifting from memory, the shifter retains all the same abilities they would have in their human body with the exception of when they achieve a perfect shift.
Stats:
Abilities:
Besides their ability to shapeshift at will, shifters are otherwise ordinary humans. They are not especially strong, fast, or durable. Their perceptive abilities and senses are not enhanced, thus they cannot detect other supernaturals in the way a therian or a vampire may be able to.
Because they are so much like humans, they similarly cannot be detected by other supernaturals by scent alone and easily blend into human society, which can work to their benefit.
Shifters are a race of people that can transform into any creature their heart desires. Their ability to transform is typically very superficial and never quite exactly like the right thing, but they can shift any time at will. When shifting from memory, the shifter retains all the same abilities they would have in their human body with the exception of when they achieve a perfect shift.
Stats:
Strength, Senses, Speed, Durability: The same as most humans, however when in a Perfect Shift, the shifter temporarily gains all attributes and abilities of whatever creature it has turned into.
Magic Power: Superior when it comes to shifting, average when it comes to anything else.
Abilities:
Shifting by image - when a shifter changes form based on their memory of what a creature looks like. These shifts are more superficial, and the shifter's bodily composition, ability, etc. remain the same, just their appearance has changed. Thus: a shifter that changes into a fish is still limited by their human respiratory system, a shifter that changes into a bird doesn't have the hollow bones appropriate for flight, and a shifter that changes into a wolf won't be able to safely consume raw meat. That is, unless they access a perfect shift.
Shifting by image is limited by what the shifter has seen and knows exist. So a shifter can change into any sort of animal they wish but cannot, for example, transform into a creature that does not exist. However, partial transformations are possible, especially by those with the skill to localize their changes. In such a case, all parts must be derived from animals/things seen in nature, not only from the shifter's imagination, so they can't just stretch their arm like Elastigirl or something.
Some shifters have the finesse to change into other humans, or to alter their human appearance to possess different human characteristics. This tends to be more difficult to pull off than changing into an animal as even the slightest mistake is more easily noticed. Likewise with animal shifts, human shifts should be based on the shifter's memory.
There are things a shifter cannot alter when shifting by image. Their eyes will always be the same as in their human form. Their voice will remain the same. They will still smell like a human and will always be warm-blooded (which may be noticeable if they change into a reptile). Their organ systems will remain human.
Shifters also cannot spawn or grow additional body parts, they can only alter what they already have.
Perfect Shift - When a shifter consumes some blood from whichever creature they wish to be, they can achieve a perfect shift — they become exactly like that creature, not just in appearance but in its inherent qualities as well. Their ability to use that perfect shift lasts as long as the blood remains in their system (roughly a few hours). So, using the same examples from earlier: a shifter turned fish will be able to breathe underwater, a shifter turned bird will be able to fly, and a shifter turned wolf will be able to consume raw meat with no ill effect.
A perfect shift grants the shifter all of the abilities of the animal they become — they will be as strong, fast, and resilient as that animal would typically be, and will have its senses as well. Their eyes will no longer be humanlike but resemble the animal's much more closely. The things they cannot alter will be changed to suit their shift, and so they become largely indistinguishable from a real member of the species.
Perfect shifts are even possible to do with humans, though there are legal risks involved with impersonation if it comes to that.
Besides their ability to shapeshift at will, shifters are otherwise ordinary humans. They are not especially strong, fast, or durable. Their perceptive abilities and senses are not enhanced, thus they cannot detect other supernaturals in the way a therian or a vampire may be able to.
Because they are so much like humans, they similarly cannot be detected by other supernaturals by scent alone and easily blend into human society, which can work to their benefit.
[will continue to be updated over time]