The Shifters - About the Shifters

The following is a list of some common curiosities in regards to the Shifters.
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Dual Forms
Shifters have at least two forms - their human and their animal form, while some may have two animal forms. Their human form generally looks like any other human and come in various shapes, sizes, and nationalities. There are a few aspects that set them apart from the humans, the first being the green flecks in their eyes that are only visible when light is shone in them. Some might say they have an otherworldly look to them. It is not uncommon for their human form to take some characteristics from their animal form, such as oddly colored hair or slightly sharpened teeth.
Their animal forms vary depending on what runs in their family and may be easily mistaken for the very distant, natural cousins that do not share their magic. One very noticeable difference for some is their size, since larger animals tend to be smaller if they are a shifter form, and smaller animals tend to be larger. The green flecks in their eyes remain through every form they take, but are hardly noticeable unless light is shone directly into them. Think about when you see an animal's eyes at night, how they reflect? That's what the green flecks tend to do.
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How Magic Works in The Body
Much like those that gifted them with magic, their magic is part of them. They, however, cannot wield magic like the Fae can, nor can they share magic among themselves or absorb magic from their natural surroundings. The magic that causes the biological shifting of their bodies is all that they will ever be able to obtain, and cannot be depleted from them unless forcefully drained. Think of it as blood cells - constantly dying and reproducing themselves so the body has a constant supply of fresh magic cells that help them to shift and use their animalistic defenses in either form. Granted, overuse of their abilities can result in extreme fatigue, and muscle weakness, but their magic cannot just run out like it can with Fae.
Shifting is as easy as changing a shirt for most, and some can do it months after birth. Once the choice is made to shift from one form to the other, it is described as being bathed in warmth that last seconds, and when it dissipates, the transformation from man to beast (or vice versa) is complete. Shifting multiple times in a short time period does take a lot of energy. Having a proper diet and sleep schedule will help limit the drain on the body.
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Digestion
Shifters are not very different from normal humans, and require food and drink to continue living, though they are a much hardier species. The diet of shifters typically leans toward what their animal form eats naturally, though they can stomach anything a human can stomach, along with many things a human cannot ingest, without illness. It is not uncommon for some shifters to enjoy raw or even rotting meat while others enjoy a more vegetarian meal.
What they eat does not affect their ability to shift, but it will affect their form. Do not expect a shifter that lives off fast food, and other unhealthy choices, to have the same physical prowess as one that eats vegetables and proteins. The concept of having a healthy body, being fit, and weight gain all affect shifters the same as it affects humans and animals.
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Sex
Sex and reproduction can be performed in either human or animal form.
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Age
The age cap for playable shifters is 1200 years old, with admin permission needed for anyone over 800. Non-playable shifters can be much older, in general. Since shifters are not immortal, and will die of old age unlike some of the other species, age does not necessarily equal strength. Much like the lifespan of a human or an animal, there is an age of peak physicality, that is somewhere between 100 years old and 700 years old. The older the shifter is during this time period, the stronger they are, but once they hit 700, their bodies begin to decline in strength. A shifter is not considered mature until the age of 18, which is when their bodies slow the aging process to nearly a halt. Shifters who are well into their centuries will look older than younger shifters, but the aging process is much slower.
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Symbol
The symbol for the shifters is a paw print, with four toe pads and a big pad. Each toe is tipped with claws. While there are shifters that do not have paws, most do, so it was decided that this would be the symbol for all shifters, regardless of what their animal feet actually look like.
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Other Names
Shifters also have many nicknames in myth and legend. These include: Shapeshifters, Skin-Walkers, Wendigo, Nagual, Merpeople, Selkies, Tengu, Spriggan, etc.