Shapeshifting

**Shapeshifting** is the magical ability that one has to change their age, size, sex, species, facial features and so on.

## Divine Shapeshifting

Gods and Titans are beings of pure, radiant energy in their true form, but since it's too dangerous to simply look at them in this form (or being in their presence if it is Kronos), both beings are able to assume physical form in order to safely interact with "lesser beings". For the most, their appearance is that know on myths "adapted" to the current world potency's culture (Zeus, for example, is described as an "angry-looking hippie" wearing a tuxedo), but they can change their form into anything that they want to be, with Athena and Hypnos having turned into birds in the past, Poseidon and Demeter having a horse as a child, due to having reproduced in form of a stallion and a mare respectively. Of all the gods, however, Zeus is notorious to use shapeshifting to disguise himself from Hera during his affairs with other women, having turned himself into an eagle, a swan, a bull, a woman, and even a rain of gold. As the Goddess of love and the personification of beauty, Aphrodite or Venus's true appearance is actually unknown as she would appear to others as their personal epitome of physical attraction as the Goddess of Beauty, Aphrodite could change her appearance at will, depending on the perception of beauty of the person she is in the presence of as mentioned in *Caspian's Miscellaneous Myths Hero Editions*, her son Eros has inherited this ability of hers

Not all shapeshifting by immortals is for pleasure. Rather, its a way that nymphs, for example, have used to protect themselves from gods' affection, with Daphne and Siringe, for example, having turned themselves into plants to avoid Apollo and Pan respectively.

Empousai have the power to change shape as well. They can turn from their human form to their true form and vice versa. Kelene mentioned that they have the power to change shape in *The Lair of Pluto.*

As well as Empousai, the Furies can also shapeshift. Alecto posed as Caspian's math teacher, Mrs. Dela, and as a lawyer to get Evan and Helen Gonzales out of the Lotus Hotel.

The only Norse deities who can shape-shift appear to be Odin and Loki, with the latter even giving birth to the colt Sleipnir while in the shape of a mare.

Fox Spirits are gifted with the power to transform themselves into other beings and inanimate objects such as tables and chairs.

## Mortal/Semi-Divine Shapeshifting

Normal humans have no natural power to change form, but some mortals may inherit this power though divine ancestry, also known as a Legacy. The Victor family, for example, are all descendants of Periclymenus, mortal grandson of Poseidon, and they all inherited his ability to turn into animals. Examples include Nathan Victor, who is capable to turn into both normal and mythological animals like when he turned into a dragon, and his grandmother who was apparently forced to flee for her life in the form of a small bird. Nathan's great grand mother was a Canadian soldier who had attempted to use her shapeshifting in Afghanistan to help the American troops. The plan was unsuccessful, since she was killed in the action.

Other mortals that shapeshift without inherent power normally change form as a result of divine punishment upon them. Indeed, some monsters like the Gorgons and Lycanthropes were originally normal human beings that somehow offended the gods and were turned into monsters as punishment. Not all forcefully shapeshifting is punitive, though. Rather, this may be a way for gods to protect their loved ones from the fire of other gods. This is evident in Zeus' case with Io, when he turned her into a heifer to hide her from Hera, and several centuries later with his daughter Zamaya Reynoso, as she was gravely injured in a fight against Underworld monsters, Zeus turned her into a tree to avoid Hades from claiming her soul. Due to Kronos' manipulation, Zamaya and the tree now exist as separate entities. As their mothers are the Goddesses of love and the personification of beauty the children of Aphrodite, Venus, Turan, Xōchiquetzal, Eros, etc are capable of shapeshifting limited to physical features

Norse demigod children of Loki also can shapeshift, and are able to take the form of both different people and animals.

## Known Users

### Immortal users

* All Gods
* Nymphs
* Fox-Spirits

### Demigods/Semi-Divine Users

* Nathan Victor (Animals only)
* Fox Spirits
	+ Villi Foxtail (Huli Jing)
	+ Kaili Shang (Daughter of Daji)
	+ Vixen Russell (Daughter of Inari Ōkami)
	+ Azeria Vulpine (Daughter of Tamamo-no-Mae)
* Hayden Sterling (Child of Loki)
* Eurydice Joyce (Daughter of Ārohirohi)
* Lydia Alecto (Daughter of Circe)
* Malcolm Bellerose (Son of Xōchiquetzal)
* Carmelo Ortega (Son of The Empousai)
* Children of Aphrodite
	+ Max Palacios-Balcazar
	+ Damon Argos
	+ Angelica Charity
	+ Agape Cyprus
	+ Primrose White
	+ Markell Lafayette
* Piper Perez (Daughter of Hathor)
* Asher Patel (Son of Lakshmi)
* Elodie Black (Daughter of Erzulie Freda Dahomey)
* Kayden Amador (Son of Oshun)
* Marikit Santos (Daughter of Mayari)
* Rhiannon Cariad (Daughter of Branwen)
* Lunabella Sparks (Can turn into a moth)
* Saoirse Callaghan (Selkie)