Shifters

## Introduction

Shifters are a collective term for many thousands of different types of fae who can shift into a single species of animal. They are often described first by the animal they can change into, such as 'raven shifter' or 'butterfly shifter.' They are different to true shapeshifters, and are extremely populous, similar to common fae, though some species of animal shifter are more common than others.

## Abilities

Animal shifter fae have the ability to shift into their animal, which can be extremely useful in certain circumstances, such as taking on flight, size or strength abilities. However, other than this, they have no other unique abilities outside of magical skill, which varies from individual to individual, with the exception of Swan Maidens being known to be biological pacifists on the whole.

Certain animal shifters can have 'infrared vision and electromagnetic sensors', though it's not clear which. According to Mu, seemingly certain sea animal shifters shoal.

## Characteristics (culture, habits)

Animal shifter fae are common in the *Fae Tales*. They can be Seelie or Unseelie, including within the same species. Until the Raven Prince's reign as Unseelie King, animal shifters were often looked down upon and were less likely to be employed in the Unseelie or Seelie Courts, they are also more likely to be of lower status than other fae. They do not include fae that can change into animal forms that aren't found in the human world (like waterhorses).

They often live existences that share characteristics with the animal they shift into. For example, mouse shifters are more likely to have large families and be more fertile, similar to mice. Many insect shifters communicate with antennae or through touch or light cues.

Some animal shifters develop their own unique cultures and ways of life that separate them from others, such as Mouse Maidens and Mouse Lads, as well as Swan Maidens and Swan Princes. These shifters have their own complex mythologies and folklore, and are less likely to be called shifters, even though this is what they are.

Animal shifter fae are the fae most likely to shift between true, hybrid, and human forms in the *Fae Tales Verse*.

## Trivia

* A badger shifter served as a messenger from the Seelie Court to the Unseelie Court at one point. In human-form, 'his hair wore the telltale stripes, there was a broadness and length to his nose and mouth which indicated he’d never quite fit in the human world. His hands were badger paws, clawed and strong. He held a sealed scroll in his thick hands.'
* Augus Each Uisge 'questioned a hedgehog-shifter family with compulsions' while searching for Gwyn ap Nudd.
* Winterwest has a large population of animal shifters, even more so than Summervale.
* Gevtivar is predominantly populated with insect and arthropod shifters, which has drastically impacted the appearance of the town, and the way fae communicate there.
* The Council of Lammergeiers is the organization who trained Gulvi to be an assassin, and contains a group of lammergeier shifters.
* Seabird shifters have weather shifting abilities.
* Mosk Manytrees saw 'giant squid shifters that had come up from the depths' during the battle on the beach.
* Seahorse shifters 'have a special magic to protect land-realm items from salt erosion. Especially useful for trading for sky-bound items, but it's possible to use this on fae too. Just rarely necessary.'
* Lionfish shifters are venomous to most fae. Albion had at least one serve as a guard at the Seelie Court while Albion was King. They had 'giant spines growing from their back in neat red-and-white array'.
* Whale shifters are 'large, kindly, almost impossible to understand.'
* Some lion shifters are able to roar to immobilize their prey.
* The Raven Prince found *'the jellyfish shifters fascinating.’*

## Folklore/Mythology

There are many myths and stories of beings that could shapeshift into animals, in many different cultures of the world.

## References

1. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 7 March 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2655808. Chapter 44: Consultation.
2. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 26 December 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/6404462. Chapter 23: Confrontation.
3. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 November 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/67599242. Chapter 7: Bad Habits.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 18 January 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2310680. Chapter 37: Recovery.
5. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 31 January 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2363349. Chapter 39: Alone.
6. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 21 October 2017. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/28296177. Chapter 5: Animosity.
7. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 26 June 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/9517437. Chapter 49: Battle.
8. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 18 June 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/4283271. Chapter 4: Suspicions.
9. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 October 2018. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/38239544. Chapter 31: The Sky is Falling.
10. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 October 2018. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/38607599. Chapter 32: Somewhere Safe.
11. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 9 January 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/52978921. Chapter 23: The Sea of Sculptures.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 20 June 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/3901096. Chapter 2: Orphan.
13. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 13 September 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/48959894. Chapter 14: Too Far.
14. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 18 November 2013. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2101316. Chapter 27: Compulsion.
15. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 25 November 2021. https://archiveofourown.org/chapters/88041001. Chapter 20: A Magical World.