Shapeshifters

The Basics

Shapeshifters can change from human form to animal form at any time. They are not tied to moon as
myth says, and can change form at any time. A shapeshifter is an animal in a human body, and this
means that in private they act like their animal form. They have quick reflexes, super-human strength
and incredible smell, sight and hearing. It is very difficult to suprise a shapeshifter, and they can identify
a species by their scent.

Becoming a Shapeshifter

There are two ways to become a shapeshifter; be born a shapeshifter or recieve a deep wound from a
shapeshifter. Four days after the injury was sustained a shapeshifter will change shape for the first time.
The new shapeshifter will have no control over the change and this is the most common way for a
shapeshifter to kill a human. Most clans have strict rules about attacking humans, and if a human is
injured they do all they can to keep the human away from humans for four days. Clans have been known
to kidnap injured humans just to be safe. Occasionally an injured human will not shapeshift after four
days, but usually a deep injury means infection. Although it usually takes a deep wound to infect a
human, shallower/smaller wounds have been known to change a human into a shapeshifter.

Offspring

Personal relationships with humans, vampires and witches are not prohibited as long as it is 'just a bit of
fun' and does not become anything serious. Sex with humans can be dangerous for Submissives since
they could lose control and shapeshift. Shapeshifters are expected to marry within their clan or animal
species. They cannot concieve children with shapeshifters of a different species, or humans, vampires
and witches. Children are rare for shapeshifters since pregnancy can be difficult for both mother and
child. This is why serious long-term relationships are prohibited outside the clan.

Shape Shifting

The stronger the shapeshifter is the quicker and smoother their change will be. When a shapeshifter
changes their clothes are destroyed in the process. Their human skin parts and their animal form comes
up from out of their skin. When they change back their animal form is absorbed back into their body. It
can be quite uncomfortable and a little painful for weaker or newer shapeshifters. Dominant
shapeshifters feel no pain, although it is still a little uncomfortable.

In animal form a shapeshifter is an exact replica of the animal. Their size depends on the animal; big cats
for example will be the same size as a real big cat. Smaller mammals, such as wolves, will be larger than
a real wolf, about the same size as a big cat.

Although Dominants can shapeshift selected parts of their body, this has it's limits (see the Dominants
section below). There is also no half-man or wolf-man form. They go from human to animal form, there
is no in between form.
Born shapeshifters will start shapeshifting during childhood, although they will not show any Dominant
or submissive tendencies/abilities until puberty.

Weaknesses

Shapeshifters can be harmed and killed by silver or decapitation. They will survive any other type of
injury and can regrow any body part, excluding their head, if they shapeshift soon after the injury. A
wound made by any other material will close after a couple of seconds, and anything in the wound is
spat out by the body. This is one way to hunters use to identify someone as a shapeshifter, so
shapeshifters need to be very careful around humans.

Contact with silver will itch or sting, and it is the only material that can be used for piercings. Anything
else is rejected by the body. Long term contact with silver will cause a rash like an allergic reaction.

Aging

Shapeshifters age slightly slower from humans, and can die from old age when shapeshifting. Their
human body will be unable to cope with a change and their heart will give out.

Clans

Shapeshifters live in groups that they call clans. There is one clan for each animal species of shapeshifter
in that town or city. The size of these clans vary and depends on how many of each species is in the area.
No matter what species, each clan is run by the strongest Dominant and is split into two sub-groups;
Dominants and Submissives. Each clan does not talk about clan business with other shapeshifters, and it
is forbidden for shapeshifters to have relationships with shapeshifters from another clan.

Any shapeshifter that enter the territory of another clan they must seek permission from the clan leader.
If they enter their territory after they are refused access or do not ask permission they will be hunted
down by the Dominants of the clan. They are then beaten and escorted out of town. Only one warning is
given, and if that warning is not taken they are treated as an enemy of the clan and will be killed.
Students are rarely refused access to a new clan since they are moving into the territory to go to
University. This is because it helps to keep up appearances.

Shapeshifters are private and strict, and will not tolerate disobedience or threats to their clan. Threats,
enemies or rogues in their territory are dealt with using violence. Rogues are given one warning, but
anyone that threatens their territory recieves no warning and are dealt with regardless of their species.
The vampires and witches respect this and usually stay out of their way.

The leader of the clan is always the strongest Dominant and wins the position by challenging the current
leader to a fight. This fight is to the death, and whoever wins takes the position. It is not uncommon for
clan leaders to kill or punish anyone they see as a threat to their leadership.

The current clans played in the RPG are the wolves and the lions.
Please note: You do not need to contact the Clan Leader out of character to seek permission to join the
Clan.

Dominants & Submissives

In each clan there is a strict hierachy with the clan leader at the top, then the other Dominants and at
the bottom are the Submissives. Dominants are the strongest shapeshifters. They have a dominant
presence and can control when they shapeshift better than a submissive. They also have several abilities
that submissives do not have. Quicker and smoother shapeshifting is one, another is the ability to stop a
submissive from shapeshifting. They can also change selected parts of their body into animal form i.e.
hands into claws, mouth into snout. There is a limit to this, and the most body parts a Dominant can
shapeshift is three. They cannot change every single body part. The more body parts a Dominant can
shapeshift the stronger/more powerful they are considered to be. For example, a dominant that can
only shapeshift one body part is weaker than a dominant that can shapeshifter two or three.

Dominants cannot learn how to change a body part, it is a natural ability. This ability appears at any time
during a shapeshifter's puberty (10-15 for girls, and 11-17 for boys), starting with one body part
shapeshifting. If the shapeshifter is able to shapeshift more than one part of their body, the other/s will
appear during puberty. If a shapeshifter finishes puberty without this ability developing then the
shapeshifter is known by the Clan to be a submissive.

Submissives are weaker shapeshifters and have worse control over their animal instincts. Blood and
strong emotions can cause them to change form, and only a Dominant can stop them from shapeshifting.
Within the clan structure they are at the bottom of the hierarchy and are expected to do as the
Dominants want. They do as the Dominants say, run errands, please them in anyway they wish and
usually live with a Dominant. Not all Dominants treat submissives badly, but all are aware of the
hierarchy. It is not uncommon for this hierarchy to result in sadistic Dominants or masochistic
Submissives.

Interaction with other Species

As already mentioned; shapeshifters are very strict and keep to themselves. While they do not interact
with other animals, they do interact with vampires and witches. Communication between the vampires,
witches and shapeshifters keeps them all hidden from humans and safe from hunters. Shapeshifters
have a business relationship with vampires and witches. In exchange for the vampires help they lend
submissives to the vampires for blood and pleasure. The witches help the shapeshifters by acting as
healers and mid-wives. In return shapeshifters provide the witches by acting as physical enforcers,
bodyguards or just helping with some heavy lifting since witches do not have super-human strength.

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