Shifters / Faerun

Worldbuilder's Note: This page is written as if it was published by a scholar from the SUV

Shifters are a race of people that can transform into animals, or more specifically, non-sentient creatures that can be seen by the naked eye. They are a race of people that have a natural connection to Sanamancy. There has been no evidence, despite the countless experiments done by North Ravenian scientists in 1571 to conclude that shifters can transform into another race of sentient people.

They are thought to have come from the Ekajian Isles, but it appears that most shifters come from Hreinngar, Northern Karthus, and Eastern Ravena. While they have been displaced by countless wars, they are now more common in Drasek, North Ravena, and the slums of Vontur.

These people shall not be confused with mages that can use a shifting spell. To tell whether or not it is a shifter, they usually have Ekajian eyes, and random animal parts. Similar to demons, they use magic whenever they shift, but no shifter has been found to be able to use any other spell rather than shifting. Even though they all have arcane lobes, shifters are not able to use magic. Further research from over 800 beheaded shifters in a 1570 study have concluded that their arcane lobe is much smaller than regular manaborn, which may explain that they can use this specific spell, but cannot use other spells. This leads to the theory that all elemental or Ekajian races may have a similar brain structure.

Shifters were originally called "Faerun" according to ancient texts, but due to North Ravenian propaganda, the term 'shifter', which is a racial slur made for them, has become the common word to describe them, so much so that all Selyrians tend to call them shifters, even the shifters themselves.

Biology

Shifter body parts can vary, but the most consistent among them is their shifter eyes. Apart from this, they are also known to have several animal body parts, which is theorized to be from early childhood development, which is what often separates them from mages that are able to use the shifting spell.

According to studies from Karthusian scientists, there are no shifters that can transform into extremely large creatures such as leviathans. In the past, researchers believed that shifters have a different way of transforming into an animal. However, after research from the SUV, it has been concluded that they indeed use magic to turn into an animal. This is consistent with how the most powerful shifters, who can either transform into dragons, wyverns, or 2 medium sized creatures, often have the skinniest bodies.

Shifters generally have a healthier strong immune system, as their body works far more effectively than a normal human's thanks to their enhanced healing. Their strength levels however do not change, as they are in similar of strength to humans. An interesting phenomenon is that a physically strong shifter can indeed still try to become a large creature like a wyvern, but after it shifts back to its normal form, their body transforms into an extremely malnourished body in need of a lot of nutrients. Scientists are still researching why this phenomena happens, as mages who do the same simply suffer from sorcerer's syndrome.

Half shifters cannot shift, but they will generally have enhanced healing.

In a shifter's early childhood, They will 'mimic' other animals, which may often lead to them "growing" body parts of such animals. This may be the reason why most shifters have animal parts. Some cultures even see this as a source of pride, such as the Varenian tribe in North Ravena, that have domesticated deer herds, making their children develop deer antlers. While this is a strange phenomena, these body parts tend to be useless. This is not reserved for antlers however, shifters can develop ears, tails, whiskers, and sometimes even feathers.

There are also cases where shifters in their childhood do not develop such tendencies. A recent study by the Vonturian Scientific Foundation found out that shifters living in Crow's Nest - which often do not have a lot of animals to connect with, do not exhibit such characteristics. This concludes the fact that shifter children learn to copy these animal parts, and it does not appear at random.

Once shifter turn to puberty, they may get into a situation where they develop a strong bond with a creature. Karthusian scientists are still researching this, but for most shifter clans, this is a sign of celebration, and tragedy, as oftentimes, this bond will be destroyed once the shifter, and the creature, are often seen together, and after one night, the creature will disappear. Scientists conclude that this happens due to the shifter absorbing the DNA of the animal, similar to how sanamancers do it. However, unlike sanamancers, shifters do not need another animal to transform again, as it is now ingrained to their DNA what animal they will shift into.

Shifter clans and tribes often view this as a day of celebration. The Tribe of Luparia, which lives in the southern part of Hreinngar for example, live with wolves, and as they reach puberty, they bond with one of the wolves' children, leading to a closer bond with their wolves in what they call "becoming one with the animal's spirit." Sociologists also believe that this type of culture led to countless shifter tribes and clans believing in "Great Sacrifices" as their primary tradition, which also led to regular human, elf, and dwarven sacrifices - which is a justification made by the Ravenian Government during [REDACTED].

Notable Body Parts

Ekajian Eyes

Shifters have the Ekajian eye, which is a type of reflective eye similar to those of cats. This allows them to have a form of night vision, even if their animal form doesn't originally have this ability. However, their eye colors are usually extremely bold. Examples of these are white, neon green, neon purple, and neon yellow.

Shifting

When a shifter transforms into an animal, they absorb the nutrients of their surroundings, such as plants and other animals. They aborb these to form the muscle, bone, and tissue of their creature. A knight from North Ravena named Sir Geralt Magrin showed in his notes that you can tell if a shifter is nearby if the area has a 'circle of withering'. This circle can range from half a meter for small creatures, to as big as 100 meters for big creatures. While this is consistent with Sanamancy, strangely, they do not absorb sentient nutrients. However, if a shifter has a form that is significantly smaller than their size and mass (examples such as rodents, or small cats), the opposite effects to their environment becomes the case. This means that they will replenish the nutrients of their surroundings when they become their animal form, and then whither their surroundings when they transform back. To prevent this from happening, many shifters carry a small sanamancy manite orb.

A shifter's transformation is described as "a speck of light, followed by embers". While they do not posses bioluminescence, their skin usually releases cells that have luxen lines in them, creating a 'glowing ember' effect. Apart from this, depending on the creature, feathers or fur may start shedding as a result of the transformation.

Shifters cannot transform into insects. No one knows why, but it is believed that since sentient beings are closer to animals than they are to insects, shifters have a much easier time absorbing the DNA of such creatures. They also seem to not be able to turn into large beasts like leviathans. While research is still scarce regarding this, scientists theorize that shifters also have the capability to have sorcerer's syndrome, similar to sanamancers. This is supported by the fact that a shifter may suffer from sorcerer's syndrome if they stay in their animal form for too long, and the fact that elephant shifters are more likely to suffer from sorcerer's syndrome compared to cat shifters.

Natural-born shifters take around 2 to 3 seconds to start the shifting process shift into another form but the transformation itself after starting the shifting process is almost instantaneous. If the shifter is interrupted within this period, for example when they lose focus or get hit hard then they will be unable to shift and have to start from the beginning to shift again. The theory behind this is that it takes time for the mana of the shifter to properly flow through their entire body simultaneously and “activate” it to begin to shift. For Serum-based shifters, this period is longer around 5 to 12 seconds.

This is in comparison to sanamancers, who need at least 10-20 seconds to transform.

Special Interactions

Mana Nullifiers

Shifters are not able to transform into their animal form if they are near a nullifier. They also go back to their normal form when inside a nullifier's range. A Saint's Crystal (A violet nullifier), is also very painful for them, and slowly gives them sorcerer's syndrome.

Cultural Status of the Selyrian Shifter People

Shifters in Selyria are usually discriminated against by people. SUV Sociologists suggest that this is due to their connection with Shifting - something that is seen as very taboo and feared in most Selyrian Nations as it is usually associated with Ekajian groups such as Vampires, Warlocks, Blood Mages, and other feared ‘monsters’.

In Ravena in particular, it is seen as a bad omen to meet a shifter, resulting in them usually being harassed and imprisoned in the kingdom. In Karthus, they are usually looked down upon, and in Hreinngar, they are outright killed on sight.

Other kingdoms such as Sentora and Porthos seem to discriminate against shifters due to religious reasons, as Reedianites believe that a shifter was the reason for The High Priestess’s arrest and crucifixion. Sentoran Reedianites in particular, have developed a tradition of sacrificing a shifter and crucifying one every year. Sometimes they would even burn the cross as a sign that they must burn in hell. This is also why shifters are still regarded as one of the most profitable products to sell in West Arkasios, as there is a high demand for sacrificial shifters by Sentoran Reedianites.

Even nations that use the shifter serum, such as Sarang-Gani, also discriminate against shifters due to their belief that only the Royal Family must have the serum. According to multiple accounts, such as Ms. Suleiman’s works, Sarang-Gani shifters are usually imprisoned.

According to my research, this suggests that this could be the reason why most shifter clans are found on the outskirts of kingdoms, hide among the populace, or simply live in nations where they are generally not threatened such as The Ekajian Isles and Vontur.

Ethnicities

Hexa

The Hexa people are characterized by their darker hair, and closer bond with their animals - though this is considered more of a cultural thing.

There are several clans or tribes that fit into these people:

Tribes within the Hexa People

The Luparia Tribe

lives in Southern Hreinngar or Northern Karthus. Their cultural animal are the wolves.

The Varenia Tribe

Often associated with deer, and live in Valenti, they often clash with the Luparia. They are known to be close with the druids of Karthus and protect the Eubenite River.

The Jotenburg Clan

The Jotenburg Clan lives in Ende. While their numbers are small, they are considered dangerous by the North Ravenian government. Their animal is the Ravenian Bison.

Clan of Eisenn

The Clan of Eisenn can be found in the mountains of Karthus. They are characterized by their love for music, but this data is very scarce, and may just be a stereotype.

Clan of Eryth

Believed to be the precursor to the current Clan of Aeryth, they are the only known shifter clan found in Drasek. Oftentimes, they use crows as their animal form.

Aerythean

Aerythean Shifters are more common in urban areas, and are known by other shifters as 'synthetic' or 'artificial', due to their origins of being turned to a shifter via the shifter serum.

While other clans do not see them as true shifters, they have the proper characteristics of being a shifter such as the Ekajian eye, accelerated healing, and shifting abilities.

When Aerytheans transform, they describe it as extremely painful. This is often what separates an Aerythean to a normal shifter.

Majority of their members tend to be found in The Clan of Aeryth, hence the name, but some have also chosen to live life peacefully in accepting places such as Karthus, Vontur, and Drasek.

Skinwalker

Skinwalkers are known to be the mysterious shifters of Duskalia, and are known to hunt down anything from animals, to fellow people. Sentoran documents recount events such as killings and raids coming from the border towns, and this has led to many attempted, but failed, extermination missions.

Skinwalkers are described to have animal heads, instead of their more humanoid-looking counterparts.

Fahrami

A very rare shifter people. They are scattered across the lands and have no permanent territory. However, they are more common around The Ogroid Highlands, and are known to be extremely skinny.

Unlike other shifters, the Fahrami people can actually transform into 2 animals. However, they are also known to be a people of higher malnutrition.

Racial Slurs

Light Slurs

Shifter

Unfortunately, while it is technically a slur, only the Clan of Aeryth considers this as a slur, since all shifters are now using this term to describe themselves. This slur originated from propaganda from the North Ravenian Government to dehumanize the shifters and present them as parasites. Since then, most of the world refers to the faerun as 'shifters'

Medium Slurs

Furry

An offensive stereotype. Mostly harmless, but since it was used by the Order of The Holy Knights during [REDACTED], it has more weight to it.

Heavy Slurs

Furscum

Used by the Gold Order, this is a slur that is known by all Selyrian shifters.

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