Shapeshifters are people with the ability to shift into an animal. They can look just like you and me, but usually have some exotic animal like features about them. Shapeshifters have for a long time been the lowest of ranking of the supernatural creatures, thought to be stupid and depending too much on their animal instinct. They are physically strong, some monstrously so. We'll go over some basics as to their origin as well as some other important things to know if you want to be a shifter.
Origina | Everyday Life | Shifting | Becoming | The Drache Family | Racial Relations | In-Game
Origin
Thousands, perhaps millions, of years ago there was a race of being called, Dragons. Powerful, merciless and cruel, these horned creatures had the supposed ability to shift into whatever creature they wished and were a dark enemy to everyone. They would literally heard humans and keep them as we would keep livestock, then feed off of them. Dragons are believed to have existed even before humans or witches. It was a group of witches led by Hellewise that finally stood up against their tyranny and in a combined effort put all but one of the creatures into an endless slumber deep within the earth. The one that was left awake was the weakest of the race of dragons, a little baby girl actually, and able to be prevented from doing any damage again. The baby Dragon would eventually marry to a witch for the purpose of diluting the blood in order to stop another powerful Dragon from being born. From that particular Dragon came forth a child which was named Drache. Drache is now used as the last name for the family (treated often as royalty among shifters) who decend directly from the Dragon.
Fearing that the shifters may once again come to a position of power, the vampires took it upon themselves to "handle" the situation and turned them into sort of their henchmen. Since that time Shapeshifters have been treated as if they're just airheads or dumb jocks, though witches don't treat them any differently. Over the years the hostility and tension between the vampires and shifters has grown.
Everday Life
What you will shift into is hereditary, meaning if your mom was a hawk, you're going to shift into a hawk. Or if the person who bit you was a hawk, then you'll become a hawk. That's it, you don't get to choose what animal once you're born or made, the only people that carry that ability are the members of the Drache family. Drache family members can choose because they are directly linked to a Dragon, though they cannot shift into any other animal, only the first one they choose. Shapeshifters can be a variety of animals from wolves to domestic cats to mice or eagles.
Shapeshifters are treated as low class by vampires but by others they're treated as equals. Shapeshifters tend to have a inferiority complex or a great distrust of vampires, especially Lamia, who already have themselves on a high enough pedastal. As a shapeshifter you need to eat the flesh and internal organs (as gross as that sounds you gotta do it) in order to survive. That, unfortunately, is something that every shapeshifter inherits from the Dragons.
There are no clan structures or that sort with shapeshifters. They tend to stick around each other though, feeling safest with their own kind. There are also no dominants or submissives or that sort, though it may not have always been this way.
As a shifter your primary weakness is that of silver, which will leave a scar and causes you to heal much slower. Shapeshifters heal quickly most of the time and the only other way I can think of them dying other than silver is if their wounds are so extreme and that they lose too much blood for their bodies to handle. Fire will also do it, but I think fire can kill a lot of people, so it's kind of in general.
Shifters in the Night World are represented by a black foxglove. They usually wear the insignia of such somewhere whether it be a ring, a neck charm, a tattoo, shirt or even a symbol on a watch.
Shifting
The shapeshifters in this game are influenced by the moon but do not need to actually shift when it comes out. Shapeshifters can change whenever they wish though getting used to it takes time. They are more inclined to react on instinct when the moon is out because well...the moon can make even normal people act a little kooky.
When a shifter goes through the whole process of becoming an animal, it's quick fluid process. Their body just melds into the shape, but whatever clothes they are wearing will not shift with them. So that means when you shift back you'll be stark naked. Take that into consideration. Most shifters wear clothing made from the fur or skin of dead shifters. With this special material a shapeshifter doesn't need to worry about shifting back into a human naked. This is because the material shifts with them and becomes part of their skin.
Shifting back has no effect on the person's physical state and they will shift back as if it were nothing. To shift back though, unless you wear the proper clothing, you will come back naked. A shapeshifter can half shift though it isn't always recommended. But seriously, who wouldn't mind seeing an actual cat girl...right? Just kidding. =P
Becoming
To become a shifter it is a lot like the same process of making a vampire. Blood exchange. However, unlike vampires, a made shifter can bear children and their children will be born and take on the animal that they can shift into. Being born is much more common than being made, and like making a vampire, making a shapeshifter is also considered illegal.
The Drache Family
A highly respected family that can trace their ancestry right back to the Dragon that spawned the entire shapeshifter race, the Drache family lined has dwindled greatly. The last of the Drache line live out west in Nevada and there is only one heir. They under protection at all times due to the fear of a rogue hunter. All shifters look to the family with a great deal of respect. No one from the Drache family is allowed to be played, there are only three left, the heir as well as the parents are in hiding because they are on the Night World council.
Racial Relations
Ever since the Dragons were put to sleep, shapeshifters were more or less treated like they were low class or trash. They are thought of as stupid and are usually chosen to do grunt work. It's more or less the vampires that have this attitude, more ego if anything else. Witches don't particularly trust shifters, but the two species get along okay. Shifters aren't too comfortable with witches because after all, the Dragons were put into sleep by them. Shifters view of a human is indifferent though they must use them as food occasionally. Otherwise humans cannot know what they are for fear of being hunted. Shifters are treated better than humans but still don't get a lot of respect.
In Game
Shapeshifters that live on Graves Island and are part of the Winthrop community are treated much better than the average shifter (which means pretty friggin' good). Because they have been there since Winthrop's establishment, they are generally trusted by the other species and are viewed as protectors and excellent security for Ashwood Academy. Most of the police force is made up of shapeshifters. If your shifter is a student, there is an extremely high chance they'll play sports.