Shifter
Werewolves and other forms of shape-shifting animals are moderately common in certain places of Pal Tahrenor with population levels proportional to those of their animal counterparts. The majority of these creatures were created during the first few years of the Changers' War when things were most chaotic and magic mixed randomly with Earthly things.
Infused with human thoughts and characteristics, these shifters (with the exception of the oddball loners) congregated into groups, formed societies which operated secretly among humans and openly as global powers. The formidable strength and ferocity of the carnivorous creatures such as the werewolf, coupled with their ability to live off the land and kinship with magic made them a force to be reckoned with.
The shifters were not alone in possessing great power, however. They lacked the ability to tap into more vulgar and destructive forms of magic necessary to wage war, and as the Changers' War climaxed the shifters were slaughtered like cattle. Of the many breeds, werewolves were best able to defend themselves and following the war are the most common on Pal Tahrenor. Many others have gone extinct entirely.
Shapeshifters vary as much as all species on earth in terms of their particular traits. Some spread through normal procreation, others through an infectious bite, and still others through purely magical means. The one thing they all share is the ability to shift between a human and animal form, and all the psychological phenomena that arise from this dual (triple, if one counts magic as a third dimension) nature.
The common werewolf can take the form of an ordinary wolf which is identifiable only by its heightened intellect, to a normal human who likewise can be identified by his perhaps crass or wild nature. The werewolf can additionally mix these two forms and create things in between; growing only a wolf's claws and fangs for example. Most are known to have a common half-and-half form comprised of the most useful traits for combat. In such a combat form they may be significantly stronger and faster than humans, with heightened senses and feral instincts.
Most shifters can heal wounds rapidly by manipulating their ability to shapeshift. Weapons made of silver burn these creatures and cause wounds they are unable to heal through supernatural means. The reason for this vulnerability is unknown.
The natural lifespan of shifters vary greatly between species. Most live a variant of their humanoid and animal forms, and occasionally they can live to be past their humanoid maximum age.
Pages on Shifters
The following are examples of specific species of shifters and do not comprise all known species.
