Shape Shifting
Shape shifting is a controversial magic, due to being a very rare skill with lots of misinformation floating around about it. It is often argued to be a type of modification magic by those with less information on it; but it has many differences from modification spells that earns it its own class of magic distinct from others. The most important distinction is that, while modification magic involves spells, potions and enchantments; shape shifting is an magical ability separate from spell-casting.
The ability to shape shift originated in humans on the continent of Kai’Aki, as a magic unique to their ethnic group. Anyone with the ability to shape shift at will is known to have human lineage from Kai’Aki, even if they do not have any visible human features, as the magic is a skill passed down through bloodlines from parent to child. It acts much like a recessive gene in that it most commonly presents when both parents are carriers. Unlike recessive genes, however, it is possible for the ability to present with only one parent being a carrier. Though, this is not common and is a large part of why the ability to shape shift has slowly been disappearing.
There used to be a lot of knowledge on shape shifting, but with the loss of Kai’Aki in 1,603 AE came the loss of their knowledge and culture, and much that was once known has since been forgotten. What is still known is preserved, though due to the rare nature of information outside of scholarly settings, the general public rarely have an education on the magic and instead their knowledge comes from often-incorrect assumptions on the ability.
Remaining sources from Kai’Aki document that shape shifters have the at-will ability to turn into animals while retaining their Sentient intelligence and thoughts.
Though able to turn into a variety of animals after working to develop their skills, shape shifters are said to have specific forms that they find easier to work with. This, generally, is related to the first form they take, known as their “paragon” form; an animal that acts as a representation of their soul and is considered their easiest and most natural form to shift into.
A shape shifter will find animals similar to their paragon form easier to shift into, and animals dissimilar more difficult. For example, a shape shifter with a eagle as their paragon might find turning into hawks and falcons comes to them naturally, while other birds such as parakeets or pigeons may be more of a challenge, and they might find shifting into mammals such as cats or dogs difficult or impossible.
Discovering their paragon was an extremely important part of Kai’Aki culture. Shape shifting magic is noted to be very difficult to tap into during early-childhood, with the skill usually only developing during a person’s mid-teens. Because of this, shifting into a paragon was considered by the Kai’Aki people to be a sign of adulthood, and there were many coming-of-age traditions associated with the act.
Though knowledge of these ceremonies is lacking, one that many modern shape shifters choose to follow after discovering their powers I the tattooing of coloured bands around the wrists. The colours of these rings used to mark specific skills and animals, but that knowledge has since been lost and those who choose to adopt the tattooing tradition simply choose the colour of their bands as an aesthetic.
Besides Kai’Aki’s at-will shape shifters, it is also important to acknowledge that foxen women who can turn into dragons are technically a form of shape shifter, though they are categorised differently from at-will shape shifters due to the history and use of their powers, and will generally use the term “dragonshifter” over “shape shifter” as a preference.
Those who believe werepeople outside of dragonshifters to exist generally believe them to be triggered-state shape shifters. However, due to werepeople being simply legends with no proof of existence, this can neither be proven nor disproven.
Shape shifting has also been documented in some Mystics, but whether or not they are of Kai’Aki lineage or if it is a skill they have developed independently, is unknown.