The Main Shape-shifting Types

by Zanatai Fri May 24, 2013 2:10 am

1. Therians/Animal Shifters: You cant become a therian, it is genetic/spritual. (It's a random gene, I believe, but it isnt exactly a depression problem like some therians tend to believe,) and therians usually act like their animal even from early on in life. They also tend to experience shifts when they're little. Usually they'll awaken around their teen years, as so do all the other types of shifters. Therians are very spiritual, and rarely focus on the physical. Because of this their shifts are mostly spiritual and mental in nature, and most don't believe in P-shifting. Therians tend to shift into an actual earthly animal, as opposed to Otherkin and some shapeshifters who shift into animals not on this plane.

2. Shapeshifters: They are like a cross between a therian and a were. A shapeshifter is a a shifter that can shift into any creature they choose, whether earthly or nonearthly. They can be spiritual as well as physical, so a shapeshifter tends to be on both sides when it comes to shifting ability. They tend to have one or two forms that may be their true forms, although some may have no true form as well. A shapeshifter tends to shift into different forms often, and may not realize it a lot of the time. They also do not have a totem animal, or a separate spirit most of the time, as they spiritually are the ones shifting. They tend to switch moods and emotions while shifting.

3 Shamans :They are like self made therians in a way, as they don't have a non human soul, yet experience shifts due to having animal totems or spirits help them. They can experience shifts just like therians, but they have a human spirit/more human mind. They also differ from therians in which they tend to not realize they are an animal early in life, they're relatively human and normal, but they may still have a hidden desire to be like an animal, which they need a totem for (because they're fully human.)Usually to find a totem animal takes lots of mediation, same as a therian, so they can be confused together.

4. Weres: They are very similar to both groups, but a were is also genetic and less spiritual than the therian. A were is a person who shifts into a half man, half animal creature, or into a full version of the creature with some differences, mentally and physically. They tend to have human-like intelligence when they shift, and are more readily able and willing to believe in physical shifting. Unlike therians and shamans, weres do not have a spirit animal, as they are the animal. (And they do not transform at the full moon or bite people, that's Hollywood.)

Physical Shifting:

Weres: they tend to have an easier time physical shifting in general, and they actually don't need to m shift in order to do this. They just act like an animal and let the magic happen on it's own. They are excellent shifters as well because of this, since their m-shift is built in, and is their normal way of thinking. They are not contherians either, because contherians, while always their animal, their animal is also always the full animal, whereas weres are half person, half were.) They can fully shift as soon as they reach 17.5 + years.

Therians/Animal Shifters: Shifters tend to have a harder time shifting than weres and shapeshifters due to the fact that they are basically p-shifting therians, and they are a weaker version of a Usually a shifter needs to flare their m-shift through meditation before attempting a physical shift, otherwise it wont work. Shifters shift into the full animal, not a hybrid. Shifters also have a higher chance of blacking out that weres, due to the brain differences. They can fully shift as soon as they reach 17.5 + years.

Shamans: Probably the hardest type of shifter to be, as they have a slightly easier time m-shifting, but harder time physically shifting, as they are part human, more so than all the other types of shifters (so to shift, they actually need to call on the animal spirit to help them.) They tend to interest themselves more in other types of shifting however, but they do have the luxury of shifting into multiple creatures (as many totems as they have.) They can fully shift as soon as they reach 20+ years. (it takes a longer time for them to train, the reason for the age increase, but biologically they can shift at the same time as every other shifter here.)

Shapeshifters: Shapeshifters are similar to Shamans when shifting, although they are much better at P-shifting than them. Shapeshifters can also shift into more than one animal, but while a Shaman tends to stay more to this realm in terms of shifts and animals, a shapeshifter has the ability to shift into anything, even creatures that shouldn't exist on Earth. Shapeshifters also don't need to call on other animal spirits to shift,their own spirit shifts without any outside help. They can shift as soon as they reach 17.5+ years.