Shapeshifter

A human in the modest garb of a traveller stands alone against a group of goblins at the gates to a small town before transforming into a dragon with bright red scales and bathing the horde with fire.

An elf, hidden in plain sight as an unassuming bush suddenly explodes into a ferocious leafy creature in the shape of a bear once her quarry gets too close.

Squeezing through the crack under a door a half-elf in the form of an ooze surveys the dungeon room for signs of danger.

No matter what form they take, a shapeshifter uses the power of other creatures for themselves. They are masters of many forms.

Morphing Magic Every creature leaves an imprint in the weave, like a boat displacing water around it. Similar creatures leave similar imprints. Through study and some natural talent, a shapeshifter can detect these imprints and use that knowledge to transform into the creature they desire.

Living Bestiary Unlike druids, the other prolific humanoid shapechangers, who act for the preservation of nature, shapeshifters act almost entirely to their own whims and desires. They are conquering nature in their own way. Shapeshifters often set out on journeys to clash with beasts on their own terms and discover new creatures to emulate. This brings them into contact with adventurers frequently. Shapeshifters keep the company of heroes because of the new and interesting creatures they tend to encounter.

Creating a Shapeshifter Shapeshfiters thrive on exploration. Your character may have experienced the majesty of a dragon firsthand or have been fascinated by how some plants can move like animals do. Some shapeshifters are former druid recruits that left their circle to pursue their own path in life. Did you study shapeshifting under a tutor or did you live in nature and come to understand the secret of shapeshifting for yourself?