Introduction
Shapeshifters (also called dragon shapeshifters, wyvern shapeshifters, or simply shifters or dragons) are one of the three major races (or more precisely, intelligent species) inhabiting Kélas. They are characterized by their ability to transform their dragon body into a human one, and vice versa, however that ability has since been taken from them. While no different from a regular human visually or physically, they retain much of their draconic behaviour in the human form which can seem as strange or off-putting to humans who are not used to their presence.
Biology
Physical description
As for the human form, there are little differences from humans; visually they are indistinguishable. The main difference in anatomy is the existence of a so called "firestone" (further discussed later) which is stored in the shapeshifter's chest, right under the sternum. Each individual firestone is about as large as the shapeshifter's fist. Another inhuman trait is their strength – a fight between a human and a shapeshifter of the same martial experience will usually end with the shapeshifter's victory.
There are some traits of physical appearance that are typical for shapeshifters: they tend to be tall and to have pale skin, dark brown or black straight hair and eyes in various shades of gray or grayish blue. Excluding half-shifters, there are some established lineages that break these "rules" and have for example brown skin, brown eyes or different hair texture. Another exceptions are cases of melanism (overproduction of melanin; such shapeshifters have darker skin, black hair and brown or black eyes) and leucism (lack of pigmentation; such shapeshifters have pale skin, bright white hair and gray or blue eyes) which are surprisingly common, and a rarer albinism (which likewise results in pale skin and bright white hair but reddish gray eyes).
To continue the train of thought with the coloration, color of the dragon form mostly corresponds to the hair color in the human form. Dark-haired individuals have black scales that can come with a wide variety of undertones – shades of blue, green and violet are most common but reds and yellows can also be rarely encountered. White-haired individuals have bright white scales with either warm-colored or cold-colored undertones. Melanistic shapeshifters are usually very dark with little to no undertone. Albinos are usually indistinguishable from leucistic individuals apart from their red eyes but they can have pink undertones. The scales are also iridescent which introduces even more color variations. The iridescence is usually blue, violet or green, but red in albinos.
As for the general physical description, the shapeshifters' dragon form is bipedal with the front limbs transformed into wings. Their default, relaxed posture is very similar to that of Tyrannosaurus Rex or other theropod dinosaurs of Earth, with the neck, torso and tail forming a more or less horizontal line; their head usually sits above this imaginary line. On land, they keep their wings tucked to their body, apart from younglings who use them to stabilize themselves while learning to walk and land. This behaviour is later discouraged, as it is viewed as rude.
The head is framed with horns along the back of their jaws; the largest two grow from the top of their head, one above each eye. With their mouth closed, the serrated teeth curved backwards are not visible, covered for protection since similarly to humans, they only have one set for most of their life (with the other one, their "baby teeth", being lost sometime during adolescence). They have very sharp, binocular vision. The eyes also have a third, translucent eyelid (the nictitating membrane) to protect the eye during flight.
The wings are very similar to that or bats but longer in relation to their body size, meaning their wingspan is huge. They have five fingers connected with a strong and thick but elastic membrane. The thumb, the shortest finger, is very small and connected to the second finger with only a small membrane that does not facilitate any function; the finger itself is redundant to the shifters' everyday life but is flexible enough to grab and hold small objects. The second finger is shortest of the four "flight" fingers. The third finger is the longest, with the remaining two being shorter and both of roughly the same length. The arms are very muscular to facilitate flight.
Their torso is relatively short, but robust and muscular. The legs are carry significant muscle and end with three fingers, with the fourth, rudimentary finger resting on the inner side of the foot. Each finger, including the fourth, has a long and sharp claw used for grabbing and even killing prey. Still, they are able to carry objects or even animals and people without harming them. The tail tends to be very long and highly flexible, reminiscent of a whip. From their forehead to the very end of the tail run three rows of thorns; the outside two are small, no larger than a few centimeters, while the inner, middle row has long and thin ones which are connected by a membrane with the same properties as the wing membrane. These middle thorns shrink to much smaller and thicker thorns not connected by a membrane starting from the lower end of the neck to about the middle of the back. The long thorns are attached to muscles that allows the shapeshifters to either rest them close to the body or raise them and stretch the membrane. At some point, it might have played a role in courtship or fighting for dominance; nowadays, it is only used in body language.
Their scales are very thick and hard, acting as flexible natural armour that is even fireproof. Spaces between them are almost non-existent, meaning one has to know the weak spots to effectively hurt a dragon. The weakspots are located around joints and body parts that require significant flexibility and are characterized by the scales becoming smaller and softer. They can still protect against cuts, but can be stabbed easily.
As mentioned above, the shapeshifters have a firestone. Just as in the human form, it is stored in their body just behind the sternum. Not all of its functions are sufficiently studied but shapeshifters themselves believe it makes it possibly to breathe fire, hence the name. The mechanism behind their ability to breathe out fire is unknown but it is confirmed their body produces some kind of fuel for it – because a dragon can run out of it, rendering them incapable of spitting fire for several hours at minimum. Generally, they can keep a flame going for only a few minutes, on average for a minute or two (continuously; shapeshifters therefore are rarely seen producing fire for more than a few seconds at a time).
There are some features that translate from their human form into the dragon form (or vice versa). Most notably, it is the size – a tall shapeshifter is larger than a short shapeshifter of the same age. Body shape also corresponds – slender human form results in more slender build in the dragon form; more robust and muscular human form likewise corresponds to more robust and heavier dragon form. Nose shape in the human form translates to the snout/forehead shape in the dragon form. Shapeshifters with aquiline noses will have a prominent convex snout, shapeshifters with straight noses will have a straight snout, etc. Lastly, their sex is the same in both their forms. The forms are so closely and delicately intertwined that intersex individuals are intersex in both forms and it is unheard of that the two forms would each have different sex.
Thermoregulation
Shapeshifters are known for their extreme tolerance for cold environment. As beings capable of breathing fire, it is natural for them to survive in the freezing temperatures of northern Kélas or the air high in the skies. There are several mechanisms at play that facilitate this.
Firstly, a combination of generating high amounts of heat and scales that are a surprisingly good insulator results in very effective trapping of heat inside the dragon's body. However, the membrane on their wings and thorns along the spine is the exact opposite – it is effectively skin that radiates heat outside the body. The body therefore sends out more blood towards the wings to keep them warm, which is perfectly possible for them due to high amounts of heat generated through their perfectly evolved metabolism.
Keeping warm in the human form is completely different. While shapeshifters can survive temperatures for hours at a time that would freeze a human solid in the same timespan, the human form has no way to adapt to it effectively. The body generates large amounts of heat that however escapes their skin due to poor insulation. Like this, they can burn through their energy in a few hours at most and then die of exhaustion before hypothermia gets them. It is typical for shapeshifters to eat a lot in their human body in winter to gain back enough energy if they do not dress appropriately for the weather.
Another adaptation is torpor, a way to save energy. Shapeshifters enter it instead of regular sleep and while in it, their body temperature drops and metabolism, heart rate and breathing slows significantly. They can sleep like this even in temperatures deep below zero at the expense of requiring extra time to fully wake up – this can take up to half an hour in the most extreme cold. The torpor can partially be controlled – bodily functions do not drop as drastically in warmer temperatures, meaning the duration of waking up from it can be shortened to just 5 or 10 minutes or so. Still, entering torpor is not voluntary and it is the only way for shapeshifters to sleep, in both of their forms at that.
It is common for shapeshifters to suffer, especially in their dragon form, in warm climates. In the north, they generate just enough heat to keep a comfortable temperature in their body, accounting for the cooling effect their wings have. In high enough temperatures, their wings are not enough to cool them down and they can suffer a heatstroke. Dark-colored shapeshifters are further inconvenienced by their scales absorbing sunlight and therefore warming them even more. Even in their human form, it can be quite difficult to adapt. Despite this, there are some established lineages in the south.
Shifting and magical abilities
The shifting (or just shift) is the act of switching from one form to the other. It is very quick and lasts less than a second. This transformation is not an immediate switch – the shifter's features elongate or shorten and switch color and texture until the desired form is reached completely. This process is usually voluntary but shapeshifters can in rare cases involuntarily shift when startled or under stressful or life-threatening conditions – this kind of transformation can even be just partial, where the shifting starts but then quickly returns to the initial state. While the moment of shifting is controlled, the shifting itself is usually not – as soon as it starts, it cannot be stopped and has to finish. In rare cases, a shapeshifter can train themselves to stop the shifting at any point, resulting in a human form with draconic features or dragon form with humanoid features. Since such form is usually not aesthetically pleasing or advantageous in any way, only a handful of shapeshifters learn to do this.
The shifting is understood as an exchange of mass between the material and the immaterial (or magical) world. The form currently not in use is stored in the magical dimension called "the space between worlds" where raw magic resides; this dimension is essentially superimposed over the material world and is therefore very closely intertwined but at the same time separate enough that only magical beings and wizards can truly reach it and mold it or affect it. "Reaching" for this immaterial form will trigger the shifting. Mass will be retrieved from the space between the worlds and at the same time, mass from the material world will flood into the space. This exchange is so perfect that not a single atom is displaced from its rightful form in the process. It also has to be noted that shapeshifters are only connected to their own form and cannot reach another shapeshifter's form at all, not even see or sense it.
While in the space between the worlds, the dragon form still ages at the same rate as in the material world. The human form is the same at young age but once the shapeshifter hits adolescence, the aging slows and by the time they are adult according to the human standards, the aging slows even more. This is to avoid any discrepancies between the two forms since dragons naturally can live centuries; if the human form aged at a normal rate in the immaterial world, prolonged stay in the dragon form could kill the human form. This synchronization is not perfect, however, meaning that very old dragons can appear as a relatively young human if they spent most of their life in dragon form.
Apart from the shifting, shapeshifters have one more magical ability, the ability to communicate through mind, or mind reading. Shapeshifters in their dragon form cannot communicate vocally at the same level as humans and instead make use of "sending" each other feelings, sensations and images. Shapeshifters connect with each other like this subconsciously in both of their forms; they do this even with humans, even though humans cannot meaningfully sense or grasp this, apart from wizards who still have to essentially learn this language without words to understand it. It is in this way that shapeshifters recognize others of their kind in human form immediately. However, they can consciously "disconnect" their mind from others when they do not wish to be read or disturbed.
Shapeshifters cannot use magic in any other way. Wizards can manipulate the material world through the immaterial one; shapeshifters are unable to do this.
Behaviour
Shapeshifters are very similar to humans in behaviour and are the same in intelligence. They enjoy anything a human might enjoy, from arts to science and much more. Unlike most humans however, they are not easy to control and are very free-spirited. In this, they have authority even over human kings – if they wish to leave, they simply do so. Many choose to live more "wildly" later in life, spending weeks on end in the dragon form and fending for themselves.
The most unusual thing about shapeshifters for humans is their lack of use of facial muscles. Since shapeshifters naturally and instinctually use mind communication to convey feelings, even extremely early on after being born or hatching, they have to intentionally learn to use facial expressions. Shapeshifters born in their human form and raised among humans can learn them naturally but even those are more likely to prioritize communication in their minds and "forget" about involving their face. The only times they show emotion in their faces are stressful situations or other instances of elevated emotional response, meaning they can smile or laugh when very happy or excited and frown when furious. These kinds of expressions tend to be either very exaggerated or very subtle – depends on the individual or on the situation as well. They also tend to be very honest and straight to the point. They are known to leave conversations without a word if they find them unimportant or uninteresting.
Shapeshifters can often be seen resting or sleeping in the sun to conserve energy. Their sleep, or torpor as discussed before, is usually uninterrupted and lasts on average 6 hours and this number rarely changes throughout the shapeshifter's life. While this is enough sleep a day for them, many can fall asleep several times a day if they are in a safe environment and can afford it. Since their torpor is very deep sleep, it is difficult but possible to wake them up earlier in case of an emergency.
Diet
Shapeshifters are naturally carnivorous. Their dragon form cannot process plants well, however they are known to digest whole bones similarly to bearded vultures. Their human form eats typical human food but they can digest any raw unprocessed meat without an issue as long as it's fresh.
A shapeshifter can feel hunger from their second form stored in the immaterial world. Especially at young age, they shift often and eat in both forms. This "phantom" hunger can actually be satiated in the active form as energy is freely exchanged between the forms. It is common for shapeshifters to prefer eating in the dragon form since it has way larger stomach, meaning the body can store more energy and provide it to the active human form.
They are known for their intolerance to alcohol. They get drunk very easily and while in this state, most of them are known to uncontrollably use their facial muscles in a very exaggerated way such as smiling very widely and unnaturally.
Reproduction and life cycle
Shapeshifters can either get pregnant in their human form and lay eggs in their dragon form. Most prefer eggs since it is more convenient to the mother. While pregnant, it is advised to not shapeshift which is unacceptable to most of them and so they avoid it if they can. Additionaly, it is said that shifting can damage the embryo – and while generally considered a superstition, shapeshifters abide by it anyway.
A shapeshifter usually lays just one egg at a time onto a large enough bed made of soft materials (calling it a nest is considered rude). If two eggs are laid, the children are essentially twins; triplets are also possible, quadruplets are unheard of. The egg or eggs are incubated for about two months. They are usually incubated by the parents but it is not unusual for other members of the family or community to fill in for them when needed. The dragon sits on them so that they are positioned between their legs where the scales are smaller and softer, meaning heat can actually get to them. The dragon also covers themselves with their wings to further trap heat; they can also breathe hot air in this created space (air cold enough so that it does not catch fire on the way from their throat).
The young are unable to fend for themselves for several months. Their parents will feed them prechewed meat dropped into their throats. Over the months, they slowly learn to eat by themselves. By one year of age, they can walk around without issue and may flap their wings to build muscle. They also start to spontaneously shift and get familiar with their second form in which they learn to walk relatively quickly.
They then evolve as an average human. The dragon form grows at the same pace, however unlike humans who sexually mature during puberty and stop growing around 20 years of age, dragons continue to grow, though at much slower pace than before, meaning very old dragons can be very large. They actually do not mature sexually until their 40s or early 50s – by shapeshifter standards, they are not considered children during this time and can actually engage in sexual acts without worry, but they are viewed as basically underage or half-adult. Relationships between underage and fully adult shapeshifters are not exactly forbidden but at the same time tend to be taboo or rarely talked about in shapeshifter communities.
They then evolve as an average human. The dragon form grows at the same pace, however unlike humans who sexually mature during puberty and stop growing around 20 years of age, dragons continue to grow, though at much slower pace than before. They actually do not mature sexually until their 40s or early 50s – by shapeshifter standards, they are not considered children during this time and can actually engage in sexual acts without worry, but they are viewed as basically underage or half-adult. Relationships between underage and fully adult shapeshifters are not exactly forbidden but at the same time tend to be taboo or rarely talked about in shapeshifter communities. It is fairly common for half-adults to engage romnatically and/or sexually with humans and only later in life with other shapeshifters, especially after the death of their human partner.
It is unknown if shapeshifters have an upper limit in lifespan. Most live between 400 to 500 years and only die naturally of illness, not old age. Older shapeshifters are known but it is unconfirmed if any lived over 900 years. This is true of their dragon form; in the human form, they live a little longer than humans (about 150 years at maximum, 100 on average).
Communication
Society
Half-shifters
History and relationship with humans
