Therian Q&A

What is EF's stance on players choosing forms from other canons (eg. Moogles or totoros)?

Don't do it. Elysian Fields is meant to be an original setting so while we do draw inspiration from mythology and legend, we don't want to see chocobos or Pokemon running around. :P

How does a Therian's BMI affect their transformation?

Therians by nature require a lot of energy for their transformations and have a high metabolism as a result. There's really no such thing as an obese Therian (despite their ravenous appetites) because they're physically designed to burn off the energy their bodies have stored almost right away, and continuously. (It's actually worth noting that Therians are perhaps the most active of the Elysian races. Stamina can be a problem if they can't keep their energy levels constant, and naturally they can't outrun the faster races, but they otherwise can almost always outpace other Elysians.)

Can Therians turn into any animal in spite of their location and natural habitat?

As long as a Therian has learned the animal's physical structure and its behaviour, they can assume that form regardless of their location. Animals are, however, limited by their own strengths and weaknesses as well as their basic needs. A firefox would be a bad choice in a snowstorm, and likewise a fish would suffocate quickly out of water.

Are there limits to the size of the animals that a Therian can turn to? Can Therians turn into dragons?

The biological structure of shapeshifters and normal animals means that Therians cannot significantly increase or decrease their body mass. While they are able transform into animal forms as small as 6 inches or as large as 10 feet, they can't go beyond that and the extremes of this range can be difficult.

This, of course, means that giants like dragons and hydras, as well as tiny animals like imps and molvue, will never be in a Therian's repertoire. (There is also some debate among dragons and the Dracovari over whether a Therian could assume dragon form anyway, since dragons are — whether true or not — considered to be a much more complex biological form than most other animals. It naturally doesn't help that dragons are a fairly rare sight in Elysia, and certainly one that doesn't last long enough for them to be studied in action.)

Can Therians turn into other races?

No. Therians get their abilities directly from the combination of their animal and human DNA combined with (or by) the Bloodlust Virus. This severely limits them to forms that are tied to the animal kingdom, so the other humanoid races are not available (though that likely hasn't stopped ambitious Therians from attempting in vain to assume other forms in the past).

Can their animal forms be a cross-breed between two different animals depending on their intentions?

In order to transform, a Therian must visualise their forms perfectly (which is why partial 'shifting — the morphing of only one or two body parts into animal form while remaining primarily in human — is considered an advanced skill, since it involves visualising both forms at the same time).

For this reason, and the fact that even animals with close genetic links are just too different both physically and mentally to maintain simultaneously, Therians can't assume two different forms at once just to suit their purposes. The only reason they can partial 'shift is because the human form is their natural default shape and thus much easier to maintain.

Are they free to alter animal forms?

While it's not uncommon for younger Therians to misstep when transforming (for instance, accidentally giving themselves red fur when it's meant to be white, or cat ears when they're trying to emulate a kelpie wolf), they're often ridiculed by their peers (and non-Therians) for getting it wrong. This puts a great deal of pressure on them to mimic their chosen animal perfectly, especially as adults when they should know better. It's for this reason that no Therian raised traditionally would willingly customise the colours of his animal forms.

However, the markings a Therian has in human form, such as birth marks and tattoos (and even hair colour in some cases) can transfer with them into their animal form, so a red-headed Therian in waterfox form may well have a slight red tint to their white fur. Of course, whether these markings show really depends on the thickness of the animal's fur (if applicable) and in many cases they don't.

Do their animal forms have some sense of relationship to their characters, or are they influenced by their personality or lifestyle?

Therians do tend to choose animal forms that suit their lifestyle. What this means can vary from person to person, and some Therians are limited as to the kinds of animals they can study, but a Therian who has to be fast will normally choose at least one form that enables him to run fast (like a cheetah) while a Therian who needs to travel great distances on a regular basis might choose a bird. Personality, on the other hand, doesn't normally influence their choices to a noticeable degree (except where their personality influences their needs).

Can a Therian break a bone or tear a muscle or burst a blood vessel while transforming?

These kinds of things can happen if a shapeshifter attempts to morph too often or stay in their animal form past their limitations. (I'm not sure why they'd want to do it deliberately, though.) Fatal accidents like these can also happen if a Therian attempts to assume a form that's beyond their current capabilities.

As some animals have venoms or musks to protect themselves, can Therians have these, too?

Yes. While in an animal form, the Therian essentially is that animal (with human reasoning and intelligence). They can do everything that animal can do, but of course that also means they'll suffer the animal's weaknesses as well. (Please note that Therians also share an animal's fears while in that animal's form, like a cat that doesn't want to get wet, but they're able to deal with such fears as humans might.)

Is there any specific illegal activity directed at Therians? Has anything been done against mistakenly poaching Therians?

Elysian pets can be especially exotic since few people travel willingly (which means they may only see a few animals in their lifetime compared to what's out there) and there's always great demand — especially in the cities. Poachers aren't known for their caution so it's natural that Therians might get caught in the odd trap, and children are especially vulnerable.

It's a surprisingly prevalent problem, but it is their problem and it's the biggest reason that Therian clans are so careful about patrolling and protecting their territory. However, they often live a nomadic lifestyle, which sadly makes it easier for poachers to lay their traps unhindered.

But poaching can be dangerous, if not fatal, for the poachers themselves, since there are no laws protecting them either if they're caught. Therians can be vicious when it comes to being treated like animals, especially if their young are threatened, and many clans will actually kill poachers they catch in the act.

However, poaching is not the only illegal trade that involves Therians. It's not uncommon for individuals (particularly those who don't have the protection of their clan, like some city-dwellers) to go missing, and they're not always found. Rumours abound of black-market trading in Therian slaves, some of whom are caged as pets. There are even stories that goods produced by Therians in animal form (like wool, milk and venom) are better than the normal fodder so some slaves may even find their way onto farms.

That said, most Therians would rather die than be used in such a way, and will take any opportunity they can get to escape — even if it means killing themselves. Sadly, when faced with mind-benders and the like, that's not always possible.

Can Therians, as animals, eat foods that are safe for humans but not for animals?

Unfortunately, no. While in animal form, a Therian is physically susceptible to everything the animal would be — they're just better equipped (mentally) to cope with those weaknesses (like going for help if they're sick, or staying awake during the day if the animal is nocturnal).

Therians also tend to eat whatever the animal would eat while in that form (so yes, flies if they're a frog). However, the way Therians are raised means that, to them, it's normally just as natural as their own diet.

If a Therian in animal form loses something that is non-existent in their human form (like a tail or wings), what happens?

Everything a Therian gains when transforming has to be “grown” out of what they already have so if they lose a tail or a wing — or if they're burned or otherwise scarred while in animal form — those injuries will translate into their human form.

What this means in terms of their appearance once back in human form can vary depending on the animal, but it normally affects the closest body part in relation to what they've injured or lost. (In other words, losing a tail in animal form might damage a leg in human form, whereas losing a specialised tooth while in animal form would most likely knock out the nearest human tooth instead).

Even with so much researching done, can a Therian really perfect an animal?

No traditionally-raised Therian would ever say they've truly perfected a form because there's always something more they can learn, and because their human reasoning means that in any given situation they may not react as the animal truly would. However, they might say they've mastered a form if they can maintain its appearance and remain mostly true to its behavioural traits in even stressful situations, but of course it really depends on the animal and the Therian in question. Some animals are much easier to learn while there are some that are just impossible to truly understand.

Do some Therians use their forms as a means to gain income?

Most Therians are too proud to use their forms in a way that would demean their species, especially since so many of the other races already view them as “children” and simpletons. That said, they will use their forms to their own advantage, so if it helps them gain income in that respect (like using a wolf form to sniff out criminals and make them a better headhunter, or an azani form to travel quickly over the mountains and make them a better inter-city courier) then they have no problem with it.

Has there ever been a Therian who could transform into an animal or creature they have only seen once?

No. Even Therians with eidetic memories can't possibly see a creature just once and then mimic it because the transformation is about movement and behaviour as much as the physical form. Animals tend to react and move differently depending on the scenario and those differences can make or break a form, which is why Therians need to spend some time observing the creature before they can make the attempt themselves.

What can be said about Therians and an animal's hibernation or migration period?

Because Therians can't remain in animal form beyond their limitations, they can't go into hibernation regardless of their animal form; once they're asleep, they just revert back.

However, hibernation does affect when and how often they can transform into an animal: If a bear form goes into hibernation, the Therian will only ever be able to fall asleep while in that form (which will automatically revert them back to human and make it a wasted effort). Migration affects Therians, too. Though their human reasoning will make it possible to fight the instincts to travel, those instincts will be strong enough to cause problems whilever in that form.

Therians usually just avoid forms that are under such strong instincts during their hibernation/migration periods because they're usually more trouble than they're worth.

Do Therians have varying capabilities of transformation? How are they viewed by their society if they take too long to master a form?

Like any other race, Therians vary in how quickly they can master a form, for any number of reasons (for instance, if there aren't enough of an animal to study, being a slow learner, etc). How people who are slow to master a form are viewed really depends on the reason, but it's their responsibility to find ways to catch up (so if there are low numbers of an animal, they're expected to go out and find more rather than sitting on their laurels).

If they do their best and still can't catch up, they aren't treated badly but will still often feel shame, especially since (depending on the form they can't master) they may be stuck doing the chores normally reserved for children and the elderly (like laundry and babysitting rather than hunting and crafting).

On the other hand, if they don't do their best, they'll often be teased or even shunned because their lag brings down the rest of the clan and they're “just being lazy”. If their lack of action causes problems for the clan, they may even be exiled.

If Therians mate in animal form, what happens to the child?

While technically Therians can mate with an animal while in that animal's form, the species has evolved to the point now where they're physically incompatible in terms of reproduction, since Therians always revert back to their human form. Even if that were not the case, mating with animals has become socially unacceptable even among the more feral clans, and as one of the more severe crimes would most likely be punishable by exile.

In a fight between a real animal and a Therian in that animal's form, who would win?

No matter how much a Therian practices their forms, they still ultimately think and react as a human would, so it's difficult to judge. If you want to compare them strictly on the physical aspects of their form then most bets would land on the real version, since even Therians who have mastered the form will never be quite perfect at it.

However, it's really impossible to predict the outcome one way or another. Even if the Therian is physically weaker than the real animal, they can use their human reasoning and intelligence (which has its own competition in creatures like the vlareon) so may be more cunning — and can even switch out of that form if it proves too weak.

Can a Therian be infected by a disease that only affects animals?

Yes. If they contract the disease while in that animal form, it can be translated into their human form when they revert just like injuries. In these cases, the disease is not normally contagious among other humanoids or even other Therians (if it spreads, it will usually be while in that particular animal's form), but one or two have made it across the species barrier this way to become real human diseases.

Do Therians end up losing a form as they grow?

No. To survive while using an animal form, Therians have to be as particular and perfect as they can manage, so if they don't practise a form for a while they can forget how to use or even assume it. However, it's extremely rare for a Therian to be so unpractised that they forget the form altogether, and usually all they'll need (after the initial years of study, of course) is a “refresher course”.

Can a Therian revert to human form neglecting to change something back?

No. While transformed, they must concentrate on keeping the animal form in place, otherwise they revert to their default human form — so it's not possible for them to neglect something like that. However, it is possible for them to do the reverse, that is, morph into an animal form and neglect to alter something (like eye colour, fur colour, etc).

Of course, their society is based on getting it right, so the vast majority of Therians grow out of these neglectful habits at a very early age, but youngsters often run into these kinds of problems.

How does the public view a Therian in a high religious or political position?

Well, to be honest it's rare for a Therian to land themselves a position like that. They don't normally subscribe to organised religions and even city-dwelling Therians aren't all that interested in the politics of the other humanoids (certainly not to the degree that they'd want a high-ranking position). They actually tend to view politicking as being beneath them, since it's overly complicated and so far removed from the natural order and the Therian way of life.

This of course tends to lead others to view Therians as simple-minded, so in the rare event that a Therian does land such a prominent position they're often viewed by the general public as being incapable of doing the job well. Even if they have proved themselves perfectly capable, it's such an unusual occurrence that there'd be plenty of gossip and their every move would probably be publicly scrutinised.

Nymphs have a way of summoning animals. Does this skill also affect Therians?

Yes. While in animal form — and assuming they're within a five mile radius of the Nymph making the Call — Therians can hear a Nymph's summons, but — unlike normal animals who hear the Call clearly — the human mind of a Therian dulls it to a faint whisper.

Note: Wanderers have only one companion to summon and the Therian only hears the initial Call during the Rite of Bonding, which they will ignore (since no one wants to become a Nymph's familiar). However, a Warden can call all the animals in her demesne for help at any time, so while Therians can choose to ignore it they'll usually respond since they're honour-bound to help when they can.

Is there a way to tell Therians apart from humans or their animals?

While in human form, Therians look completely human. However, their physical characteristics can set them apart from other humanoid races. (For instance, if you stood a Dracovarian next to a Therian, you could tell the difference from their heights (assuming they followed the average), but if you stood a Therian next to a human, they'd most likely look the same.)

That said, Therians do tend to pick up a sort of “wild” smell from their time spent in animal form. Since, as a general rule, they have good hygiene, this smell isn't always detectable to the average nose, but those with a more sensitive sense of smell (like Vampires) will easily be able to tell them apart from other species.

In animal form, again, they smell slightly different from the real animal but this difference would only be obvious to an experienced tracker — or someone with a heightened sense of smell if the real thing was present for comparison.

Physically, as well, Therians in animal form (assuming they've mastered the form) are usually undetectable — which is, perhaps, one of the reasons they're so gung-ho about “getting it right”.