Page 34 - Eberron -Rising from the Last War_Neat

S H I F T E R S S I M I L AR N D DIVERSE
A
Shifters are similar to humans in height and build but
GETH 'S ANCIENT HERITAGE ROSE U P FROM DEEP WITHIN
are typically more lithe and flexible. Their facial features
him, spreading out from the core o f his being. Some shifters have a bestial cast, often with large eyes, flat noses, and
manif e sted terrible claws, others massive a ngs, still others pointed ears; most shifters also have prominent canine
f
astounding speed or heightened senses. Geth's gift from teeth. They grow fur-like hair on nearly every part of
their bodies.
his /ycanthrope ancestors was sheer toughness. Strength
The traits of the beast within affect a shifter's ap­
seeped into his bones and flooded his flesh. His skin hard­ pearance as well. A swiftstride shifter may have catlike
ened, and his hair became coarse like an animal's tough eyes and delicate build, while a beasthide shifter might
be a massive brute built like a bear. While a shifter's
hide. A sense o f invincibility spread through him. For the
appearance might remind an onlooker of an animal,
f
moment at least, he e lt unstoppable!
they remain clearly identifiable as shifters even when
-Don Bassingthwaite, The Binding Stone at their most feral.
Shifters are sometimes called the weretouched, as THE OURNEY YET TO C O M E
many believe they are the descendants of humans and Shifters have a strong presence in the Eldeen Reaches
lycanthropes. Whatever their origins, shifters have but can be found in rural areas across Khorvaire,
evolved into a unique race. They are humanoids with a where they often live among humans. While they
bestial aspect; while they can't fully change shape, they form powerful bonds to friends and kin, shifters place
can temporarily enhance their animalistic features-a great value on self-reliance and freedom. It's a shifter
state they call shifting. Each shifter walks on the knife's proverb to "always be prepared for the journey yet to
edge between the wilds and the world around them. come," and most shifters strive to be ready for change
Do they embrace their primal instincts or the path of or opportunity.
civilization? Shifters have a natural inclination toward classes with
a primal connection. A shifter barbarian draws their
THE BEAST WI H I N
T
rage from the beast within. A shifter ranger indulges
Early in childhood, a shifter forms a bond with a beast their urge to wander and hunt. A shifter rogue har­
within, a totemic force that shapes their body and mind. nesses their own predatory instincts. But shifters can
Some shifters believe that these spirits are indepen­ pursue any path or faith.
dent entities, and they may speak of Bear or Wolf as
ancestors or guides. Most just see the beast within as a S H I F TER NA M E S
formidable expression of their inner nature, something Shifters have no language f their own and often live
o
that emerges as the shifter's personality takes shape. in blended communities. Their names typically overlap
The beast within is a pool of powerful instincts, and its with the names of other cultures in their region. Many
influence is revealed by a shifter's personality: a feline shifters prefer to keep their personal names for their
shifter may be cool and distant, driven by predatory friends and use "wandering names" with strangers.
instincts, while a shifter with a lupine spirit might be These are usually tied to a physical or personality trait.
drawn to find and protect a pack. When a shifter fully
embraces this beast within they physically transform Shifter Names: Badger, Bear, Cat, Fang, Grace, Grim,
for a short time. Moon, Rain, Red, Scar, Stripe, Swift, Talon, Wolf
A shifter's beast within is reflected by the shifter's sub­ S H I F TER TRAITS
race. Four subraces are especially common:
Your shifter character has the following traits.
Beasthide often signifies the bear or boar: stoic, stub­
born, and thick-skinned. Age. Shifters are quick to mature both physically and
Longtooth shifters typically have lupine traits and pre­ emotionally, reaching young adulthood at age 10. They
fer to run with a pack. rarely live to be more than 70 years old.
Swiftstride are often predatory and feline, but a swift­ Alignment. Shifters tend toward neutrality, being
stride could also be a cunning rat who darts through more focused on survival than concepts of good and
the shadows. evil. A love of personal freedom can drive shifters to­
Wildhunt shifters are born from any creature that ward chaotic alignments.
tracks its prey. Size. Your size is Medium. To set your height and
weight randomly, start with rolling a size modifier:
While the beast within certainly has a physical impact
on a shifter, it has a spiritual and psychological effect, as Size modifier = 2d8
i
well. Two beasthide shifters share the same special abil­ Height = 4 feet + 6 n ches + your size modifier in inches
ity, but if one has the aspect of the boar and the other is Weight in pounds = 90 + (2d4 x your size modifier)
more like a bear, they'll be quite different in personality. S p eed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
With any shifter, identifying the beast within is a crucial
part of understanding the character.

CHAPTER 1 I CHARACTER CREATION
33