Shifter

The Beast Within

Shifters are humans with the taint of lycanthropy in their blood. The ancient curse has been diluted over dozens of generations, leaving only a faint trace. Shifters can’t fully change shape, but they can temporarily gain animalistic traits. Shifters are similar to humans in height and build but are typically more lithe and flexible. Their facial features can trend toward a slight bestial cast, with large eyes, flat noses, vaguely pointed ears, or prominent canine teeth. Some grow excessive hair on nearly every part of their bodies. While a shifter’s appearance might sometimes remind an onlooker of an animal, they remain clearly identifiable as humanoid even when at their most feral.
Late in childhood, a shifter discovers the beast within themselves, a force that shapes their body and mind. The beast within is a pool of powerful instincts, and its influence is revealed in a shifter’s personality. When a shifter fully embraces this beast within they physically transform for a short time, unleashing their primal being. The beast within speaks most loudly at times of the full moon, and learning to control the change during these times is a sometimes fatal challenge for young shifters. Shifters often adopt beastial habits, like an avoidance of bathing, a preference for raw meat, or a tendency to eat with their hands.
Each shifter walks on the knife’s edge between the wilds and the world around them. Shifters who live to adulthood have long since learned to control their urge to shift, and do not fear the full moon as they may once have. They can live relatively normal lives, but frequently stay near the wilds so they may escape and give in to their bestial nature from time to time.

Shifter Traits

Your shifter character has the following traits.

Ability Score Increase

One ability score of your choice increases by 2, and one other ability score of your choice increases by 1.

Darkvision

You have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Shifting

As a bonus action, you can assume a more bestial appearance. This transformation lasts for 1 minute, until you die, or until you revert to your normal appearance as a bonus action. When you shift, you gain temporary hit points equal to your level + your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1 temporary hit point). Each time you shift, you also gain one additional benefit of your choice, described below. Once you shift, you can’t do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

LONGCLAW

While shifted, you grow claws and elongated fangs. You can use your claws or fangs when making an unarmed strike. If you hit with your unarmed strike, you can deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. In addition, you can make an unarmed strike as a bonus action on each of your turns.

SWIFTSTRIDE

While shifted, your walking speed increases by 10 feet. Additionally, you can move up to 10 feet as a reaction when a creature ends its turn within 5 feet of you. This reactive movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks.

WILDHUNT

While shifted, you have advantage on Wisdom checks, and no creature within 30 feet of you can make an attack roll with advantage against you, unless you’re incapacitated.

His eyes were wide and insane and I saw his open mouth over my face, felt his teeth on my eye plates, felt his hand grasping the edge of my helmet, trying to wrench it off me.
If there is anything worse than being attacked by a huge, supernatural wolf, it must be being attacked by a very powerful naked man who believes he’s a wolf.

— Those Across The River, Christopher Buehlman

Age

Shifters are quick to mature both physically and emotionally, reaching young adulthood at age 16. They rarely live to be more than 70 years old.

Alignment

Shifters tend toward neutrality, being more focused on survival than concepts of good and evil. A love of personal freedom can drive shifters toward chaotic alignments.

Size

Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common.