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Skin Changer (Major Favorable Trait)

A Skin Changer is a character who can change themselves into a composite of humanoid and beast, usually because of infection by a mystic virus. These composite forms are usually much more powerful than either the humanoid or animal form that they draw from, but have unusual risks involved.

If a character is a Skin Changer they are unable to cast magic spells when in their changed form, since the virus is using their magic potential to retain their shape and it's abilities. These virus forms are transmitted from parent to child, but can also be passed on thru intimate relations.

Note that the Virus itself, when it first manifests in a child (usually around puberty) or in someone who has been infected thru intimate relations has a high probability of fatality. See Magic Virus Infection for details.

A Skin Changer needs a special Skill, Skin Changing to control their ability. This is a Skill who's base is in the character's SPIRIT attribute, unlike any normal skill, and cannot be learned except thru growth and practice after infection.

If a character starts with this trait then they can invest skill ranks into it like any other skill.

Used like any other skill, except that the character's own Fitness acts as a defense against their skill. The Skill is used to transform from or to their Mystic Form. Note that they may also change against their own desire, if they fail a Fear Roll (or any other Spirit roll) or receive a Medium or greater Wound in combat.

Using their Skin Changing Skill takes 1 Round for each point of Fitness the character has. Uncontrolled changes also take as long, and cannot be interrupted by any means once begun.

In some cultures Skin Changers are perceived as monsters with curses upon them. Skin Changers do retain their ability to speak while in beast form, and any active magic spells on them will continue to affect them.

The Specific types of Skin Changers Are:

(More To be Added Should be Mammals Only)