Familiars: The Shapeshifters
Including magical biology, different types of familiars, and other various information: @thewillowofveles @dariaslore @rerarlo @darlenicy
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As explained in The Beginning, the dimensional egg laid by the Shadow Pheonyx created a realm by the name of Oscurita, which released many energies that the Great Dragon had created before it was sealed off due to the danger it posed to the balance of the Magic Dimension.
These energies are the root of elements which came from the original four (water, air, fire, earth), negative-oriented magics, etc. Familiars are negative-magic oriented like witches, but familiars have low magical signatures—the energy of one's magic, including their magical capabilities to cast spells—and have to dedicate much of their energy to casting a singular spell.
Energy, magic, and spirits do not cease to exist upon their owner's or source's death. All energies cannot be destroyed, only bound or moved. Witches are negative-magic beings who receive the magical energies of the elements or the magic of those who have passed, while familiars receive the energies of animals or other creatures who have passed.
Both witches and familiars have a magical core predisposed to negative emotions, but different additives to it. It is both chance, and one's bloodline (a familiar is more likely to birth a child who already has animalian energies, to attract further ones) that plays a role in the decision.
Beings known as 'mythical' by Earthlings came from Oscurita itself, eventually passed on, and so they are included in the many kinds of forms a familiar could take. Familiars can have one form. Three. Five. The number of forms depends on the number of animalian energies that found their way to a familiar's magical core.
While a familiar grows from the ages of 1-2, their magical core is especially sensitive to receiving any animalistic energy that makes its way to it. If no energies, by a very, very, very rare chance, make their way over? Congrats. You are now a witch who has to fight tooth and nail to do anything with your low magic level.
After the age of 2, it is common that a familiar shifts into their first (or only, depending) animal form. A familiar's animal form(s) grow separately from their human one, and so it is common that a familiar in human form is approximately 2-3 years older than their animal form.
Familiars age the same way a witch or fairy would, at least under normal circumstances... Time for a tangent of: what happens to a familiar when it's enviroment does not meet certain conditions.
As mentioned earlier, familiars age separately from their animal forms. This means that it is important for a familiar to be allowed to freely shift when they wish so that neither form gets 'stunted,' so to speak. If a familiar is prevented from shifting (ie, common by The Sisters of Liliss so keep familiars under control), then their human form continues to age while their animal form remains in its young and dependent age.
This leads to the human form growing very protective of its animal form (or vice versa, if a familiar was forced to shift and prevented from shifting back into human form), often being very careful of who they reveal their animal form to. They are no longer "one mind, different habits." Instead, the two forms become similar, but overall separate beings which depend on each other: different opinions, needs, etc.
If a familiar in this "Separate Familiar" stage continues to be put under stress, or an unsafe situation, the animal instincts of the animal form (regardless of how dependent or young the animal form is) makes its way over to the human form's mind, attempting to protect itself further than the human form's self was able to.
This leads to what are commonly known as "Feral Familiars," who are known to be quite vengeful. They run on the need to eat or be eaten. No one is trustworthy, and anyone who threatens to hurt them must die. The human form can no longer be reversed into its previous state, though the 'stunted' animal form remains, and if the feral familiar chooses to, they can shift back into it's dependant animal form.
Random disappearances of fairies, witches, specialists, etc who wander into woods alone? Most assume that it was due to a dangerous creature, but if one decides to threaten or speak ill of familiars near the territory of a feral one, well...
Eat or be eaten. A feral familiar often sees the act as exacting vengeance for their kind, as anyone who speaks ill of their kind can just as easily turn on them and cause further damage in their minds.
Do all feral familiars live in the woods? No. Due to their hatred/fear of anyone who isn't a familiar (feral familiars who flee from The Sisters of Liliss often have a deep mistrust for witches), they just prefer to stay far away from them. Some feral familiars who have been put through healing, therapy, etc who have learned to deal with the animal instincts, roam the cities just as easily as typical familiars.
How do they roam easily? Time for...
☾ Human Form-Animal Form Differences:
How different do familiars look from witches? As different as the familiar chooses. As shapeshifters, some familiars may choose to walk around with some animal features, either for preference or use (a common sight for feral familiars, who feel more comfortable like that). Some familiars may also choose to walk around without any animal features. It simply depends on the individual.
In terms of behavioural differences, a familiar leans more toward their animalistic habits when in that animal form. A hyans familiar would act more like a hyena when in the form of one, rather than their human form. But that doesn't mean that no habits carry over.
Continuing with the example of a hyena familiar: a hyena familiar in human form would still have a better sense of smell, be more likely to respect female authority figures than male (yet they are still capable of the latter, simply a predisposition), may laugh/chuckle when nervous/frustrated/excited, etc.
But in animal form? A hyena familiar would act like a very intelligent (human-level) hyena. Walking like a hyena, able to digest bone like a hyena, but understanding human conversation/cues like they would in human form.
Despite the fact that not all familiars do or are required to form a bond with a witch, it does make a familiar’s magic core feel quite safe and content if they do. It gives them stability: some beings are more social than others, and depending on a familiar’s animal form, some would share the shame sentiment.
A bond between a familiar and witch naturally occurs, and is not like the bond between a coven that is forged in blood (although some familiars and witches way chose this less reversible process). A familiar slowly grows more comfortable with a witch, until both of them realize that this is the sort of bond to last a lifetime: not servitude, dedication and devotion from both sides.
The type of bond depends on what the familiar and witch are looking for (a Zenothian word that easily includes all the variety for a familiar to call their witch is majae, overall meaning a type of protector and trusted one). Some familiars favour certain types of bonds, some are less dependant, and some are more.
And, of course, some familiars happily chose not to have a bond.
