The Races of Thea: Wildekin
Name: Wildekin
Scientific name: Homo-Ferus
Special ability: Shapeshifting
Genus: Human like
Lifespan: 75-90 years
Wildekin are a common race of human-like shapeshifters who originated in the vast forests in the center of the Ularican continent. Appearance: Wildekin can be identified in human form by their dark skin, the coffee colored markings on their skin, and their bright eye color. They greatly resemble humans with similar skin tone, however their eyes and abilities differentiate them. Wildekin eye color can range from deep hazel to bright yellow. Wildekin who have reached young adulthood will tend to adapt characteristics of cartain animals, souch as enlarged canines, muscular structure, fangs, or heightened senses. Abilities: The most unique factor of the Wildekin race is their ability to Shapeshift into animals of similar sizes. The evolutionary origin of this ability is unknown, however it is speculated that Wildekin, like humans, evolved from uniquely evolved primates, except these primates possessed the ability to shape shift. When a Wildekin shape shifts, the markings on their skin will quickly flash bright gold, and their body will almost instantly transform in the blink of an eye. Wildekin can only shape shift into a singular animal, which is determined by their parent genes. However, there have been few cases where a single Wildekin can transform into multiple animals. Wildekin gain their ability to shape shift when they reach puberty, and don't fully master their talent until they reach young adulthood. At which point they will begin to gain certain aspects of their animal that cross over to their human form. Culture: Wildekin culture is very ancient, as their home had remained untouched by civilization for centuries. Elder nature magic is a major part of ildekin culture as it is what gives them their skin markings. Wildekin are naturally born with invisable marks on their skin that determine the animal they are able to transform into. When a wildekin is born, the newborn is dipped into a special concoction made from the roots of elder trees. This dark brown substance reacts to wildekin skin, and highlights the markings. These coffee colored markings resemble tattoos, however, they are indifferent from wildekin skin. This is known by outsiders as a "wild baptism", (term popularized by colonial explorers on observing wildekin customs). History: Wildekin remained undiscovered for centuries until they were found by colonial explorers in the 1600s. While the first encounters were peaceful and pleasant, the Hunters guild feared the Wildekin and their shape shifting abilities. Seeing them similar to beasts, the New hunters took action unlawfully and attacked a group of Wildekin without warning. This sparked a brutal and bloody war between the colonial forces and the wildekin tribes. The wildekin won the first war using geurilla warfare and ambush tactics, and a wall was eventually erected, deviding the colonial territory from the wild unknown wildekin forests. After a few decades, new technology inspired new conquest, and so the former colony, now a new country of Ularica, pushed into the forests with greater numbers. The second war lasted until an eventual treaty was made, and Wildekin were allowed to live on determined reservations within the country. Today, Wildekin have adapted to Ularican life, and now live in peaceful coexistence with the rest of the many races of Ularica. Their ancient culture is still a very big part of their lives, and so many Ularicans own Tattoo parlors, to continue the tradition of "wild baptism" among their own kind, as well as make a prophet detailing tattoos for non-wildekin. Due to the intermingling of various human like races, some mixed race wildekin have lost the ability to shapeshift, however, the markings on their skin are still visible.
Artists note: Even though it wasn't direct, I want to thank @galoogamelady. I used a few of her characters as reference for the female face, and I think it turned out pretty well. I know only like two people are going to see this so it doesn't really matter that I type it, but My thanks still stands.
