Therians

Therians are shape-shifters with the ability to transform into a specific type of animal. The first therians were born of the mortal-born goddess Ungnyeo. Each was a combination of human form and animal spirit, resulting in shape-shifters.

Therianthropy is acquired through the addition of one therian's blood into a non-therian's body, such as through transfusion or by oral consumption. Therians are not to be confused with shifters, who are the off-spring of therians. Shifters exist in a liminal biology between humanoid form and the animal form of their parent(s). Most often, the shifter children of therians are the ones who eventually become the next generation of therians.

The tribes of The Tribal Republic are ruled by chiefs directly descended from Ungnyeo's children, and thus from Ungnyeo herself. The chief of any given tribe is a therian whose animal form reflects the totem animal of the tribe. The chiefdom is then passed on to their chosen heir, usually their own shifter child or a selected individual who may or may not be a shifter.

Therian blood is a strictly controlled substance, only to be bequeathed onto another through strict rites of passage. The blood, however, can be stolen and consumed, transforming the receiver of the stolen blood into a therian. Illegal consumption of therian blood is one of the few crimes in the Tribal Republic that is punishable by death. The blood is the most sacred substance within the Republic, as it is believed to be descended directly from a goddess.

The following are the children of Ungnyeo, their corresponding therian subspecies, and examples.

Avian
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Bovid
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Canid
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Caprin
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Equid
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Felid
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Leoprid
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Murid
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Primate
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Snake
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Suid
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Ursid
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