In Mereldia, there are some creatures that naturally have the ability to shapeshift, which means that they can change the way they look like. Among those, there are three degrees we difference upon. Each of those is determined by the number and kind of forms it can take.

 

Shapeshifters of the first degree

These are those who are only able to take one single other form apart from their natural one. This form might often even just be a partial transformation. It is most common for shapeshifters that are native to water to be able to shapeshift into a form that allows them to roam on land. Selkies, for example, abandon the form of a seal to take the form of a white deer when roaming the land. The forms the shapeshifters of the first decree can take are also determined at birth and cannot be changed in appearance.

 

Shapeshifters of the second degree

The ones among the shapeshifters, who can naturally take more than one form, are shapeshifters of the second decree. Every shapeshifter that can take more than 2 different forms, counts among the shapeshifters of the second degree, which makes up most of the shapeshifter species in existence.

 

Shapeshifters of the third degree

When it comes to the freedom of taking any form one wants, then the shapeshifters of the third degree take the cake. The forms they can shift into were not forms they were born with, but forms they learned to shift into out of their own free will. Some talented ones might even invent unique own forms, looking like creatures out of this world.