Shidae

You could stand on a sandy beach, gazing out on the vast churning seas, and dream of walking the ocean floor, of swimming alongside whales bigger than houses, of sitting on a throne of coral. You could fill a jar with that water and never imagine that you had a piece of the Pookah with you. How naïve you would be, to miss the fact that a Pookah traveled with you, at that very moment, either in the guise of your best friend, or camouflaged in the shadows, or as that small, innocuous looking, simple glass jar.

The Pookah, like that water in the jar, can take the shape of whatever environment they are placed in, and some in very different ways. Some call them shapeshifters, others devils and demons, but rest assured, they are hidden everywhere.

Appearance

Pookah, in their natural form, have large, milky white, pupil less eyes, thin arms with fat, four fingered hands, large, hairless rabbit feet, huge, fanlike, pointed ears, slits for nostrils and blue, mottled skin. All Pookah possess some form of shapeshifting ability, and many can take the form of other creatures, so one can never be sure if they are talking with a Pookah or not.

Personality

Pookah are quick to scatter, and many times very skittish. They are also the consummate pranksters of Gaeis. They enjoy a good laugh, close family ties, and the distrust of many of the other races. Because of this, the Pookah are confident loners, but often expect the worst from other races.

Habitat

Pookah can live anywhere, but it is bodily torture for them to go without water for too long. They love streams, rivers, seacaves, and lakes, but dream constantly of the sea. To live in the desert would be death for a Pookah, and many times it is, as they are highly prized by the Zjenithi as slaves.

Society

Pookah family units are very close knit and understanding. The Pookah are natural wanderers, but whenever they leave the shores of the oceans, they constantly feel its pull. There really is no hierarchal system, as many of them live simply and move homes often. The five different subraces of Pookah, however, tend to stick together a little bit more, but mixed communities are often found.

Adventures

As Pookah are natural wanderers, they make excellent adventurers, and their love of fun only adds to this.

Many Pookah are found in Azaza, Egund, Daerod, and coastal islands.

Max Caps

• Cunning 12
• Psyche 8

Powers

Shapeshift: A Pookah may shapeshift at will, but must pass a Self-Control check at a DL dependant on the task at hand. If it is failed, he/she may not try again. There are five different breeds of Pookah, each with its own unique way of Shifting.

Tricksters can shift into inanimate objects such as chairs, pillars, chests, tables, staves, etc.

Copycats can shift to resemble/copy other beings exactly.

Shapers can morph the looks/shapes of other beings, but not themselves.

Hiders change their colorings to resemble their surroundings.

Morphs can contort and shape their bodies partially to augment their abilities (i.e. extend a rubbery arm an extra five feet to grab that tankard over by the bar, or turn fingers into stilettos).

Stipulations: Tricksters attempting to shift into complex objects such as machines or Mechs should be given an appropriately near impossible DL. Copycats that shift to resemble other beings and their magical equipment do not actually benefit from bonuses from magical equipment. All such items are considered nonmagical when copied. Hiders get a hide bonus equal to how much they exceed the DL on their camouflage roll. Shapers that attempt to morph others against their will must first succeed in subduing them and then they must make an opposed roll of Disguise + Cunning vs. the target’s Self-Control + Vitality.