NOTES || Transformation: Forms & Features

DEFINITION OF FORMS AND FEATURES

In DEITIES Project, forms and features refer to transformations and hybrid traits that can be maintained for extended periods of time, and can also be accessed without the aid of additional energy, instruments, or circumstances. These forms do not necessarily affect the level of power, access to magic, or behavior of deities, though some forms are easier to maintain than others (see contrasting notes on temporary States of Being).

[NOTE: To address the inevitable redundancy in terms, “transformation” will also commonly refer to the various forms and features that deities can access, and less commonly be used to refer to temporary states of being.]

[EX: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.]

Below lists some various types of forms and features that deities can display in DEITIES verse. The following information is by no means exhaustive, and details and visual designs for each form may be expanded and adjusted as the project continues to develop.

DIVINE FORM

The divine form is the standard, human-like form of a deity. Deities in this form appear fully human in appearance with the exception of small “divine” traits such as hair color and texture, skin (in the case of deities with unnatural skin tones), eyes, teeth, and other traits.

Most deities have a standard outfit complete with a set of regalia that they wear in their divine form. They may also have additional crowns or headdresses that mark their identity among the pantheon, and some headdresses may bear resemblance to their sacred animal or symbols. Deities can also more readily channel magic and energy in this form, as well as wield their divine weapons more easily.

[EX: Horus’s divine form features him in full regalia that include his falcon-like headdress, his outfit and accessories, and occasionally his divine weapons, a pair of khopesh.]

MORTAL FORM

The mortal form is where deities appear fully human in all aspects, so that they can’t (easily) be told apart from true mortals. Mortal forms are used by deities who wish to disguise themselves while in the presence of other mortals; when they prefer to go unnoticed or unrecognized; or to conserve energy. Physically, deities may adopt more natural hair color and features (and less often, their eye color), and deities cannot channel magic as well as in their other forms.

[EX: In her mortal form, Isis appears as a typical human with black hair, and lacking most of her regalia that denotes her divine or royal status. She does, however, usually retain her blue eyes, though she can mask their appearance with further magic.]

ANIMAL FORM

The animal form is a commonly adopted form when deities transform to the appearance of their sacred animal — usually, the animal that is the same shape as their ba. Many deities can take the form of multiple animals — and thus, have more than one animal form — as an alternative to their sacred animal.

Deities in their animal forms often display unusual colors, markings, and eyes, and they often wear additional accessories or jewelry. While this can differentiate deities from mortal animals and demons, deities can also hide or adjust these features to avoid being easily noticed by mortals.

Deities that stay in their animal forms conserve more energy than in their divine form, but their access to magic can be slightly reduced, and they are unable to use their divine weapons. However, a deity’s senses and instincts become heightened and more amplified in their animals forms.

[EX: Anubis’s sacred animal form is a Jackal. He has black fur that is unusual among other jackals, as well as a collar and bandaging on his forepaws.]

HYBRID FEATURES & HYBRID FORM

More of an umbrella term, hybrid features refer to traits that deities adopt to physically resemble anything in between their divine form and their animal form (put another way, a divine form with additional hybrid/”gijinka” traits).

Hybrid forms are more fluid and mutable in nature, since the features that deities adopt can appear or be hidden at will by using magic. Typical hybrid features can be the addition of animal traits like ears, tails, eyes, upper limbs and extremities, and teeth. Less typical features may be full-sized wings, lower limbs and extremities, and the fully anthropomorphic, “animal-headed” appearance.

On a practical level, these hybrid features may allow deities to quickly access their heightened senses, without fully transforming into their animal forms. Other times, the features may be cosmetic in nature, or a form of personal preference and expression among deities. Additionally, hybrid features may occasionally be triggered by high emotions or bursts of magic energy (such as ears appearing when surprised), but this quirk varies among individuals, depending on their current control of magic.

[EX: Set often takes advantage of displaying his hybrid features as he pleases, including his ears, claws, tail, and sometimes his full animal-head. His “shark teeth” appearance is arguably caused by a hybrid feature as well.]

[EX: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.]

INDEX || WORLD-BUILDING NOTES