Animara are intelligent, shapechanging animals, able to shift frequently between human and animal forms, as well as a bipedal, animalistic form. Several sub-races exist, defined by the kind of animal form they can assume. They typically prefer lands at the periphery of humanoid society, but the circumstances within The Unification have forced them into the heart of that conglomeration. It is worthy of note that some, rare, animara are actually of elven stock, rather than human, such examples have a higher level adjustment.

   Personality

Animara tend to be secretive, reclusive and solitary, preferring to dwell alone or in small bands, where circumstances permit. They often display personality traits similar to their animal type – so monkey animara are curious and inquisitive, hare animara are peaceful but easily, and so on. Animara have traditionally never tried to fit into human society, knowing that they are different and believing that they are more closely connected to the spirit world. Of late, animara groups have been somewhat forced to integrate, something most of them find exceedingly difficult, often earning harsh punishments from LEOs or obnoxious treatment from Citizens. Animara are always Civilians at the start of the game.

   Physical Description

In animal form, animara are almost indistinguishable from normal animals except through magic (exception: Druids, but not Urban Druids, can always tell on sight what the animara is, though they usually keep quiet out of respect for the animara). Naturally, their behaviour often provides proof of their intelligence, so careful observation of an animara in animal form can reveal that it is not what it appears to be. Animara can also assume a bipedal, animalistic (“hybrid”) form. They stand on their hind legs (or similar appendages) to the height of their human form. The front paws, wings or fins change into hands, capable of gripping and using normal equipment. The rest of the body retains the general appearance of the animal, including fur, feathers, wings, tail, and other characteristic features, but in the overall shape of a humanoid head and torso. In human form, animara look exactly like normal humans, though (like lycanthropes) they often display some feature associated with their animal form. For example, a sparrow-animara might have a sharply pointed nose, while a rat-animara might have beady eyes and a long moustache (reminiscent of a long tail).

   Relations

Animara now live among humans, and good-aligned animara sometimes take on a protector role for their community. Animara never feel truly part of a human or demi-human community, however. Evil-aligned animara instead prey on their community and those nearby and are often feared and hated. Animara believe themselves closer to the spirit world than humans and therefore feel a closer affinity for spirit folk when the two races come into contact.

   Alignment

Animara are usually chaotic, with a strong independent streak. They are wild and value freedom – theirs and that of others. Some types of animara strongly favour good or evil: carp, crane, dog, hare, and sparrow animara tend to favour good, while badger, fox, raccoon dog, rat and weasel animara tend to favour evil.

   Adventures

Animara are commonly adventurers, since the sedentary life of a commoner or expert does not suit them, and their forced integration into The Unification has curbed their opportunities for freedom. They are usually motivated by little more than wanderlust, boredom, frustration with society, or perhaps mere curiosity about the world (or what’s left of it).

   Animara Racial Traits

• -2 Wisdom, animara tend to be flighty and weak-willed. Animara physical scores vary widely in their animal forms and hybrid forms; the generated ability scores apply to character’s human form. See the first table at the end of this page for details.
• In human form, animara are Medium size; as Medium size creatures, they have no special bonuses or penalties.
• In human form, animara base speed is 30 feet.
• Alternate Form: Animara can change shape, assuming one of three possible forms. This supernatural ability functions like the spell polymorph self, but an animara can change form a number of times per day equal to 1 plus their character level (not class level). Changing is a full round action, as with the spell polymorph self. An animara’s animal form is a normal animal of Small size or smaller. Allowed animal types are listed in the tables below. Equipment the animara is wearing or carrying transforms to become part of the animal shape (but is retained in normal form in the hybrid shape – selective treatment of equipment), and magic items cease functioning while the animara is in animal form. Animal form animara have low light vision and may communicate with other animals of their type as a supernatural ability. The animara has the same size, speed, AC, damage rating and physical ability scores as shown on the second table at the end of this entry. In animal form, the animara is effectively in Disguise and gains a +10 bonus on such checks in this form. Animara in hybrid form retain their low light vision and the ability to communicate with animals of their type. Physical abilities in hybrid form are modified as given in the first table at the end of this entry. Hybrid form animara can wear light or medium armour without modification, but cannot wear heavy armour (they have bits in the wrong places).
• Shapechanger: Animara are shapechangers, not humanoids. As such, they are immune to effects that specifically target humanoids (including charm person and hold person), but are susceptible to any spells that target shapechangers.
• Automatic Languages: Basic, Animara (animara are one of the very few races to retain their own language).
• Bonus Languages: Giant, Goblinoid, Spirit, Tainted Basic.
• Level Adjustment: +1 (plus level adjustment for relevant elven heritage if applicable).

Base Animal Type	Ability Modifier (Hybrid)	Special (Hybrid)
Badger	+2 Con	Speed 20 feet, Burrow 30 feet
Carp	+2 Dex	Speed 10 feet, Swim 30 feet
Cat	+2 Dex	+4 Balance
Crab	--	+1 Natural Armour, +4 Swim
Crane	+2 Dex	Speed 20 feet, Fly 20 feet (average)
Dog	+2 Con	Scent, +4 Survival when tracking by scent
Fox	+2 Dex	+4 Escape Artist
Hare	+2 Dex	Speed 40 feet.
Monkey	+2 Dex	+4 Climb
Racoon Dog	+2 Str	Scent, +4 Survival when tracking by scent
Rat	+2 Dex	+4 Hide
Sparrow	+2 Dex	Speed 20 feet, Fly 20 feet (average)
Weasel	+2 Con	+4 Move Silently

Base Animal	Size	Speed	AC	Damage	Str	Dex	Con
Badger	Tiny	30 feet, Burrow 10 feet	15 (+2 size, +3 Dex)	2 Claws 1d2-1, Bite 1d3-1	8	17	15
Carp	Diminutive	Swim 10 feet	19 (+4 size, +5 Dex)	--	1	20	10
Cat	Tiny	40 feet	17 (+2 size, +5 Dex)	2 Claws 1d2+1, 1 Bite 1d3+1	5	20	10
Crab	Diminutive	15 feet	18 (+4 size, +4 Dex)	2 Claws 1d2+1	1	17	10
Crane	Small	5 feet, Fly 60 feet	14 (+1 size, +3 Dex)	Bite 1d4+2	6	16	10
Dog	Small	40 feet	15 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +1 natural)	Bite 1d4+1	13	17	15
Fox	Small	40 feet	15 (+1 size, +4 Dex)	Bide 1d4	11	19	11
Hare	Tiny	40 feet	16 (+2 size, +4 Dex)	Bite 1d3-2	1	19	10
Monkey	Tiny	40 feet	14 (+2 size, +2 Dex)	Bite 1d3-1	3	15	10
Raccoon Dog	Small	30 feet	13 (+1 size, +2 Dex)	Bite 1d4+1	12	13	12
Rat	Tiny	15 feet, Climb 15 feet	14 (+2 size, +2 Dex)	Bite 1d3-2	2	15	10
Sparrow	Fine	1 foot, Fly 50 feet	24 (+8 size, +6 Dex)	--	1	23	10
Weasel	Tiny	20 feet, Climb 20 feet	15 (+2 size, +3 Dex)	Bite 1d3+1	3	16	10