Forms of Animus
Animus have many forms, they begin life as animals then when their moment comes, they gain the ability to walk on two legs rather than on all fours or however they travel as animals when they were born. Advanced shifting gives them additional forms and the list shows. The Animus can shift between their beast and homid at the start of their life until they study at the academy, learn from an expert Animus or other method of gaining knowledge.
Animal - All Animus began this life, they are whelps and weaned by their parents at an early stage. The group they come from also determines appearance, characteristics, abilities, relations in their group and a lot more. Leone begin life as lion cubs, Lycaos as wolf pups and so on.
Homid - Once an Animus gets around to about 5-10 months, they gain the homid stage. The ability to walk on two legs rather than how they got around in animal form. Walking on two legs is not easy, because the brain does not register right off the bat. Trial & Error is key to gaining equilibrium, intelligence, and other traits. Young Animus will be able to change between their animal and homid forms, but will not shift to advanced modes until they get the education they need from the Academy, Experienced Animus, or just by being around enough Animus who has developed other forms.
Anthro - Anthropomorphic is part of advanced stage and is mostly for walking except in their animal mode. Anthro mode or bipedal mode allows them to move without restrictions.
Partial - Partially shifting a part of their bodies to their animal, but not 100%. Able to extend claws without further shifting is a very strong shapeshifter, facial and claws, to looking more like a neko.
Mer - Aquatic Animus can shift between fish/dolphin/octopus to homid form with ease when in the water. Resembling an actual merfolk. On land, some aquatic animus can switch to a land form of a marine such as fishman, dolphin-kin etc.
Taurian - Most equine animus such as a horse, bull and vice versa can take on their taurian shape. Horse animus for centurian, bull for minotaur etc.
Fae - Flying insect animus can take on a fairy-like form with antennae sitcking up on top of their heads such as bees, flies, to others.
Species
The Solishia races are broken into their own categories and their native homeland indicates the species along with the island's races that live in sections upon the island.
Feline
Cats are cute, most of them are exotic and content. The cats and wildcats alike live on the island of Tupicu. Being born as a Felidae among other things, cats have unique features, traits, to other amazing bouts that most species do not, canines for instance often live in packs whereas for the felines, they can carry their own weight without any assistance and can go one on one with an opponent with enough training. The feline race as a whole have lithe features, flexibility, can sense danger, land on their few to even be completely incognito during one of their hunts. When a feline goes for the kill, they usually target an enemy's throat from behind, but few can pretty much slice your throat with their razor sharp claws. Cats & Wild cats are solitary in nature excluding the lions known as the Leones who relies heavily on one another with a dominant male as their current king who can mate with more than one female at a time, creating his own harem in fact
Affiliation
The Background of an Animus
Not every Animus is born to groups like pack of wolves, pride of lions, flock of birds, every Animus walk their own path. There are several kinds of Animus that are affiliated or not.
Group Born
Animus who is born to their group have abilities and powers that is referred to as their inherited gifts. The parents of an Animus can be the leaders, their second in command, third in command, and so on. A title represents who their ancestors are. This Animus is born to that group such as Cavallos born to a Stallion and Mare of a herd, they can have one to two offspring at a time so this baby Cavallos is a female foal, a beautiful filly, when she is about one month, she will be homid, but won't have nothing to cover herself with, she would be naked until a Cavallos within their young, mature, to adult even elder years come to her and have a tailor make her fine clothing for a child, the child can only shift to a filly until she is older then she becomes a young mare. Adolescence of an Animus will be explained in the Adolescence Section of this guideline. Anyway, the girl is named Trisha(just an example Animus character), she will be acknowledged among her teachers, other animus, as she begins her life. Most animus who are highly intelligent could tell if she is group born since it's obvious how the animus portrays his or herself that determines if they are. A group born is more social, not all, but most are. They are family oriented(group oriented) along with other signs they are born into it. Especially, group born have additional racial abilities such as in the hedgehog race, they are small and spiny creatures, there maybe characteristics to this particular hedgehog that makes her special than the rest.
Group Initiated
An animus can be an Initiated Animus, but the issue here is that their not going to be acquiring the full abilities that group borns have, this tends to distinguish them from the authentic crowd. But, they are still acknowledged as part of the group as though, they were descended of them. They will only gain power through achievement by their leaders or higher officers whose been trusted to bestow gifts based on the Animus's merits. Also, initiation is not swift nor easy either. This animus must prove his or herself worthy to be a part of the group, referring to them as an extension of it rather than the inherited animus. They also must earn their title rather than an inherited one by their leaders or high officers. In other words, these guys must work towards their goals. Players can automatically customize as initiated in the application or choose to roleplay their animus working towards joining them in character. Remember, that rogue animus must approach the territory, then start by showing the etiquette of your race. Lycaos rub cheek to cheek no matter the form. Show the leader/s respect by either lowering of the head, brushing of the cheek, among other forms to let them know, you show promise and respect. How you go about it will not be just acknowledged by the groups' leaders, but their high subordinates, as well as all that is loyal under them will be watching.
Marked
A horrible way to go. The leaders or their higher officials might mark the culprit once a trial proves the offender wrong. The more laws of the group or the location broken, the better chances he or she will be seen as honor-less among his or her people who will have their chosen jury to decide the final punishment of the wrongdoer. First, usually, the Animus police, a citizen, whoever witnessed the act, that must be proven in the legal center of that area. An accused animus may have a defender, but there is always the offender who will try everything to make sure the culprit is sentenced. The severity of the punish may result as a warning, fine, cell bound, labor, to others. Murder, however, is a serious act that may go as far as Marked. No idiot of a group should ever kill their own without realizing the consequences afterward. An execution may be chosen, so death in the islands is something to behold. Death of an animus is explored in the topic "An Animus Demise" death may seem like a bitter end, but rest assured, there are benefits to being dead as a matter of fact as the player can play additional races only through death of their animus. In any case, the Animus is then marked with a claw, a pointy weapon, or whatever to let everyone even other animus recognize this Animus as a traitor and they send him(or her) on his way. If there are more parties involved, well, the same will take place. Most marked eventually follow a dark path, few just simply walk an independent one. A redemption of a mark is rare, but the problem with that is, if he/she is very sincere when their previous group might reject him/her as memories are difficult to forget. Still, redemption process can take many years before a group leader along with some others may forgive him. This is referred to as Redemption Animus.
Redemption Animus
An animus who gone through a cleansing after several years will at some point prove they have changed, they are really sorry, a really smart Animus would understand the reactions their getting from their own to other animus species/races. In order for a redemption to take place, they must find sponsors within the group who can secretly be at their back or side, the ally might be seen as helping a "criminal" which is why they got to keep their relationship with the marked a secret all cost. A redeeming Animus can be welcomed back with loads of work. Sometimes, a leader will negotiate, but not completely trust the once convicted Animus of their people. Once he/she is given a second chance, they must stick to their promise cause the next time may not seem pleasant, yes, they'll be given a warning. The consequence depends on the leader/s or officers final punishment. While a redeemed is welcomed back, they still have a darkness in them, but nonetheless they learned their lesson.
Group-less
These Animus are all rogues, civilians, wanderers, some troublemakers, to other things. A group-less is not bound by group law, but must abide by their town, city etc as their hometown's laws, racial laws too. Racial laws abides to the animus race while hometown law is city/town etc laws. Most hide their illegal acts, many live in secluded spots in the area out of the Animus Law, Animus military, the Animus Guards as well to prevent seeing what their doing. A thief animus is always group-less, but must act normal in front of any Law Animus (Military, guard, soldiers, police etc), so long they do that, all they'd get is a smile, sometimes a nod. Pirate animus to the other darker paths these group-less have taken. Hell, some made carbon copies of items, con-artist Animus fools stupid Animus who is foolish enough to buy their wares making a lot money that way. Illegal activities occurs in or outside of a hometown of that Animus. Usually isolated and secluded spots where even the children along with young animus is caution to not walk after dark, especially females who a military or law animus might think she is incapable of caring for herself, since that is their job description, protecting the peace at all cost. Group-less appear normal as they don't have additional abilities, just their animal characteristics such as a dog animus all have enhanced smell and hearing, that is their racial abilities, but born are different as well as inherited can get abilities through favors. Favors is bestowed on an Animus whose proven to show potential to a leader or their higher officials.