Wild Elves: Morrigu

Wild Elves: Morrigu by Stone Gargoyle

The Morrigu are a race of wild shapeshifter elves. They can change into animals and spend most of their time as such, avoiding contact with humans. Few ever travel outside the forest.
When in elf form, the Morrigu still bear animal traits and are more bestial than regular elves. Each of these wild elves can shift into only one type of animal, and a family line will consist of Morrigu all of one type of animal. Changing into their animal forms alter their shape and size, but their physical attributes, Hit Points and P.P.E. remain the same. S.D.C. remains the same unless noted otherwise in the type of animal, the same with weight. Since the change they undergo is magical in spite of the fact it costs no P.P.E. to transform, it can be undone by a Negate Magic spell, returning the elf to humanoid form but not robbing them of the ability, as it is part of them as an inherited trait and cannot ever be fully negated without killing them. While in their animal forms, the Morrigu do get some added abilities based on their chosen animal. While they do change in size, the most they can reduce in size is by half, so if an animal they assume the form of should be smaller it will not be to scale with the actual animal and appear to be a larger specimen, which might not fool an onlooker for long.
The legend of the Morrigu depicts them as a warlike tribe which served an evil queen until she was overthrown. Fearing persecution and capture, the Morrigu fled into the forests and used magic to become animals. It is said that they forgot their true forms and bred with the animals of the forest, only much later to discover their true nature. But since they had lived so long as animals, the Morrigu could naturally switch forms. Whether this is true cannot truly be said, since no actual records of them were ever kept.

Alignment: Any, typically anarchist

The Eight Attributes: I.Q. 2d6, M.E. 3d6, M.A. 2d6, P.S. 3d6, P.P. 4d6, P.E. 3d6, P.B. 5d6, Spd 3d6

Hit Points: P.E.+1d6 per level

S.D.C.: 10 plus any gained from O.C.C. and/or physical skills

P.P.E.: 3d4X10+20, plus 1d6 per level of experience

Horror Factor: None; 10 in animal form

Physical Appearance: Tall, slender humanoids with very handsome, distinguished, youthful features, black or dark brown hair, pointed ears, dark eyes; animal forms have black or dark brown coloration to the fur/feathers.

Height: 6 feet to 6 foot, 10 inches

Weight: 100 to 250 pounds

Average Life Span: 600 years

Damage: Fangs in elf form for all Morrigu do 2d4 damage, most retain these in animal form; claws/talons even in elf form do 2d4 damage

Special/Natural Abilities: Keen daylight vision, Nightvision 200 feet, enhanced sense of smell with 16% plus 4% per level to recognize a familiar scent, track by smell 90%, wilderness survival 90%, prowl 60%, Animal Transformation

Animal Forms: Size is altered based on the specific species (see Monsters and Animals book)

Bird Form: Bite/peck is reduced to 1d6, gains flight at five times normal running speed with land speed reduced to half

Panther/Wolf Form: Running Speed is tripled, leap distance is doubled.

Bear Form: Weight triples, SDC triples, running speed doubled

Bonuses: +1 initiative, , +3 strike, +2 dodge, +2 save vs. Horror Factor

Magic: By available O.C.C.s only

Psionics: Animal telepathy, telepathy

Enemies: Hunters, in addition to standard enemies for the elves

Allies: Animals and faerie folk.

Habitat: Deep forest areas in remote locations