Shape Locks and Middle Form

[KC11]

Figured these would be useful in some RP.

Shape Locks:

Shape Locks are, quite simply, locks that lock the wearer in a certain shape. They are small metal bands that lock onto the arm or leg of a shape shifter.

How they work:

Once a Shape Lock has attached to a shapeshifter, they inject a small amount of a chemical that gets absorbed through the pours of the wearer. The chemical continues through the bloodstream and gets absorbed into the cells. The proteins within the chemical then binds to the shapeshifter's genes. A shapeshifter's genes have the ability to change rapidly, but once the chemical binds to the genes, the genes are locked in one place.

Sometimes, shapelocks are faulty, and bind to the shapeshifter's genes wrong. When this happens, those shapeshifters who have two "non energy" (forms that require no energy to shapeshift into) will sink into the dreaded "middle form". Those that do not have two "non energy" forms will either fall into a weak, mutated form, or not be affected at all, depending on the shapeshifter.

Certain shapelocks will also only bind certain shapes, i.e., the shapeshifter would no longer be able to become a cat, but could still shapeshift into other forms. Very powerful shapelocks can force the wearer into a weaker shape before locking them (useful for those who want to contain, say, morphic dragons).

Side Effects of Shapelocks:

Because shapelocks actively work with the genes of the shapeshifter, they can cause long term side effects. A most noted one is, if you leave a shapelock on too long, you could lose your shapeshifting abilities, as your genes have "stiffened" Another, less known side effect is that the shapelocks will give you more powers other than your shapeshifting abilities. This becomes more likely if you have a faulty, cheap shapelock. Death can occur with shapelocks.

Uses of Shapelocks:

Shapelocks can be used to imprison a shapeshifter, or to punish a shapeshifter. Sometimes shapeshifters willingly use them if they hate their powers. You could call these "Goth" shapeshifters of sorts.

**Middle Form**

Middle form is a form that shapeshifters take when there is something wrong with their shapeshifting abilities. Not all shapeshifters take middle form. The only shapeshifters that do are known as "Bi Forma" or "Bi Forma Navitas" shapeshifters. "Bi Forma" are shifters who can only shift into two shapes, including their "native" shape. "Bi Forma Navitas" are shapeshifters that can shift into two shapes without requiring energy, but can shape shift into other forms (also including their native shape). Middle form looks like their two bi forms melded together.

A good example is that of KC11, who is a "Bi Forma Navitas". She can shapeshift into a human without requiring energy, and her native form is a dragon. Her middle form is that of a human with short, spiky purple hair, blue skin, two growths on her back, scales, and claws instead of nails.

Middle form is also called "Stuck Form" because of theories that say Middle Form can occur when a shapeshifter is in the middle of shifting between the two bi forms and gets interrupted, thus getting stuck.

Middle form also can occur if a shapeshifter has their powers taken away, like with a faulty shape lock or a spell.

Middle form can be cured. Most often, it goes away naturally when the shapeshifter's powers are stable. However, in some cases, other measures must be taken. Some potions will cure the middle form, and sometimes certain devices have to coax the shapeshifter's abilities to return to normal. What often happens to shapeshifters with extreme Middle form is that they are taken to a sort of "training office" whereas their bodies "relearn" how to shapeshift. At these places, shapeshifters start small, with learning how to change their skin color, and work their way up from there.

Sometimes, in very extreme cases, Middle Form is a permenate condition. This often happens when an extreme case goes untreated.

Bi Forma Navitas are more prone to middle form that Bi Formas. Why this is, no one knows. Theories say that Bi Formas only have two forms to worry about, while Bi Forma Navitas can become many things besides their non energy forms, and therefor could mess themselves up by shapeshifting too frequently or too fast.