Ma’ii
Blessed by Coyote
Origin: Native American (blessed)
Lifespan: 80 years on average, can live upwards of 120 years
Pros:
Transformation into a coyote
Injury does not transfer from one form to the other
Cons:
Not particularly strong or robust as other castes
Injury will still affect them in either form if not treated as the Coyote self is their spirit
Origin
In ancient times, when the people of the North Americas traversed the land, hunted its bounty, and warred against their brothers, just beyond the circle of firelight in the shadowed forests and prairies was Coyote. He watched the people grow, flourish, divide, destroy, and rebuild. His was not the only eyes upon the people, guiding them with lessons to teach them humility, to teach them perspective, but he took special interest in those that would hearken to his call.
To be blessed by Coyote was to have a laughing heart. He sought those individuals that were wise to the lessons of his tricks, that could decipher his riddles, and embrace a trickster’s heart by teaching others the ways of Coyote. He would visit them in dreams, sensing a kindred soul that would be receptive to his gift. He appeared as a coyote like any other, but transparent, like a whisper or memory of a great, aged coyote in their midst. He would tell them of the world’s cruelties, of suffering, and the way to overcome it. There are those warriors who will attack in the open. And there are those that wander in the shadows, a quiet instrument of change that will help shape the world.
A child of Coyote can be chosen at any age, so long as he sees in them the resilient spirit of his kin. A child, a boy in his prime, a wrinkled warrior; it didn’t matter the shape or age. What he sought in them was strength in spirit. It was a celebration to be chosen, as only a handful of people from a tribe ever held the honor. Every tribe could count among their number a coyote blessed warrior, some with greater numbers than others.
It is told that the first ever to be visited by Coyote and blessed with his spirit was a Navajo woman, and news of this gift spread like wildfire throughout the lands in great stories told by firelight to the bright eyed children, claiming that surely one day, if they behaved, they could also be looked upon fondly.
For generations, they remained hidden figures among their people, keeping their existence a secret from the settlers when they came to their shores. As superstitious as these new people were, should they know that they had the ability to borrow another shape, the suffering that was visited upon them would have been even greater still.
Traits
Ma’ii are spiritually blessed peoples of the North American indigenous tribes. They are, above all else, humans that have earned the personal recognition of Coyote. Not all Ma’ii are good, or kind. The only personality trait they all share is a desire for balance of the natural world, and some will use a gentle touch to achieve that goal, while others will utilize violence and cruelty to achieve that end.
The most important thing to the Ma’ii is the safety of the living world and its inhabitants: the grass, the trees, the animals that burrow and run and fly and swim. They are opposed to industrialization and mass hunting, the poisoning of waterways, and anything that might jeopardize that delicate balance of the world around them.
With the coming of colonizers hundreds of years ago, the tensions have been higher than ever to continue their duty to protect. But Coyote has never played a hands-on role in this mission. He chooses those for the task, but does not set before them a target. They are free to use their gifts as they see fit.
In low light, there is a glimmer of eye shine at their pupils, a dead giveaway that they are more than they appear. Aside from this, there is no other outward change that might mark them as anything other than a human. They claim higher than normal healing regeneration, but nothing compared to that of a werewolf. They have keen senses, able to easily track animals and people, both.
Ma’ii have a peculiar separation of body and spirit that is more prominent when they shift into their coyote form. When they become a coyote, they cradle the living spirit of their body and leave it to the Earth to hold for them as they withdraw the shape of their blessed form. As a coyote, they are every bit the animal with a human’s intelligence. They are fast, able to run for miles without stopping, and can bring down quarry with their jaws should a situation call for violence.
Weaknesses
Ma’ii have no weaknesses of silver, no herbal concoction will harm them, nor will sunlight burn their flesh. They are not as physically strong as some of the other creatures from the rift, but are not prone to the whims of the moon in exchange.
Should they find themselves wounded, the injury does not carry over to the other side of the change. For example, if they sustain a stab wound as a human, they can shift and have no injury to their coyote form. This is not without its dangers. If a ma’ii is injured and receives treatment, they can shift and find themselves hale and whole, though fatigued. They will not carry over wounds upon their body, but blood loss is blood loss, and a fever is a fever. Though they can reclaim either shape at their whim, they will have to accept the injury to that form, be it human or coyote. If the ma’ii is not treated before they shift, and the wound is grievous, they could die all the same. If a ma’ii is shot as a coyote and shifts to a man to seek treatment, though they may not have a bullet hole bleeding out, their very spirit will fade. They could fall to the ground dead without a mark on them should they choose to ignore their injuries, or if help comes too late.
More Information
Magical Proclivity
Because the coyote spirit is itself a spiritual blessing, Ma’ii that find themselves connected to magic are typically more in tune with spiritual or soul based magics. Some Ma’ii become spiritual leaders or guides, while others wander helping those that are lost. Their deep connection with the delicate balance of nature also lends them to druidic magic.