A: Hybrids do not exist. They can only shift into pure forms belonging to them.
Q: What kind of animals are Imperial? Or is it seen as a sort of elitism? If they are military-orientated, would they be dominantly muscle?
A: Any kind of animals can be Imperials. It is seen as elite in some form, or it could just be someone who grew up in the cities/towns near the capitol instead of in a tribe. The cities rely on steampunk technology and they are generally military- and technology-orientated. They are not dominantly muscle; the Faerang tribe is.
Q: Where do people wear their masks when they are not in shift? I'd imagine they pull it up like a visor.
A: They wear their mask wherever they choose, as long as it is kept on their person at all times (except when bathing for comfort and convenience reasons, not because masks cannot get wet).
Q: Are certain aspects of animal personality amplified when in shift? For instance, when a lion-shifter shifts, can he go into a battle frenzy?
A: No. Your animal form is you in your truest, most raw form. You retain your ability to reason when shifted. The senses are amplified, but not personality. However, it is possible that a person can fight very well when shifted even though he/she cannot fight when in human form. This is a matter of skill, not of muscle. If your animal form is well exercised, your human form will see results as well.
Q: If people become soulless when their masks are removed, what happens when it is destroyed?
A: They become non-religiously soulless when it is removed during and for the entire duration of the critical period. These people grow up to be psychopaths. They become heartless when the separation has been too long (losing their humanity despite being trapped in their human form), and they become insane when they've lost it for good (including when destroyed). When a mask is severely damaged, the owner will experience emotional difficulties such as paranoia and bipolar behaviour until it is healed either through time or, preferably, by a healer. The owner will find great difficulty to shift with a damaged mask, depending on the severity of the damage. However, scars of past wounds will not affect transformation except that that scar will be on your face when in animal form. Masks do not bleed, but they can become infected if not treated as soon as possible.
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