Side-shifting

Overview

Side-shifting is a unique ability possessed by Outsiders, allowing them to redistribute their matter between the current realm and a personal pocket dimension in the Astral Plane. This ability enables Outsiders to compact their naturally imposing forms (typically 7-9 feet tall) down to sizes that allow them to blend with mortal populations, as well as store a limited inventory of physical items for convenient access.  

Mechanics

At its core, side-shifting represents an extension of an Outsider's aura into the Astral Plane, creating a bubble of influence that remains constantly connected to them. This pocket dimension travels with the Outsider wherever they go, essentially functioning as an extension of their being rather than a separate space.   Through this ability, Outsiders can adjust their physical size and appearance, conceal distinctive features such as wings, horns, and tails, alter coloration through microscopic adjustments, store physical objects for later retrieval, and hide scales, markings, or other distinguishing traits.   The process requires minimal energy expenditure and causes no significant strain, though precise adjustments to appearance require practice and concentration. With sufficient time, most Outsiders can acclimate to maintaining altered forms indefinitely without discomfort.  

Limitations

 

Storage Capacity

The amount an Outsider can store within their pocket dimension correlates directly to their physical mass and spiritual power. Base storage capacity is approximately 150% of the Outsider's natural mass, with powerful Outsiders potentially reaching up to 250% of their mass in storage capacity. A typical 8-foot Outsider weighing 400 pounds could store roughly 600 pounds of material, while exceptionally powerful entities might manage up to 1,000 pounds.  

Living Beings

The most significant limitation of side-shifting is the universal inability to store other living beings within the pocket dimension. When an object enters an Outsider's pocket, it becomes partially attuned to their aura. For inanimate objects, this causes no issues, but living beings with their own auras create an immediate metaphysical conflict.   Some metaphysical scholars theorize that attempting to force another living being into an Outsider's pocket would cause extreme pain for both parties and potentially result in a corrupting merger of their essences. This fundamental incompatibility appears to be a natural law rather than an arbitrary restriction.  

Detection and Disruption

While side-shifting is generally undetectable through conventional means, certain alkosir approaches can reveal or disrupt this ability. The "True Form" spell can force an Outsider to revert to their natural state by compelling their redistributed matter to return from the Astral Plane, though this does not affect stored objects. This spell can be cast either as a standard incantation or as a ritual establishing a semi-permanent zone of effect that reveals any disguised entities that enter.   The contents of an Outsider's pocket dimension remain largely protected from outside detection. Even those capable of astral projection can only perceive the pocket as a warped, mirage-like mass with an opaque or mirrored surface when visiting the adjacent Astral Plane. These pockets cannot be penetrated or destroyed by entities less powerful than the Outsider who created them.  

Hereditary Aspects

Side-shifting ability can be inherited by the offspring of Outsiders and mortals, though with significant limitations. These planetouched descendants receive an Astral Plane allotment proportional to their Outsider heritage:   Half-blooded planetouched receive approximately 50% of a full Outsider's capacity.
Quarter-blooded receive 25% of capacity.
Three-quarter-blooded receive 75% of capacity.   This capacity diminishes with each generation until reaching approximately 1/16th Outsider blood, at which point the Astral pocket becomes too small to maintain stability and collapses entirely. Descendants beyond this dilution threshold possess no side-shifting capabilities unless their Outsider heritage somehow reawakens, effectively restarting the cycle.  

Cultural Applications

Different Outsider species utilize their pocket dimensions according to their nature and needs. Orderly beings like archons and devils tend to maintain meticulously organized storage spaces, while more chaotic entities might use their pockets as haphazard collection points for interesting or potentially useful items.   Outsiders who frequently interact with mortal realms often become particularly adept at side-shifting, developing refined control over their appearance to better blend with various populations. Some even create multiple "personas" with distinct appearances that they can quickly shift between as needed.   The ability to store weapons, armor, and other equipment makes side-shifting particularly valuable for Outsiders engaged in combat or covert operations, allowing them to appear unarmed one moment and fully equipped the next.  

Death and Dissolution

Upon an Outsider's death, their aura dissipates and the pocket dimension they maintained collapses. Any items stored within are briefly suspended in the Astral Plane before being forcibly ejected into the physical world, typically appearing near the location where the Outsider perished.   This expulsion occurs because the Astral Plane naturally rejects physical matter once the exceptional influence of the Outsider's aura is removed. Particularly powerful alkosir items might cause localized phenomena during this ejection process, such as temporary reality fluctuations or astral disturbances.  

Training and Adaptation

While side-shifting comes instinctively to all Outsiders, mastering precise control requires practice. Most Outsider progenitors teach their offspring the finer points of this ability, helping them understand their limits and potential. Only demons typically neglect this educational aspect, leaving their young to discover these capabilities through trial and error.   The ability to maintain altered forms becomes more comfortable with time. Many Outsiders who dwell primarily in mortal realms eventually become so accustomed to their compact forms that they notice little difference between their natural and altered states.