Transitions
In the continent of Levis there sometimes exists the need and the desire to not appear as the species you are born as. Different from the intersex and trans people existing within the Levis culture, whether openly or hidden, transitions are the act of appearing or blending in the dominant species of a culture or settlement the hidden wish to exist without trouble or discrimination.
Most commonly seen when entering the Foliad societies, a transition has traditionally hidden those of human or human bloodline among the foliad people.
While there is no open discrimination in times past between foliad and human people, there are groups out there who see human presence as harbinger of the old rumoured human ways, and of behaviours discordant with nature.
Humans are not the only beings that transition, with both the smaller two nocturne subspecies, and some of the more easy to hide creature-kin.
Recently some of the lesser demons have also begun the transition process, those unable of shapeshifting or the symbiotic possession.
History
It has been theorised that this practice has existed since the first shutting of the gates between the realms, though the scholars interested in this and not content to leave enough alone have guessed (before they had their research confiscated) that this was probably more a go into the 'woods and hide' technique instead.
Execution
The main form of transition is through use of prosthetics and make up, with many colored dyes mixed with gel-like tree saps used to produce a thin paste that over several applications will mimic the natural foliad colors. Head extensions and ear prosthetics generally complete the look, with padded hats and beanies used to ease the hiding. Fake thumb tips are also needed in the human to foliad transitions. For transitions to Foliads, most find reproducing the teeth structure of the foliad excessive, barring specific example below, and no transition finds need to work on the internal organs.
Demons often adhere their tails under clothes or baggy clothing, and file off any horns or iron protrusions. Sympathetic crafters have also developed veneers to cap the often pointed teeth of the lesser demons.
With the harder to hide species of beings in Levis, often uses of pseudonyms and silent partners are seen, so that focus becomes less on the troll , whisperling or tidewalker .
Participants
Transitions are often the work of the needed and a few trusted people - often foliad themselves, to procure supplies and to guarantee that the needed can hide adequately amoung society. Transitions also often slide into the underground smuggling part of Levis society, with access to forgers and bards being part of gaining the supplies to create a new identity wholecloth.
A notable whisperling to transition is the "Magical Morandle", a whisperling who acts as secretary to an illusive mage who owns a cabinet of relic wonders and apothecary potions that will solve all ills. Her pack swim in a tank that is part of the cabinet, although none have seen the mage, all can see evidence of his work (for what whisperling would know such complex magic circuits?) Her transition is less an act of physical disguise and more an act of binding manipulation, official recording fandaggling, and a lot of slight of hand with the expectations of polite society.
While one could transition to a nocturne or troll body to blend in their subcultures there is almost no incentive to do so. The problem is that nocturne habitats are often at least 50% water based or underwater, and there are very few exclusive troll locations and as such little point if the goal is to fit in.
Comments
Author's Notes
I am always willing and able to take your feedback on anything in these articles.