Cinderhill family

The Cinderhill Family, known through legends as the Cinderhill Covenant, are a clandestine and scattered family that have boasted a family history since prior to the Fourth Age. Although most of their history are oral stories and inaccurate, they have been summoned to Cinderhill manor by Henry Boswart, after the death of the family head and the arrival of Tuska. There at the manor, the family begins to explore the history of their family and may relive past experiences by interacting with certain artifacts or furnishings.

Customs
The Cinderhill family have always followed a rule of incest until the former head, Seregor Cinderhill, took a wife that was not of Cinderhill blood. The two had several children in their brood, the eldest of which led his siblings away from Cinderhill manor five years ago.

Although the Cinderhill’s are isolated individually, they each remain strong in the family gift. The younger generations (those born in the Fifth Age to present-day) were hexed with the gift of animaji, the ability to attune with animals and change form into their own familiar. In order to attune with an animal or insect, one must sacrifice the exact familiar and after a ritual performed in a solitary place, they can take the form of their former companion.

Cinderhill’s would never ever take form of their familiar’s in public, as this is very frowned upon in Saradominist societies. The longer one remains in their animaji form, they will possess all the senses and skills that creature possesses. In order to perform Animaji magic, Cinderhill’s are very knowledgeable of herbs and creatures.

Traits
Although most Cinderhill’s have black hair, those of Seregor’s brood have either jade vine green mixed into their natural color or have almost entirely jade vine green hair. This became a trait after Seregor outstepped the family rules of incest and married a woman not of Cinderhill blood.

Animaji magic

Animaji magic is one of the oldest forms of magic in Gielinor, each culture branding a different name for this sort of craft. The Cinderhill’s refer to their genetic gift as animaji and a curse, as it depletes their life span as humans the more they remain in their animaji form. Animaji magic will always require a ritual in order to take the form of a familiar for the first time, yet afterwards they would find themselves easily able to alter between forms. Although they must use their powers for survival, the Cinderhill’s are forbidden from taking form in public or in the presence of outsiders. Many Cinderhill’s have resorted to isolation, deep in the forests of Kandarin and neighboring nations in order to never be seen.

When taking the form of a familiar, the body must contort to the creatures own, making it almost unbearable to withstand the pain of a shapeshift. The bones crack and splinter while the skin either expands or dissipates to conform to the creature. Over time, and as one takes the form of their familiar, they will be able to shift almost immediately upon their own will.