Shazamrock
Name: Calleida (kuh-LIE-duh) Fynwynlynn
Race: Varies…
Calleida is cursed to shapeshift into a random animal twice a day – twelve noon and twelve midnight. The vast majority of the time, she becomes some mundane animal, though once a month or so she’ll spend some time as a mythical beast or a humanoid race. Her “original” race/species, if she ever had one, is unknown. It is believed she was supposed to be some form of intelligent humanoid, however, because in all her forms she is capable of humanoid activities like speaking, using tools (as her form permits), abstract thought, and humanoid emotions. In addition, she can communicate with the type of animal that matches her current form. The only thing mostly constant about Calleida’s appearance is her misty gray-green eyes, present in all animal forms except those that don’t have noticeable eyes.
Job: Calleida is trying to be more responsible now that her father is aging, though she has trouble holding down a consistent job for… reasons. By day, she’s found a few places she might be paid for temporary work. Plowing fields, dusting the insides of potion bottles, what have you. By night, she may be seen performing by the wanderers’ roads, hoping to get some tips from gullible passersby who haven’t heard her tale… or perhaps those who have.
Background: Oryxtheos Fynwynlynn, the Sensational (in his heart) Sword-Swallowing Satyr, met Calleida when she was a mere puppy in a box abandoned by the roadside. The vagabond was used to traveling alone, but he figured a dog might make a nice traveling companion – and who could resist those puppy-dog eyes? He was quite surprised when the pup soon transformed into a young rhinoceros – and a snake – and, most frightful of all, a baby satyr. Oryxtheos was no stranger to mystical adventure in his younger days, though, and he decided to take on the challenge of raising this animal. Then, months later, the creature began to babble and imitate Oryxtheos’ actions, almost like a… child? Oh no.
The two continued a wandering satyr’s life for a couple years, but Oryxtheos could no longer deny that the open roads were a poor place to raise a child, much less one that could turn into a worm at a moment’s notice. Besides, his knees were getting a little old for all this wandering and traveling and seeing the sights, anyway. The small town of Lorenstad seemed as good a place as any – not too pompous or cramped or anything – and there they settled for the next seventeen years.
Though Calleida is not his daughter by blood, she picked up several of Oryxtheos’ traits: curiosity, spunk, quick wit, love of the open country, improvisation, a free spirit, a wanderlust that has led to multiple near disasters and great campfire stories. Sometimes Calleida thinks the old man is TOO strict and overprotective. After all, he tells a lot of fantastic tales about his youth, and Calleida wishes she could have some adventures of her own – or at least some normal kid adventures. But whenever she’s bullied, or she feels left out, or the stairs are just too big to climb, Oryxtheos is always there to offer the very best support he can.
Of course the topic of breaking Calleida’s curse has come up. Twice the Fynwynlynns have scraped together most of their money for some wizard who promised a miracle cure or at least some answers, only to be scammed. The possibility will always be at the back of their minds, but at this point it’s easier and healthier not to get their hopes up. Who would Calleida be without the curse, anyway?
Home: The Fynwynlynns live in a rustic little cottage on the edge of town, next to a bit of land where Oryxtheos raises chickens and grows herbs for a living. There is also a large ramshackle shed next door so Calleida can have a half-decent roof over her head when she turns into an elephant.
Birthday: Calleida’s true birthday is unknown, but her “Found Day” is celebrated on Raina 20.
Note: Calleida's transformations will be determined by RNG based on the covers of the main-series Animorphs books. In the rare case the cover features something other than an animal, Calleida will become a similar humanoid or mythical creature.
Current Form: Northern Harrier (hawk)