Onye Na-Agbanwe Ọdịdị

A zoanthropic warrior who uses raw nzwara murazvo (called "ike mgbaaka" by an onye na-agbanwe ọdịdị) to become any animal they please, but take high risk of losing themself to the animal form.

Plural

The plural form is "ndị na-agbanwe ọdịdị".

Zoanthropy

The original zoanthropic powers developed in western Taggarus, where animal folk connected to their animal ancestors or antecedents and used that power to transform into them. They developed this skill beyond ancestral memory by standard methods of generating nzwara murazvo - by connecting to animals via imitation, co-dwelling, bonding via ritual dance, and so on. Eventually, a distinct ritual developed. Instead of a ritual dance, they use one of three different rites:

• Bloodsharing: the quickest and most dangerous way is to draw the blood of an animal and ritually insert it into one's own veins. This only works after co-dwelling with the animal; doing this is the most unstable manner and often leads to losing oneself to the animal's mindset.
• Soul journey: the most difficult and least dangerous way is to go on some kind of meditative vision-quest into one's own soul after co-dwelling with the animal, meeting its soul within the realm of spirits, and ritually bonding there. This often leads to a merging of souls in a way that is stable and easy to disengage.
• Animal garb: the commonest way is to create clothing that mimics the animal, sometimes using hides, feathers, or other animal features from one that has died naturally (but not of disease). Using this after co-dwelling and intentionally and ritually living as the animal for a year and a day develops enough nzwara murazvo to create a ndị na-agbanwe ọdịdị. This, however, is easiest to lose, as if the garb is too damaged, the power will fail.

These rites were limited to warriors in the original nation because they were first considered only useful to them, and then later because they were considered only possible for

Animal Forms

The warriors of this nation, the Alnsọ kingdom, take pride in their ability to take on different animal forms. They collect multiple forms and are proud to be able to move between them fluidly. They choose forms based on the kind of warrior they want to be, and each has a primary form that is their first form taken.

Animal	Notes
Aardvarks	though the actual form is considered less useful than most, symbolically, aardvarks are seen as a warrior that can take on many foes at once (because they eat ants), and therefore some warriors take their form as a brag about being able to do the same.
Angwantibos, pottos, bushbabies	these primates are considered weaker than other primates (though this is not always true), and very rarely do warriors select them as a primary form. Instead, they are sometimes taken as an extra form when swift movement through the trees or other escapes are necessary.
Ants	a warrior who takes on an ant form is taking on one of a very large ant, and therefore, a formidable opponent. However, the work it takes to take them as a form is extremely difficult, making this very rare.
Antelopes	any kind of antelope, gazelle, etc. is associated with warriors who combine speed and strength, but not excessive strength. They are often leaders and avoid violence unless absolutely necessary.
Bats	it is rare for warriors to choose bat forms, but a select few do so especially for their abilities at night. These warriors take their form and act as scouts, spies, and assassins.
Bees	though bees are capable of stinging and causing great harm, warriors see them as workers or servants because they are used to make honey for the community. Thus, they are an unpopular choice, especially since they are also difficult to bond with.
Beetles	there are many warriors who take on a beetle form, despite the difficulty of it, because beetles are often chosen as a special symbol for different communities.
Blind snakes
Bustards	these large terrestial birds are considered easy prey because of their slowness, and thus they are rarely chosen by warriors. However, there is a small group who take them as their emblem and consider their slowness a sign of wisdom and consideration.
Caracals, golden cats, and servals	smaller wild cats are considered cunning, quick, and skilled fighters, but they are also less favored than the big cats. They are more often extra forms.
Chameleons	since they can change colors, chameleons are more popular than other lizards. More common as an extra form, it's only chosen as a primary by those who know they will be engaging in subterfuge or other stealth work.
Chimpanzees	those who take on chimpanzee form are considered wild and dangerous. They are vicious and powerful, dangerous animals, and those who take their form are the most common to lose their self-identities. Those rare ones who do are usually part of a sect of warriors who take extreme risks. It is sometimes thought they are serial killers or cannibals.
Civets and genets	often underrated as fighters, civets and genets are considered fast, clever warriors. Those who choose them as primaries usually see themselves as underdogs.
Cuckoos	wrongly associated with cuckoldry in other cultures, among the warriors of west Taggarus, they are known for killing and eating bugs that others never eat. Thus, those who choose the cuckoo choose them because they are brave enough to face creatures or enemies no one else will.
Dolphins	warriors along the coast usually prefer dolphin forms if they take on an aquatic mammal form. They tend to be very fast, stronger than they appear, very clever, and more violent than expected. Many warriors who try for a whale form and fail take on a dolphin form instead.
Doves and pigeons	associated with food, they are rarely chosen by warriors except for their usefulness in escaping.
Dragonflies	giant dragonflies are greatly feared but less dangerous than they seem. Warriors do not often choose them (they are less formidable than they appear and they are hard to bond with), except when they think they need to intimidate those who are less familiar with them.
Egg-eating snakes	non-venomous snakes common to the area, they are considered pests or food and not often chosen except for subterfuge.
Elephants	warriors who take elephant forms are usually very strong and very observant, and therefore, they are usually those chosen to be bodyguards or protectors of their communities.
Flamingos	an absurd prey animal that is considered an embarrassment to take the form of.
Frogs and toads	frogs and toads are considered useful for swimming, jumping, and climbing work, and therefore are chosen by warriors who work in the swamps and forests more often than the savannas and mountains.
Giant otter shrews	these tenrec-like animals are not shrews or otters, but aquatic carnivores. They are rarely chosen as a primary form, but they are sometimes chosen by those who live near rivers or lakes as an extra form for their swimming abilities.
Giraffe	unfairly seen as an awkward animal to take the form of, they are rarely chosen by any warriors, but when they are, the warrior often finds their muscular necks are powerful weapons.
Golden wolves and wild dogs	extremely common forms, taken by the vast majority of warriors, considered the base form taken by most warriors.
Grasshoppers
Grebes
Guineafowl
Hedgehogs	more or less seen as a smaller version of a porcupine, but almost as a joke. Warriors almost never take this form, and those who do are made fun of.
Hippopotamuses	as one of the most dangerous animals in the region, they are considered powerful forms to take, and their ability to move in water is often considered a major plus. However, few warriors are ever able to achieve the form, and those who do usually find themselves honored as great heroes.
Honey badgers	an under-rated form preferred by those who know the local animals well - the honey badger is favored for its tenacity and viciousness. Those who take this form are usually considered stronger than they appear and very poweful fighters.
Hyenas
Hyraxes
Jackals
Kingfishers
Leopards	the second most common form taken by warriors, considered a little more elite than the wolves and wild dogs, but still very approachable. Also considered a lucky form.
Lepidopterans
Lions	there are mixed views of lions among warriors - though they are no doubt very powerful fighters, they are also considered cruel by many communities. Thus, warriors prefer not to take this form, especially as their primary, unless they are women, as the lioness is more well liked.
Lizards	skinks, geckos, agamas, worm lizards, and other small lizards are considered unfit for primary form, and those who do take it are considered very odd people. However, these are not an uncommon extra form, as they are useful for escapes.
Mantises
Mole-rats
Mongooses and kusimanses	known for taking on much larger opponents, these animals are highly respected among warriors and chosen by those who vow to take on the most dangerous foes.
Monkeys	colobuses, guenons, baboons, mangabeys, drills, and the many other monkeys of the area are considered tricksters, thieves, and buffoons, and they are rarely chosen by warriors. Those who do are often considered the "class clown" type - light-hearted and fun - but also known to be skilled, agile, and quick of mind and body.
Nightjars
Ospreys
Ostriches
Otters	only chosen by rare warriors who seek to be water-bound often and have a jolly disposition. They are considered lesser warriors but still valued. These are also a common extra form.
Pale foxes
Pangolins	considered symbols of death, pangolins are rarely chosen as a form at all by any warrior, for they think this will bring their death quicker. Those who do choose it are those who feel prepared to die.
Parrots
Passerines	songbirds are rarely chosen by warriors except as an extra form for stealth or escapes, but some choose them simply as an affectation, something to show how light and poetic they are.
Polecats
Porcupines	warriors who take a porcupine form do so for the spiny armor they provide and are considered pragmatic and sometimes stereotyped as grumpy.
Pythons
Quails and francolins
Raptors	many warriors choose hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, vultures, kites, bateleurs, griffons, shikras, or buzzards, usually as part of an elite squad of warriors who see themselves as the guardians of the skies. Most are highly respected, though some are viewed as haughty or arrogant.
Rats and mice	warriors who take these as a primary form are considered humble and heroic, but not particularly powerful or skilled. Though rare, those who take these forms as primary usually do so because they feel called to it, not because it is their decision. Those who take it as an extra form do so for reasons of speed, stealth, or practicality.
Savanna hares
Sea birds
Shrews
Snails
Spiders
Squirrels, jerboas, and gerbils	almost no warrior chooses a squirrel or gerbil as a primary form, but sometimes they are chosen as an extra form for warriors who wish to sneak into small spaces or escape quickly from dangerous situations.
Swifts
Taggaran buffalos
Taggaran manatees
Turtles
Vipers
Warthogs
Waterfowl
Western gorillas
Whales	warriors along the coast sometimes seek to take the form of whales. These are extremely rare - many try, few succeed - and those who manage it are usually empathetic and wise, calm and clear-minded, and very very very very strong. Historically, only those in legend have taken the form of a blue whale.
Wild hogs	wild hogs are considered powerful warriors, and those who take this form are generally seen as among the strongest and best fighters. They are honored as elites.
Wolf snakes
Woodpeckers

Ferality