• Character Species

• INKLINGS

Capable of shape shifting into either human form or squid form, Inklings are versatile species with many known abilities. In both human and squid form, they're able to change their ink color at will. Not only that, but Inklings are also capable of altering their skin and eye color. Although, from birth, all Inklings their own unique set of colors.
In human form, Inklings share an appearance predominantly similar to ordinary humans. Their eyes are bordered by a black mask, and their teeth are occasionally pointed - not unlike a squid's beak. Their hair features two primary tentacles and four secondaries - totaling in 10 limbs, even in human form! As mentioned previously, their tentacle color can be changed at will. This is put to good use in the sport of Turf War! The appearance of their tentacles (length, position, etc.) can also be changed at will.

While far more capable in their human forms, Inklings are also more prone to injury. In contrast to their entirely ink-composed counterparts, Inklings in human form are capable of suffering cuts, bruises, and broken bones - although their "bones" aren't quite what you'd expect. Less brittle than human bones, they seldom run the risk of breaking thanks to their resilient nature - after all, they are made of ink, even if it is a solidified and structural sort. More severe injuries take time and healing, and during recovery from direr wounds, Inklings are unable to shift into their squid forms (though injuries this severe are quite uncommon!).

However, in human form, mature Inklings are capable of something most avoid - swimming in water. Because their bodies are solid in this form, Inklings don't run the risk of dissolving. Unfortunately, because young Inklings are incapable of assuming human form until they reach their teenage years, most have since developed a fear of attempting and refuse to learn how to swim. Regardless of their aversion to swimming, inklings are perfectly unharmed by rain and water in any of its forms - even if youthful and developing Inklings are inclined to avoid it.The Inklings' squid form is considerably smaller, and their entire body color depends on the current hue of their ink. Aside from being capable of swimming at high speeds through their own ink, Inklings aren't very formidable in their squid forms. That said, they're profoundly impressive jumpers! In squid form, Inklings are capable of "super jumping" great distances, a skill used excessively in day-to-day life as well as Turf War.

In squid form, Inklings become composed entirely out of ink - they're malleable and fluid this way, capable of moving freely through broken surfaces such as grates and bars. It's extremely difficult to injure an Inkling in squid form because of their liquid makeup, and often times, enemy ink is all that'll do the trick.

Often, an Inkling will shift into squid form subconsciously in times of comfort or relaxation. Alternatively, Inklings are capable of being startled into their squid form - but, of course, it all depends on the Inkling in question!During the first ten years of their lives, Inklings experience a lot of change. At birth, they're capable only of assuming squid form, and over the course of the next 10 or so years, young Inklings gradually mature and begin to attain a more humanoid form. Their bodies are not entirely solid during this process and remain mostly ink-composed, so swimming during this time is impossible. 

It's around the ages 10 - 13 that Inklings gain the ability to shift into their human forms, although the rate of maturity differs depending on each Inkling.