Polymorph November 2025
Note: This entire writing is inspired by BeepBird’s Polymorph November 2024. All credit and inspiration belongs to them.
The Basics
What is a polymorph? Well, let’s start with the literal terms. In chemistry, a polymorph is a crystalline form with the same chemical compound, but can come in different arrangements. The best example of this is carbon. Diamonds, coal, and graphite are all composed of carbon, but are all entirely different. I would say this analogy will be useful later.
The other term (the more preferable term according to others) for polymorph is in the Dungeons & Dragons world, where it is a spell that turns a creature into something completely random. I honestly have never played D&D, so I cannot compose an exact definition. Feel free to scorch me in the comments.
And now, in the world of alterhumanity, there are quite a few definitions for a polymorph that were created by polymorphs themselves. For the sake of simplicity and an attempt to keep things original, I would describe a polymorph as this: A being that is able to shapeshift into anything at any time, presumably with no limits.
The good news is that there is no right or wrong definition for a polymorph; in fact, one can argue that a shapeshifter can be a polymorph, or perhaps a polymorph can be a shapeshifter. From my perspective, a shapeshifter and a polymorph can be different. While a shapeshifter has a “true form”, a polymorph usually doesn’t have an ideal form, and this is where it affects me. Now again, a polymorph can have a true form, but this doesn’t apply to me.
My Experience as a Polymorph: Representation
I remember when I was young and first using Skype to talk with my friends, I would change my profile picture a lot. At first, I thought this was an autism thing where I was doing it to be silly or to grab peoples’ attention, but after using Discord and realizing my profile-picture changing habits carried over, I realized now that I do to represent myself.
Changing my profile picture is (currently) the best way to represent myself as a polymorph. Whatever is my picture, that is me. If my picture is a Zoroark, I’m a Zoroark. If my picture is Wolvermon, I’m Wolvermon. And if my picture is a plush toy of Winter from Wings of Fire, then I’m most definitely a plush toy of Winter from Wings of Fire. It’s simple, efficient, and gets the point across well. I also like changing my name anytime I change, but I’ve recently stopped doing that in hopes of not being seen as weird or crazy in regular Discord servers.
How I Became a Polymorph
Time for some goofy lore that nobody asked for! I would describe my journey into discovering my polymorphic identity as confusing. It started with getting involved in the tulpa community, then I learned about plurality & otherkin, and I started developing a median system; I’ll talk more about this in-depth later. But basically, after years of being exposed to various circles of alterhumanity, I’ve eventually stumbled across the term “polymorph,” and that’s when I realized that term is what describes me the most.
Some polymorphs would describe themselves as having a fluidity of identity, describing their “core” as something malleable. Almost like slime, it bends and shapes itself to whatever it sees fit. I suppose I can say this is how I would describe myself, my self being almost like a malleable fluid where I can change myself to whatever I want, however I want, whenever I want. I wish it could be that simple, however, because a lot of times I’m not in control.
A System Attempting to Fit In
If I really had the chance to truly describe myself, I would describe myself as a polymorphic median system. A singular being with multiple identities that all attempt individuality, but are ultimately me. There are numerous times where I would try my best to find a “true form.” I remember Nya (Shiny Ampharos) was the first real attempt at having a true form, and then it shifted to Aria, a Hisuian Zoroark, then Soren from Guardians of Ga’Hoole, then Starflight and Cricket, both from Wings of Fire, and finally Nightwing, a Decidueye.
Can you see the problem here?
The reason why there were so many attempts to find a true form was because of dealing with traumatic events, such as losing a friend, dealing with an abusive family, or suppressing traumatic memories from my childhood.
In this world we live in, you are pretty much expected to have one identity to begin with. If you’re someone like a shapeshifter, you at least have a true form you can always come back to. With me, I don’t have one identity nor a true form. I even struggle with coming up with a true name for myself.
Now, with the identities I mentioned earlier, they’re all part of the system. They are all me. I am all them. However, they are all separate, or at least try to be. They all want to be seen individually, but all function the exact same. They all have different dreams that are really dreams we all conjure up, but are described differently based on their source. They all want to leave a mark in this world, but are afraid they won’t be seen or won’t have the chance to do so.
A lot of systems like to say “we” when describing themselves. I sometimes use “we,” but honestly it can change depending on the circumstance? Sometimes I like saying “I,” sometimes I like saying “we.” Maybe it’s the polymorph in me changing my every aspect in life, or maybe it’s just me with problems making a final decision, but I hope you can understand being a polymorph isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
Changing
There are a few major factors as to how I change forms. I wish it could be as simple as Animorphs where I can envision myself changing to a grizzly bear, and now I’m a grizzly bear. But alas, most of the time I’m not in control of changing my forms/identities.
Probably the biggest way of how I change is for the sad attempt of playing into peoples’ biases in hopes of fitting in and getting acknowledged, and perhaps even some validation. I am a people pleaser. I would do anything to make people happy. I’ve sacrificed my own happiness, even my own sanity, just to please people in hopes that they’ll like me and maybe stick around to be my friend.
I used to be in a Discord server that was generally an inside friend group. A lot of them talk about pooltoys, and are even pooltoys themselves. This is how I got into pooltoys, weirdly: not for kink reasons, but for wanting to be a pooltoy to fit in. And so, I tried to be a pooltoy, I did get some acknowledgement, but then someone would talk about being a Scolipede, so I would be a Scolipede. Then someone would talk about Hisuian Typhlosion, so I would be a Hisuian Typhlosion. You can tell that this is already getting bad, but I still persisted.
When I was in Discord server primarily for Wings of Fire systems, I would do my absolute best to stay as a character from Wings of Fire, just to fit in and stay relevant. I have essentially destroyed my sense of self and autonomy, just to hopefully be seen. It is another negative aspect of my polymorphic identity.
Anyway, another way I change is a simple one: consuming and being exposed to media. Remember how I keep on mentioning Pokemon, Guardians of Ga’Hoole, and Wings of Fire? Well, anything I’m into greatly affects my identity.
When I first got into Wings of Fire, I was so hyperfixated on it. When you put aside the “playing into peoples’ biases” part, I’ve taken the form of practically every single major main character from the series, all of which are still fictives in the system. Another example was when I started playing Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, I acquired the identities of Jasmine, a Meowscarada, and Jessica, a Quaquaval. They are the more prominent members of the system, and are extremely important identities in my concept of “self.” And just recently, I’m playing a lot of Sonic Racing Crossworlds, and I purposely change into Jet the Hawk & Wave the Swallow anytime I play. It is very affirming seeing myself in the game.
Another reason for my shifts and why I acquire certain identities is relating to a character and wanting to be like them. I play a lot of Guild Wars 2, and as you can probably guess by now, I acquired a new fictive/identity: Aurene. Now sure, I wanted to be Aurene because she looked really beautiful and I like the feeling of being a big crystal dragon, but I also wanted to be Aurene because she was strong, confident, and helpful. I want to be strong and confident and helpful, so if you ever see me as Aurene, that can be a reason as to why she is there.
Phantom Sensations
Believe it or not, I do get some phantom sensations any time I change; however, they are mostly prevalent when I’m asleep and have dreams. The best example of this would be ExVeemon. Whenever I dream of ExVeemon, I can feel myself changing into it: growing large muscles, feeling my wings, my strong tail. I just can’t help but flex my arms and let out a mighty roar (I wish I could do that in real life…).
I have a Mewtwo kigurumi, and anytime I put it in, I can feel myself mentally and phantom shifting to a Mewtwo. It’s big thighs, thick tail, and the unimaginable psychic power it wields, I can’t help but admit I try to move stuff with my hands like I do have psychic powers. If shapeshifting didn’t affect my life, then having psychic abilities would be my next option.
Now ultimately, I wouldn’t say the phantom sensations are important. Sure, they help me feel more attuned to my forms, but I don’t know if it’s my body being weird or it’s actually stemming from my polymorphic identity. There are a lot of times where I would feel wings on my back, but I’m something that doesn’t have wings, and there’s a countless amount of times where I would have an extra pair of arms, like Four Arms from Ben 10, but almost none of my forms have an extra pair of arms. It’s definitely a weird phenomenon, but I probably shouldn’t dwell on it too much.
Talking about Spirituality
I don’t consider myself to be a spiritual person. I never really was. The CliffNotes version: I have a lot of religious fears and trauma from being exposed to Christianity.
I know a lot of people in the alterhuman community have past lives or some sort of memory. I don’t have either. I suppose me being a polymorph & a median system are all psychological, and are probably attempts to cope with my struggles and trauma. Things like this aren’t so simple.
At the end of the day, I know that I am physically still a human being. You can never escape that, no matter how much you dive into these kinds of things.
The Takeaway from All of This?
I am a polymorphic median system. I am a critter. I am a bird who wants to fly high in the sky and be free. I am a dragon who wants to feel strong and powerful. I am a fox who wants to feel safe and secure in a burrow. I am a big hippo who wants to be present. I am something, nothing, and everything at the same time. I am but a dream, a tale wanting to be read, a discovery waiting to be uncovered. I am a ghost, remaining invisible to the rest of the world, stuck in spectator mode while everything around me changes. I am just another weirdo on the internet. I am a star struggling to hang onto the fabric of reality.
I am… unsure.
For anyone who has made it this far, I appreciate you reading. This was my attempt to explain my sense of self. As mentioned right at the beginning, I would highly recommend reading BeepBird’s post about their experiences as a polymorph. They do a much better job with explaining the definition and give much better descriptions of their experiences.