Hengeyokai are intelligent animals which have learned to assume humanoid form. Some were born with this supernatural ability while other acquired the talent through any manner of mystical means, ranging from exposure to magical forces to the consumption of raw humanoid flesh.

Whatever the origin of their shapechanging powers, hengeyokai tend to be curious about the world around them, especially where the affairs of various humanoids are concerned. Though hengeyokai find humanoids fascinating, hengeyokai are incredibly shy, and prefer to observe these subjects from afar.

Demihuman Hengeyokai

Sometimes, an hengeyokai becomes permanently stuck in human form. These so-called demihuman hengeyokai are more akin to humanoids than magical beasts, and have capabilities comparable to those of standard player character races.

Demihuman hengeyokai are defined by their class levels—they do not possess racial Hit Dice. All demihuman hengeyokai have the following racial traits.

+2 Wisdom, –2 Intelligence: You are perceptive but not studious.
+2 to any one physical ability score: You are either strong, fast, or tough, as befitting your specific animal nature. Choose Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution upon character creation and gain a +2 racial bonus to the chosen ability score. Once this choice is made, it cannot be changed.
Medium humanoid (shapechanger): You are a Medium creature with the humanoid type and the shapechanger subtype. You have no bonuses or penalties based on size.
Normal Speed: You have a base land speed of 30 feet.
Low-Light Vision: You can see twice as far as normal in areas of dim light.
Bonus Feat: You gain one of the following of your choice as a bonus feat: Alertness, Dodge, Endurance, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Acrobatics, Climb, Fly, Perception, Stealth, Survival, or Swim), Run, Stealthy, Toughness, or Weapon Finesse.
Keen Senses: You gain a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks.
Pass For Human (Ex) You usually appear human, though visible hints of your animal nature become more apparent whenever you are under stress. When you aren't actively using a disguise, an observer must succeed on a Perception check with a DC equal to 20 + your bonus on Disguise checks to notice that you aren't human. The first time each minute you perform a strenuous action, the DC of this check is permanently reduced to 10 + your bonus on Disguise checks. You can permanently restore the DC to its higher value as a standard action that doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity.
Languages: You begin play speaking Common and Sylvan. If you have an high Intelligence score, you can choose any of the following as a bonus language: Celestial, Draconic, Elven, Gnome, Gnoll, Goblin, or Halfling.