62 tall. Dark complexion. Dark brown hair worn long in a ponytail, can be braided with beads for tribal ceremonies and official functions. Hazel eyes, aquiline nose. Thin mouth. Physical build is average. Tends to wear brown, green and grey clothes for preference but will wear any clothing appropriate.
Law abiding. Looks after the underdog. Very loyal, to family first, the tribe second. Has a hunters code : will kill for food or in self defence only and disapproves of needless killing. Slight feelings of vengeance towards Hounds. In love with Mary-Jo Palehorse. Goes into flashback catatonia at mention of mothers name - Kim. Protective of brother and sister. Poor sense of humour - tends to be serious and pontificate.
Seven or eight generations ago, in the 2140s, the UN allocated an area on Saturns moon Titan to five families of the Chinook tribe of American Indians of the north-west USA. The original five families who had petitioned for this took appropriate names and had their children altered to fit them (i.e. Swifteagle can change into an eagle). The original families were Swifteagle, Palehorse, Wiseowl, Runningbear and Raccoon. These families have grown to be the five tribes of the Shore, which is what the habitat has become known as - it stands on the shore of one of Titans many islands. Each tribe is controlled by the tribal chief and the shaman (these names used for traditional reasons). The whole Shore is run by one of the chiefs elected on a five yearly basis. When a chief dies it is not automatic that his/her eldest child inherits. The tribe gathers to elect the new chief from a pool consisting of the grandchildren of the chiefs parents. Effectively those in which the shapechange ability runs true.
Titan was seeded with a genetically engineered ecosystem which is adapted for Titanian conditions in the 2150s, and this has now spread, in part at least, all over Titan. It includes versions of cetaceans of all kinds, as well as various plants and other wildlife, including versions of all the five tribes totem animals. The tribes were involved in the creation of this ecosystem almost from the start, and most of them now see themselves as its guardians.
John is the eldest son of William and Kim (RIP) and has a younger sister Jane and a younger brother James. William is currently the chief of the Swifteagle tribe and john wishes to succeed him. As a leading family the family was chosen by the UN to participate in the uplifting program and the three children all have mental powers well beyond normal as well as the shapechange to an eagle which their father had. Being the eldest Johns abilities are the best developed.
Whilst growing up John frequently fought with and competed with his cousin Kyle (whose father is the shaman) and there is little love lost between them. Kyle also wants to be the next chief of the tribe and they constantly try to outdo each other to gain the edge. This sometimes degenerates into bickering and in fighting.
Whilst at school John fell for Mary-Jo Palehorse (second child of the tribal chief) and the feelings were returned. She is a couple of years older than John and is also enhanced, with shapechange abilities much beyond the norm - she can change her shape into literally anything. She was a member of the UN military, initially of Titan, but also elsewhere in the Solar System. About six months ago she was sent on a secret mission against the Hounds and hasnt returned. John believes that part of his mission is to find and rescue her.
When John was about seven the Hounds attacked the Shore and his mother was killed in front of his eyes. He will now slip into a catatonic flashback state at the mention of her name: Kim.