Previously: Elven Gene Queens and Gnomish Advisors
Creatures capable of some kind of shapeshifting can also interbreed with humans. The half-dragon entry in the Monster Manual suggests this is a practical form of procreation, and implies it could happen with other types of creatures that can shapeshift. Perhaps even well-established humanoids like elves and dwarves may have long-forgotten roots in shapeshifted interbreeding with humans?
Shapeshifters are naturally well-equipped to take over human civilizations; but the practice is not without risk. Most shapeshifters are inherently mercurial creatures, and their abilities are suited to short-term infiltration, deception, or exploitation. Shapeshifters who repeatedly assume the same form may start to identify too strongly with the assumed persona.
This phenomenon is common with doppelgangers. The Monster Manual presents doppelgangers as something like cuckoos, tricking other humanoids into raising their young. But what happens if they stay for longer, planning to manipulate and exploit the humans?
Over time, they begin to think of themselves as more human than doppelganger. Interbreeding with humans leads to generations of offspring that have latent, weaker versions of doppelganger abilities (perhaps advantage on saving throws against charm effects instead of immunity, and a more limited form of Read Thoughts). Many relatively stable human dynasties are composed of the descendants of a doppelganger founder, whose legacy remains long after they are gone.
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