Changelings

Changelings as Adventurers

Players are left to their own decision making skills to decide on their reaction when a Changeling is revealed to them. However, traditionally, most people at least treat them like pariahs. That's the best outcome. The other, more common outcome is a violent purging of the Changeling and any suspected to be in its circle. More information describing their social reception will be listed in Changelings in Other Cultures.

Origin Archetypes

Changelings tend to fulfill any tasks they personally find enjoyable. However, they are not given to professions that draw attention such as Entertainer or Gladiator.

Character Archetypes

Changelings will often take unassuming careers that push the public eye away from them. As part of an adventuring outfit or even an expedition they are often employed, unbeknownst to the hiring forces, for much the same. After all, having a master of disguise can unlock many doors:

• Assassin, Jester, Thief, but again, its much the same as above.

Common Names

Family Names

Changelings either adopt the family names of their adoptive family or change it to something innocuous later in life. They may change it frequently in fact, in order to continue hiding their existence. They tend to take the names of people they admire or even despise, but rarely take the name of people they mimic. Their name tends to be suitable for whichever culture they chose to hide in.

Culture

It is unknown why, how or even if changelings are born. As such they don't really know if there is a cultural heritage unique to their kind. Many believe they are something of an aberration even to their fey parents. Cast out and replaced with a human child as even something as stunted as a mortal was preferable to them. Others believe they are sleeper-agents simply waiting to be activated and spend their days trying to survive until then. This latter theory is one spun of hope that there is a place for them even if they don't know about it. But, as is the case with much of changeling nature, no one knows.

Its impossible to say how many changelings may be alive and operating on Trynnalta.

Native Language

Changelings more often than not speak the tongue of their parents, though enterprising ones may try and learn a more diverse set, although Sióg may have diminishing returns.

Taboos

Changelings, even if they know of other changelings, do not discuss each other with people who are not either well-trusted or other changelings, even then it often takes years for them to begin trusting another individual. A changeling that becomes known for ousting other changelings is known as a Twice-Turned-Coat and is often a creature with a bullseye on its back as others may seek to silence them before they can do too much damage.

Twice-Turned-Coat - Changelings who endeavor to oust or reveal their kinsmen among the wider realms of Trynnalta are not dealt with kindly by other changelings. Such changelings are often a creature with a bullseye on its back as others may seek to silence them before they can do too much damage. Largely their culture depends on the specific culture the changelings hides themselves away in. They often tend to exemplify those cultural customs, codes and values to fit in and make themselves above reproach. If they are paragons of their chosen communities then who could doubt them?

At some point in the early life of the changeling they will find themselves able to mimic the physical features and voices of others. This is often a jarring moment for the changeling and can happen at any time. Many do not survive as, unsure of what is happening, they seek the safety of their adoptive families. These families, of course, think they've had their child stolen from them and seek retribution on the offending changeling. So, more often than not, the origins of many changelings is one filled with spite and vitriol. Their earliest memories ones of abandonment and loneliness.

Grim Countries

Where changelings come from, what forms them, how they're born and why are the biggest questions any changeling might ask the world. However, it is a question without an answer. Many mortals of the Grim Countries consider them to be cannibal child thieves that steal babies from the cradle, devour them and take their place. No one can verify this claim, but it persists nonetheless. Changelings, by contrast, mutter among themselves that in Otherworld there is a place where changelings are born and welcome, although no one knows if this place exists. Such a place, were it to be real, would be salve to the collective changeling soul.

The Psoglavi of Etomesto believe that Changelings are Vardyvle and should be ignored completely. However, in some cases the Skollomanse will gather Changelings up and have them brought to the Skollomanse directly. What happens to them afterwards is unknown as none ever return. While this sounds horrific, it means that Etomesto is the safest country for Changelings to hide in, if they like those odds.

Riven Lands

In the Riven Lands any Changeling born to Fomorii is destroyed without question upon discovery. However, its also known that they enslave Changelings from time to time for use as spies. Fomorii believe that whenever a Changeling takes your shape, it takes a great portion of ones' power.

The Ordovic are loathe to hate anything as a monolith, but even they relate myths from when they walked out of the ocean. Myths of eggs spawning strange offspring. Legend says that in the early hours, Changeling offspring whisper to their siblings and lead them into the jungle where they are snatched up by the huakaʻi'pō, or Nightmarchers, and carried away to the realm of spirits.

Symerans, however strange it may be, do not have legends or stories of Changelings haunting their hearths and eating their children. However, they believe that Changelings are poorly developed offspring that have an unfortunate birth defect. As they are not Symeran in their "real face" they are forbidden from most Symeran culture, even forbidden from entering the ranks of the Rahlamaan.

The Rekiret believe that Changeling children are the descendants of, or corrupted by, the evil goddess Espet. For this they are regularly purged from the Qishemi.

Scorched Realms

Across An Mhuir Thoir and past the Wandering Isles in the land of Djinnaya, the life of a Changeling is one haunted by fire. The Kitajal-Jinn believe that Kitajal-Ol offspring who are "tainted" by the Changing Curse are in danger of spreading it further and wider. To prevent this they gather the Changelings, capturing them if need be, and dragging them to the Mazar of Nariil & the Scripture of Flame to be cleansed in holy fire. This has the side effect of ridding the world of the gathered Changelings, as well.

In Samara Strima the Kitajal-Shan have a different method of dealing with their Changeling population. The imperial soldiers gather any known Changelings and bring them to Empress's court where they are experimented on and dissected by the Order of the Driven Nail.

The Kitajal-Ol are no more innocent than their uplifted brethren. Ol believe that Changelings are "Matunda Mabaya", or bad fruit, that fell from the Vila Tree and poison the world with their existence. Moreover, the Ol say that it was the Changelings that tricked their spider-god into tricking their alfil-god into shattering the world during the Sundering.

Across the waters of the Bay of Teeth, the island nation of Kinokashima rests. Here, it is actually the Changelings who tell horror stories to their young about the Kitsune (Cáo Tinh). Changelings avoid Kinokashima as it is said the kitsune there have the ability to see through the glamour and disguises of Changelings, but only ones with a certain number of tails. The problem is no one knows how many tails are required, so the island is avoided.

Beauty Ideals

This depends on the culture and tribe that the changeling chooses to hide among. However, they will often choose a form and style of clothing that is a paradigm among the people they hide alongside. Anything to make their lies seem friendly and appealing so they can avoid detection.

Gender Ideals

This depends on the culture and tribe that the Changeling hides among. If one gender is favored, they will typically choose that one in order to better their chances of advancing up the social ladder. The closer to the top they are, the less likely those at the bottom can question their honesty.

Relationship Ideals