Changelings

Changelings can shift their forms with a thought. Many changelings use this gift as a form of artistic and emo­tional expression. It's also an invaluable tool for grifters, spies, and others who wish to deceive. This leads many people to treat changelings with suspicion

Basic Information

Anatomy

In their true form, changelings are pale, with colorless eyes and silver-white hair.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Personas can be shared by multiple changelings; there might be three healers in a community, but whoever is on duty will adopt the persona of Tek, the kindly old medic. Personas can even be passed down through a family, allowing a younger changeling to take advantage of con­tacts established by the persona's previous users.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Wherever humans live, changelings reside also; the question is whether their presence is known

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

A changeling might use a different name for each mask and persona and adopt new names as easily as they change faces. The true name of a changeling tends to be simple and monosyllabic; however, there are often accents to a changeling's name that are expressed through shapeshifting, something single-skins will likely miss. So, two changelings might have the name Jin, but one is "Jin-with-vivid-blue-eyes" and one is "Jin­-with-golden-nails".
Changeling Names: Aunn, Bin, Cas, Dox, Fie, Hars, Jin, Lam, Mas, Nix, Ot, Paik, Ruz, Sim, Toox, Vil, Yug

Gender Ideals

Changelings have a fluid relationship with gender, see­ing it as one characteristic to change among many.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Changelings all speak Common, and they typically speak 2 or more additional languages to adopt additional personas.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Changelings are born to one of three paths. A few are raised in stable communities where changelings are true to their nature and deal openly with the people around them. Some are orphans, raised by other races, who find their way in the world without ever knowing another like themselves. Others are part of nomadic changeling clans spread across the Five Nations, fam­ilies who keep their true nature hidden from the sin­gle-skins. Some clans maintain safe havens in major cities and communities, but most prefer to wander the unpredictable path of the god known as the Traveler.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

It is rare to see a changeling in their true form, for a typical changeling changes their shape the way others might change clothes. A casual shape­--one created on the spur of the moment, with no depth or history-is called a mask. A mask can be used to express a mood or to serve a specific purpose and then might never be used again. However, many changelings develop identities that have more depth. They build an identity over time, crafting a persona with a history and beliefs. This focused identity helps a changeling pinpoint a par­ticular skill or emotion.

Common Myths and Legends

Long ago, there was a woman named Jes, and she had one hundred children. Her rivals conspired against her and swore to kill her children. Jes begged the Sovereigns for help, but their only answer was the wind and rain. In the depths of her despair, a lonely traveler took her hand. "I will protect your children if they follow my path. Let them wander the world. They may be shunned and feared, but they will never be destroyed."Jes agreed, and the traveler gave her his cloak. When she draped it over her children, their old faces melted away and they could be whoever they wanted to be. And so it remains. Though the children are shunned by all, the gift of the Traveler protects them still.

Lifespan

Changelings mature slightly faster than humans but share a similar lifespan-typically a century or less. While a changeling can transform to conceal their age, the effects of aging affect them similarly to humans.

Average Height

Same as a human

Average Weight

Same as a human