Changeling

Changelings are a most interesting race, inherently Fey to their core, they have a natural ability for shapeshifting and sneakery.
Often very subtle and deceptive in their ways, how each new guise was used is often up to the individual, be it for mischief; for entertainment; for a disguise, or perhaps even it could simply be another facet of their soul, an inner longer perhaps. Changelings have different terms for their guises, representing in depth the meaning behind each one.

• A 'mask' is a guise that lacks backstory and deeper personality; it is created on a whim to display a mood or to fulfil a need and could be easily discarded, never to be seen again.

• A 'persona' is a full identity with a backstory, depth and beliefs of its own. A Changeling can maintain a number of personas for different applications and situations, and they could be shared between others of their kind if so desired.

A typical Changeling is careful and wary of dangers, only undertaking a risky endevour if the rewards or the odds of success make it worthwhile. On the other hand, they quite frequently have rather expensive tastes, enjoying the comforts and luxuries that riches could bring, and seek them out whenever they can.
Changelings frequently enjoy learning new languages and build a collection of them, it is unknown if this is a natural inbuilt thing to aid with disguises or not.

Basic Information

Biological Traits

Changelings in their true form are faded and monochromatic, with their skin either purest white or a slightly off toned pale grey; their eyes are often grey or silver; likewise their hair will almost always be white, silver or pale grey, and they boast a very slender build, sometimes bordering on gangly. Their true forms vary between 5 - 6 ft in height.

Civilization and Culture

History

Changeling history is broken up into two 'sub-species', the Changelings born from Hag reproduction and the Changelings born of Changelings.

Hag Born:

Exact reports are often argued over, but the widest belief in terms of Hag reproduction is that a Hag will steal a newborn from its crib and eat it, birthing a Changeling not long after. This newborn Changeling is then placed back in the crib to be raised by its humanoid parents, as Hags have little to no maternal instincts and will not raise their spawn unless they plan to use them in a coven.
Changelings born in this way often appear entirely normal, appearing like the same race of the child that they were swapped with, often they are beautiful and healthy, with their true nature being a mystery even to themselves for most of their lives. They will remain this way until they discover the truth themselves; until their Hag mother Calls for them (dependant on the Changeling being female or until outed by society by magical means.
Once a Changeling has discovered its heritage, it will slowly learn the abilities and traits associated to its kind, starting by discovering their true forms, then shapeshifting, deceptiveness, keen knowledge for linguistics and so on.
Changelings born this way may sometimes have a difficult upbringing, once they are discovered it is not unusual for their 'birth' parents to shun them, realising the child they created died long ago and was replaced by a fraud. Sometimes, if fortunate, they will still remain loved and accepted, but this is the tumultuous reality each Changeling eventually faces.
Eternium Specific Lore: Hag Born Changelings can originate from The Feywild and the Material Plane.

Changeling Born:

It is unknown when Changelings became their own standalone race, no longer simply being born from Hags, but in the Feywild there are many Changelings. Some are out and proud of their natures, spending the majority of their time in their true forms, while others still prefer the concealment and deception of another skin, taking on forms associated to their surrounding demographics.
Changelings born of Changelings bare all the same physical traits as those born of Hags, but they are immediately born knowing what they are. There is none of the surprise or concealment, they are born in their true forms and can begin shapeshifting from a very young age.
Changelings born in this way are considered a dominant gene, meaning that if a Changeling were to have a child with any other race their offspring has a 75% chance of being another Changeling. This increases to 100% if two Changelings have a child.
It is widely known that Changelings do very well for themselves in the Winter Court and in fact the Court's Master of Espionage is a renown Changeling Lord.
Eternium Specific Lore: Changelings born this way can ONLY come from The Feywild.

Origin/Ancestry

Fey

Lifespan

100 years

Average Height

5 - 6 ft (1.5 - 1.8 m)