Changelings
Changelings are a species of humanoid parasites that prey on human society. They are hated and reviled and killed if they are ever discovered.
Shapeshifters: Changelings possess the special ability to change their physical appearance to mimic the appearance of other species. They can also mimic voices and accents very quickly. Overall it takes only a few minutes for a changeling to memorize the voice and appearance of a target and a few hours to take on that appearance.
They can shift their bodies to an extent, taking on the form of somebody with more bodyfat than them or somewhat taller than them, but this flexibility only goes so far. For example they cannot shift things like their number of limbs.
No matter what shape they take, the blood of a changeling will always be blue, and there exist spells that will uncover their true nature swiftly. They will also quickly take on their true form if they are killed.
They have little to no empathy or compassion and see others as tools at best. They will manipulate and lie as easy as breathing, all so they can live a luxurious lifestyle with plentiful food and sex. Changelings generally live alone but occasional cooperation between multiple changelings is not uncommon either.
Changelings are the subject of stories to frighten children with, but they scare adults just as much if not more. If a changeling is discovered, it will be killed immediately, beaten to death by an angry mob. They are seen as murderers and rapists and that description is accurate.
Changeling children look like normal children of the host species but they have no empathy and are natural manipulators, so they are often already societal outcasts by the time they hit puberty, at which point their shapeshifting abilities activate and they take on their true form for the first time.
If the changeling survives this, it may choose to continue living as that idendity if possible, or it may assume the same wandering lifestyle that other changelings do.
In the beginning the Changelings used their newfound freedom to assume positions of wealth and power in human society, killing and replacing nobles and wealthy merchants. However this movement was eventually discovered and the human nobles panicked. They sent their mages and scholars at the problem until they eventually figured out several methods of uncovering changelings and thus had methods to vet their employees and colleagues. Since then the changelings tend to stick to easier targets.
Once changeling involvement is suspected, the best way to combat changelings is to ask people to cut themselves and show that they bleed red instead of blue.
Any that refuse can be taken aside and put under more scrutiny, though one should take care not to indiscriminately execute those that refuse as there are valid reasons on why somebody wouldn't.
In open combat, changelings are no more capable than a normal human and will almost always try to run away rather than fight.
They are cowards by nature and will gladly sell out their friends and comrades in exchange for a chance to live another day.
Description
Changelings in their natural form are featurless, genderless blue humanoids. They are roughly equivalent to humans in size, strength and intelligence.Shapeshifters: Changelings possess the special ability to change their physical appearance to mimic the appearance of other species. They can also mimic voices and accents very quickly. Overall it takes only a few minutes for a changeling to memorize the voice and appearance of a target and a few hours to take on that appearance.
They can shift their bodies to an extent, taking on the form of somebody with more bodyfat than them or somewhat taller than them, but this flexibility only goes so far. For example they cannot shift things like their number of limbs.
No matter what shape they take, the blood of a changeling will always be blue, and there exist spells that will uncover their true nature swiftly. They will also quickly take on their true form if they are killed.
Infiltrators:
Changelings live as social parasites in civilized societies, taking advantage of any oppurtunity to use their ability to shape-shift to gain free resources. Very often they try to kill and replace people, spend all their money and then move on to another target.They have little to no empathy or compassion and see others as tools at best. They will manipulate and lie as easy as breathing, all so they can live a luxurious lifestyle with plentiful food and sex. Changelings generally live alone but occasional cooperation between multiple changelings is not uncommon either.
Changelings are the subject of stories to frighten children with, but they scare adults just as much if not more. If a changeling is discovered, it will be killed immediately, beaten to death by an angry mob. They are seen as murderers and rapists and that description is accurate.
Life cycle
Changelings will engage in physical relations whenever possible, and though their fertility rates are low, they may impregnate a female of the host species occasionally. They will not at all partake in the raising of their offspring and likely will be long gone by the time they are even born.Changeling children look like normal children of the host species but they have no empathy and are natural manipulators, so they are often already societal outcasts by the time they hit puberty, at which point their shapeshifting abilities activate and they take on their true form for the first time.
If the changeling survives this, it may choose to continue living as that idendity if possible, or it may assume the same wandering lifestyle that other changelings do.
History
Changelings were originally created by the Tu'vok as infiltrators and agents to more easily subvert Human society. However the changelings went rogue and disappeared into the human population, shaking off the shackles of their masters. The Tu'vok continue to use changelings whenever convenient, but independent changelings can now be found roaming across Haven.In the beginning the Changelings used their newfound freedom to assume positions of wealth and power in human society, killing and replacing nobles and wealthy merchants. However this movement was eventually discovered and the human nobles panicked. They sent their mages and scholars at the problem until they eventually figured out several methods of uncovering changelings and thus had methods to vet their employees and colleagues. Since then the changelings tend to stick to easier targets.
Hunting strategy
The most difficult thing about combating changelings is to even suspect that a changeling is involved. They will go to great lengths to blend in and disappear long before any suspicion arises.Once changeling involvement is suspected, the best way to combat changelings is to ask people to cut themselves and show that they bleed red instead of blue.
Any that refuse can be taken aside and put under more scrutiny, though one should take care not to indiscriminately execute those that refuse as there are valid reasons on why somebody wouldn't.
In open combat, changelings are no more capable than a normal human and will almost always try to run away rather than fight.
They are cowards by nature and will gladly sell out their friends and comrades in exchange for a chance to live another day.
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