Changeling

Those who were found by kinde folk

"Sidonie," The girl smiled. "My name's Sidonie. Yours?"
"You can call me Maer," Marshall smiled nervously in return. "Shou said you-you could help me?"
"What do you need? Passage? Directions?" Sidonie questioned, leaning casually against a tree. As she did, a lioness slipped out from the brush, nuzzling against Sidonie's legs like a large housecat. She stroked its head. "Protection?"

Changelings are the souls of children who died suddenly, and a certain species of wild animal took them in to care for. A single changeling takes up a territory of a square mile, with their shrine sitting at the center. In their territory sits a location, structure, or landmark that a changeling protects from destruction or disturbance.
Changelings often forget most of their old life, though they'll remember vague faces and moments in a way that feels like they're watching someone else's memories; they are not connected to feelings at all. They do not remember their death or the moments leading up to it. Changelings are usually carefree, relaxed, and friendly towards those who are respectful towards them.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Changelings' human forms look entirely human, with no noticeable Wilde trait. They are always between the ages of 3 and 16, of varying genders, races, and cultures. In their shifted forms they appear similar to the animal species they are connected to, but they are massive, monstrous versions of said animal. The variety of animal that creates a Changeling is often mammal, although birds have also been known to adopt child spirits. These animals are always wild; a domestic dog or house cat could not become a changeling's animal.

Ecology and Habitats

Changelings will find a territory in whatever area their animals find most similar to their natural habitat. They settle around locations that require protection from tampering and damage, drawn to them by their sixth sense. Once a changeling has chosen a territory, a simple shrine will appear in the exact center and act as the changeling's home and protection.
Within their territory, changelings have immense power. They are able to teleport anywhere within it instantly, and become so attune to the land itself they know everything that happens there.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Changelings will copy the dietary needs of their patron animal, often down to food preferences and hunting habits. Occasionally a changeling will retain a love for a specific taste they had when they were human. Regardless of what their preferences were beforehand or what their animal's feeding habits are, changelings love milk of any kind.

Additional Information

Average Intelligence

Known for being very intelligent for children, with even the younger ones able to process information with the same speed and success as they would be able to as an adult. However, they are still emotionally immature, which can lead to overreactions and misunderstandings. Because of their ability to sense the intention behind words, they aren't easily manipulated and cannot be lied to, which often leads people to think they are more intelligent than they actually are.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Within their territory, changelings are able to sense anything and everything that happens there. Though this can be quite overwhelming for the first day or two, changelings will recover quickly and become used to the amount of information they're receiving. Changelings are also able to sense the world through the eyes of any of their animals when they enter a meditative state, and can communicate with all their animals with telepathy. Their eyesight, hearing, smell, strength, and speed are all dependent on what animal adopted them. They will take on these traits relative to their own size.
Changelings can manifest anywhere in their territory, no matter how far away from it they are. They are unable to manifest outside of it, however they can travel in their physical form if they wish to leave. Once they leave their territory, their senses are limited to their physical form, and they are unable to activate their shrine for protection, making it extremely rare for a changeling to leave.
Changelings are acutely aware of lies told on their territory or in their presence. They are unable to be tricked or manipulated, and can often sense the intention behind words as well. They are able to see past any and all illusions at will, like a switch they can turn on and off. This allows them to see all forms a creature can take, including true and disguised forms.

Civilization and Culture

Common Dress Code

Changelings often keep their sense of style from when they were alive. Those that were too young to develop a style of clothing will often dress in the clothing that they were accustomed to seeing in their life. Changelings can manifest whatever clothes they like at any time.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Changelings usually have a high opinion of angels, due to their inability to lie. Angels are mostly indifferent to changelings, but they respect them nonetheless.
Changelings are often protective of humans, and even lax with them at times when humans break the rules for a changeling.
Other species respect changelings for what they are and what they do. Not many are willing to cross a changeling for any reason, and even creatures stronger than most changelings will give offerings for passing through their territory.

Behavior

Sentient | Spoken | Friendly

Status

Shifter | Ally | Former Human

Strength

6-8

Lifespan

Immortal

Average Height

3'0" - 5'8"

Average Weight

30 - 140 lbs.

Offerings

Milk, a lock of hair, toys, berries, animal bones, a song sung or played

Safe Laws
~ Do not lie in their presence
~ Do not deceive them
~ Do not harm their animal
~ Do not harm their shrine
~ Do not tamper with their territory

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