Changeling

There are two types of changelings in Welt. A changeling is either:

Classical Changeling: An organism with the power to transform into another race.

Post TIS Changeling: A phenomenon where a member of an anthropomorphic race will turn into another race permanently for no obvious reason.

## Classical Changelings

Born from nests of baby swappers. Usually fight for whoever will continue their odd reproductive cycle. The captured babies are kept in stasis. Changeling births happen in outbreaks. They can turn into the babe they replaced and age accordingly in real time. Changelings are a species of faerie. Despite their outwards appearance, they have the ability to change back into their changeling form, but it is merely cosmetic.

They can take the appearance of other people, but are limited to certain rules of changing. This includes the two hour limit to a transformation, the impossibility to transform from one form directly into another without returning to the base form and the obligation to acquire DNA of the target directly from the source to be able to transform into it.

## Post TIS Changeling

Changeling post tactical integration serum no longer refers to the species known as changelings but to a phenomenon where members of an anthropomorphic race will permanently turn into, without any evident reason, another race entirely. Following the Hex episode which resulted in the development of tactical integration serum, the phenomenon is commonplace for unexplained reasons, it is suspected the reason for the transformatino is infection with a new variant of nanobot saccharomyces demonica.

In most cases, those who start changing en masse before the very eyes of horrified spectators, cause much panic and alarm. This event made the new populations fearful and discriminatory, meeting the newcomers with hostility and sometimes force. Many of these newborn children were exposed to hostility and discrimination that only worsened once Changeling began.

"Going green" produced many varied and radical changes in certain anthropomorphs throughout the world. New features such as skin changes (fur, scales, color), sensory changes (cycloptic single eyes, third eyes, increased/decreased senses of touch, taste, smell), and somatic changes (addition of tails, horns, dermal armor, and other features) were magically produced in these individuals, called “changelings” by popular opinion.

While the Changeling did not create any new races, it opened up questions of the origins of the species. The Dalmer, systematically cull Changelings due to suspicions of Classical Changeling activity, and are always wary of other races infiltrating their societies using Tactical Integration Serum.

Post TIS Changeling society is more cosmopolitan among the other races, who are more accepting of members of their race that seem lost due to the sudden transformation. This is a boon for the Dalmer who seek to study the other races.

## Changeling communication methods

Victims of changelings can communicate via electronics with their kind. given the primitive technology of the other races, they can only communicate via static electricity or the occasional thunderstorm. This led to certain beliefs and religions among the other races.

Other examples of communication include the changeling victim being able to communicate by manipulating fire sources such as candles and torches. The changeling can seemingly only communicate with its immediate family.