Changeling

A Changeling's head

## Common Knowledge

Across the countrysides bordering the great forests of Orelisle, tales are often told of people getting lost in the woods and returning changed; or of finding twisted and beautiful creatures whose likenesses hint at the memory of humanity.

## Location

Changelings often trail behind the Fae or Pixie who owns their true name, and as such they lurk in deep forests, secluded hillsides, and the Faewilds.

## Biology

Changelings can look or behave like anything. Changelings do not necessarily travel in groups, but when they do they are called a motley.

As most Changelings are Echoes, the majority of Changelings are weak to Cold Iron.

## Rarity/Power Level

A changeling can have any number of powers that their Fae masters desire, within certain limitations. Changelings, though rare, are more common than Fae and Pixies, as most create many Changelings.

Changelings come in many different types based on the whims of their Keepers, some of which are listed below. Keep in mind that those that create Changelings strive for originality.

### Echo

Though not technically a Changeling, an Echo is a creature which no longer possesses their True Name. Most Changelings are Echos and most Echos are Changelings, but not all. Echos are vulnerable to Cold Iron.

### Darklings

Changelings who are integrally linked to shadow, and are generally stealthy and tricky to deal with. They have become 'less' during their time in the Faewilds, and can disappear from mortal sight at will. Their physical appearance can range from a frail, skeletal creature, to a towering wraith composed of smoke.

### Fairest

Traveler's tales of beautiful, kindly Fae are more likely encounters with a motley of Fairest Changelings. Shallow and vain, obsessed with their own beauty and power, these creatures were taken for their looks or ambition and made into the Fae's living art. Beautiful pets.

### Ferals

Not to be confused with their mortal counterparts, these Changelings have more in common with lycanthropes or other cursed creatures than with Beast Folk. Hounds with a Scout's cunning, draft horses with an Orc's strength, hunting falcons that can call down lightning. These are twisted forms of nature, with nothing 'natural' about them.

### Fetches

Not a changeling in the usual sense, a Fetch is a creature created by the Fae using pieces of a name which they already have. When a person loses their name and they are whisked away to serve the Fae forever, the Fae may choose to leave behind a Fetch, which looks and acts like the original person (and believes itself to be the original person) with three notable exceptions: the Fetch is wholly immune to disease, and resistant to magic; the Fetch has a deep phobia and vulnerability of Cold Iron; and if the Fetch sees the changeling upon which they are based, they will be driven into a blind fury until the original is dead.

### Fae-Folk

Fae-Folk are Changelings who have been altered more physically than mentally by a Fae. Fae-Folk typically have more elf-like features (longer hair, pointed ears, sharper facial features, etc), and an innate desire to sow and spread chaos. Their primary means to achieve this is a power known as Mindwarp, an enchantment they can cast on their weapons that instills a temporary madness in any creature it strikes. Fae-Folk tend to stay within the Faewilds, and in their wars Fae use Fae-Folk as henchmen.

## History

Each changeling has their own history, as they were all a creature at some point or another. The earliest changelings formed when the first mortals lost their true names to encroaching Fae, or became lost to the Faewilds.

## Further/Related Information

* Elder Gods#Madness
* Fae
* Pixie
* Reality#Faewilds