Ameixikai

Ameixikai are humanoid beings that have mastered the art of disguise down to the very changing of their genetic structure. An ameixikai can change their form so long as it of a humanoid shape (human, elf, gnome, etc.), copying the visuals of a person which they can seen at least once before. They have a deft hand and care deeply for others in their ancestral group but have a deep disdain for most of the other humanoid ancestries as they have for them.

## Sociocultural Information

### Distinction(s)

* Mouthless appearance
* hairlessness

### Place of Origin

Xaekla

*"They hide amongst us using the skin of our fellows, perhaps they mean well... but it is not often so."* - Yamani Makikoma

## Description

In their born form the ameixikai have pale grey skin dotted with pockets of white, they have no hair naturally with a flat mouthless appearing face; though in truth their mouth is simply hidden. They are thin with a boney frame a lack of muscle, they are weak in direct combat with their only defense being their thing, wiry fingers. They can change their appearance to match anyone that they have seen so long as they remember how they looked but cannot choose their own features, many ameixikai will take the form of deceased individuals, attending funerals to gain a sense of appearance then using that form several cities over.

## Biology

Ameixikai biology is so vastly different from that of an average human though they still share the humanoid shape.

* Their pale grey skin is fibrous and coated in a slimly somewhat viscus liquid which can be collected and used in alchemy, but other than that the liquid is believed to aid the Ameixikai in an easier and smoother transformation as it has been shown to aid in polymorphic concoctions.
* A mouth initially hidden can be opened to reveal a row of flat teeth with double canines on the top and bottom with a long tongue.
* Although they appear thin and wiry with a distinct lack of muscle or even possible muscular atrophy, they are actually as strong as the average human male.
* Their thin wiry fingers are tip with long but smooth class which can be retracted as the situation requires and are as sharp as your average razor.

## Personality

Ameixikai are often harmless in their mischievousness, preferring a discreet life of pickpocketing and sleuthing around though there are bands of changelings, a community if you will, that will travel together performing tricks. Due to their nature though, most fear the changelings for their ability to change into different peoples forms; there are legends that an ameixikai must kill and consume their target before they are able to "wear their skin".

Changelings will not simply shapeshift into a new person but rather create a new whole one. Most changelings will set up a handful of personas so if one is compromised they can change into one of their others. Their personas are incredibly realistic and have their own personality traits, backgrounds, and a network of friends. Changelings can be evasive and will often try to avoid confrontation or anything that will draw attention to themselves.

## Reproduction

Ameixikai are able to reproduce both sexually and asexually though because it is difficult for two ameixikai to find one another they often do so asexually with their child holding a replica of their DNA. In the case of ameixikai reproducing sexually the child will gain the most useful traits from either parent; for example the mother has a gene which allows her better strength and father simply has average strength the child would then have the mothers enhanced strength rather than the fathers; so for each generation born sexually they become stronger, a definite concern for those who wish to exterminate them.

### Maturity

The child, whether born asexually or sexually, will be left by their ameixikai parent or parents at a place they know they will be safe and left to be raised by other people, this only works because ameixikai when they are born and up until they are fully mature will appear like a human child through unknown means. The child will then spend its youth being raised as a human in whatever country, culture, and societal class they were thrust into by their parents until reaching between the ages of 9-16 wherein their true form will become apparent and their previous human form is shed like skin; now lacking their previous identity and sense of self the child often leaves what was once their home (be it for fear of their human parents response or simply wishing to know where they truly came from) and begins a life anew, slowly discovering the extent of their abilities and learning how to conceal themself among other humanoids.