Changeling

* Pathologic 2
* Pathologic

This entry contains potential spoilers for *Pathologic 2*. Read at your own risk.

*Come now, you haven't given us any time to change the set!*This entry contains potential spoilers for Pathologic 2. Read at your own risk.

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 English Voice | Jessica McIntyre

Clara — also known as the **Changeling** — is a mysterious young girl who claims to know how to create miracles. She is to be one of three playable characters, alongside the Bachelor and the Haruspex.

## Description

Clara is a mysterious girl that can either heal or kill with her bare hands. For this power she is both revered and shunned, existing in a constant balancing act.

## Background

It is unclear where exactly Clara came from. She appears to many as a thief, slipping in and out of places with ease. This is to be due to her self proclaimed sainthood, as she is said to be able to open any door as easily as she would cure the sick. Not all believe this, however, as the Bachelor openly wonders why a saintly girl would need a pocket full of lockpicks. Some claim she is something more sinister - that she is the Sand Plague itself, walking around on borrowed feet. To many it appears as if there are two girls who call themselves Clara as she often appears in two places at once, or moves much too quickly for one lone girl.

Clara did appear to have a childhood, at least, as she claims in a pantomime that when she was six years old she fell in love with a kind boy named Matvey, though the Bachelor calls her a liar.

## Appearance

Clara has grey eyes and a red knit beanie on her head, which covers her baldness. She wears a tattered yellow shirt under a green and brown coat, and a tattered denim skirt. She wears fingerless brown gloves, mismatched socks, and chunky brown boots. A red knit scarf is wrapped around her, with fishbones that she calls "hooks" woven into it. She is very sickly looking, with a smile that is both sinister and childish.

## Plot

### Haruspex Route

Clara is first found in Lara's Shelter hungry and looking for bread to steal. As she is caught by the Haruspex she will tell him that he is prophesied to "spill rivers of blood" and urges him not to act, as anything he does would only cause harm. The Haruspex shoos her away and reports back to Lara Ravel. Lara insists on letting her be, eager to help a girl in need.

Prior to the Haruspex's arrival to Isidor Burakh's funeral Clara, alongside Grace, watches as the Earth rejects Isidor's body. She watches Grace grow distressed about the burial and, upon his arrival, informs the Haruspex that she suspects Grace would take Isidor's place if she could. She theorizes to the Haruspex that the Earth may be rejecting his father because though he tore the Town apart in order to heal it, he never got to stitch the wound he made closed. She disapproves of Isidor's surgical methods - and, by extension, the Haruspex's - claiming that she would have done it differently, claiming that she works not with meat, but with souls; feelings.

Though she did not personally know Isidor Burakh (as he was already dead by the time she arrived in the Town) she still comes to Isidor Burakh's House to pay her respects to the man. While inside she is confronted by the Haruspex who demands to know why she is in his father's home. She reveals that through talking to a number of Townsfolk she has come to find that Isidor was quite beloved by the Town, and she wishes to understand why people thought of him so highly. She asks the Haruspex is he is going to live in his fathers house to which the Haruspex responds that no, he will not. He doesn't want to live in the home where his father was murdered.

Clara is involved with the tidings of the Mistresses, claiming that one day maybe she will be one too. She is also involved with the games of children, appearing in Notkin's Soul-and-a-Half Fortress when Patches falls ill. If the Haruspex has a Shmowder on his person she will urge him not to use it as to those who are already weak it can kill them rather than heal them.

She is temporarily adopted by the Saburov's, becoming the powerful daughter the pair had always wished for. Her stay in the Saburov household is short-lived as she leaves to protect them from crowds gathered around the Rod that believe she is the cause of the Plague. She appears to love and care for the two, asking the Haruspex to keep an eye on them - particularly Katerina Saburova.

Following the outbreak, Capella becomes obsessed with searching for her mother's memory. In some houses she hears a melody she says only her and her mother could known. She tells Clara of this. Though Clara searches she comes to the ultimate conclusion that it is not the spirit of the White Mistress and that there is no life after death - at least not in the way Capella hoped.

Following the arrival of the Military to the Town Clara's powers disappear. She does not know why she cannot heal anymore and is distressed by the occurrence, having promised Alexander Block that she was capable of miracles. She will beg the Haruspex to lie on her behalf, urging that he cure a patient of the Sand Plague so that she does not seem untrustworthy. On the final day she has failed to heal once more, having become caught up in a shootout between the two bands of the Military. She can be found at their camp with her hands stained red with blood. Clara claims that she has healed 300 people during the epidemic before her powers disappeared.

In the Diurnal Ending Clara can be found in both the Termitary and by the Cape. The Changeling in the Termitary will lament that her legs are failing, and berate the Haruspex for not realizing the scope of what he has done. The Clara in the Cape will have grown into her role, and is planning her future as a Mistress.

In the Nocturnal Ending one Clara takes her place as a Mistress atop the Polyhedron joining Grace, the Mistress of the Dead, and Taya Tycheek, the Mistress of Bulls. The other resides in the Abattoir, by the heart Chamber.

### Pathologic: The Marble Nest

The Changeling does not appear in the Marble Nest, though she is noted as being alive.

## Spoken Dialogue

*→ See Changeling/Spoken Dialogue#Pathologic\_2*
## Gallery

* Changeling's in-game portrait
* Changeling in dialogue
* Changeling's full model
* Changeling and the Bachelor
* Changeling in the Shelter
* Changeling in the Day 2 pantomime
* Changeling in the Day 5 pantomime
* Changeling in a dream
* Changeling with local children
* Changeling outside the Nutshell
* Changeling at the Crowstone
* Changeling awaiting the Inquisitor's arrival
* Changeling on Day 11
* Changeling on Day 11
* Changeling with Alexander Block on Day 11
* Changeling in the Diurnal Ending
* Changeling in the Diurnal Ending
* Changeling in the Nocturnal Ending
* Changeling in the Late Ending

## Official Art

* Changeling's card portrait in the *Pathologic* tabletop game
* Changeling's remake promo art
* Changeling's remake concept art
* Changeling's remake concept art
* Changeling's remake concept art
* Changeling's remake concept art
* Changeling's remake concept art
* Changeling's remake concept art
* Changeling's remake concept art
* Changeling's remake 3D model
* Changeling's remake 3D model
* Changeling's *Pathologic 2* full model

## Notes

* In *Pathologic 2* Clara's character design was changed to portray the duality of her nature better. Clara's lack of hair is to symbolize both religious initiation and a grave illness, *"either a holy fool or a ringworm case"*, a saint who’s also the plague.
* Her name is a tribute to Saint Clare of Assisi.
* During the events of **Day 11** the Changeling's hands become covered in blood. She will continue to have bloody hands in both the Late and Deal ending provided the Haruspex performed an action after the day roll at 7:30. If the Haruspex simply sleeps until the Late Ending the Changeling will have clean hands instead. The same happens to the Bachelor.

## References

1. ↑ It is said that Clara the Changeling, a thief girl who claims to be blessed, can open any door just as easily as she heals the sick, by laying on hands. Why are her pockets always filled with lockpicks then? - *Bachelor Demo Marble Nest Touch detail for Lockpicks*
2. ↑ I fell in love for the first time when I was six. A kind boy with freckles. And you know, these days I… his name was Matvey. - *Haruspex Route, Day 5 Pantomime*
3. ↑ "Not to mention they're terrible for your health! You know the only time people eat a pile of random pills? When they want to kill themselves! You don't even know what it's made of. Leave the boy alone. If you're so keen on poisoning someone, eat it yourself." - *Haruspex Route, Day 3*
4. ↑ "Just something about her. You know me, I've got a keen intuition. Wouldn't have made it this far otherwise. I feel she's… not entirely human, even. The Saburovs took her in."
5. ↑ **Changeling**: What do you want, Ripper? Are you trying to catch the White Mistress, too? It's futile, Burakh. She won't help anyone anymore. Won't save anyone.
**Haruspex**: Why are you here?/**Haruspex**: Was that you playing?
**Changeling**: I'm running the same errand you are. Looking for Mother Victoria. And getting paid handsomely for it, by the way. Are you? I am. So here I am, playing. Perhaps someone will respond. But it's futile. No one does. Well, you did, but what use do I have for a moron like you?
**Haruspex**: So it wasn't her soul…
**Changeling**: So it wasn't.
**Haruspex** …So there's no White Mistress anymore?
**Changeling**: So there isn't. In any shape or form. Did you really hope for something different?
6. ↑  "Over the course of… what, eleven days? Three hundred or so… I haven't counted. But today… today I couldn't heal anyone. I was late…" - *Haruspex Route, Day 11*
7. ↑ Pathologic 2 Artbook
8. ↑ Ice-pick Lodge AMA on Reddit

 English Voice | Jordan Frye (*Pathologic Classic HD*)

**Clara**—also known as the **Changeling**—is a mysterious girl that can either heal or kill with her bare hands. She is one of three playable characters alongside the Bachelor and the Haruspex.

## Description

*This is the story of a thief girl who has chosen her own past, ceased to be the instrument of blind fate, and refashioned herself into a free miracle-worker.''*

## Background

*She does indeed know how to treat those in pain with her miraculous hands. She is indeed willing to ease their suffering. She truly strives to do the right thing! She loves her fellow beings. The girl is eager to do good deeds even if that requires her to go through pain and hardships...*
*Changeling wakes up at the edge of a pit in the ground. Sleep hasn't brought her comfort. Her back and her legs ache as though she has walked many miles. Her hands are covered in mud, there are traces of dried blood on her bare knees. It's dark. The dawn is a few hours away.''*

While the other playable characters arrive through conventional means, the Changeling quite literally appears from nowhere: she is found at the bottom of a hole in the ground, which is—according to Grace—a freshly dug grave. Clara is the most ambiguous of the characters. She is believed to be either a thief or a miracle worker; either the Plague itself or a saint. In many respects, the aura of mystery around her is caused by the way she appears in the Town.

Throughout the course of the story, Clara reveals details of her past. Some details are true and some are false: in some dialogue options, the Changeling can lie intentionally.

## Appearance

Changeling is a short girl with grey eyes and brown hair, tucked under a dull red hat. She has a brown scarf wrapped around her. She wears a green jacket with several pockets, and a striped shirt of grey, brown, and red beneath it. She wears a grey skirt, brown socks, and brown chunky shoes.

## Gameplay Abilities

The Changeling, unlike the other playable characters, is unable to use most of the weaponry found throughout the town, nor may she fight in the Circle of Suok. Instead, she has access to a unique gun known as the Derringer.

She has access to magical powers which are used in place of the normal unarmed combat: she can damage enemies within a short range and can also cure the Infected. Additionally, Clara can gather herbs and gamble on rat racing.

## Plot

#### Bachelor Route

On **Day 6**, when speaking to Georgiy, the Bachelor will be told that the Changeling is in grave danger. When the Bachelor is collecting blood from women accused of infecting the Cathedral, Anna Angel will suggest investigating the Changeling. If the Bachelor kills the Albino, Clara will be at the place where it died. If he doesn't, she will be at the Stillwater.

On **Day 8**, the Haruspex's letter to the Bachelor warns him not to give the Executor's Cloak and Talon Mask to the Changeling.

On **Day 11**, the Bachelor needs to collect tokens of acknowledgement from the other mistresses for Maria. The Changeling is in the Town Hall, and will give up her foster mother's ring.

On **Day 12**, the Bachelor will get a letter from the Changeling at 8, asking him to help cure her bound. She is in the Short Block of the Termitary. If the Bachelor heals her bound, she will be present at the Cathedral at 19:00.

#### Haruspex Route

On **Day 6**, the Changeling asks the Haruspex to meet her at Grace's Lodge. She will offer to help the Haruspex obtain bull blood. Later in the day, the Haruspex gets a letter from Anna Angel. When he enters the Willows, the Changeling will ask him to get information on the Rat Prophet. After entering the Theatre tunnels and finding the Rat Prophet, he can tell her what he's learned. He receives Herbal Recipe #7.

On **Day 8**, the Haruspex needs Taya to open the Abattoir, and Taya requests the end of a story Clara was telling her. He is directed to Murky's wagon by Capella, where he can trick the Changeling into telling him the story's end by saying the Soul-and-a-Halves thought it was funny.

On **Day 11**, the Haruspex receives a letter from the Changeling at 7:15 telling him to speak to her in Grace's Lodge. She tells him he will need her help for the upcoming trial. If he accepts her help, upon jumping into the pit he will find three of Clara's bound. He must choose to sacrifice one. He can refuse the Changeling's assistance by talking to Aspity, the surviving Vlad, or the Bachelor after talking to Oyun.

#### Changeling Route

*→ See The Changeling's Route*
After waking up, Clara is taken in by Katerina and Alexander Saburov, and fulfills tasks on their behalf. At Katerina's urging, Clara's goal becomes to banish the plague by maintaining the Law.

Clara seems to rely upon "a Miracle" in saving The Town, and the belief that people can really change the world by repenting for their sins and making amends for them.

## Screenshots

* Changeling's in-game portrait in the original *Pathologic*
* Changeling's stat page portrait in the original *Pathologic*
* Changeling's in-game portrait in *Pathologic Classic HD*
* Changeling's full model in *Pathologic Classic HD*
* Changeling's back in *Pathologic Classic HD*
* Changeling's promotional image for the original *Pathologic*
* Changeling's promotional image for the original *Pathologic*
* Changeling in game
* Changeling in game
* Changeling in game
* Changeling in the intro
* Changeling in the intro
* Changeling in the intro
* Changeling in the Theatre intro
* Changeling in the Theatre intro
* Changeling in the Theatre intro
* Changeling in the Theatre intro
* Changeling watching a pantomime in the Theatre
* Changeling during a pantomime in the Theatre
* Changeling in the Cathedral
* Changeling in the Cathedral during Bachelor and Haruspex Route
* Changeling in the Cathedral alongside Alexander Block and Aglaya Lilich
* Changeling in the Humbles ending
* Changeling's doll in Aspity's house

## Game Map

* Changeling's map UI
* Changeling's map UI
* Changeling's map UI
* Changeling's map UI
* Changeling's map UI
* Changeling's map UII
* Changeling's map UI

## Official Art

* Changeling's concept art for the original *Pathologic*
* Changeling's concept art for the original *Pathologic*
* Changeling's concept art for the original *Pathologic*
* Changeling's concept art for the original *Pathologic*
* Changeling on the cover art of a German version of the original *Pathologic*
* Changeling's Steam trading card art for *Pathologic Classic HD*
* Changeling Steam badge for *Pathologic Classic HD*

## Notes

* In the original English release of *Pathologic*, Clara was known as "Klara, the Devotress".
* In the original Russian release of *Pathologic*, Clara is known as *Самозванка*, meaning "Impostress". This specific phrasing of *Самозванка* translates to mean "one who is uninvited", used when someone does not belong (or is pretending to be a part of something they are not).
* Her name is a tribute to Saint Clare of Assisi.
* There's a scrapped soundtrack called "Changeling sneaks into the Stamatin's loft". It is not included in game, but can be found on Pathologic web-site.
* The Changeling's appearance is based on Alexandra Dashina, the sister of Pathologic lead concept artist Meethos.

## References

1. ↑ *Ice-Pick Lodge Wiki* (Russian)
2. ↑ Ice-pick Lodge AMA on Reddit