Changeling

Hags reproduce by snatching and devouring human infants where, a week later, the hag gives birth to a daughter that grows to become a new hag. There are some hags however, who for one reason or another, wish to reproduce without the need for such an evil and morbid act. Instead, these hags typically abduct human males and using essence from the void, they grow an embryo which later births a changeling (that starts off as female). How long their hag mother keeps them however, is different from changeling to changeling. Some are abandoned from birth, some abandoned later, and some are never abandoned at all. Being abandoned by a typically evil creature like a hag however, is not a rare occurrence for a changeling to face. Changelings are not hags and though they share some fey ancestry being associated with hags, their physiology is not fey. Rather, it is humanoid. Changelings can shift their forms with a thought. Depending where they live, they may adopt a common form reflective of the races around them. Their ability to shapeshift is similar to a doppelganger, a creature originating from the void. It's also an invaluable tool for grifters, spies, and other who wish to deceive. This leads many people to treat changelings with suspicion.

A Hidden People

Wherever humans live, changelings reside also; the question is whether their presence is known. Changelings are born to one of three paths. A few are raised in stable communities where changelings are true to their nature and deal openly with the people around them, such as in a coven with their hag mother. Some are orphans, raised by other races, who find their way in the world perhaps without ever knowing another like themselves. Others are part of nomadic changeling clans spread across Brinversia, families who keep their true nature hidden from the single-skins. Some clans maintain safe havens in major cities and communities, but most prefer to wander the unpredictable path of the god known as Nidus.

Masks and Personas

In their true form, changelings are pale, with colorless eyes and silver-white hair. It is rare to see a changeling in that form, for a typical changeling changes their shape the way others might change clothes. A casual shape—one created on the spur of the moment, with no depth or history—is called a mask. A mask can be used to express a mood or to serve a specific purpose and then might never be used again. However, many changelings develop identities that have more depth. They build an identity over time, crafting a persona with a history and beliefs. This focused identity helps a changeling pinpoint a particular skill or emotion. A changeling adventurer might have personas for many situations, including negotiation, investigation, and combat. Personas can be shared by multiple changelings; there might be three healers in a community, but whoever is on duty will adopt the persona of Tek, the kindly old medic. Personas can even be passed down through a family, allowing a younger changeling to take advantage of contacts established by the persona's previous users.

Changeling Names

A changeling might use a different name for each mask and persona and adopt new names as easily as they change forms. The true name of a changeling is often very simple with limited syllables (typically not exceeding three). Changelings have a fluid relationship with gender, seeing it as one characteristic to change among many. As such, their true names also tend to disregard gender norms or be unisex. Changeling Names: Addisun, Aunn, Blair, Bin, Cas, Chance, Dana, Dox, Fie, Gene, Hars, Jin, Lam, Mas, Nix, Ocean, Ot, Paik, Pat, Ruz, Sim, Tayl, Val, Vil, Wynn, Yug, Zephyr

Changeling Traits

Your character has the following traits.

Changeling

Ability Score Increase Cha +2; Any other +1

Size Medium

Speed 30 ft.

Alignment. Choose one of the alignments approved by your GM. Typical Changelings tend towards Neutral alignments. Creature Type. You are a Fey. Size. You are Medium or Small. Your height and weight are as flexible as you see fit, though often reflect that of another species (and are constrained based on your chosen Size). You choose the Size when you select this ancestry. Speed. Your land Speed is 30 feet. Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and two other Languages of your choice (that your GM agrees is appropriate). Life Span. Changelings mature around the age of 16, and live on average about 100 years.

Adaptive Physiology. You have Advantage on checks you make to avoid or end the Grappled or Restrained condition on yourself. Changeling Instincts. You have Proficiency with one of the following Skills of your choice: Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Performance, or Persuasion. Unsettling Visage. When a creature you can see makes an Attack Roll against you, you can use your Reaction to impose Disadvantage on the roll. Using this trait reveals your shapeshifting nature to any creature within 30 feet that can see you. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a Short or Long Rest. Shapechanger. As an Action, you can shapeshift into any Small or Medium sized humanoid that you have seen (including voice but not mannerisms), or back into your true form. Your equipment does not change with you. You do not gain or lose any traits when you shapeshift into another form. If you shapeshift into a humanoid of a different Size than you, your clothing and equipment do not grow or shrink. If you shapeshift into a form with a different arrangement of limbs from you, you cannot control any new limbs that appear (e.g. a tail or extra arms). You stay in the new form until you revert to your true form or until you die.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The exact forms you can shapeshift into are tracked by you on a mental list. You can replace an old form on this list with a new one, provided you've seen the new one within the last month. You cannot have more than 22 forms on this list.