Changelings
Changelings are scions of a mortal and a fae. They are born in all ways appearing as a part of their mortal parent's ancestry, but as they enter puberty their appearance changes, sometimes significantly, to match that of their fae parent. Those born of troll blood may grow larger than normal, becoming supernaturally strong for their ancestry, while those of a nymph or nixie may not change fundamentally, but have the ability to mold their own appearance as they see fit. The child of a redcap could become obsessed with certain hobbies or colors. Along with these come various latent abilities that emerge during this time. Whatever their parentage, there is one thing they share in common: all changelings feel the unceasing call to return to Faerie and embrace fully their fae nature, abandoning their mortal ties and becoming a part of one of the Courts of the fae - specifically, their parent's.
Superstition is common around changelings, some so great that changeling children don't always survive past their adolescent years whether through abandonment or worse. Common beliefs surrounding changelings stem from the idea that fae replace a mortal child with one of their own so that it may infiltrate mortal society. Whether this is true or not, it likely stems from stories that the fae have abducted children in the past.
Sometimes, fae make deals with mortals to give them the right to claim the child when they come of age. No one knows what happens to the child after that point, but there is no lack of hypothesizes around the subject.
Superstition is common around changelings, some so great that changeling children don't always survive past their adolescent years whether through abandonment or worse. Common beliefs surrounding changelings stem from the idea that fae replace a mortal child with one of their own so that it may infiltrate mortal society. Whether this is true or not, it likely stems from stories that the fae have abducted children in the past.
Sometimes, fae make deals with mortals to give them the right to claim the child when they come of age. No one knows what happens to the child after that point, but there is no lack of hypothesizes around the subject.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Once a changeling reaches maturity, they tend to grow fae features such as long ears, tail, wings (usually vestigial), feathers, scales, fur, horns, general appearance, build, and more. No two changelings are alike.
Genetics and Reproduction
Fae can produce offspring with many of the mortal ancestries of the world, but have difficulty with those touched by other planes, so they tend to focus on elves, gnomes, halflings, and especially humans.
Growth Rate & Stages
Changelings develop at the rate of their mortal parent until adulthood at which time they may live as long as twice the lifespan of their mortal parent's ancestry up to 1,000 years - similar to an elf. Half-elf and gnome changelings, with fae blood on both sides, may live longer but tend to live only the lifespan of their mortal parent if they don't succumb to the call of Faerie before then. Few half-elf and gnome changelings tend to make it to the end of their mortal lives as the call of Faerie becomes too great.
Behaviour
Behaviors of changelings tend toward the type of fae their parent was. A nymph-born changeling may be very shy while a troll-born changeling becomes enraged at the drop of a hat, and a satyr-born changeling has a fascination with music and revelry.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Changelings can be born anywhere, but several cultures have superstitions or distrust toward the fae leading to few changeling children surviving until adulthood.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Changelings grow to develop keen darkvision at adolescence.
Origin/Ancestry
Half-Fae
Lifespan
Double their mortal parents up to 1,000 years
Average Height
Mortal parent unless changed by fae blood
Related Organizations
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