Changelings

An account of the changeling clans Eturial & Goshemier...

Changelings in Terra Gothenya are similar in style to those of Eberron, however their origin is rather unique. They are born not of a traditional shape-shifter mating with a Gothen, but rather a here-to-fore unknown alien lifeform that can assume various shapes. The alien lifeform is "absorbed" by the union, so all changelings go through childhood with only one biological parent.

Born from the union of a mysterious outer being and a humanoid female (any race), they may shift their face and form with nothing but a notion. Many changelings use this gift as a form of artistic and emotional expression, but it’s an invaluable tool for grifters, spies, and others who wish to deceive. This leads many people to treat known changelings with fear and suspicion. Keep in mind that whatever race makes up the humanoid portion of their genetics, the result is always a changeling. The alien genes are dominant. However, changelings born from the union with a halfling, gnome or dwarf, may (and only may) be shorter than others of their kind.

The Hidden Folk
Wherever humans can be found, there may be changelings; the question is whether their presence is known. Changelings are born, or adhere, 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. Some are orphans, raised by other races, who find their way in the world without ever knowing another like themselves. Because of this, changelings tend to get along with the more ostracized races, such as the Isagon and tieflings.
Others are part of nomadic changeling clans spread across Hariel (and Gothein) who keep their true nature hidden from the "one-skins."
Some clans maintain safe havens in major cities and communities, but most prefer the nomadic lifestyle of the adventurer.
In creating a changeling adventurer (both PC and NPC), consider the character’s relationships with people around them. Does the character conceal their true changeling nature? Do they embrace it? Do they have connections to other changelings, or are they alone and in search of companions? Are they loners? Changelings in Hariel Majour tend to hide their identities more than others, largely due to the (false) perception that their intrinsic abilities are magical in nature.
"Skins" and Personas
In their natural form changelings are slender and pale, with wide, white, colorless eyes and stark, silver-white hair. Their skin is translucent, with skeletal forms visible just beneath the skin. Because of this, some erroneously refer to them as "living ghouls." Also, because of this, rumors exist (and they are simply rumors) that changelings are cannibals (or at least eat the flesh of other intelligent humanoids).
A changeling can alter its physical appearance with a thought, at will. While this can be used to deceive others, it is a natural form of expression for the changeling. For the artists amongst them, it's also tied to their artistic output.
A changeling morphs 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 skin. A skin can be used to express a mood or to serve a specific purpose, and then never 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 the "human" medic who works at the hospital.
Personas can even be passed down through a family, allowing a younger changeling to take advantage of contacts established by previous users of the persona.
Changeling Names A changeling might use a different name for each skin and persona, and adopt new names as easily as they develop new faces.
The true name of a changeling tends to be simple and monosyllabic; however, there are often accents to a changeling’s name that are expressed through shapeshifting, something "one-skins" will likely miss.
So, two changelings might have the name Jax, but one is Jax with vivid blue eyes, while the other is *Jax with the good hair." Further, changelings often take a clan surname if they claim membership in a changeling community.
Changelings have a fluid relationship with gender, seeing it as one characteristic to change among many others. However, they are born with a gender in place (although it's just one more thing that may be adjusted through morphing).
Changeling Names: Bin, Cas, Div, Dox, Fie, Hars, Jax, Jin, Lam, Mas, Nix, Ot, Paik, Ruz, Sim, Toox, Vil, Yug.
Clan Names: Agrat, Balax, Calor, Egren, Heret, Michon, Riva, Sark, Tuluk, Zorn.
Changeling Subrace "Clans"
Changelings typically identify themselves based upon strong clan affiliations. These bonds are significant for the changeling, but are effectively undetectable to outsiders. As such, they have a tendency to define their personalities, but do not alter their traits (other than ability score increase) in any appreciable way.
The two predominant clans are the Eturiel of Hariel Majour, whose members tend to skew towards neutral good, and the Goshemier of Hariel Minuta, whose members typically lean neutral evil. These two clans are mortal enemies, though attempt to avoid engaging each other whenever possible.
Both the Eturiel and the Goshemier have specific clans made from families and close relations, and these have additional names. For example, a Goshemier clan of the family Egren, might be simply called Egren or even Goshegren. Likewise the Balax family of the Eturiel might be called Balax or Eturbalax.
Changeling Traits Your changeling character has the following traits.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 2, and either your Dexterity or your Intelligence increases by 1 (your choice).
Age. Changelings mature slightly faster than humans but share a similar lifespan—typically a century or less. While a changeling can shapeshift to conceal their age, the effects of aging eventually catch up to them.
Alignment. Changelings hate to be bound in any way, and many believe that chaos and change are important aspects of life. Most tend toward pragmatic neutrality as opposed to being concerned with lofty ideals. Despite common fears, few changelings embrace evil.
Size. In their natural forms, changelings average between 5 to 6 feet in height, with a slender build. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Change Appearance. As an action, you can transform your appearance or revert to your natural form. You can’t duplicate the appearance of a creature you’ve never seen, and you revert to your natural form if you die.
You decide what you look like, including your height, weight, facial features, the sound of your voice, coloration, hair length, sex, and any other distinguishing characteristics. You can make yourself appear as a member of another race, though none of your game statistics change.
You also can't appear as a creature of a different size than you, and your basic shape stays the same; if you’re bipedal, you can’t use this trait to become quadrupedal, for instance. Your clothing and other equipment do not change in appearance, size, or shape to match your new form, requiring you to keep a few extra outfits in order to maintain the most compelling disguise possible.
Even to the most astute observers, your ruse is usually indiscernible. If you rouse suspicion, or if a wary creature suspects something is amiss, you have advantage on any Charisma (Deception) check you make to avoid detection.
Changeling Instincts. You gain proficiency with two of the following skills of your choice: Deception, Intimidation, Insight, and 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. You must use this feature before knowing whether the attack hits or misses.
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 complete a long or short rest.
Transitive Persona. You gain proficiency with one tool of your choice. Define a unique identity associated with that proficiency. Establish the name, race, gender, age, and other details. While you are in the form of this persona, the related proficiency bonus is doubled for any proficiency check made using that proficiency.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and two other languages of your choice. Changelings have no language of their own.
NOTE ABOUT IDENTIFYING A CHANGELING...
It's not widely known, but one of the few ways one may determine that a person is, in fact, a changeling has to do with their hands. Changelings generally do not have the skill to replicate "life lines," and sometimes even fingerprints. So if their hands are examined, they could give them away.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Translucent of skin, with a thin layer of what seems to be ectoplasm coated on. They are not, however, undead.

Genetic Descendants

• Undead

Origin/Ancestry

Born of alien protoplasm relesed from Mount Celene, bonded to (inpregnating) a humanoid female. The birth of a changeling is often a surprise to the lone parent.

Related Myths

• A Timeline of Gothenya