Changeling

Changelings can shift their forms with a thought. Many changelings use this gift as a form of artistic and emotional expression. It’s also an invaluable tool for grifters, spies, and others who wish to deceive. This leads many people to treat changelings with suspicion, if they even know they exist.
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 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.
Changelings often hide themselves from the outside world by sticking to small insular communities. There may be a corner of a city where the people seem to know each other extremely well and distrust outsiders, this could be a large group of changelings hiding in plain sight. Alternatively they may be in small family units of 2-5, hiding themselves anywhere that isn't their own home. An unlucky few may be on their own, forever hiding their true nature from everyone.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

Changelings ability to transform themselves goes deeper than one may think. As long as there are two Changelings, they can make children. When two changelings decide to have children, they will decide which will be the biological mother and carry the children, and which will be the father.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Changelings can seemingly be found nearly anywhere in the world, whether it be in small enclaves or small family groups. Though due to their very nature trying to get a firm idea of how many there are and where is practically impossible.

Lifespan

Changelings mature slightly faster than humans but share a similar lifespan—typically 80 years or so. While a changeling can transform to conceal their age, the effects of aging affect them similarly to humans.