Changeling

They were ordinary humans who attracted the interest of one of the True Fae, the alien beings who live in Arcadia on the other side of the Hedge that separates the two worlds. Abducted and treated as slaves, playthings, pets or ornaments, they were replaced on Earth by a Fetch, a simulacrum created from Faerie glamour and scraps.
Unlike most such humans, Changelings have been able to escape back to Earth, but their time in Arcadia has transformed them physically, emotionally and mentally. Changelings are also known as the Lost, however, for while they have found their way back to the mortal world, the changes wrought on them have made them part fae. They are no longer human, and they can never truly belong to humanity again. Instead they must exist in societies of their own, trying to balance their humanity against the inescapable truth that they are now partially creatures of Glamour like their once masters.
A group of Changelings is known as a motley.

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Seemings

The Fae long ago used their Glamour to create the Mask, a magical veil that makes anything touched by Faerie appear mundane to human eyes, and this extends to Changelings as well: they appear human, and indeed look much as they did, though older (depending on how long they spent in Arcadia). But a mask is all it is; underneath it, a Changeling's true mien is something from a story. They may be anything from an impossibly beautiful figure with a narrow face and pointed ears to a towering brute made of living stone; the demands and whim of their Keeper has shaped them to fulfil whatever role they required. While each Changeling is unique, there are basic similarities in their experiences which have shaped them in similar ways. These "types" of Changeling are called Seemings, and there are six commonly recognised:

• Beasts
• Darklings
• Elementals
• Fairest
• Ogres
• Wizened

Kiths Each Seeming is further divided into Kiths, subcategories which are even more alike. For example, all Beasts are bestial in some way, but those who have an affinity for the hunt share more in common, and belong to the Hunterheart Kith.

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Courts

Changelings have formed societies of their own; no others can truly understand their lot, after all. More than comfort, though, their social groupings grant safety from the Fae. The Changeling Courts are associated with powerful concepts which grant their members powers and abilities and some measure of protection from their former masters. In Europe and the rest of the Western world, these Courts are most commonly based on the seasons, each one associated with an emotion which represents a powerful tie between mortals and the Fae

Seasonal Courts

• The Spring Court
• The Summer Court
• The Autumn Court
• The Winter Court

The Directional Courts

• The North Court
• The East Court
• The South Court
• The West Court

The Diurnal Courts

• The Sun Court
• The Moon Court

Transitional Courts

• The Dawn Court
• The Dusk Court

Courtless

• The Courtless

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Powers and Abilities

The magic of the Fae is heavily dependent on Oaths and Pledges made not just with mortals, but with embodiments of objects, physical forces and concepts. Changelings are able to learn to exploit the clauses of some of these Contracts, granting them supernatural powers resembling those from traditional fae folklore.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Mortals

Genetic Descendants

• Beast
• Darkling
• Elemental
• Fairest
• Ogre
• Wizened

Origin/Ancestry

Once ordinary Humans who somehow attracted the interest/attention of the True Fae and were subsequently abducted and treated as slaves, playthings, pets or ornaments.

Geographic Distribution

• The Freehold of the Iron Gate

Related Organizations

• The Courtless
• The Dawn Court
• The Dusk Court
• The East Court
• The Moon Court
• The North Court
• The South Court
• The Spring Court
• The Summer Court
• The Sun Court
• The West Court
• The Winter Court