Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bentley Mirrorshade 06-19-07, 10:21 AM	Are you dissatisfied with how the changelings have been portrayed in Races of Eberron? Do you feel that the three categories of becomers, passers and reality seekers are too restrictive? Or are you simply looking for a new fun way to roleplay your next changeling character? This is your lucky day! The point of this thread is to come up with new changeling philosophies, concepts or personality archetypes, what are their motivations, history, religious beliefs, how do they interact with the outside world and fellow changelings, how does the world view them... This is the right place to post any changeling-related goodness! Also, feel free to expand and build upon content already posted by others, as well as comment their work. Contents so far: Changeling Philosophies Aspirers (see below) Barers Barers by Rechan Change shape is merely an extension of their identity and expression. "I wear my face on my sleeve." To change shape is little more than to change clothes for the approrpriate situation. No matter what form the Barer takes, their personality and mannerisms do not change beyond what is appropriate for the ir setting. Their shape change abilities reflect their mood or mindset at that time: if they are going looking for fun, they wear an attractive appearance; if they are going to work, their appearance reflects professionalism and astuteness; if they are in a bad neighborhood, they assume an appearance no one will mess with; if they are relaxing at home, their appearance is something the Barer finds relaxing and comfortable. A Barer's appearance fits their mood. Some Barers are so intuned with their emotions that their shape and appearance reflect this - when happy, their features grow bright and cheerful, when angry they draw up into horrid visages, when depressed they are sullen and drooped, and when sick, they appear withered and sickly. This level of comfortable shapechanging is common to Barers; they are not ashamed of their abilities, and do not hide them unless it would be prudent at the time to do so. But to resist changing when they feel like it is seen as denying an aspect of themselves, like a Gnome who intentionally avoids reading or speaking. The importance here is that the Barer has one core concept of identity. Their appearance never effects who they are, but merely what they want to be preceived or how they are feeling at that moment. This is often why many Barers only take their "true" form with intimate partners, as there they are their most "naked" and vulnerable. Friends of Barers sometimes consider them overly flamboyant, while other changelings often consider Barers as a whole drama queens. Huskers Huskers by monai75 These changelings who see life as a means to get ahead and do what ever it takes to do so. With proper study of their victims these changelings will assume forms for periods of time just to get close to their intended target. Then once the time is right they will "Dispose" of the real person and assume their forms and for the most part their lives. These types of changlings spend their whole lives as other beings. Searching only for more excitement and better lifeforms to impersonate. Of course alignment comes into play as well as level. Wearers Wearers by Rechan Change Shape is a tool. It is a means to an end. Where Becomers change their shape to form a complete identity with its own sets of thoughts, quirks, and preferences, the Wearer considers their forms a Mask. The Mask is limited to its use. If the Mask is merely a way to do something to not tie back to them, then they will not spend too much time on it - "It's my opposite, that's good enough". This Mask is like a diversion picked at random, and is tossed away. But if it's going to be a Regular mask (like some would see their Work clothes), then the Wearer puts a lot of detail into it. Because this Mask is how they want the world to see them when in this role. "You only know who I want you to know". Regardless of how many forms they have, Wearers have one core concept of identity, of who they are, known as a Face. And the various Masks a wearer has fits on over the Face, but never interfering with the Face's identity. A Mask may have its own behavior, but that is purely to make that Mask more convincing, to further the Wearer's goal at that time. When it comes to exposure, some Wearers bare themselves as changelings as a form of advertisement for whatever they may do. Others, for the safety of their professional secrets, conceal their nature behind their Face while having other semi-regular, temporary, or random masks filed away. For instance, an undercover operative may have a Mask they use when undercover, but once that mission is over, they return to their Face. Naked Changeling by Rechan Role of the Naked Changeling To expose oneself as a changeling is referred to as Undressing (Barers are often Undressed, given the flamboyant way they treat their mutable form). A changeling who normally wears their "natural" form or makes their living as a Professional Changeling is known as a Naked Changeling. While some may consider the Naked Changeling a repugnant thing, or doing shady, illegitimate work, many Naked Changelings have made their livelihood on their nature. To these Naked Changelings, it is no different than a Dwarf who relies on their innate stonecunning, a Gnome who exercises in being a barrister, or an Elf who gives in to their race's talent for magic. Tailoring their features are what they can do, and there is no shame in that. There are many jobs that they can be recruited for on these grounds: Actor: "I can assume any role, and have no need of makeup." Amateur Escort: "Sure, I can look like a total babe so you can show off to your friends how you can land such a hot girl." Bounty Hunter: "Who expects the little girl to serve you a summons to court?" Private Eye: "Why yes Mrs Kalum, I can see if your husband is willing to cheat on you by following him, seeing if he's hanging around a woman, assume her form later and see if he will make advances on me." Professional Alibi: "You want perfect attendance in this guy's class, but you want to go to a party? Sure, I can sign your name and take notes." Professional Art Subject: "Tell me the appearance of what you want to paint, I'll make it, then pose accordingly." Professional Criminal or Vigilante: that form is their costume, and they can pull a quick Superman in a Phonebooth to suit up. Professional Impersonator: "Sure, I can look like the King of Breland for your party, you want me to say these funny jokes while I look like him?" Psychologist: "Describe your father to me; I will take his appearance, and then you can confront him as you never had the chance to." Sketch Artist: "Describe to me the man that attacked you, I'll try to look like him." Undercover Cop: "Those dreamlily smugglers never saw me in uniform because this face is new." In addition to these roles, Changelings are sometimes recruited by certain entities. Arcane cabals or institutes that focus on Transmutation take advantage of changeling's focus in the area (RoE substitution levels), and the Kalasthar and Inspired are now exploring the Changeling's aptitude for the Egoist discipline. Among transmuters, Wearers are more common, while Egoists favor the Barer ideal unless they are on specific missions needing to conceal their nature until the moment to strike. Undressed and Naked Changelings In Society Due to the questionable ethics of the above jobs, many Changelings receive some sort of social discouragement or displeasure from the community. More conservative members of the community see their presence as temptation or deception at work, and more extreme members of those factions even consider the Naked Changeling a "front" for something more sinister. The more rural the community, the worse the tension, leading many Undressed or Naked changelings to Urban centers. And still there are some cities that are unwelcoming, due to the level of conservatism (Puritan Aundairian cities, areas of Thrane and Karnath particularly). Breland, Zilargo, Q'Barra, and Halfling settlements are the most accepting of Undressed and Naked changelings. Among the social pressures of groups trying to push the Naked Changelings out, the changeling may react in a number of ways: some disappear, others dig their heels in, believing this is a way to "inspire other Changelings to not hide under their clothes". Still others have found a way to combat this: Sow dissent and confusion in the ranks of the social pressure. All it takes is the rumor that a changeling is amid those who are putting pressure on the Naked Changeling, and often the groups will tear themselves apart trying to find out who is really the "face stealer" among them. Meanwhile others in the community may give the Changelings a wide breadth amid grudging respect. After all, Naked and Undressed are still regarded with suspicion, but they are just yet another thing that members in a city have to be concerned about; while no one wants a changeling as their neighbor or over for dinner, no one can deny their skills. More cunning changelings have monopolized on this level of paranoia around them. If your neighbors are watching your house, they'll notice a burglar. If the guards have their eyes on you, they don't notice your fellows doing something shifty or illegal, because they expect you to be up to something. Amid Arcane groups that draw in Changelings, they are seen with mixed levels of interest and ambivalence - their innate skill can be seen as a level of envy and jealousy, or as an assett with certain areas of research. Kalasthar regard Changeling egoists as curiosities, and Inspired disregard them as little more than useful pets - idiot savants only as useful as their skin can stretch. Let's see if we can come up with more ideas!
monai75 06-19-07, 11:14 AM	The "Huskers". These changelings who see life as a means to get ahead and do what ever it takes to do so. With proper study of their victims these changelings will assume forms for periods of time just to get close to their intended target. Then once the time is right they will "Dispose" of the real person and assume their forms and for the most part their lives. These types of changlings spend their whole lives as other beings. Searching only for more excitement and better lifeforms to impersonate. Of course alignment comes into play as well as level.
ArcTan 06-21-07, 02:24 AM	I didn't want to slam the Wearers and Barers too directly -- although Wearers really just sounds like the fourth "adventurer changeling" type from RoE, and Barers don't sound practical at all in a world that doesn't like shapeshifters -- but Huskers really are just a psychotic version of Becomers.
Bentley Mirrorshade 06-25-07, 09:40 AM	Aspirers History There is an old, obscure legend passed down from generation to generation in some changeling communities. It talks about days long forgotten, times, when dragonmarked dynasties meant naught and the common races only had just started carving their places in Eberron. It’s a story about a group of people, their origins long forgotten, that set out on a long and perilous journey. Identity of these heroes depends on who’s telling the tale – sometimes they are proud kings or philosophers, sometimes legendary wizards of even chefs. Destination or objective of their endeavour varies from one version to another. Some say the heroes went to the Lair of the Keeper to free one of their comrades from the clutches of the One-Who-Can-Never-Be-Satiated or that they sought an answer to the question of the origins of the Draconic Prophecy. Still others claim they set off to take possession of an arcane tome of Aureon himself or a book of recipes by Boldrei. Regardless of who’s telling, all versions agree on one thing: these men and women were the finest people that ever walked the soil of Khorvaire, unmatched by their peers or descendants in wit and skill. Having succeeded on their mission, the heroes found themselves chased by the vengeful dragons / servants of the Sovereign Host / some other powerful adversaries. Their prospects looking grim, they happened upon an old monk traversing the countryside. The old man offered them help – a set of gray masks that could conceal their identity. Desperate, the heroes agreed and put them on. Everything worked out just how the kind old man said – the strange masks changed the heroes’ appearance and they remained unnoticed, safe from their enraged enemies. They thanked the old monk and were on their way. On their journey home, the heroes found that it was becoming increasingly difficult to find the right way. Tired and perplexed, they decided to rest by a small pond in the woods. As one of them, intending to wash his face after the long, arduous walk through the wilds, gazed into the crystal clear waters, he realized his face was no longer his own. The gray mask seemed to had burrowed into his flesh, becoming one with the living matter. Looking around in shock, he found that his companions had suffered similar fate, all of them turning into these ghastly, featureless creatures. Only then they finally realized the true nature of the monk’s gift. They could no longer find their way home. They could no longer remember *what* their homes were. Nor could they remember their own names. Having their memories lost, their personalities erased, they continued to wander aimlessly, putting their newfound shapechanging ability to use. Taking on the guise of humans, elves, dwarves and others, all of them went their separate ways. The secrets they uncovered had been lost forever. Deprived of their very identities, descendants of these cursed creatures wander the lands of Eberron to this day. Or so would the changelings calling themselves “Aspirers” have you believe. Personality Aspirers perceive their shapechanging ability more as a curse than a gift. They feel that while they can assume looks (even personalities) of anyone else, they have no true personality of their own. Experience, knowledge, racial heritage passed on them by the previous generations had been stolen from someone else in the first place. They have no home, no genuine origin, and, as it would seem, no purpose in life. But aspirers are prepared to reinvent all of those things. Whether they think the tale is actually true or not, they believe their race has lost a grand heritage and it rests upon them to find it once more. They despise reality seekers for embracing what they call “empty husks, blank spaces, false non-identities” (referring to changeling’s natural form). All they life, aspirers strive to discover the “perfect form”. For them, it is not only the collection of the best physical and psychical features of an individual, it is an expression of superiority of their long lost racial heritage. In order to find the perfect form, aspirers pick up or invent various forms, facial features or character quirks. These change and evolve throughout their lives. The perfect form is unique for every changeling, it is highly subjective and seldom encompass what is widely regarded to be the paramount of beauty or morality. Some aspirers regard the rugged countenance of an orc woodsman to be the true realization of their inner self, why others prefer the delicate looks of an elf. Almost none of these forms are permanent. While an aspirer may wear one for a very long time, he will eventually find new ways to express what he regards the desired form, a defining aspect of his very existence. Aspirer’s form reflects his past, his present struggles and his future dreams. In aspirers’ lives, there are phases of attunement, when they try to get as much as they can from their current form (in terms of realization of their true self) and phases of change, when they try to find a better expression of the perfect form and ascend to higher stage in their spiritual search. Coming soon: religious outlooks and role-playing application!
taski 06-25-07, 07:43 PM	Grey Speakers Grey speakers hold truth and social justice close to their hearts. They champion for social change, and for an improvement of the public's image of changelings. They sacrifice the easy life of a bystander, and instead organize good public works (such as soup kitchens and shelters) while in their natural form. Idealistic to the point of risking personal safety for an arguably lost cause, the grey speakers are very rare indeed. However, they are often as well-spoken as they are outspoken, and will generally draw a crowd when on a soap box. The direction and tone of their advocacy is where grey speakers tend to disagree -- some advocate calm, peaceful demonstrations, while others view anger and the threat of violence as a more effective motivator for change. Regardless, they all want to see the position of changelings improve, and are willing to dedicate much of their life to that goal. In general, grey speakers view their shapechanging ability as a gift, but not one that implies superiority. Perfection is not to be found in the shape of one person, but in the goodness of a society. That goodness does not come of its own; it must be shaped. In effect, they see society as being as malleable as they are, and themselves as one of the shapers.