Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rechan 06-19-07, 11:18 PM	While arguing elsewhere (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=865067) about Races of Eberron, I came up with some mindsets for Changelings to see their minor change shape ability Beyond those presented in Races of Eberron. I also some other thoughts regarding Changelings and how they may use their innate ability to carve out roles for themselves. It should be noted I do not want to argue about Becomers/Passers/Reality Seekers, and I direct you to the link above if you want to talk about RoE. Changeling Philosophies Wearers 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. Barers 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. 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." Undercover cop: "Those dreamlily smugglers never saw me in uniform because this face is new." Bounty hunter: "who expects the little girl to serve you a summons to court?" Professional criminal or Vigilante: that form is their costume, and they can pull a quick Superman in a Phonebooth to suit up. 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." 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." p Professional Art Subject: "Tell me the appearance of what you want to paint, I'll make it, then pose accordingly." 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?" 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." 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." Body Double: "I can be you to divert a target from coming after you. But it won't be cheap." Body Guard: "No one will suspect the ten year old on the other side of the street to be protection." Interpreter: "You want me to tell them what?" (Changelings have the Natural Linguist ability.) 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. A century ago, it is said that a changeling monk left a monestary to find his own way. That way became Path of the Fluid Form. The martial art that this master developed entails changing the body to assist in a fight; making the spine more flexible or the body thinner to dodge a blow, lengthen an arm for a strike, or grow shorter and more squat to assist in grappling. 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.
Rerecros 06-20-07, 12:07 AM	I found this useful and informative :)