Where do Changeling come from?

[Library Ogre]

http://www.editors-wastebasket.org/nexx ... eling.html

I thought about this a few years ago. Not officially, but it's what I can conclude.

[NovenTheHero]

I always assumed that 2 changleings would know when a person is a changeling or not (kind of like Nightbane being able to sense each other). They each choose a sex and then mate...out comes a baby changeling that is quite fragile and vulnerable until it learns to change shape. The parents better either live in an accepting place or move somewhere that they can be alone and raise a little one.

[Northern Ranger]

I read the article Mark and I'd have to agree in part. I've always said that a changeling changes sex and appearance to mate with a member of any race it might find attractive and the offspring, by and large, is a changeling. This is why the race is dying off, because their bloodlines are thinning more with each generation. It is also why Changelings today are perhaps not as powerful as changelings of thousands of years ago. The more their blood is diluted with the blood of non-changelings, the less of their shape shifting abilities they have.

(I've ruled in my own games that your own Chageling Metamorphs must come from parents who are both changelings.)

[Maddog]

I don't know if I agree with Nexx's opinion, but the writing sure is good. Now I'm eager to see his MoM in print!

Changelings, ( Summoner-Wizards in particular! ) have always been a favorite of mine and I've played a few. I always assumed that they would/could only propagate with another Changeling. PFRPG has no half-races (the 'half-ogre' is always considered an ogre) so why would Changelings be able to breed with the other Races? Why would a race whose survival depends on secrecy breed with outsiders? Wouldn't the partner find out?

I also remember the fantastic Elemental Island (name?) adventure from High Seas 1st Ed. There may have been something about Changeling propagation in the adventure, as there were Changeling children in the story. I don't have the book at hand now, and It's been a few years since I had it out so......

[Natasha]

I always assumed that 2 changleings would know when a person is a changeling or not (kind of like Nightbane being able to sense each other). They each choose a sex and then mate...out comes a baby changeling that is quite fragile and vulnerable until it learns to change shape. The parents better either live in an accepting place or move somewhere that they can be alone and raise a little one.

Such as in the Yin-Sloth Jungles.

The only changeling I ever played came from there.

It's cool because, really, the race could be thriving and nobody knows it.

[Library Ogre]

I read the article Mark and I'd have to agree in part. I've always said that a changeling changes sex and appearance to mate with a member of any race it might find attractive and the offspring, by and large, is a changeling. This is why the race is dying off, because their bloodlines are thinning more with each generation. It is also why Changelings today are perhaps not as powerful as changelings of thousands of years ago. The more their blood is diluted with the blood of non-changelings, the less of their shape shifting abilities they have.

(I've ruled in my own games that your own Chageling Metamorphs must come from parents who are both changelings.)

My problem with that is "What is the result of changeling blood thinning?" What happens when it thins sufficiently, if thinning is resulting in less able changelings, and birth usually a changeling?

[Northern Ranger]

A valid point, as usual. I didn't say it was a perfect theory, lol. But I would imagine after a while they just wouldn't be considered changelings anymore. I know, that's lame, cause then how would you explain that they still have some minimal shapeshifting ability? But really, who's to say changeling blood that's been weakened that much can even retain that ability? Or maybe they just haven't ever been properly trained in it's use. Who knows? The possibilities are pretty much endless.

[Probitas]

Pick up Island at the Edge of the World, there is some history for the race, as well as some ideas for Changeling society past and present, mental makeup, why they are the way they are, and why everyone blames them for all the worlds evils, right after they blame the Old Ones.

Biologically, interspecies mating seems impossible IMHO, except in very narrow instances like Elf/Human due to similarities (and perhaps pointing out a biological connection and relationship between elves and humans). Changelings have a very distinct biology, being supernatural in origin, so I do not think any half-changelings are possible. I suppose you could make a case for mating due to the mimicing of species, except that the offspring is entirely one race or the other, as the birth parent could choose to have either a changeling child or an 'ordinary' one.

[Library Ogre]

There are no fertile human-elf pairings without major magic.

Human/ogre produces ogres (though on the runty end)

[Probitas]

My bad, I had the D&D 4e running through my head at the time.

[Library Ogre]

My bad, I had the D&D 4e running through my head at the time.

May I suggest a disinfectant?

[Northern Ranger]

My bad, I had the D&D 4e running through my head at the time.

May I suggest a disinfectant?

Oooohhhh, that'll leave a mark!

[Probitas]

My bad, I had the D&D 4e running through my head at the time.

May I suggest a disinfectant?

Oooohhhh, that'll leave a mark!

Nah, I'll just pretend it's not there, and it will go away.

[bradshaw]

May I suggest a disinfectant? [/quote]

Oooohhhh, that'll leave a mark! [/quote]

Nah, I'll just pretend it's not there, and it will go away. [/quote]
Worked for my last girlfreind

[victor15065]

I think they are delivered by a stork a drunk stork lol
No JC I think they reproduce asexually no proof but its the eaisy way to explain how they so it secretly

[kiralon]

Brraaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnzzzzzzzzz
Its ALIVE

[Jefffar]

*shoots for the head.*