Seemings and Kiths
Faerie’s effect on changelings goes all the way to the soul, but the changes are not entirely esoteric. The Fae nature of his Keeper is translated down to the changeling through the Contracts between them, warping the changeling both in body and spirit. This change divides the Lost up into strange affinities that they refer to as seemings. A changeling whose Keeper was crafted of living shadow, for example, might himself become of the Darkling seeming, taking on shadow-related characteristics as well. He might well develop an aversion to light, or his coloring might become monochrome. If his Keeper preferred an underground demesne, the changeling might develop the same tastes, adapting — whether he liked it or not — to survive in the fae environment he found himself bound to. Not all changelings, however, follow directly in their Keepers’ footsteps. Take, for example, the human performer who was kidnapped by a Fae troll to entertain him with her song. She may, based on the role her Keeper places her in, develop a Fairest seeming, while the strapping young man who was stolen to guard his lair might become an Ogre himself. Within Faerie, the True Fae’s will seems to permeate all aspects of his dealings, imposing itself on those around him. Humans (and the changelings they develop into) seem particularly vulnerable to the forces of this fae will. The manifestations of this Fae taint, however, are almost limitless.
Even within the same seeming, two changelings may develop very differently. These further specialized affinities, called kiths, exist within each seeming. An Elemental seeming, for example, may manifest general qualities of all elemental forces: stone, air, earth and water. Or she may be very specifically a Fireheart, carrying the living flame within her. Likewise, a Wizened seeming might be a general wise woman, the epitome of a fairy tale witch, or she might be a Chirurgeon who’s mastered disturbing surgeries, an Oracle with an innate eye for Fate and the future or even a Smith of magical weapons and armor, putting her innate understanding of how things work to very practical and yet still supernatural use. Each of these kiths might have very different miens, reflecting physically different aspects while belonging to the same overarching seeming.
A changeling’s mien almost never changes so far from the changeling’s original form to make him unrecognizable. He may grow or shrink a few inches, but he is very unlikely to gain or lose a foot or more in height. Hair and eye color may change, and facial features may subtly shift, but the appearance of the stolen human is never completely overwritten.
It’s said that it’s possible to change completely, but that those who do never find their way home, having lost the ability to recognize their mortal selves. The changes are physical, but do not appear to be genetic; DNA analysis cannot determine a “goblin genome,” for instance. It also seems impossible for a changeling to pass on his fae qualities to any offspring — not that the Lost have much by way of fertility after the change, that is. Exposure to Faerie seems to negatively affect a human’s ability to sire or bear children, making it impossible for most by the time they have become changelings proper. Therefore, the Others are obliged to steal new servants every year, rather than simply breeding the stock they already own.
Upon returning to the mortal world, changelings may be relieved to find that the physical manifestations of their fae mien do not reveal themselves to humans. Changelings are protected by an enchantment that hangs over all things fae, concealing them from mortal eyes. This Mask, as they call it, may seem a small boon compared to the myriad other challenges they face in the mortal world, but it is a boon none the less. Their miens, however, have not disappeared or faded upon leaving Faerie. Other Lost will see changelings quite clearly — as will the True Fae, should they come across the changeling. Likewise, should the changeling venture into the Hedge or Arcadia proper, he will find that everyone, including humans, sees his fae mien and not his human guise.
