Changeling, 7th Variant (5e Race)
Changeling[edit]
Changelings are a humanoid race that is distantly descended from doppelgangers and share their shapeshifting qualities.
Physical Description[edit]
While changelings can look like anyone at any given time, they do have a true form. Their skin tone is always pale, either white or light gray, and they tend to have slender bodies. They have large colorless eyes circled by thick black rings. Their hair color is most commonly a light shade of silver followed by platinum and blonde. In rarer cases, their hair can be pale shades of green, pink, and blue. Similar to elves, changelings lack body and facial hair. In spite of this, they are often strangely attractive and likable.
History[edit]
Due to their nature Changelings do not have much recorded history however what is known is that their evolution was a result of many years of interbreeding between humans and doppelgangers which led to the birth of the first changelings. During the Last War, changelings were often employed as spies and assassins which only reinforced the stigma they receive in the present day.
Society[edit]
Changelings live among humans, goblinoids, or other races, blending in among them and living in their shadow. They are commonly found in large cities, where their talents can be used as entertainers, government agents, or adventurers, but also for more criminal purposes. Some changelings live in stable communities where they are open about their true nature, while others live in nomadic communities that hide their ability to shapeshift from outsiders.
Changeling Names[edit]
A changeling might use a different name for each mask and persona and adopt new names as easily as they develop new faces. The true name of a changeling tends to be simple and monosyllabic.
Changeling Traits[edit]
Shapeshifting humanoids with a distant connection to the doppelganger.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma or Dexterity score increases by 2, and two other ability scores of your choice increases by 1.
Age. Changelings reach maturity at 15 and can live to be around 500 years old.
Alignment. Most changelings are neutral. They prefer to keep a low profile and often do not take passionate stances that would draw attention. However, changelings can be any alignment, and often readily adapt to the culture they are raised in.
Size. Changelings are built much like humans and can be anywhere from five feet to six feet tall, but are almost always tall for their parent race. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Change Appearance. As an action, you can transform your appearance or revert to your natural form. You can’t duplicate the appearance of a creature you’ve never seen, and you revert to your natural form if you die. You decide what you look like, including your height, weight, facial features, the sound of your voice, coloration, hair length, sex, and any other distinguishing characteristics. You can make yourself appear as a member of another race, though none of your game statistics change. You also can’t appear as a creature of a different size than you, and your basic shape stays the same; if you’re bipedal, you can’t use this trait to become quadrupedal, for instance. Your clothing and other equipment don’t change in appearance, size, or shape to match your new form, requiring you to keep a few extra outfits on hand to make the most compelling disguise possible.
Even to the most astute observers, your ruse is usually indiscernible. If you rouse suspicion, or if a wary creature suspects something is amiss, you have advantage on any Charisma (Deception) check you make to avoid detection.
Changeling Trance. You don't need to sleep, and magic can't put you to sleep. Instead, you meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such meditation is “trance.”) While meditating, you can still dream; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a person normally gets from 8 hours of sleep.
Changeling Instincts. You gain proficiency with two of the following skills of your choice: Deception, Insight, Intimidation, and Persuasion.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and two other languages of your choice.
Random Height and Weight[edit]
Base Height |
Height Modifier* |
Base Weight |
Weight Modifier** |
---|---|---|---|
5′ 0'' | +1d10 | 100 lb. | × (1d8) lb. |
*Height = base height + height modifier |
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