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2007-01-27 21:46:41

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Changeling

See also: Fae

In many faery tales, there is a reference to the pranksterous fae (or fey; also sylvan) coming in the night on the birth of a child or initiation into childhood, and kidnapping or even switching a human child for a changeling, a Faery child.

Sometimes a child will be born into a common family of peasants or simple people, and it will find itself devolping a sense of humor uncanny to others, a sense of restlessness or wanderlust, and even the onset of strange magical mishaps, often at or around intiations into childhood or as late as adulthood. This could be another reason for the story of the changelings.

One thing is for sure, the term changeling is at least some way connected to the faery courts of Seelie and Unseelie, and could be part of a huge prank on humanity to place changeling children in place of their own.

Back to the Creature_List / The Creature List

2004-02-16 [Chalanea]: A human that took the place of an elf, usually for work.

2004-03-24 [Hilohello]: Funny, I always thought it was the other way around. AN elf substituted for a human newborn while the mother wasn't looking. The best way to get rid of it is to boil water in eggshells, at which point it will laugh, say "I have seen many things, but never water boiled in eggshells" (or something to that effect), then leave. Later, the mother will find her own child.

2004-03-28 [Highwaywench]: The original changeling was a goblin-child placed into a cradle as a replacement for the human child which the fairies took away to live with them in the other world. The changeling would look human but would never be satisfied, always crying and being a nuisance. But the lucky human child would grow up to be a ruler of the other world :)

2004-08-28 [Ayeaka]: Yes, it was always a goblin.

2006-12-28 [Lady of Lore]: Would a doppleganger also be another name for the changeling? Referance Forgotten Realms books (can provide citing if you'd like)

2006-12-30 [xido]: Ooooh, citations are wonderful! APA Formatting for more info on that.

Doppelgangers are shapechangers, and because the changeling refers to the tendencies of fey (fae) and sprites changing babies for faeriefolk is the focus here, I would say no. However, that does not prevent you from posting information about the Doppelganger or Shapeshifter (if either of those links work... If not, use either, or your own).

Also feel free to provide web linked media (like images) from http://www.wizards.com/dnd/ Art Galleries if you would like. I always try to include as many as I can (and remember your linked citations when possible).
-will

2007-01-01 [Lady of Lore]: Sounds fantastic! Once I get some time I shall do so.

2007-01-09 [xido]: Please don't feel rushes, but yes, anytime that you can, it would be appreciated.

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