Changelings

Mist-clad in the light of the moon
Starspun seekers - I search for thee!
Faery light - I ask thy boon
Of branch and thorn and Elder tree!
Wood woven creatures, shadow weavers
River keepers - come to me!
Just beyond reaching
Never in keeping
Spirits of Faery - I call unto thee!
Wind-hewn wildness
Dark and brightness
Spiral enchantments - born of the sky!
Cradle me with elven hands,
Abide with me, thy human child!



The tradition among thefey of taking a human child and exchanging it for one of their own is an old one, and it is a custom born of necessity. Life among the noble circles of the Sidhe can be quite deadly, and enemies are often made. While adult fey are aware of this, and often know how to protect themselves, newborns do not. It is extremely difficult to care for a child at the same time as participating at court, and if someone wishes you harm, the child is usually the easiest way to go.

To prevent against this (and to get some relief from parenting) some fey opt to sneak off and exchange their precious baby with a mortal one. This way their child is much safer, and with a few glamors nobody will ever notice the difference. If the human child is killed by their opponents the parents won't be all that grieved, for they know that the child is safe, while their opponent goes home satisfied all the same.

Of course, the mortals aren't all that happy about this practice, especially since the changeling at some point during adolescence are forced to return to the land of his birth, leaving the parent alone and despairing. Even before this happens many father and mothers understand that the thing in the cryb isn't their own child, something which can bring great psychological strain. It should be noted that the household is always cared for, and the parents never suffer ill fortune. The fey never openly help them, for fear of revelaing too much of the operation at hand, but they manage to make sure, in circumspect ways, that their child never wants for anything while growing up.


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