Way of the Changelings

The Dreaming

The Dreaming is a realm that is separate from, yet tied to, the mundane world. Created by the dreams, creativity, fears and hopes of mortals, it has exceeded its original dimensions and become a realm of infinite possibility. Anything that can be imagined may be found somewhere in the Dreaming — the catch is one has to know where to look for it. The Dreaming exists alongside the mortal realm, interwoven with it, penetrating it in places and reflecting some aspects of its less magical neighbour.

Once the home of all faeries, over the last several centuries the Dreaming has become a place of strangeness to most commoners. Cut off from most of the realm since the Shattering, many are just now rediscovering it. Others, who had access to those few trods that remained open, are now exploring the Dreaming more fully. Most never move beyond the Near Dreaming, which retains some echoes of the nearby mortal realm. Almost all changelings enter the Dreaming through a trod. Some positively revel in their newfound homeland; others are beginning to understand that it poses as many dangers for them as the real world does.

The Dreaming and the mortal plane were once the same. The Sundering separated the two, creating a separate homeland for the fae. The Shattering isolated Arcadia and most of the Dreaming from the mundane world. The true fae, great faeries of old whose powers were legendary and whose bodies were made up of the very essence of the Dreaming, fled the mortal realm. Those who could not (or would not) escape remained, but were forced to undergo the Changeling Way in order to survive. Trapping their faeries souls within mortal coils was the only way they could survive the onslaught of Banality.

Whereas the greatest danger to changelings in the mortal world is Banality, the Dreaming exposes them to new threats that ironically are brought about by the lack of Banality. Monstrous chimera, able to exist in the Glamour-rich environment of the Dreaming, threaten changelings who deviate from set pathways. Shifting realities, which are possible only because there is no Banality to control them, confuse and disorient many travellers in the Dreamlands. Where changelings face the loss of their fae selves to Banality in the mortal world, the lack of Banality in most areas of the Dreaming can send them into Bedlam from an overload of Glamour. Their faerie souls must struggle to live in the mundane world, but their mortal essences suffer while in the Dreaming.

Those who study this magical realm have yet to even begin discovering the many and diverse places to be found within it. The nature of the Dreaming, with its shifting terrain, chaotic weather and unexplainable phenomena, makes such categorizing an impossible task anyway. "Unlimited possibility" is often simply another term for "hopelessly confused." Despite the difficulty in determining just where one part of the Dreaming leaves off and another begins, fae scholars generally agree on a three-part division of the realm. These are known as the Near Dreaming, the Far Dreaming and the Deep Dreaming.

The Near Dreaming

The Near Dreaming is that part of the other realms that lies closest to the mortal world. It overlaps parts of reality, and in places even mimics certain features of the Earthly realm. Thus entering the Near Dreaming via a trod in the mountains may very well place the changeling in a Dreaming environment similar to the one she just left. Jagged peaks and cliffs make up the immediate terrain, and the trod itself conforms to a road or stream that cuts through the mountains found on the mortal side of the curtain.

Those parts of the Near Dreaming that do not echo the nearby mortal realms are sometimes shaped by the rulers of those lands. As the personality and well-being of the ruler affect her holding in the mortal world, so too they affect the part of the Dreaming that abuts her freehold or kingdom. Most freeholds have a chimerical existence within the Near Dreaming, allowing Kithain to enter a freehold from the mortal side, cross through the freehold and exit the dwelling into the Dreaming. Because of this two-sided existence, the freehold responds to the emotions and health of its ruler in both its mundane and magical aspects.

Other areas of the Near Dreaming may be shaped by various forces. Some respond to human-made items, taking forms similar to single buildings, parks or even neighbourhoods. Generally, for this to happen, the construct in question must be the result of a great amount of imagination and emotion. A small clinic funded with money gathered by families of critically ill patients might call forth a chimerical building in the Near Dreaming, especially if the clinic becomes a reality after years of scrimping and dreaming by those who fund it. Not only have they made it a reality in the mortal world, they have created a dream of it within the otherworld as well.

The Near Dreaming can be entered through trods, which often run from one freehold to another. Since many freeholds exist within the Near Dreaming, even commoner changelings have become accustomed to using these real-world entry-and-exit paths since the sidhe opened them up for use.

Though the time it takes to travel remains approximately the same whether using a trod or more mundane means in the real world, many changelings have discovered that there are other modes of travel in the Dreaming. The lack of Banality makes using Arts such as Wayfare much easier, allowing quick travel from place to place within the Dreaming. Then there are magical beasts, some of whom have their own Arts or possess wings. These too may speed a changeling on his journey. Most importantly, however, the Silver Paths of the trods in the Near Dreaming are almost always safer, wider, easier to spot and follow, and better kept than elsewhere within the Dreamlands. It is only near the furthest edges of the Near Dreaming that the Silver Path begins to fail.

Many areas of the Near Dreaming play host to freeholds or homesteads. The presence of changelings who watch over these areas tends to make them more stable and resistant to some of the weirder effects that plague the farther reaches of the realm. Despite this static aspect, however, the Near Dreaming cannot be mistaken for mundane reality. Colours are more vivid, scents sharper, tastes more tangy and weather more pure. A thunderstorm in the mortal realm cannot begin to compare to the flashing lightning, booming shocks of thunder, sheets of rain and driving wind that is the very essence of a storm in the Dreamlands. Everything chimerical is brought into sharper focus, while objects of Banality become hazy or fade away altogether.

Emotions are much purer here as well. Anger becomes a bright burning flame almost given a physical body, and gladness manifests as a tangible feeling that spreads from one person to another. Romance blossoms from the slightest gesture, and passions run hot; likewise, pleasure is far more enticing in the Dreaming. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true. Fear cuts like a white-hot knife, and hatred chokes with a taste like bitter ashes. Pain is also enhanced in the realm of Dreams, and damage inflicted on Kithain, whether by Arts, beasts or chimerical objects, becomes real upon entering the mundane world again.

Dangerous, but compelling and delightful, the Near Dreaming and its oddities are more recognizable and more easily assimilated by changelings than other parts of the Dreamlands. This is because some Banality seeps through from the nearby mortal realm, helping shape the chaos into patterns. Banality usually loses its power before having much effect on the farther reaches. Thus, the Dreaming becomes stranger and makes less sense the farther Kithain travel into it. Few attempt the trek beyond the Near Dreaming. Those who do are often deemed mad. If they return, they have often earned that label.

Far Dreaming

The Far Dreaming begins where the Near Dreaming leaves off, though the boundaries between the two are sometimes hard to judge. This part of the Dreamlands can only be reached through travelling along a trod, but even this can be perilous and confusing. Here the Silver Path becomes harder to follow and sometimes seems to fade out altogether or skip from place to place. Travel through the Far Dreaming is dangerous even along trods because of the realm's chaotic, unpredictable nature. Only very powerful trods extend this far into the Dreaming.

Among the many perils of this realm are the nightmarish creatures that lurk in the hidden places within the Far Dreaming. Strange things from Arcadia may be found here as well, released by the weakening of Arcadia's gates since their closure 600 years ago. Predicting their general natures, thought processes or reactions to changelings who might interact with them is almost impossible. While some might offer counsel or refuge, others could desire changeling slaves or see visitors to their territories as fair game for their own version of blood sport.

If experiencing the Near Dreaming is like being in a story, travelling the Far Dreaming is like falling into a myth or legend. Some changelings come to the Far Dreaming to escape the rulership of the nobility, though this can backfire as it is the sidhe who claim the most knowledge of this realm. Furthermore, those who remain too long within the Dreaming eventually succumb to Bedlam. Few but the most powerful fae or chimera can survive this mysterious realm long enough to set up residence within it. Those who do reside in the Far Dreaming leave their imprint on the surrounding territory. Sentient chimera roam many parts of the realm. It is difficult sometimes to tell whether the land responds to the needs of the chimerical beasts or the beasts gravitate toward comfortable terrain. Nothing is ever certain in the Far Dreaming, except that uncertainty underpins the whole region.

Nonetheless, Arts seem more effective here, with some classic cantrips evincing special effects rarely seen in the mundane realm. Wayfare cantrips may be accompanied by puffs of smoke, a clap of thunder or the sound of whooshing air; Sovereign effects may include a subtle halo of light or a just-audible fanfare when used. Whether this is the result of the presence of so little Banality, a property of the Far Dreaming itself or the result of changelings' overactive imaginations has not yet been determined.

This chaotic realm can be used to travel the world much faster than would otherwise be possible. Of course, getting lost is a distinct possibility as well. Some changelings who have travelled the Far Dreaming tell of experiencing what seem to be years of arduous journeys only to once again step through into the Near Dreaming and back to the mortal realm a few moments after they left.

The Far Dreaming is also the starting point for ancient gateways to the Deep Dreaming, though these gateways are almost always guarded either by magical beasts or traps and tests left behind by the sidhe to protect their realms. Here might be found a sphinx whose riddles hold the key to opening a gateway — or to a changeling's death. The riddles, however, need not make sense. Logic breaks down this far from the mundane world, and two and two do not always add up to four. Traps might only be sprung by those who actively search for them, and tests might be more concerned with evoking a reaction than doing the right thing. Then again, doing the wrong thing could lead to disaster. Creatures such as dragons and unicorns abound in this realm, many with powers never conceived of except in the oldest tales from which they sprang.

Deep Dreaming

The realms of the Deep Dreaming are the least structured. Only a handful of trods reach all the way to the Deep Dreaming, and those few can only be used by those who know the secrets of their opening. Insulated from Banality, the realms of the Deep Dreaming are in constant turmoil, responding to the needs of the moment. Rarely do these needs take into account visitors to the realm. Rather they serve to protect the hidden places within the Deep Dreaming from intrusion, covering the routes to them with illusion or shifting realities to confuse those who do not belong there. Some residents may be caught within these fields of chaos as well.

It is believed that Arcadia lies at the centre of this realm, but that may well be another illusion. None have managed to get that far, or at least none who began their journey from the Earthly realm have returned to say so. Arcadia may not even be the true homeland of the fae, but a shared illusion conjured by the Mists. There are many paradises within the Deep Dreaming, and a number of nightmare-inspired realms of hellish cruelty and nauseating ugliness.

Literally anything can happen here. The less logical things are, the more likely they are to occur. Dream logic (if there is such a thing) prevails within the Deep Dreaming because this realm is the physical and spiritual manifestation of the deepest well of the creative unconscious. Powerful mortal dreams that conflict with one another find expression here, sometimes within the same space. Like the landscape visited in dreams, seemingly unrelated places overlap one another with little reason for their juxtaposition. Things happen that in the waking world would have no connection to one another. There is almost no cause-and-effect here. Some actions have no consequence or related reaction, others come in response to consequences for what hasn't happened yet. People merge together into symbolic representations and assume relationships to one another that don't actually exist.

In a bizarre fashion, the Deep Dreaming is held together by "cosmic" connections, its essential patterns given meaning only by their proximity to each other. Some creatures and objects exist within the realm independent of the fae. They are a part of the area, and cannot be dismissed from it simply because a changeling doesn't wish to encounter them. On the other hand, reality is somewhat subjective after all. Changelings often find in this realm what they expect (or fear) to find. Whether or not those things existed before the changeling entered the area is open to debate. If someone can think of something, she can find it in the Deep Dreaming, almost as if it has been called into being in response to her thoughts. The scary part is that this welling up of creative Glamour doesn't always conform to its creator's expectations and conscious wishes. Instead, it takes on a life of its own, responding to a changeling's hidden wishes, deeply buried fears and illogic as much as to her desires. If the Near Dreaming is a story and the Far Dreaming a myth, the Deep Dreaming is the embodiment of dreams themselves, and dreams can rarely be controlled or directed — that's a function of Banality.

Mortal World Versus Magical

The mortal and the magical worlds exist side by side in tenuous juxtaposition. Most of the time the two realms ignore one another, but now and then they collide. Boundaries slip and magical elements find their way into mortal consciousness, or denizens of the "real" world suddenly find themselves surrounded by strange and puzzling sights.

The fae are constantly striving to bring back the Summerlands, the halcyon country that once embodied the perfect union between dreams and reality — the realization of dreams. Some believe that in this way, the faerie realm of Arcadia will once again join itself to the human world, sparking a renaissance of magical possibilities that will rescue the mundane realm from its own downward spiral into stagnation and decay.

Although humans deny the existence of the fae, relegating them to the sphere of legends and fairy tales, the fact that these stories persist reveals a desperate desire to believe in the unbelievable. Many humans want to believe that wondrous creatures such as the fae exist, but lack the capacity to sustain faith in what they cannot directly perceive or embrace through reason. In fact, most mortals hardly remember what it is they long for, so bowed down are they by a banal world that tells them that searching for intangible or spiritual fulfilment is a waste of time and energy.

Role of Changelings

The World of Darkness has little room for dreams. Humans exist in a reality they can explain rationally but still cannot understand. All the "great" institutions conspire to tell them that the good die young, the brave come home in boxes and only the financially strong survive. Dreams — such as they are — come in sanitized, pre-programmed packages: the corporate dream, the jet-set dream, the dream of retirement and the virtual dream.

For most people, dreams are a luxury they cannot afford. The young have nothing to look forward to except unemployment or, if they're lucky, meaningless jobs for minimum wages. When a military career looks attractive, things are dull, indeed. The old face disappointment and a society that turns its back on them. Even those who have it made — CEOs, rock stars, drug lords, politicians — find themselves surrounded by tawdriness and mundanity. The high aspirations that once fuelled human achievement and creativity have degenerated into the lowest common expectations.

The Light In The Darkness

Changelings radiate hope in a world buried in drabness. The embodiments of creativity and the power to dream, these remnants of the fae protect and nurture those fading shreds of wonder and imagination that still remain. Without them, reality would collapse under the weight of its own Banality, disbelieving in anything that could not be seen or touched or experienced by the physical senses.

In an older time, the fae served as muses to humanity, inspiring artists and musicians, craftsmen and philosophers, prophets and leaders to expand the boundaries of their minds and hearts to encompass new thoughts and works of beauty. Now, changelings fulfil an even more important purpose. In an era when science threatens magic, reducing it to a series of physiochemical reactions or a mechanical progression of causes and effects, changelings proclaim the reality of the inexplicable. They tip the balance of the senses, jar the edges of the mind and defy the "natural laws" that consign the creatures of the world to one fixed form.

Changelings announce to the World of Darkness that dreams exist. Like their name suggests, they represent the essence of mutability. Reality does not have to lie stagnant or conform to the rules. The children of the Dreaming, by their very existence, break the rules and shatter the conventions of everyday life. Their lives testify to the fact that what is does not have to be.

In the Gothic-Punk universe, changelings must tread carefully, for danger assaults them from all sides. Powerful forces exist that oppose any change to the status quo. Dreams are subversive, for they contradict the world as we know it. Changelings, even the most traditional ones, act as revolutionaries and rebels, undermining the stark determinism of modern life. They allow humans to indulge in rare moments in which it seems possible to cure the world's ills — to save the rainforests, feed the hungry, find homes for everyone — and bring the light of imagination into die shadowy corners of the mundane realm.

Keepers of the Dream

If changelings did not exist, the world would slowly and inexorably succumb to rampant disbelief, subsisting on a low-fat diet of facts and provable observations. Humans would continue to breed and jostle one another for living space, fighting wars to determine who gets the spoils of land and riches, but the hope that something more existed would be beyond their imaginations.

As exiles from a world they can no longer enter, changelings forever yearn for what lies just beyond their grasp. They are creatures of profound sadness as well as beauty, and not all the dreams they embody are happy ones. Yet it is this lack that drives them to seek the unattainable — to reunite Arcadia and the mortal realm, and thus create a new (or re-create a very old) reality in which dream and substance become one. This is the goal to which changelings dedicate their existences, even if they do not consciously realize it. They are the keepers of the memories of a time when anything could happen, so long as someone dreamed it into existence.

Nature of the Fae

Part flesh and part dream, changelings' appearances mirror their dual natures. Changelings see one another in their true forms, as embodiments of the Dreaming given form by the Glamour of faerie magic. This is their fae mien. Banality shrouds this form, however, hiding it from the world under a humanlike appearance, called the mortal seeming. Changelings do not shift between the two forms like shapeshifters. How a changeling appears depends on who perceives her and on her proximity to the Dreaming.

The Chrysalis

Changelings are both born and made. Born into the bodies of human infants, most changelings spend the first parts of their lives as normal children, sometimes reaching their teens or even full adulthood before the part of themselves that belongs to the Dreaming manifests. Regardless of when — or how — the changeling spirit emerges, this transformation begins with an explosive, often traumatic, inner awakening known as the Chrysalis.

Hints of the Dreaming

The Chrysalis, or moment of becoming, breaks the shell of Banality that hides a changeling's true self from the mortal world. Like the Big Bang that created the universe, this event propels the newly aware changeling headlong into her first real contact with the Dreaming. Assaulted from every side by a barrage of sights, sounds, smells, tastes and tactile experiences that contradict the harsh, cold reality of her life up to this point, the new changeling may believe that she is going mad. In a way, perhaps, she is — according to the world's definitions of sanity. But in another sense, somewhere in the depths of her psyche, she realizes that she has, at last, come home.

Many changelings grow up as misfits in their societies. Even as children, some indefinable essence clings to them, causing those who know them to label them "exceptional," "gifted" or — too appropriately—"fey." As children they are likely to have imaginary playmates (who might not be so imaginary after all), or insist on believing in magical worlds of dragons and superheroes long after their playmates have progressed to team sports and dating. As they grow older, these changelings-to-be continue to strike their families, friends and colleagues as eccentric, holding onto a whimsicality that prevents them from being fully at ease in the modern world. This sense of not-quite-belonging comes from the nascent Kithain soul, still quiet but now faintly stirring within the changeling's mortal flesh, waiting for the proper time and circumstances to make itself known.

Just as a dormant volcano puts out warning signals of an impending eruption, the Chrysalis announces its approach by enacting subtle (or occasionally not so subtle) shifts in the reality of the changeling. These can take the form of sudden flashes of impossible — to mortal eyes — vistas, hallucinations of mythical creatures in unlikely places (a unicorn in the boss's office), periods of personality dissociation or the feeling that another person has taken up residence in the mind. Few changelings realize at the time what it is that they are experiencing; some, in fact, seek psychiatric or medical help.

Dream Dance

When the time is right, usually at the most inopportune moment in a changeling's life, the warnings stop and the Dream Dance begins. This is the high point of the Chrysalis, when a new changeling's world takes a hard left. The volcano erupts, the earth trembles and rives apart, the tsunami strikes the shore, and cosmic fireworks announce the changeling's liberation from the tyranny of form and reason. Glamour rushes to surround the awakening changeling, engulfing her with the stuff of raw Dreaming, so that nothing she sees, feels, hears, smells or tastes bears any resemblance to the paltry senses that once connected her to the world outside her body. In fact, during the Dream Dance, the fledgling changeling has a hard time perceiving just where her physical body ends and where the world of experience begins.

The changeling plunges into direct confrontation with the Dreaming for the first time. Surrounded by Glamour, she sees her true fae self resplendent in the light of chimerical reality. The Mists that have clouded her mind until now roll away, revealing the world as seen through changeling eyes — a world formed by Glamour and infused with faerie magic. Visions of Arcadia, vignettes of earlier manifestations of her immortal fae self and sometimes vague glimpses into her future scroll rapidly through her mind, too quickly for her to take it all in or comprehend. Later, she may remember only fragments of these revelations.

Her waking thoughts and deepest dreams (or nightmares) coalesce out of the roiling pool of Glamour centred on her, becoming the chimeric partners of her Dream Dance — and attracting the attention of every changeling in the neighbourhood. Often these chimeric creations invade the surrounding reality, overcoming the local Banality and giving rise to rumours of dragon-sightings in downtown Manhattan or sea monsters in San Francisco Bay.

Not all changelings can cope with the intensity of the Dream Dance. Some succumb to madness as the walls of their human facades come crumbling down around them. Others take refuge in Banality, forcibly denying the reality of their experience and refusing to accept that they are something other than "normal." A few turn against the Dreaming and everything connected to it, giving themselves over to the ranks of the Dauntain, the destroyers of the Dreaming.

A changeling is at her most vulnerable during the Dream Dance. Helpless to make sense of the barrage of sensual and perceptual transformations that are exploding in and around her, she exudes Glamour like a beacon, allowing all Awakened creatures to home in on her location. This makes her easy prey for some of the less wholesome supernatural denizens of the World of Darkness as well as for those who hunt changelings.

Changelings in the area of an individual undergoing the throes of the Dream Dance have a duty to locate and protect their new cousin, and most willingly do so — if only to take advantage of the overflow of Glamour. This is often the first introduction a fledgling has to the larger changeling community, and to other changelings.

Fosterage

Once a changeling has undergone the Dream Dance and is aware that she is one of the exiled fae, she now has to find a place among those like herself. Usually, other Kithain — those alerted to her existence by the telltale surge of Glamour from her Chrysalis —bring the fledgling to the nearest freehold. There, she begins her education as a child of the Dreaming. She learns the reason for the overwhelming experience she has just undergone and discovers her true nature as well as her faerie kith (or race).

At the same time, the new changeling usually acquires a mentor, who "adopts" her and acts as her guardian and tutor during the first year or so after her Chrysalis. This period of fosterage takes its name from the medieval custom whereby nobles exchanged children so that alliances between new generations could form. Because the new changeling's mortal family (if she still has one) cannot understand the profound revelations induced by the Chrysalis, the mentor and his companions become a second family to the fledgling. To protect the bond between guardian and ward, both parties swear an Oath of Fosterage. This is usually the first experience a changeling has concerning the power of the oathbond.

Usually the mentor is an older, more experienced Kithain, often a grump, but sometimes a wilder. The choice of the individual who serves in this position falls upon the ruler of the freehold which first sheltered the changeling. If the fledgling is a member of the nobility, the local lord often chooses a mentor. Although this relationship exists to benefit the fosterling by easing her into Kithain society, all too often local Kithain politics determine who receives the "honour" of taking a new changeling under his wing.

When a motley — a group of commoner Kithain — discovers a new changeling, it rarely delivers its prize into the hands of the nobles, preferring to foster her itself. In these cases, the mentor is the most influential member of the motley or the one who best suits the ward. Fosterage among commoners lacks the hierarchical nature of noble fosterage, and the new Kithain's guardian often acts more like a big brother or sister than a foster parent.

Although a guardian is the single biggest influence on a new changeling, often imposing his viewpoints and interpretations of Kithain society and interactions upon his ward, this does not mean that the ward becomes a carbon copy of her mentor. In fact, the reverse happens as often as not: the natural rebellion of youth asserts itself, and the new changeling patterns herself after the opposite of her mentor. Thus, a Seelie guardian can have an Unseelie ward, or a traditionalist noble can foster a changeling with strong anarchist tendencies. Despite these differences, however, unless the mentor abuses the bond between himself and his ward, a changeling often retains feelings of respect and affection for her first protector throughout her life.

Since the Mists separate a changeling's mortal kin from knowledge of the Dreaming or Kithain society, a guardian often makes his ward the heir to his estate and titles (if he has any). This custom assures continuity from one generation to the next.

The Saining

The period during which new Kithain adjust to their roles in changeling society typically lasts for a year and a day, and is divided into two distinct parts: the time of warding and the time of watching.

During the time of warding, guardians or mentors keep a close watch on childling or wilder fledges, taking responsibility for any transgressions of Kithain customs or traditions made by their wards. Gradually the restrictions upon new fledglings are relaxed, and they begin to interact more directly with their new surroundings and other changelings. This relaxing of supervision marks the beginning of the time of watching. Now the fledgling learns from hard experience, making her own mistakes and bearing the consequences of her actions.

Changelings who undergo the Chrysalis late in life, after they have reached adulthood in the mortal form, receive slightly different treatment. Rather than suffering through a period of adoption, these new "grumps" (as older changelings are called) are guests of a sponsoring freehold or motley. They still receive instruction about their faerie heritage and place in Kithain society, but their hosts make allowances for the wisdom and experience their human existence has taught them. For many new grumps, the transition between their former lives and their new existence comes as a relief, an explanation for all the nagging feelings of discomfort and displacement they felt in human society. For others, the upsetting of everything they have known places them in a precarious state of mind and only the most judicious treatment can help them acclimate.

When a new changeling has successfully survived both warding and watching, she undergoes a ritual called the Saining (literally, "naming") that initiates her as a full member of Kithain society. During this ceremony, seers versed in special Arts are able to part the Mists and discover the True Name of the new Kithain. This secret name defines each changeling's relationship to the Dreaming and embodies her essence. All changelings who have undergone their Sainings know that their True Names must be held closely and told to no one outside their household or motley. Knowledge of another being's True Name gives the knower power over that creature, so some changelings refuse to tell their True Names to anyone.

A Sidhe changeling undergoes a variation on the Saining ritual, a secret ceremony attended only by members of the noble house that has sponsored the fledge. In addition to the naming ceremony, the newly awakened Sidhe undergoes the Fior-Righ, an ordeal which tests her physical, mental and social prowess. The results of the Fior-Righ determine her rank and to which noble house she belongs.

Occasionally, noble houses deliberately plant one of their own into a mortal family and bide their time until the mortal host undergoes her Chrysalis. Under these circumstances, the house already knows much of the information normally revealed by the Saining, such as the changeling's house, character, strengths and weaknesses.

After her Saining, a changeling swears an Oath of Fealty to the lord of her freehold or to the motley which has adopted her. Depending on her skills and her willingness to do so, she may take service in the household of her new lord. The Saining marks the end of the Chrysalis for a changeling and the beginning of her life as a resident of both the mortal world and of her true reality, that of the Dreaming.

The Grip of Time

Before the Shattering, the fae who dwelled on Earth and in Arcadia were immortal, their natures part of a world of eternal Springtime and magic. The dreams of humanity created and sustained all of the Kithain, and made them as immune to the passage of time as any thought or dream could be.

With the coming of the Shattering that divided the Dreaming from the human world, the commoner changelings were forced to seek shelter in mortal seemings against the cold claws of Banality. While the nobles of the fae withdrew to Arcadia and sealed the gates behind them, most remaining Kithain survived in mortal shells, although their memories of the faerie realm became clouded by Banality and much of the knowledge of Arcadia and the Dreaming was lost.

The commoners found their immortal natures tied to the lives of their mortal surrogates. As their mortal selves aged and died, the spirits of the fae passed on to other mortals in a cycle of rebirth that has continued to this very day. Their mortal lives were transient, but their fae natures survived, waiting and hoping for a sign, a chance to regain contact with Arcadia and the Dreaming.

An Indian Summer entered the Autumn of the commoners with the Resurgence. A flood of Glamour restored many of the old trods and freeholds to their former glory and awakened many sleeping fae to their true natures. The Resurgence also brought many exiled sidhe nobles back to Earth and gave them mortal seemings similar to those of the commoners as part of their punishment. The commoners have for the most part accepted their lot as immortal fae trapped within the mortal cycle of life, but the sidhe still cling to dreams of immortality and regaining Arcadia.

How Changelings Age

The seeming a changeling begins at is the mortal age at which he undergoes the Chrysalis and awakens to his fae nature. Thus, a childling is usually 12 years old or less, a wilder in his teens or early 20s, and a grump is older than that. There are some exceptions to these age groups among changelings, but most Kithain have seemings that fit close to their mortal age.

A changeling advances in seemings as he advances in mortal years, from childling to wilder to grump. Eventually grumps fall into the infirmity of old age and die, although a great many changelings are Undone by Banality long before their mortal seemings die natural deaths. Very few changelings pass peacefully into the Summerlands of old age. More often in this day and age they are Undone by the increasing Banality that tends to come with age, or die in violence against their enemies.

Most changelings fear the Forgetting or being Undone far more than mortal death, because they know that upon death they will continue on to the Summerlands and into life once again. Their fae nature can only be destroyed by pure Banality, such as cold iron. What a changeling fears most is having his immortal fae nature destroyed and lost to the world forever, denied even the chance to find the way back to Arcadia some day. The permanent loss of any changeling is a tragedy to all Kithain and a sign of Banality's increasing hold on the world as Winter draws nearer.

The sidhe fear the cold touch of death more than any other changeling, because their fate is not as certain as that of the other Kithain. Latecomers to mortal life, the sidhe have mortal seemings just as other changelings do. However, when they die, there is no sign of the sidhe being reborn into the mortal world as the other Kithain are. It may be that the sidhe, their punishment on Earth complete, return to Arcadia, enjoying Springtime for the rest of eternity. But it may just as easily be that death is the final punishment for the exiled sidhe, and that their fae natures are destroyed upon their mortal deaths, cast into Oblivion, never to be seen again. The mere possibility of such a fate is enough to chill the soul of any changeling. What happens to the fae spirits of the nobles when they die is a complete unknown, and that dark mystery frightens all of the once-immortal sidhe to the core.

Some scholars have suggested the scandalous theory that sidhe are reborn into the world, but as commoners, the better to teach the exiles some humility and empathy for the Kithain who were left behind to suffer the long years of the Interregnum. The sidhe put little stock in such an idea, coming as it does from the scholars and archivists of the disgraced House Liam.
Siochain

Figures of legend even among the Kithain, the Siochain are fae who have achieved a balance between Banality and Glamour, between their mortal and fae natures. They have accepted both entirely, and, as a result, have regained their immortality.

Some changelings believe that the Siochain are proof that one of the purposes of the exile on Earth is to teach the fae to live in both worlds and to integrate their faerie and mortal natures into one. They say that the nobility's fear of death and rejection of their mortal sides is the reason why they have lost their immortality; their own arrogance will not allow them to embrace the mortal side that may prove the key to eternal life.

Whatever may be the case, the eternal Siochain remain silent on the matter.</li>
Preventing Aging

Many changelings have sought ways to prevent the inevitable inarch of time from affecting their mortal seemings, to regain some glimmer of the immortality they once enjoyed, but these efforts have always ended in failure, sometimes tragically, as in the case of Lhandren, the legendary Lord of Foulness.

The only means to prevent aging for a changeling is time spent in a freehold. Of course, spending too much time in a freehold risks a changeling entering Bedlam, so most Kithain balance their time inside freeholds with time in the outside world. Generally speaking, changelings with regular access to a freehold are longer-lived than mortals, and the very oldest changelings play a complex game of dodge-ball with Bedlam, Banality and the clock that they are going to lose sooner or later — one of the reasons why the very oldest changelings all seem to be a little batty.

It is more typical to find nobles who have extended their lives through spending time in a freehold than it is to find commoners doing the same. Nobles fear the effects of death and aging more than most commoners do, since the commoners know they will come around again, sooner or later.

There are legends of treasures that can slow or prevent aging in changelings, like the mystical Fountain of Youth, but so far as is known, none of these items have been seen anywhere outside of Arcadia, and may not even exist on Earth. Any such treasure would be the subject of a great quest on the part of the changeling who discovers its existence.

Effects of Aging

As time marches on, changelings suffer the same effects of age as mortals do. They also endure some specific effects associated with their fae natures as they age.

Mortal Seeming

Most changelings live in the world of flesh, interacting daily with human society and its inherent disbelief in magical reality. To survive in a world that refuses to believe in the existence of trolls, boggans, redcaps and nockers, changelings take on the appearances of humans—adopting mortal seemings that hide their fae miens from mundane perceptions. Some hint of a changeling's true self always permeates this mortal mask, though. A troll might appear as an unusually tall or muscular human, while a deer pooka might have large eyes and extremely slender limbs. While changelings always perceive the fae mien of other Kithain, most humans see only the outer form, never realizing that the wild-haired, shaggy-browed musician they admire is actually a satyr whose faerie soul has serenaded crowds for hundreds of years.

As time passes, a changeling's mortal seeming changes just like any other mortal's body does. Children grow and become adolescents, then adults, and eventually grow old and pass from this world. The effect of being in a freehold halts a changeling's mortal aging as well as her fae aging, so childlings and wilders often have trouble in mortal society when years seem to pass for everyone but them and they never grow up (or do so half as fast as their friends and playmates do). This often leads to childling or wilders abandoning their mortal families and becoming "Lost Boys" (and girls) who run away from mortal society and spend all of their time living in freeholds, eventually slipping into Bedlam unless they are taken in or provided some kind of shelter in the outside world.

To prevent this fate, fosterage is used to provide these youths homes with sympathetic changelings or kinain who understand their fae natures, although this can sometimes cause problems with the human authorities. A childling fears few things as much as a Banality-laden representative of Child Welfare Services coming to call on his fosterage to find out why he is involved in such "strange" activities away from his natural parents.

Adult wilders and grumps often have similar problems when co-workers, friends and neighbours realize that there is something "strange" about the changelings, particularly if they retard their aging in freeholds. For a while, the lack of change is not noticeable, but when years go by and the changeling seems to age very little, there may be questions or idle curiosity to be concerned about.

The more time the changeling spends in a freehold to prevent aging, the more likely that someone in mortal society will notice something unusual. This can cause a changeling to be cut off from her mortal life, forcing her to spend more time in freeholds and taking a greater risk of slipping into Bedlam.

Fae Mien

A changeling's fae mien is her true self, the faerie soul hidden within a costume of mortal flesh. Unlike the pale shroud of skin which forms a changeling's mortal disguise, the fae mien partakes of immortality. To those with eyes that can perceive the Dreaming, the true form of a changeling shines through the false veneer of mortality. Changelings always recognize each other as denizens of the Dreaming.

Within the boundaries of a freehold, faerie trod or any place enriched by Glamour, a changeling's fae mien completely overwhelms her mortal guise, but even outside these protected environs, the faerie soul persists in announcing its presence to other changelings, who have no trouble distinguishing it from the mortal clothing it wears. Unless a changeling is overwhelmed by Banality or has deliberately rejected or renounced this part of herself, other Kithain can always see her for what she is — a vixenish pooka or a mighty troll warrior.

A changeling's fae mien changes when the changeling's physical age (not her chronological age) reaches the appropriate point in her life. Thus, a childling becomes a wilder when she reaches 13 physical years, even if she has been a childling for 20 chronological years or more from time spent in freeholds. She undergoes a rite of passage appropriate to the new stage of life that she is embarking on, and her new seeming is recognized by the rest of fae society. This process represents a changeling gaining in wisdom and experience, but also a slow and inevitable turn of the wheel toward Winter and the journey to the Summerlands.

For the Kithain, aging is more than a process of growing up and growing old; it is the accumulation of wisdom, experience and the Banality that often comes with the loss of childling innocence. It is part of the process of how a changeling becomes an elder in fae society, and eventually passes her wisdom and experience on through the Dreaming to her next mortal life.

Banality

Disbelief threatens the very existence of changelings. The curtain of doubt and rationality that humans raised centuries ago to explain away their fears not only separates the mortal world from the Dreaming, it also erodes the spark of creativity that gives rise to hope and imagination. Changelings call this universal negation of the creative spirit Banality, for it seeks to reduce the marvellous to the mundane, the miraculous to the ordinary, and the unexplainable to the impossible. Many older Kithain refer to this destructive force of disbelief and cynicism as the Endless Night or the Long Winter, for it epitomizes darkness, dreariness and relentless cold. It is the death of the spirit.

Banality clouds the minds of mortals to the wonders of the world around them and blinds them to the possibilities for making their dismal lives better. Banality argues that things are as they are through a long, tedious process of cause and effect. Evolutionary processes and entropic decay only go in one direction, and all things will eventually come to a grinding halt with the death of the sun. Banality is the wet blanket of the cosmos. In more immediate terms, Banality prompts a jaded parent to destroy a child's belief in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. It forces a talented student to lay aside his dreams of becoming a great writer or musician in favour of joining the work force because his advisors counsel him to make "realistic" decisions about his future.

Banality rules the World of Darkness, casting its icy shadow over urban landscapes and ruined countrysides. Contact with this malevolent force threatens to extinguish the flame of faerie magic. Held in its cold iron grip, the Dreaming fades and chimerical splendour devolves into tawdry wisps of foolery and idle imaginings. The Kithain fear Banality almost more than they fear anything else, even death, for on the day that the last shred of Glamour falls prey to its mindless rationality, the Dreaming disappears forever.

Glamour

In bright contrast to Banality, Glamour energizes the world around it, shedding light on everything it touches, transforming the most ordinary object into a thing of unimaginable beauty or indescribable terror. If matter (or whatever currently passes for matter) forms the building blocks of the mortal world, then Glamour comprises the basic stuff of fae reality. Glamour powers the Dreaming, gives life to chimerical creations, and invests physical substance with magical energy. Also known as "faerie magic," Glamour gives changelings the ability to create castles out of tenement buildings, weave grand illusions that are "real" to those who touch the Dreaming, and enchant mortals to do their bidding or to see the world as changelings see it.

Changelings depend on Glamour for the ability to sustain their fae mien and to cast their cantrips (or spells). Without a steady supply of this precious element, changelings soon forget their connection to the Dreaming and fade away into their mortal seemings and mundane lives.

In the World of Darkness, Glamour is a rare commodity. Banality has greatly diminished the supply of Glamour, and changelings spend much of their time searching for new sources and preserving what still exists. Most changelings believe that if they can increase the amount of Glamour in the world, they can reduce the effects of Banality and eventually return the world to its original, magical state.

Like most sources of energy or power, Glamour is imperceptible to normal senses. Lacking belief, mortals cannot see Glamour or anything created from it. Nevertheless, it is as real as atoms, wind or thought. Changelings, because they know that Glamour exists, can sense its presence. All Kithain have some degree of faerie sight, or kenning, which enables them to perceive the currents of faerie magic, though those who possess the Kenning Talent are more skilled in its use than others. Kenning allows changelings to see through each other's mortal seemings and recognize their fae miens, as well as to locate freeholds and perceive chimerical creatures and objects.

The Undoing

Banality can so overwhelm a changeling that it divorces her completely from her faerie nature, driving out all memory of her true self and her link to the Dreaming. When this happens, a changeling slowly forgets that she was ever anything except a normal human. Her fae mien becomes so faded that other changelings have a hard time perceiving her as one of the Kithain. This catastrophe is called the Undoing, because it unravels the stuff of the Dreaming that surrounds a changeling until nothing is left but mortal flesh and a hollow soul.

A changeling's mortal seeming is her best protection from the dangers of the Undoing. By incorporating a small portion of Banality into her essence, a changeling can build up a tolerance for small amounts of Banality. Thus she can keep hold of her true self while going about her mundane existence, knowing in the back of her mind that she is one of the Kithain even as she waits tables or studies for her medical degree. Hiding behind a mortal seeming also camouflages a changeling from the active agents of Banality, who seek out those like her with the intent of destroying them or severing them from the Dreaming. Prolonged contact with Banality wreaks its toll on the changeling psyche regardless of the limited protection afforded by the mortal seeming, so most Kithain seek out every available opportunity to escape from the confines of mundane reality.

Cheating Banality

Hiding in plain sight of mortals has long been a custom of the fae, even before it was necessary. To amuse themselves, faeries would occasionally switch places with mortals, taking on the seemings of human infants or children (transporting the individuals so displaced to Arcadia) to experience existence in the flesh. Such children, however, were different from normal children, and some humans astutely recognized them as "changelings."

Later, when the Shattering threatened the continued existence of the commoners who remained in the world after the departure of the sidhe, these enterprising faeries realized that their best hope for survival lay in a variation on the ancient tradition of "changing" themselves for humans. By entering the bodies of unborn infants, commoners were able to begin lives as human infants, inuring themselves to the ravages of Banality until their faerie selves grew strong enough to spark the Chrysalis. When a changeling's mortal body died, her soul returned in a new body. Thus, the Changeling Way was born. Most commoners and a few sidhe (primarily from House Scathach) reincarnate in succeeding generations of human families, generally those with fae blood.

The disadvantage to placing a faerie spirit within a cocoon of flesh lies in the forgetfulness that accompanies the process. All changelings lose their memories of their true selves when they assume mortal seemings. Until a changeling undergoes her Chrysalis, she acts fully human, believing that she is nothing more. Occasionally, mortals who host faerie spirits are so engulfed by Banality that they never discover their true natures. Their untold stories remain forever clouded in the Mists between the worlds.

The Mists

Born from a mixture of Banality and the ancient protections erected by the fae to hide themselves from the eyes and minds of mortals, the Mists stand as the greatest barrier (second only to Banality itself) between the Kithain and the Dreaming. Because they have made themselves part of the mortal world, all changelings suffer from the forgetfulness inflicted by the Mists. These clouds of disenchantment and befuddlement deprive most changelings of their memories of Arcadia, their past lives and even keep them from remembering their true selves.

Unless they work aggressively to retain enough Glamour to ward off the effects of the Mists, changelings quickly degenerate into their mortal forms, losing not only the physical evidence of their faerie natures but the memories that they were ever anything more than human. This state of partial amnesia leaves afflicted changelings with a gap in their minds that aches to be filled, driving many to search desperately for what is missing. For them, the hero's quest of self-discovery is a journey undergone many times, much like a recurring dream — or, in some cases, nightmare.

Occasionally the Mists part, revealing glimpses of a changeling's past. Most often, this occurs in dreams, for the dreams of the fae are, in fact, rare moments of contact with the Dreaming. Once in a great while, a changeling recalls something of her life in Arcadia or a snippet of information about one of her past reincarnations. Too often, however, the curtain drops, and the dreamlike memory dissipates under the harsh glare of Banality.

The Mists always hide the Dreaming or anything connected to it from the eyes of true mortals. The Banality inherent in most humans blinds them to anything that exists outside the normal parameters of their worldview. What they don't believe in, they don't see, or else they find some rational explanation for it such as a momentary hallucination or a "trick of the light." Unless deliberately enchanted, mortals remain wrapped up in their comforting layers of reality, logic and cynical disbelief.

The Kith

When a changeling emerges from her Chrysalis to take her place in the society of the Dreaming, she enters a new world with a new identity and the knowledge that she belongs to one of the many races of the fae. A changeling's faerie race is called her kith. Although there were hundreds of faerie kith before the Shattering, not all of them remained in the world. Of the ones that did not flee to Arcadia, only a few survived.

Changelings refer to themselves individually and in groups as Kithain or "the Kithain," a word derived from "kith" and denoting a member of a faerie race. Even before their Chrysalises, the mortal seemings of dormant changelings often reflect their kith, thus making it possible for Kithain to ken the presence of potential changelings despite the wash of Banality that hides the fae self from sight. This is not always the case, however. Sometimes a changeling's kith does not become apparent until her mortal body is exposed to the infusion of Glamour that announces the onset of the Chrysalis.

As a changeling ages and her Banality increases (as it inevitably does), her fae mien and mortal seeming come to resemble one another more and more closely. Eventually she succumbs to the fate of all changelings: Her fae self merges with her mortal form and her kith vanishes, forever swallowed up in the world of Banality — until mortal death brings about the faerie spirit's reincarnation and the dream begins anew.

The Houses

Sidhe who awaken to their faerie selves not only discover their kith, they also acquire knowledge of the noble houses to which they belong. When the trods opened in 1969, allowing many of the sidhe to return to the mortal world, five noble houses came through from Arcadia. Many of them retained the vague sense that their return was forced upon them, an exile from the Dreaming as punishment for deeds they could not remember.

Unlike the commoner kith, the sidhe have only been on Earth in substantial numbers since the Resurgence. Nevertheless, the five noble houses quickly reasserted their presence on Kithain society, restructuring it to fit their memories of the old days before their untimely departure. Today, in the aftermath of the Accordance War and the Treaty of Concord, these houses maintain a monopoly on the power structure of the Kithain.

Since the Resurgence, individuals from the eight houses remaining in Arcadia have arrived on Earth, either banished from the Dreaming as renegades and outcasts or else sent to fulfil specific purposes. Due to the action of the Mists, these solitary sidhe seldom remember the reasons for their appearances in the mortal world. Although these loners usually find sanctuary under the aegis of one of the established noble houses, they rarely rise to high positions in their adopted houses since their hosts can never be certain if they are giving shelter to Arcadian criminals or heroes on Earthly quests.

The noble houses take their names from their legendary founders, who imbued their lines with certain aspects of their personalities. Thus, members of one house share some characteristics, although individuals may vary widely from the stereotype.

Customs and Traditions

Over the centuries, Kithain society has developed a number of customs, some borrowed from human cultures and others unique to the fae. These traditions define and lend colour to the lives of changelings.
Oaths

Oaths are sacred vows that bind Kithain to one another in certain specified relationships or else obligate the swearer to undertake quests or journeys, fill certain roles, honour specified rights or refrain from certain actions. Some oaths bind one Kithain to another for eternity; others last for shorter periods of time. Many oaths, particularly those taken at Beltaine and Samhain, are sworn for "a year and a day." The whole of Kithain society helps to enforce oaths, but, more importantly, the weight of the Dreaming lends binding authority to these solemn vows.

The wording of oaths is very important, because it weaves Glamour into the bond that is formed by its speaking. Breaking an oath is not done lightly, for the consequences (usually specified at the time the oath is taken) assert themselves as soon as the oath is forsworn. In addition to any innate penalties, oathbreakers are shunned by Seelie and most Unseelie fae alike.

A changeling's sworn word is her greatest gift, and those fortunate enough to receive an oath-backed promise of loyalty or love consider themselves blessed by the Dreaming. Oaths define a changeling's personal honour and respect. Spoken oaths are the foundation of noble society, and any who break an oath defy the values of their society and forego their right to remain a part of it.

Courtly Love

The rituals of courtly love occupy a large part of nobles' attention and sometimes form the major part of relations within a noble court. The artistry and pageantry of ritualized courtship lends itself to the fae sense of intrigue and love of romance. Whether as participants or spectators, most members of a court relish taking part in the subtleties of courtly love.

Romance among the Kithain embodies a rarefied and elegant dance of skill and seduction, appreciated as much for its form as for its content. Both males and females recognize its usefulness in manipulating others to do their will, and take every advantage to prove their prowess in affairs of the heart.

Courtly love expresses itself as an elaborate duet between the "ardent suitor" and the "bashful beloved." In the past, when mortals practiced this formal expression of desire, the suitor was usually male and the beloved female. The more liberal Kithain make no such demands on the gender of the participants. A very strict protocol oversees all the steps of courtly love, from the suitor's declaration of intent to the pursuit of the beloved, all the way to the usual polite but firm rejection and the period of intense mourning for lost love — a time which presages the beginning of the cycle once more. At every stage in the process, troubadours hover in the wings (if not on centre stage), ready to serenade the beloved in private or proclaim the worthiness of the suitor before the audience of the assembled court.

The courting process consists of stylized flirtation. It is customary for the beloved to alternately accept and reject the suitor's favours, refining the art of teasing and encouragement to a high level. The suitor has no rights except those granted by the beloved, and is expected to prove her ardour at every possible opportunity. Love poems and songs, heroic deeds and interminable patience in wait for a smile or a kind word are all necessary steps of the lover's journey. Love that comes without a steep price, or that announces itself clumsily and without grace, is not worth having.

Courting usually takes place in secret, but sometimes it becomes a miniature drama, staged for all to see. Initially, the beloved should reject the suitor, citing political or personal differences as the reason. It then falls to the suitor to cajole, convince, woo or win a reversal of the beloved's decision.

If the process succeeds in evoking the full passion of amour (though not necessarily sexual congress) between suitor and beloved, the two swear oaths of love to one another. Until this bond is broken, lover and beloved remain inextricably joined in spirit to one another. Only Banality can separate them. Lovers assist each other regardless of personal risk, differences in Court or conflicting loyalties. In some cases, one lover will sacrifice herself for the other.

Patronage

Changelings often tend to focus their Glamour-gathering activities around certain arts that appeal to them. The art a changeling selects for this purpose is known as her patronage. Although childlings and wilders sometimes change their patronages from one art to another, grumps usually settle upon a single art and stick to it. Wilders tend to choose experimental arts to patronize; childlings prefer more direct and simple ones; grumps opt for more sophisticated or traditional arts.

Most Kithain indulge in their patronages at every opportunity, visiting places significant to their particular art or arts and collecting people who are practitioners of their patronages. The acquisition of items and people acts as a source of rivalry between changelings, allowing patrons of the same art to indulge in friendly competition to the benefit (usually) of their chosen art.

Cliques

Kithain often form groups known as cliques to share their patronage with others of like mind, increasing its enjoyment. Through patronage, Kithain inspire mortals to dream, and thus add to the supply of Glamour in the world. Therefore, patronage not only provides a pleasant pastime, it also makes a vital contribution to the Dreaming. Most changeling cliques know this, although they do not let the importance of their task get in the way of having a good time.

Cliques associated with traditional or medieval arts call themselves noble patronages, while those dedicated to modern or experimental arts are referred to as vulgar patronages. Both noble and vulgar cliques often give themselves formal or whimsical names, depending on the nature of the arts they patronize. Noble cliques include the Galateans, who patronize the visual arts of painting and sculpture; the Calliopians, who revere both the written and spoken word; the Terpsichoreans, who favour dance over other arts; and the Olympians, who admire athletes and bodybuilders. Vulgar cliques include the Groupies, who patronize rock and roll; the Anachronists, who prefer the ancient crafts of the common folk; the Zoetrope Society, which consists of film aficionados; the Mad Hatters, who find inspiration among the insane; the Daydreamers (a childling clique), who encourage the natural Glamour of human children; and the Hackers, who promote Glamour via the Information Superhighway.</li>
The Importance of Holidays

Holidays and festivals occupy a central part of changeling life. These periods of celebration not only serve as times when mortals edge marginally closer to the Dreaming, they provide the Kithain with the opportunity to remember the traditions these holidays honour, thus bringing them in touch with their lost past.

Kithain use holidays as excuses to expend Glamour, putting it back into a world leeched of its revitalizing energy. In addition, they are often occasions when changelings and mortals may interact without fear of attracting too much Banality. During holidays, Banality and disbelief are at their ebb, since most celebrations have an innately supernatural aspect to them that defies reason. Children who believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are often joined at Christmas and Easter by adults who act as if they, too, believe in these symbols of gifts and replenishment. Humans, for these brief periods of revelry and celebration, allow themselves to experience the fires of their imaginations. Some changelings maintain that if everyday could be a holiday, mortals would slough off their cares and rationalizations and dream freely once again.

The changeling calendar consists of many festivals, which are often used, as they were in medieval times, to keep track of the passing of the year. Before the Shattering, the calendar marked the cycle of Seelie and Unseelie rule. Since the Resurgence, many of the old traditions have fallen by the wayside, but the forms remain constant as the dance of days continues its stately progress through the seasons. New holidays have risen up to take the place of old ones, but the procession of festivities goes on.

Changeling Festivals

During certain times of the year, those of the major festivals, all Kithain come together to celebrate the Dreaming. The following celebrations are held in common by both Seelie and Unseelie changelings, and constitute the major holidays of Kithain life.
Imbolc, February 2nd — The balefire is the most important feature of a freehold, keeping out the cold wind of Banality and preserving the Glamour that maintains the freehold. Imbolc is a festival celebrating the balefire and its replenishment after the long darkness of winter. Also known as Bard's Day, Imbolc marks great competitions among bards and other performers. Originally sacred to the Celtic goddess Brigid, patroness of fire, smithcraft and poetry, Imbolc honors the creative spirit.

On Midwinter's Night, special travellers, called firebrands, set out from Tara-Nar, carrying lanterns that contain fire from the Well of Flame beneath High King David's palace. The lanterns are used to replenish the balefire of every freehold during the Imbolc ceremony. It is considered a bad omen if the firebrands fail to make their appearance at a freehold before Imbolc.
Carnival, February 28th — Formerly a wake for an old age and a birthday party for a new one, Carnival has risen in prominence since High King David assumed the throne. Now it celebrates the new unity between nobles and commoners. It is a night when kings and queens enchant entire cities, enabling the wholesale gathering of Glamour. Masked by the human Mardi Gras festivities, Carnival celebrations mark some of the Kithain's wildest parties.

Borrowing from such diverse sources as English Boxing Day and the ancient festival of Lughnasa, the ritual central to Carnival involves the elevation of a local mortal, befuddled by alcohol or dizzy with an overdose of Glamour, to the position of King or Queen of Carnival, while the local monarch takes the part of a jester. The new "monarch's" word is considered law, although in most cases, the chosen mortal is too addled by the effects of substance abuse to issue any commands which might have lasting repercussions. The "jester," on the other hand, is open to all the abuse of his or her new position. Some kings and queens dread the approach of Carnival, but put up with it as part of their duty as rulers.

There are only three laws of Carnival:

• There can be no retribution for any word spoken or deed done. A monarch cannot exact revenge against harassers.

• Carnival is sacrosanct; all who attend are welcome and safe. Anyone violating this principal is summarily subjected to any punishment decreed by the bleary-eyed Carnival King or Queen.

• Let merriment reign!

Carnival ends at sunrise on the following day. In most cases, the Carnival King or Queen is released from duty and sent home, none the worse for wear. In certain Unseelie demesnes, it is rumoured, the mortal becomes a ritual sacrifice.
The Greening, April 4th — Commonly celebrated in southern Concordia, the Greening is an informal festival commemorating the beginning of spring. It is also called the Festival of Crocuses, as celebrants weave these early spring flowers into their hair and clothes. Each childling receives a crown of woven grass, and wilders participate in morris dancing. It does not bode well for the coming year if no grass can be found for weaving into crowns.
Beltaine, May 2nd — One of the two major festivals of the changeling calendar, Beltaine is a night time spring fertility festival which celebrates life and love. At one time, fae went out into the fields and formed tame chimerical beasts into a line between bonfires lit from the local freehold's balefire.

Beltaine once marked the formal beginning of the Seelie half of the year, during which time the Unseelie surrendered is power to the opposite Court. As such, Beltaine traditionally represents a time of peace and amity. The infamous Night of Iron Knives stands as a notable instance of the gross abuse of the Beltaine peace.

Beltaine also sees the blossoming of new romances, particularly between nobles and commoners. The bonfires serve as festival sites where passions run uninhibited. Many childlings are conceived during Beltaine celebrations; conception at Beltaine is considered particularly favourable, since the feast honours fertility and new life.
Highsummer Night, July 17th — Staged to coincide with the hottest part of the summer, Highsummer Night epitomizes mirth and freedom. It also provides an excuse to gather Glamour from the "heat dreams" of mortals. During these celebrations, changelings are free to toy with any mortals they encounter.

Pooka consider this festival their special holiday and refer to it as "Pranksgiving." They hold a competition among themselves to see who can play the most outrageous practical joke on a human. The winner gains tremendous prestige. Highsummer pranks sometimes turn malicious, even though jests which result in loss of life or serious injury are regarded as inartistic and tasteless. Tangled romances, mistaken identities, transformations and thefts of heroic proportions have greater appeal for pooka.

Many Kithain weddings take place on Highsummer Night, though not so many as at Beltaine.
Pennons, October 4th — Pennons celebrates the martial prowess of the Kithain. Its festivities include jousts, mock combats, displays of weaponry and the slaying of chimerical beasts. The name of the festival derives from the custom of bestowing a king's pennons — flags marked with royal crests — upon the festival's champions, who have the right to fly them for one year.

Artists, crafters and musicians also flock to Pennons, many seeking patronage from lords, who are likely to be generous on this festive occasion. Musicians find Pennons particularly rewarding. Troubadours compose songs on the spur of the moment celebrating the heroes of the various events, and stage their own competitions, along with storytellers, using words and music as weapons.
Samhain, October 31st — A counterpart to Beltaine, Samhain is the second of the two major Kithain festivals. On Samhain Eve, the wall between worlds grows thin. This is a solemn time for Kithain everywhere. It is a night to strain against the Mists, to part them and remember comrades who have fallen. It is a night to honour ancestors who have been lost as well as mortal companions who have contributed Glamour through their creations and deeds.

Samhain also serves as a time for divination. In some courts, soothsayers perform auguries to learn the fate of lost friends and to divine messages about the coming year.

Before the Shattering, Samhain marked the beginning of the Unseelie half of the year, when the Seelie rulers turned over their authority to their opposites until Beltaine. Now that transference of power resides only in the form of the Shadow Court's one-night reign. Samhain provides a chance for the Unseelie fae to deride everything they despise about Seelie society. Unseelie changelings hold mock tournaments and courts, making fun of the monarchy and privy council. Seelie changelings are encouraged to adopt their Unseelie personas for this one evening and experience the other side of their fae natures.

Childlings often join with human children in trick-or-treating their way through neighbourhoods, gathering Glamour from the real and imagined spookiness of the night and the enjoyment of their mortal companions.

In addition to the calendar festivals, Kithain also celebrate other special occasions. The Royal Lottery occurs whenever a monarch steps down, falls victim to Banality or dies a natural death, thus occasioning the choice of a successor. During this celebration, changelings come from far and wide to hear the dukes and duchesses proclaim candidates for the vacancy before the casting of lots by the nobility to choose who will rule. These events usually take place in the monarchs' glens.

Weddings between Kithain give rise to great festivities. While some Kithain marry for life, others marry for a lunar year (13 full moons) or a year and a day. These marriages celebrate life and love in the same way that the Beltaine and Highsummer ceremonies do.

A wake occurs upon the death of a Kithain. When a common changeling dies, her spirit is lost to the Dreaming for a time before reincarnating in a new mortal body. Only the sidhe do not return in this fashion; some believe that a sidhe's spirit is lost forever, while others hold that a deceased sidhe is reborn as a commoner. Wakes are crucial whenever a changeling dies from Banality or from cold iron. The loss must be addressed in some fashion to prevent Banality from gaining a stranglehold on all who knew the lost Kithain. Wakes are blatant denials of Banality, combining joy and sorrow in a tribute to the lost spirit. All distinctions between Seelie and Unseelie are put aside during wakes, as each Kithain remembers the deceased and strives to keep some part of her alive in the Dreaming. Unfortunately many sidhe refuse to attend wakes; they dislike being reminded of their own eventual death and the uncertainty that follows.

Oathtakings also provide an opportunity for Kithain to gather together, usually in small, private ceremonies. It is considered an honour to receive an invitation to a formal swearing of an oath and to act as a witness to the solemn pronouncement of a binding vow. The most common oaths that are celebrated in this fashion include oaths of fealty, questing and true love.
The Kithain

What determines who we are? Although we try to control our identity, a host of factors influence what we will become. Our age, our education, our standard of living — all of these factors affect who we are. This is doubly true for changelings. Age carries with it certain expectations. A changeling's mortal background affects the facade she shows to the world. The heritage of her kith influences her faerie self. Identity isn't as simple as it may seem; it's built slowly over time, layer by layer.

The Mortal Seeming

Trapped on Earth and exiled from Arcadia, changelings have adapted to a human world. Balancing a mortal life against a Kithain existence has a profound affect on a changeling's personality, but there are other factors as well. How a fae is perceived by her peers is strongly influenced by her age.

As part of their price for living in this world, changelings age at the same rate as the mortals around them. There are legends of fae who have lived for centuries, but the world discourages such a blatant display of magical power. Youth is highly prized in Kithain society. With youth comes innocence, trust and belief in the magical.

The Kithain have very pronounced expectations on how age affects identity. The age at which one undergoes the Chrysalis strongly influences how a changeling is perceived. All Kithain are considered to belong to one of three categories, which are collectively referred to as seemings.
Childling

Childlings, the youngest of the Kithain, aren't always as innocent or naive as they seem. Though physically between the ages of three and 13, many are wise beyond their years. Some have lived countless lifetimes; they simply don't realize it in their current state. As outsiders to much of adult life, they often see things in adult society that their elders cannot.

In many ways, childlings are just like mortal children. The world is their playground. They love the spectacle and pageantry of faerie life. Their elders may mistakenly think of them as passive and peaceful, but with so much Glamour and energy coursing through childlings, they can be hellacious forces of chaos. The worst are vicious and feral; the best can be startlingly imaginative.

The wonder and innocence of childhood brings childlings closer to the Dreaming. Banality affects them the least of all changelings—they live in a never-ending faerie tale. Some may exist in a slightly dark or tragic tale, but even the grimmest are suffused with magic. Unfortunately, this also means that childlings often have trouble being taken seriously by older changelings, especially those who worry endlessly about the troublesome game of life. Noble childlings encounter this difficulty as much as commoners do.

Confronted with mortals who insist they know what's best for them — such as teachers and parents — childlings are forced to hide their faerie identities. If the pressures of the mundane world grow too great for them, they have no choice but to run away from home and seek out a freehold that will look after them.

Childlings enjoy a certain degree of privilege in Kithain society. They're nurtured, taught and encouraged. Because they're learning, they're often forgiven for their misdoings. Inexperience, however, shuts them out from many adult activities. The solution is to live in a dream of their own. In their own private reality, playtime never ends.

Wilders

Anyone between the ages of 13 and 25 is considered a wilder. Typically, they are rebellious, devious and hedonistic. They are by far the most numerous of the Kithain. Because of this, they often strive to be the leaders of both the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. After all, the childlings are too young, and grumps obviously don't have the energy. What other choice is there?

These wild, young Kithain have lost the naiveté of childlings, but they haven't yet succumbed to the cynicism of grumps. Nonetheless, they tend to be arrogant and full of themselves. Known for their daring and adventurous ways, wilders love to be young. Mortal culture fascinates them, especially its creative aspects. Their perspective on creativity becomes more acute, and the Glamour of music, movies or anything on the cutting edge draws them like moths to a chimerical flame. When the fires of creativity consume them, they fully realize what it is to be alive.

That flame can sometimes be a little too compelling. Burnout is a wilder's greatest fear. They don't want to miss a moment of their enchanted existence. After all, growing old brings with it Banality and eventually the Undoing. The most extreme wilders would rather die than lose the memory of what it is to be young and fae.

Living on the edge, wilders follow ambitions that propel them into positions of responsibility without authority. Rebelling out of desperation is the natural response. Those who still hang on to a second mortal life also feel a overwhelming need to escape. Those who don't are consumed by their passion. Either way, wilders live lives filled with constant energy and motion. Chaos and adventure fuels their very essence.

Grumps

Grumps are the "grown-ups" of changeling society. Having lost the innocence of their early years, many become irascible and bitter. They miss the pleasures and Glamour of youth. Since Kithain are very sensitive to Banality, age destroys their idealism as they grow older. The average grump is still less banal than the average mortal, but by Kithain standards, they are seen as stubborn and sedate... and react accordingly.

One in 20 changelings is a grump. They prefer to be called greybeards, but among childlings and wilders, the name "grump" has stuck. By their late 20s, most greybeards fall before the onslaught of Banality and lose their changeling essence. The most unfortunate are Undone: they lose all memory of their changeling lives. If a greybeard has been able to hold off this fate for long, he has no doubt gained a degree of wisdom. The staunchest changelings find ways to stave off this slumber, even though they may find it difficult to set aside their mortal lives in the process.

Greybeards see themselves as the most reliable and responsible of the Kithain. They often assume the duty of caring for childlings, as wilders think they have more important things to do. They are also keepers of tradition and lore, and they are eager to pass on this knowledge to the young. If only the young would listen more often....

When the burden of the mundane world becomes too great, the easiest escape from ennui is the intrigue of the noble court. These fae see themselves as the movers and shakers in the higher echelons of the court, even if the wilders — or their rulers — think other wise. Though they realize much of Kithain society is hopelessly antiquated, they have grown to appreciate it. There is wisdom in the rituals of the Kithain, and the greybeards treasure it.</li>
Legacies

For changelings, life is a balancing act, whether it be between Banality and Bedlam, faerie and mortal, or Seelie and Unseelie. Legacies represent both the most basic aspects of a changeling's personality and the duality of it. All changelings have both a Seelie and an Unseelie Legacy. Choosing Legacies for your character is one of the most important aspects of character creation. Your character's Legacies will be your guide to roleplaying her nature.

Changelings walk a fine line between their Seelie and Unseelie Legacies. Each and every one of them knows this. The two sides are considered halves of the same whole. At one time, the Seelie and Unseelie Courts worked in harmony. The Seelie Court ruled half the year, from Beltaine to Samhain, at which time they turned the throne over to the Unseelie Court for the second half of the year. A changeling's Unseelie Legacy was not originally something she abhorred or feared. It was merely viewed as a natural part of herself, the part that was less restrained, more sensual, and sometimes more exciting.

After the Shattering, a great deal more tension developed between the two Courts. Both have their own ideas of how the Dreaming should be protected and preserved, or for that matter, whether it even deserves to be. Many Unseelie Ravage the Dreaming, taking what they can get from it. They feel that since the Dreaming abandoned them, they owe it no loyalty and seek to bring on the Long Winter in order to get it over with as soon as possible. Seelie believe that the Dreaming must be preserved, and that acting in its guardianship or even dying for it is one of the highest honours. Of course, each changeling is a unique individual and has her own perspective between these extremes.

A changeling's primary Legacy is that which coincides with his current Court, whether it be Seelie or Unseelie. The other becomes secondary, but still has its affects on the character's personality, asserting itself from time to time, especially during stressful situations. You may wish to consider and incorporate aspects of your secondary Legacy while playing your character. Keep in mind, however, that the secondary never overrides the primary.

At times, a changeling may switch from one Court and Legacy to the other, especially as the result of a traumatic event. Most changelings cannot consciously shift from one to the other and usually prefer to stay in their present Courts, their current Legacy dictating their feelings on the matter. The change, when it occurs, is a natural event, sometimes gradual, sometimes sudden. It is caused by a shift of identity in the Kithain.

Most changelings go their entire lives without changing Courts. Some changelings sit so close to the middle that it is often difficult to tell which Legacy is dominant at any given moment. The majority tend to go from one extreme to the other with little need to guess which side they're on now.

Quests and Bans

Listed beneath each Legacy's description is the Quest and Ban of that Legacy. The Quest explains what your character must do to fulfil her Legacy. The Ban is a specific action that a character with that Legacy would make every effort to avoid, since it runs counter to her Legacy. These are merely offered as roleplaying guides.

Changelings are more in tune with the Dreaming than any other race, and the Dreaming sees through all their masks to their true natures. Legacies are not merely psychological profiles, but also indicative of a changeling's archetypal connection with the Dreaming. Kithain who reject their true natures are behaving in a manner counter to the nature of the Dreaming, and the Dreamrealms may well exact a toll from those who violate the fundamental truth of their own existence. This counter-reaction may take the form of hostile attention from chimera, subtle changes in the changeling's faerie seeming, or in the distortion of the changeling's perception of the Dreaming.

The handler may use her discretion when assigning the Dreaming's response to a character's violation of his Ban. The toll should be consistent with the character's Legacy, however, For example, a Paladin who regularly avoids conflict and challenge may find himself faced with belligerence at every turn — street thugs singling him out, or the lady behind the counter suddenly becoming surly as he steps up. A Regent who shirks his duties and responsibilities may find whatever what he wears quickly becomes tattered and dull. A Grotesque who consistently shows his softer side may find roses and daisies growing in his hair.

Seelie Legacies

A changeling's Seelie Legacy falls toward the lighter side of gray. Although Seelie fae can be just as conniving and manipulative as Unseelie, they tend to have less selfish motivations, and they definitely work within and bow to the authority of the Seelie Court. As you choose your Legacy for your character, consider why she behaves the way she does, as this will be useful in determining hew you roleplay her.
Bumpkin

Solid and practical, you approach every problem with common sense and pragmatism. You bring the conversation back to the point and ask the questions that get the right answer. Always prepared, you think about possible scenarios in advance and take precautions against them. You love solving problems, both your own and those of others. You become frustrated with people who don't seem to think quite as logically as you do.

Quest: Whenever you successfully apply a practical solution to any problem, you regain Willpower.

Ban: Never miss an opportunity to solve a problem through practical application of logic and common sense.

Courtier

Somewhat the social butterfly, you use wit, charm and flirtation as tools to lighten the mood. You live for social interaction. You are a student of etiquette and a lover of dances, parties and courtly gatherings. Your tact and grace often place you in the position of diplomat. Because your goal is harmony, you are deeply concerned with politics, ritual, custom and the preservation of order. Often working behind the scenes, you soothe hurt feelings and encourage others to relax and have a good time.

Quest: You regain Willpower whenever you deflate a volatile situation and return the gathering to peace and harmony.

Ban: Never purposely make anyone angry or upset.

Crafter

The urge to improve things burns strong within you. You see everything in terms of what you can do to make it better. Nothing brings you greater joy than creating something beautiful or useful out of the ugly and useless. You are never without a project of some sort, whether it is a painting, a sculpture, an organization, or the training and moulding of a less-than-perfect individual. You enjoy the process, but can't wait to see the finished product.

Quest: Whenever you create something of lasting value, you regain Willpower.

Ban: Never miss an opportunity to put your touch on something and improve it in some way.

Dandy

A social climber at heart, you are an expert at court etiquette. Your goal is to get as high up the ladder as possible. Court intrigue and gossip feed you, and you can always be found at the periphery of any trouble, watching and listening to see what you can learn and possibly use for your own benefit at a later time. Somewhat of a snob, you look back down the ladder with disdain, especially at those who might take your position from you. However, you know better than to bum your bridges. As a result, you tend to play the diplomat. You will do anything to make yourself look good, often helping others and taking risks in order to do so.

Quest: Whenever you succeed in strengthening your hold on your current position or in getting a promotion, you regain Willpower.

Ban: Never miss an opportunity to ingratiate yourself to one of your superiors.

Hermit

You are reclusive and ascetic by nature, preferring your own company to that of others. Introspective by nature, you view everything from a very personal standpoint. When in public, you tend to be quiet, speaking only when spoken to, unless your input has such extreme relevance that you feel you have to say it. One of the benefits of this is that others tend to see you as wise, since when you do speak, your words often make a profound point that was overlooked. Despite your desire to be alone, you ,ire drawn out by the need to watch and learn. Your curiosity about the nature of things and your place among them keeps you from being totally isolated.

Quest: You regain Willpower whenever you find the solution to a problem through inner reflection rather than brash action.

Ban: Rarely speak unless the situation is dire and you feel that your viewpoint has not already been expressed.

Orchid

Up until now, you have lived a pampered, protected life, whether it was in Arcadia or in your mother's arms. Suddenly you have been forced out into the light and faced with the harsh realities of the world. You find it difficult to trust anyone, and yet you fervently wish for someone to come along and take care of you. You have no experience dealing with the dangers and hurts of the real world. Wide-eyed and innocent, each new disaster threatens to shatter your world. You let others make your decisions for you, not out of preference, but rather as a result of the insecurity you feel when faced with problems.

Quest: Whenever you escape a frightening situation with your sense of well-being and innocence intact, you regain Willpower.

Ban: Never trust a stranger; never reveal yourself to anyone.

Paladin

You are the quintessential competitor, and your story is that of the brave, stalwart athlete or hero. Constantly searching for new challenges to overcome, new adversaries to wrestle, new causes to fight for and protect, you live for the chance to slay the monster, fulfil the quest or win the game. Without the thrill of striving against others (or yourself), life quickly becomes dull and meaningless.

Quest: Whenever you successfully overcome a truly challenging situation, you regain Willpower.

Ban: Never refuse a fair challenge.

Panderer

You love to see other people happy, and do whatever you can to encourage them, whether through playing matchmaker or refilling a drink. Perhaps you live vicariously through their experiences, or perhaps you just feel that others sometimes need a little push from you to find their fulfilment. You spend more time on this than you do pursuing your own interests and gain great pleasure from it. A skilled manipulator, you work most of your magic from behind the scenes, dropping hints or subtle encouragement.

Quest: You regain Willpower whenever you cause someone else's happiness or fun without them realizing your part in it.

Ban: Never do anything that you know would undermine another's happiness.

Regent

Nobility in its purest sense, you are the ruler, the patriarch or matriarch. You are the judge and the legislator who sorts right from wrong. More than any other, you feel the heavy burden of duty and obligation. Often, you have to deal out punishment. Although you despise it, it is a necessary part of your responsibilities, and you perform it with as much wisdom and fairness as you can muster. You have resigned yourself to the fact that regency is a lonely and often misunderstood mission, and you do not let your own personal feelings interfere with the charge of your station.

Quest: You regain Willpower whenever you resolve a situation through the strength of your leadership.

Ban: Never compromise or shirk your duty or the laws by which you live, whatever they may be.

Sage

You are the advisor, the wise one, the teacher. You have travelled many places and seen many things. You have learned, and you willingly share your insights with others. The quest for knowledge and wisdom is paramount to your goals in life. You see something to be learned in every situation. Like the old man on the mountain, you don't force your wisdom on others, but share it with an open heart to any who wish to learn. You can often be found in quiet consultation with a confused wilder or telling stories and anecdotes to childlings.

Quest: Regain Willpower whenever someone follows your advice and succeeds at his chosen task.

Ban: Never stand in another's chosen way, for the path to wisdom is different for everyone.

Saint

You feel the pain of those around you and strive to ease their suffering. You give freely of your time, your belongings and whatever you have in order to help others. This often places you in a position of martyrdom, so complete is your altruism. Your own happiness is secondary to that of others. You can become so obsessed with your cause that you endanger yourself. However, you would never do anything that might bring harm to others.

Quest: Whenever you protect someone else or alleviate their suffering, you regain Willpower.

Ban: Never knowingly cause distress or harm to anyone.

Squire

Rather than stepping out into the limelight, you prefer to support and help those who do. You are Tonto to the Lone Ranger, Watson to Holmes, Kato to the Green Hornet. You care nothing for glory or recognition, but merely seek the chance to be a small part of the process. You abide by the words of your present hero, and no task is too menial for you if your hero requests it.

Quest: You regain Willpower whenever you play a supporting role in an accomplishment, but take no credit for it.

Ban: Never contradict or undermine your current heroic companion.

Troubadour

You walk in a fog of pink and lilac optimism, feeling emotions more strongly than others and expressing them at every opportunity. You are an idealist who believes in the potential for a perfect world, a perfect love, a perfect life. You step into every situation with enthusiasm and wide-eyed wonder, anxious to experience the thrill of the moment. When you love, you love with abandon. When you cry, your tears would fill an ocean. When you are happy, you make sure everyone knows it. Forgiving and loving, you rarely find it in yourself to hate anyone, seeing them instead as just another fascinating piece of your glorious world-view.

Quest: Regain Willpower whenever you complete a task in the name of a higher ideal (love, friendship, romance, etc.).

Ban: Never hide your feelings.

Wayfarer

Your story is that of the endless wanderer, the great explorer and adventurer who has a love in every port and rarely stays in any one place for long. You live by your wits, though your restless nature often lands you in dangerous situations. A reactionary, you act first and think later. This sometimes saves you; other times, it gets you in trouble. Impatient and easily bored, you are always looking for the next adventure.

Quest: Whenever you survive a life-threatening scene through your own cleverness, you regain Willpower.

Ban: Never plan for the future.</li>
Unseelie Legacies

The darker side of faerie nature manifests in a changeling's Unseelie Legacy. Being Unseelie is much more complex than just being evil or vile. Unseelie Kithain can be equally as noble and honourable as their Seelie brethren. The difference lies in their motives and methods.
Beast

You seek to conquer all who oppose you, destroying them if possible. Your world view is defined by those who bow to you and those who get eaten because they didn't. To you, all exists at and for your pleasure. You play people off each other, like chess pieces on a board, with no consideration for anyone's needs but your own. You take what you want without asking, and you destroy those weaker than yourself for amusement.

Quest: Whenever you remove significant opposition to your goals, you regain Willpower.

Ban: Never retreat; never compromise your territory.

Fatalist

Like Pooh's companion Eeyore, you have a less-than optimistic view of the world. You expect things to go wrong, and you take a dark and sullen pleasure when you are proven right. Because everything is doomed to end disastrously, there is no reason to struggle. You have no hope for a bright future, but rather are resigned to inevitable gloom. You find comfort in your pessimism, because you know you'll never be disappointed. Even when things turn out to have a happy ending, you know that it's only a temporary illusion and the real disaster is undoubtedly following right behind.

Quest: Regain Willpower when your warnings for doom turn out to be correct.

Ban: Never laugh except in bitterness and sarcasm.

Fool

You are the divine trickster, the clown, the one who laughs last and loudest. Because you believe that there is no meaning in the world, no underlying reason for anything, you take great pleasure in spoiling people's well-laid plans by sticking the proverbial monkey wrench in the works. You almost feel it a duty to play the agent of chaos, knocking others off their pedestals of dogma and making them eat their spouted words of honour and nobility. Sometimes you work for weeks, months or even years formulating your pranks, laying the foundation and setting the trap so that when your prey steps into it, they fall all the harder.

Quest: Regain Willpower whenever you manage to deflate the ego of someone you have labelled as self-righteous.

Ban: Never search for the "whys" behind your life; there are none.

Grotesque

You love disgusting others and go out of your way to push their buttons. You prey on the sensibilities of others, with a blush or a shocked gasp for your applause. The more extreme the reaction, the happier you are. You make it your life's work to discover what upsets people and then inflict it upon them. A master of insults, you cut right to the heart, throwing out all propriety and etiquette in favour of shock value. Nothing is too low for you, from bodily noises to insulting someone's mother.

Quest: Whenever you cause someone to falter or lose his composure, you regain Willpower.

Ban: Never display an overtly pleasant or appealing side of yourself.

Knave

With a sparkle in your eye, you cajole, encourage tempt, trick and manipulate others into exploring their darkest desires. You are the pusher, the perverter, talking the sweet and turning it into the sordid. You see yourself a| a teacher of sorts — you teach people what base and feral creatures they really are. There's nothing you love more than to corrupt the innocent and do it with such panache that they often never even realize they've been compromised.

Quest: You regain Willpower whenever you cause someone to do something she would normally be opposed to and she enjoys it.

Ban: Never protect anyone from the harsh realities of life.

Outlaw

You look out at the world and see an ocean of mindless automatons that haven't the slightest clue of what it's all about. You believe it's your duty to take advantage of them. How else are they ever going to learn? A thief and a cad, you take what you want from others without a moment's hesitation or guilt. If your victims are stupid enough to be victims, then you see no reason not to use and abuse them. You feel no pity for people — they've made their own beds, and, by golly, they can lie in them.

Quest: Regain Willpower whenever you commit a completely selfish act that hurts someone.

Ban: Never do anything that helps others more than it hurts them or helps you in the long run.

Pandora

Like Pandora, you just can't seem to keep your box shut. You open your mouth and trouble flows from it in great crashing waves. You just can't help yourself. You love to get someone in trouble by revealing their secrets for them. Furthermore, your curiosity often overcomes you, especially if you have been forbidden to go somewhere or do something. The more someone insists that you shouldn't do something, the more it makes you want to do exactly that.

Quest: You regain Willpower whenever you survive something dangerous that you were strictly forbidden to do or warned against.

Ban: Never keep a secret; never obey an order.

Peacock

You are the most attractive, smartest, best person in the world, and you want to make sure that everyone knows it. If you're not the centre of attention, you're not happy. As long as you are being heaped with praise and adulation, you're the most gracious, modest-seeming person around, but as soon as attention is diverted from you, you become vicious. You are not above tantrums and fits of violence in order to draw others' notice. Jealousy rules your choice of friends and enemies.

Quest: Whenever you conclusively prove that you are the best at something, you regain a Willpower

Ban: Never admit failure or fault.

Rake

You are a greedy sensualist, a miser, a glutton, an obsessive collector and a hoarder of experience. You care little for other people, except as objects to collect and use at your whim, pretty things to set around and provide you with pleasure. You revel in : material gratification and show off your good taste at every opportunity. Sharing is not a word that you recognize, however. You flaunt what you own, be it the beautiful woman on your arm or the glittering diamond on your finger, but you would never consider giving a gift to anyone or helping the needy.

Quest: Regain Willpower whenever you succeed in your pursuit of pleasure.

Ban: Never give anything away without either hope of reward or a hard fight.

Riddler

You are an enigma, the mystery that no one can figure out. You are in love with secrets and never give a truly straight answer to any question. You obscure everything in double entendres, mysterious terms and outright lies. You take joy in confusing and confounding others, satisfying your own need to feel that your intellect is superior to theirs. You are especially careful to shroud your own psyche in deepest mystery, and your greatest fear is that someone will learn what you're really like

Quest: Whenever you manage to confuse or mislead someone, you regain Willpower.

Ban: Never allow others to discover the truth about you or your origins.

Ringleader

You have your gang and you rule them with an iron fist. You work hard to build and strengthen your organization, preaching loyalty and submission to the cause you embody. You will not stand for your law or authority to be undermined. While you understand that a group is more powerful than any one individual, you do not consider yourself equal to your band of followers. You are the head, and they are the arms and legs. They are your tools, and you use them at your whim to further your own goals.

Quest: Regain Willpower whenever you accomplish something as a direct result of the devotion of your followers.

Ban: Never allow any one person to endanger the whole of your organization or your goals.

Rogue

You don't need to work; so many others out there can and will do the job for you. Others see you as a leech, but while they're licking their wounds and cleaning their boots, you're spending your share of the pot. All things considered, you prefer taking the path of least resistance. There's always some gung-ho hero ready to leap to the fore and do all the dirty work. Why not let him? And so what if you're there with your hand out when it's time to reap the reward. You didn't ask that guy to do it; you just didn't offer to help.

Quest: Whenever you achieve something that you do not really deserve, you regain Willpower.

Ban: Never work.

Savage

For you, the only viable way to live is like the animals in the forest, eating what you can catch, mating when the urge strikes, and fighting to establish superiority. Everything else is senseless. Civilized conversation, etiquette and technology — wastes of time. Modern inventions only distract you from your true nature, and keep you from satisfying the instincts that bum in your soul. You long for a return to the days of primal self-indulgence and the law of nature. In the meantime, you just live your life as if they wore already here, feral and proud of it.

Quest: Regain Willpower whenever you conquer "civilized" foes through your own cunning and might.

Ban: Never indulge in civilized folly.

Wretch

You have no positive self-image, and assume that everyone else hates you as much as you hate yourself. Perhaps you are the wallflower who never gets asked to dance or the loser who was never invited to birthday parties; regardless, you believe that everyone hates you and that you are a pitiful outcast. Sometimes you seek pity and aid from others. Other times you seek to punish them for their pity and aid, being especially hard on anyone that shows you compassion and caring.

Quest: Whenever others vilify you as worthless or throw up their hands in despair of ever getting through to you, you regain Willpower.

Ban: Never admit to success.</li>

Freeholds

Most of the ancient faerie glens, isles and hillocks disappeared long ago; their pathways to Arcadia closed when humanity's disbelief became too strong for them to remain open. Nonetheless, a few of these spots, called freeholds, remain. Such places have close connections with the Dreaming. Changelings draw power from these refuges and find peace there as well. They are places where Banality is, temporarily at least, at bay.

Freeholds are so valuable to changelings that they are the centre of the Kithain feudal system. They are sources of power and influence for nobles and commoners alike. Freeholds are the foci of many changelings' faerie lives. Most consider a freehold to be their home, though few changelings actually live in them. Changelings have loyalty and affection for their refuges, no matter how small or humble those places are.

Dream Nature

Freeholds are protrusions of the Dreaming into the mundane world, but the opposite is also true. Freeholds feed the Dreaming Glamour, but Banality leaks into the Dreamrealms through freeholds, trods and other such sites. This is not necessarily a bad thing; the "mundane" world gives the Dreaming form and variety. In its purest form, Glamour is ceaselessly chaotic. Freeholds are, by necessity, more banal than the Dreaming around them.

Most known freeholds are protrusions between the Autumn world and the Near Dreaming. Some may exist between two Dreamrealms, such as the Near and Far Dreaming. These are usually shadows of old Earthly freeholds that have migrated (willingly or unwillingly) deeper into the Dreaming. Changelings call a portal between realms in any kind of freehold a rath.

Raths

"Rath" is the Irish name for circular earthworks left by the fae; even humans know these are gateways into the faerie lands (though few humans really believe such "fairy tales."). This folklore is true, however, though not all raths are circular earthworks. Raths vary widely — from a silver archway for the sidhe, to a hole under an upturned tree root for a forest-dwelling pooka, to a gauntlet of whirling saw blades in a nocker freehold. A rath may be any kind of portal that is large enough for a changeling to pass through, though not all are big enough to allow humans passage. The size of these archways varies, but is usually proportional to a freehold's power.

The freehold on the Dreaming side of a rath usually appears similar to its mundane aspect, yet there are startling differences. Perhaps north is south here, or mirrors do not reverse images in the usual manner. Banal objects disappear completely, while others are barely visible but drift away like cobwebs in the breeze when touched. The air seems crisper, and colours are more bold. Minor chimera are ubiquitous in the Dreaming aspect of most freeholds. Attracted to freeholds like fish to a coral reef, most are mindless and do little to endanger the freehold or its inhabitants. More daring chimera may use the rath to jump between realms, though they must have the Rede Traverse Dreaming to do so. Homesteads (see below) are freeholds that exist wholly in one Dreamrealm, and they have no raths that lead to another realm.

A freehold is more "static" than the Dreaming that it connects to or surrounds it. Thus, a freehold situated between the Near and Far Dreaming has two aspects. The Far Dreaming aspect is less "mundane" than the freehold's Near Dreaming aspect, but still more stable than the rest of the Far Dreaming. If a changeling leaves the immediate vicinity of this island of stability and enters the Dreaming, she may become lost quickly and may never find her way back to the human world, unless she travels by way of an established trod. Few changelings dare to wander more than a few city blocks from their freeholds in the Dreaming. Only changelings with Dream Lore may navigate the Dreaming reliably.

Creation of a Freehold

Creating a freehold in the mundane world is not a simple matter, though not impossible. One must find a place with a certain amount of natural Glamour. Such locations are rare, and usually discovered only by luck or chance. Indeed, some Kithain spend years searching for one. With the location determined, the would be creator must light a torch from another freehold's balefire and bear it to the newly established haven. She must light a new fire with this torch, investing a certain amount of her Glamour.

This fire becomes the balefire for the new freehold. Creating freeholds in the Deep Dreaming is far more complex and requires special Arts known only to a few.

Ownership of a Freehold

A changeling may acquire a freehold in one of four ways. She may create the freehold, gain it as a gift or inheritance, discover it by chance or as the result of a quest, or she may steal it from another changeling. If the character discovers or inherits a pre-existing freehold or glade, she must swear an oath to protect it if she wishes to stake her claim. The character must also invest an amount of temporary Glamour equal to the level of the freehold. If something destroys a changeling's freehold, the owner gains a number of temporary Banality points equal to the level of the freehold. If she created the freehold, she also regains any Glamour that she invested.

Changeling tradition holds that once a changeling claims a freehold, no other may claim it until the owner's death — unless he chooses to give it away. The full force of the Dreaming backs this law, making "claim jumping" rare. There are exceptions, though.

A noble with a pennon treasure (a count or higher-ranking lord) can use it to take a freehold against a commoner's will, though she must invoke a formal fior to do so. A "neutral" noble, mutually agreed upon by the contestants, chooses and administers the fior. If the commoner refuses the fior, the freehold becomes the legal and mystical property of the noble and it responds to only her commands. The returning sidhe used this age-old power to take over a number of commoner freeholds, but this practice has slowed considerably since the Treaty of Concord. Nobles who use this power too freely are understandably unpopular among commoners, and occasionally meet nasty ends.

If a changeling becomes Undone by Banality, his freehold's balefire gains a bluish tint and the freehold "dries up" at the rate of one Glamour point per year. If the changeling's Undoing is temporary, the owner may rekindle her freehold by spending a temporary point of Glamour. Another changeling may claim an "abandoned" freehold on the basis that it is better to rescue a freehold than to lose it to Banality. Seelie tradition dictates that the original owner has the truest claim to her freehold, and that a new owner should return the freehold without protest. The original owner typically thanks the freehold's "caretaker" with a small gift for protecting the freehold while she was away. Unseelie tradition holds more to a tradition of ownership by the strong; a changeling who becomes Undone is obviously unfit to maintain a freehold. A returning changeling must often invoke a fior to regain her lost property.

Gaining Glamour

The owner of a freehold may use it to renew his Glamour, though he can grant this power to another as a favour instead. To obtain Glamour from a freehold, the character must sleep and dream in the balefire's light, or near the secret stone of a glade. Upon awakening, he recovers a number of Glamour equal to the amount he initially invested. Of course, the changeling may never gain Glamour above his permanent Glamour rating. Glades function slightly differently; the first person to dream within the glade in a night is the one who gains Glamour. Changelings rarely share glades.

Reaving

It is possible to gain Glamour from a freehold, even if one is not the owner or does not have permission, through Reaving. It risks causing permanent damage to a freehold, though. The owner may also Reave his own freehold in an attempt to gain more than the daily allowance of Glamour. To do this, the character stands in the presence of the balefire or sacred stone and wills the Glamour to come forth. Most changeling rulers (Seelie and Unseelie) have outlawed Reaving; destroying a freehold is one of the most horrible crimes a Kithain can commit.

Glades

While freeholds are often created (and hence artificial sources of Glamour), glades are naturally occurring wellsprings. They are extremely rare and, when discovered, become carefully guarded secrets. A glade has a sacred stone, which is similar to a freehold's balefire. Sacred stones can take many forms. Some are tall standing stones left as chimerical glacial till, while others are sacred gems or smooth stones rounded by mountain streams. They may sit in a place of high honour or rest unnoticed by a tree root. Regardless of its form, the stone is the source of a glade's power. Removing or destroying a sacred stone strips a glade of its magical energies. Nunnehi still control most natural glades, but many European fae covet them. This has lead to numerous fights over the years.
Types of Freehold

Glade — Glades are sylvan glens, typically located deep in a forest. Changelings favour glades as sites for many of their festivals. Unlike most freeholds, glades are naturally occurring wellsprings of Glamour. Glades have a sacred stone instead of a balefire as their heart.

Hearth — A faerie tavern, bar or coffee house, usually with a back-alley entrance. Many speakeasies from the 1920s are now hearths. All changelings are welcome, as long as they have something to trade.

Lodge — Cottages, houses and mansions, collectively considered lodges, can be freeholds. Lodges are typically the strongholds;of
nobles, who spend much of their time in residence.

Manor — A manor is a small faerie glen surrounding a cabin or other building, and is usually located in the wilderness.

Eyrie — Eyries are high mountain freeholds, and are typically the refuges of outcasts.

Grotto — Grottos are often overgrown sylvan glades or abandoned mines. Sluagh and nockers often gather in such out-of-the-way
freeholds, though others use them as well.

Faerie Ring — A very small glen found deep in the forest. These naturally occurring freeholds grow increasingly rare as the wild places
of the world dwindle.

Isle — These enchanted islands are rarely on maps or sullied by mortal feet. Isles are private refuges, and are among the most prized freeholds.

Thorpe — Thorpes are faerie towns. They are rare these days. One of the most famous is a mining ghost town known as Mother Lode, located somewhere in Nevada, while Ireland boasts the village of Glenlea.

Urban — Only the hardiest Kithain dare to live in the World of Darkness' choking urban sprawls. Banality is at its highest here, and untainted Glamour is scarce. These freeholds are on the edge of the coming Winter.

Market — Faerie markets are places, often freeholds, where changelings come to buy, sell and trade strange treasures from a thousand realms. These places often share space with human markets covertly, though some may exist wholly in the Dreaming. A human may purchase a piece of faerie craft "accidentally" on occasion. Such transactions may be lucky or disastrous for the unwary human.

Lost One Freehold — Most sidhe left Earth for Arcadia during the Shattering and stayed away for over 600 years. Some stayed behind, however, immersing themselves in their freeholds. These freeholds are rich in Glamour, but dangerous because of their Bedlam-inspiring qualities.

Homestead — Homesteads are freeholds that are wholly in the Dreaming, yet without access to a rath. They do not have the dual nature of most freeholds; their prime virtue is stability. The Kithain build homesteads to withstand the rigors of the Dreaming. Homesteaders are few, but fiercely independent. Some changelings from every kith set up homesteads (even small villages) in the Near Dreaming. There is currently some tension between long-term homesteaders and changelings who entered the Dreaming after the Resurgence.

Nunnehi Freeholds — Nunnehi freeholds are inherently different from any other kind, and are misunderstood by European fae. Severed from the Higher Hunting Grounds (their aspect of the Dreaming), Nunnehi freeholds may nevertheless have access to the "Upper" and "Lower" Worlds. They share many characteristics of werewolf caerns and mage nodes; some Nunnehi find themselves in conflict with Garou or mages who covet their freeholds for their spiritual energies. Nunnehi freeholds vary widely in appearance, and conform to the cultural conventions of the local tribe.</li>
Trods

If Glamour is the Dreaming's life-blood, then trods are the arteries through which Glamour flows. Trods are the fae's nearest connection to the Dreaming and Arcadia beyond. They are also power. The sidhe realized this during the Resurgence, and rushed to reclaim most of the recently re-opened trods. Those who control the trods have considerable control over Kithain society. Changelings may move troops and secret missives through them in times of war. They are ideal trade routes and vital connections to the Dreaming in times of peace. Most trods closed during the centuries of the Interregnum, but reopened spectacularly with the sidhe's return.

When a changeling enters a trod, she disappears from the mundane world. Trods may lead to a number of places. Most follow a path leading from one earthly location, through the Near Dreaming, to another earthly location. Others end at specific locations within the Dreaming. Time and location shift constantly in the Dreaming. After over 600 years of being severed from the Dreaming, most commoners are not adept at travelling through it. Few Earth-bound changelings used trods, but now travel them in growing numbers. (This is especially true of the sidhe and eshu.)

Few changelings live directly in the Dreaming due to its hostility and restless nature. Those who leave the safety of a trod's Silver Path (see below) risk becoming lost forever in a constantly shifting wilderness, with only monstrous chimera for companionship. However, some changelings manage to set up homesteads along trods, in the Dreaming. These are scattered throughout the Near Dreaming, providing shelter to those who travel these roads.

Travellers may travel both ways on trods, and may reverse direction in mid-journey when they choose to. A trod's physical appearance varies greatly, depending on its nature and on the Dreaming that surrounds it. Some have openings in the mundane world, while others thread only through the Dreaming. Trods may intersect each other, though a traveler must open the new trod to change paths.

The Silver Path

The Silver Path is literally that, a path that leads from one end of a trod to the other. Its physical form varies from trod to trod, depending on the type of trod it runs, but it always has a slight silver cast to it. If travellers on a trod do not deviate from the Silver Path, they greatly increase their chances of reaching their destination unharmed. The Silver Path not only acts as a guide, but as a protector as well. Chimerical monsters must expend Glamour to attack those on the path. The difficulties of all chimerical attacks staged on travellers of a Silver Path increase by one to three, depending on the path's strength in the area. Some crafty chimera try to trick unwary changelings from the path, and many have gotten quite good at it. (Chimera may use trods that are protected by the Silver Path, but only if they travel under a changeling's protection.)

No one knows the Silver Path's true nature, though it was clearly a creation of the changelings' progenitors, the Tuatha de Danaan. The Silver Path protects most Near Dreaming trods, though there are long stretches where it fades or disappears completely. The path fell into disrepair after the sidhe left during the Shattering, and many maps of trods and paths were lost. High King David and other monarchs have made it a priority to strengthen the Silver Path, but no one knows how to do it. Many changelings seek this secret.

The Passage of Time

Time does not flow in a trod as it does in the mundane world. A great deal of time may pass for a changeling on the trod, while almost none has passed in the mundane world. A journey's duration on the trod is often, though not always, a close approximation of the time it would take to traverse the distance in the mortal world. (A changeling who flies along a sun or moon trod in his chimerical balloon will have a faster journey than one who chooses to walk to the same destination along a land trod.) In the mundane world, however, both arrive at approximately the same time. A changeling may enter a trod in New York and exit in Paris with only a few minutes or even seconds passing in the mundane world. While this can be very useful if a changeling is in a hurry, the difficulty and risks of travelling a trod may not be worth the savings in time. If a changeling is not in a hurry, she may take a scheduled airliner like everyone else.
Types of Trods

Trods vary as vastly as the Dreaming itself does. Most in the Near Dreaming are recognizable as paths of some sort, but are more esoteric in the farther Dreamrealms. Land and water trods are the most common.

Land: Land trods may be anything from a wide superhighway to a narrow path along a precipice. They may pass through idyllic faerie towns, by literally burning deserts or through forests of mists and moaning trees. A changeling may walk, ride or drive along these trods; mode of travel is limited only by terrain.

Water: These trods may be small as a mountain stream or as vast as a thousand oceans. Due of the lack of recognizable landmarks, travellers on this type of trod must rely on charts and other navigational treasures to travel these watery paths safely.

Sun: Sun trods are sky trods that are open during the day. Only those changelings who can fly (even in a balloon) may travel these ethereal highways. Sun trods may appear as shafts of focused sunlight or as paths along sun-lit clouds. A changeling travelling a sun trod must find a moon trod to continue his journey after dark.

Moon: Moon trods are sky trods that are open only at night. Only those changelings who can fly may travel these lunar phantom trails. Moon trods may appear as dust motes dancing in shafts of pale moonlight or as paths along night-sky clouds.

Cursed: Cursed trods have been corrupted by some means. Perhaps a powerful chimera, changeling brigands or a wicked monarch has taken up residence beside it, and kills all who travel it. Banality may block or sever some trods, trapping travellers in gray pitfalls where their Arts are of little use. These areas of the Dreaming are often home to feral chimera and other monstrosities. Any type of trod may become cursed.

Chimerical: Chimerical trods are far too ethereal for material creatures such as the fae to travel, but chimera have little trouble using these Glamour-rich roads. Some arcane Arts may allow changelings entry to these alien trods. Such paths are extraordinarily dangerous, even to the most potent Kithain. The Silver Path does not extend into these trods.

Nightmare: The Nightmare Realms fester in the Deep Dreaming like an insatiable cancer. Dark and twisted trods spiral from them, touching almost every other part of the Dreaming. Malignant chimera and even darker creatures travel these fearsome roads. Some Unseelie changelings use these trods on secret errands, but these paths are dangerous even to them. The Silver Path exists along some of these trods. Most believe the Tuatha de Danaan built the path there during their wars in the Nightmare Realms. In recent decades, these trods have disgorged increasing numbers of malign chimera into the Near Dreaming and the mundane</li>