Race: Changeling

Changelings are not my own creation, but their history in Trinity is sorta-vaguely original.

Changeling

"To exist is to perceive, and to perceive is to exist."

Also known as Vesuvans, as they hail from the island chain of Vesuva, changelings are an enigmatic race. Their precise population is hard to identify, given their ability to change their physical form to match that of other races.

It is believed that changelings are the descendants of an even more powerful shapechanging race, which are often referred to as the doppelgangers. Whether any doppelgangers exist in modern Trinity is uncertain.

Vital Statistics
		Starting Age			Aging Effects
	Adulthood	Simple	Moderate	Complex	Middle Age	Old	Venerable	Max Age
Age	15 years	+1d4	+1d6	+2d6	35 years	53 years	70 years	+2d20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	Base Height		Height Modifier		Base Weight		Weight Modifier
Male	3' 2"		+2d6"		60 lbs.		x(1d4) lbs.
Female	3'		+2d6"		40 lbs.		x(1d4) lbs.

Physical Description: Changelings vary wildly in height and weight, with the shortest among them barely over three feet, with the tallest over four feet. Their natural form is of a grey-skinned humanoid, with lack of well-defined facial features. Changelings have natural genders, but are able to shapechange into beings of either gender.

Changeling Racial Traits (d20)

• Small. +1 bonus to Armor Class, +1 bonus on attack rolls, +4 bonus on Hide checks, -4 penalty on grapple checks, lifting and carrying limits ¾ those of Medium characters.
• Shapechanger: Changelings are shapechangers, not humanoids. As such, they are not affected by spells or effects that normally only affect humanoids. A shapechanger can always take a standard action to change shape into their natural form, even if affected by such effects as baleful polymorph.
• A changeling’s base land speed is 30 feet.
• +4 racial bonus on saving throws against charm and compulsion effects.
• +2 racial bonus on Bluff, Intimidate, and Sense Motive checks: Changelings are inherently skilled in deception and intimidation.
• Natural Linguist: Speak Language is always a class skill for changelings.
• Shapechange (Su): Changelings have the supernatural ability to alter their appearance as though using a disguise self spell that affects their bodies but not their possessions; using this ability to change her shape to a Small creature causes her to lose her powerful build ability (see below) unless the creature also has the ability, and changing her shape to a Medium creature causes her size to change to Medium and causes her to lose her powerful build ability. Using this ability causes the changeling to gain the new form's creature type (augmented Shapechanger); she cannot use this ability to turn into a construct, elemental, ooze, or undead. This ability is not an illusory effect, but a minor physical alteration of a changeling’s facial features, skin color and texture, and size, within the limits described for the spell. A changeling can use this ability at will, and the alteration lasts until she changes shape again. A changeling reverts to her natural form when killed. A true seeing spell or similar effect reveals her natural form. When using this ability to create a disguise, a changeling receives a +10 circumstance bonus on Disguise checks. Using this ability is a full-round action.
• Powerful Build (Ex): The physical stature of changelings lets them function in many ways as if they were one size category larger. Whenever a changeling is subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for an opposed check (such as during grapple checks, bull rush attempts, and trip attempts), the changeling is treated as one size larger if doing so is advantageous to him. A changeling is also considered to be one size larger when determining whether a creature’s special attacks based on size (such as improved grab or swallow whole) can affect him. A changeling can use weapons designed for a creature one size larger without penalty. However, his space and reach remain those of a creature of his actual size. The benefits of this racial trait stack with the effects of powers, abilities, and spells that change the subject’s size category.
• Automatic Languages: One Common language, two Trade languages, Vesuvan. Bonus Languages: Any.
• Favored Class: Choose one - mimic, rogue.