History TabletopGame / ChangelingTheLost

* HornyDevils: A potent enough archetype to have its own kith in ''Winter Masques''; the Fairest's Succubus kith (called "Incubus" for male changelings with it). The changeling gets a bonus to Social rolls against people with the same Vice as the Incubus (with the bonus increased if the shared vice is Lust) and all of them are blessed with at least a modicum of Striking Looks.

* MadLibFantasyTitle: Just like the other World of Darkness gamelines.

* BalefulPolymorph: People who are brought to Arcadia have their bodies changed to suit their Keeper's whims.

* GenreSavvy: Changeling: the Lost characters almost always have at least some, with some being downright experts; the Talecrafting rules are a way of making this into an [[UpToEleven actual magic power.]]

* HauteCuisineIsWeird: Taken UpToEleven with the Knights of the Knowledge of the Tongue, an [[PrestigeClass Entitlement]] for whom perfect food is ''[[MundaneMadeAwesome everything]]''. For this, they'll plumb the Hedge for the most exotic [[FantasticFruitsAndVegetables goblin fruits]] (and meats, sometimes [[ExoticEntree sapient]]) to produce dishes that might [[TastesLikePurple Taste Like Purple]] and induce literal [[OrgasmicallyDelicious Foodgasms]], at minimum.

* RenovatingThePlayerHeadquarters: Changelings make Hollows in the EldritchLocation around [[LandOfFaerie Arcadia]] and can improve them with projects like growing {{Extradimensional Shortcut}}s, assembling a MagicalLibrary, building an ItemCrafting workshop, or planting a [[FantasticFruitsAndVegetables Goblin fruit garden]].

* EnfantTerrible: Fetchspawn. If a Fetch ever manages to have a child with a human, the result might be one of these monstrosities. They have no KarmaMeter. They have no empathy. They're totally unable to relate to other human beings on an emotional or social level. They tend to kill things... just because. This is all exacerbated by the fact that their touch automatically opens all doors and springs all locks, they cannot be bound or imprisoned, and people tend to ignore them, so they're able to slip around without notice. They are immune to Changeling powers, and their touch drains the Lost of magical energies. Oh... and did we mention that at the age of 21 they get sucked back into the Hedge, likely to become Gentry themselves?
** [[SubvertedTrope On the other hand]], the other kind of fetch-child, supposedly created when a Fetch who still thinks he's human has biblical study of a person he truly loves is almost always psychologically healthy. They're a little [[CreepyChild weird]], to be sure, but not ''too'' weird, and they [[TheCharmer get better]] as they near puberty. Unfortunately, they're also a little BlessedWithSuck-their very existence is a key to the [[EldritchLocation Hedge]], and their blood is supposedly toxic to Fae, meaning they're likely to draw the attention of [[WellIntentionedExtremist militants]].
* EvenEvilHasStandards: The True Fae may be pitiless kidnappers and abusers, but they tend to get very, ''very'' angry at anyone - including one of their own - who breaks a sworn promise.
** Not that it stops them from LoopholeAbuse-ing said sworn promises to the fullest, however.
* EverythingTryingToKillYou: As bad as being kidnapped into Arcadia by a True Fae is, winding up there by accident is ''even worse''. Because the realm runs on Contracts, if you aren't part of them, the very elements of nature have no reason to behave rationally towards you. Water won't slake your thirst and fire won't warm your body, but you can still drown or burn. The only way to survive is to either get back out before you die of exposure or other unpleasantness (far harder than it sounds), or get included in the Contracts that make the realm function... which is done by entering service to a True Fae.
** On the other side, most Realms want to be experienced, and so act mostly rationally. Just don’t push it, or the cave might decide not to shelter you from the blizzard.

* EvilTwin: Nearly all Changelings are replaced by a Fetch, a construct made from whatever's lying around, along with a piece of the original's shadow, when taken. This fetch looks and acts exactly (or nearly exactly) like the original, and in many cases believes it ''is'' the original until a creature with its face and wood for skin shows up. Some Fetches still serve the True Fae, or are simply emotionless monsters. Most of them aren't, or at least aren't ''that'' monstrous, which is why killing one dings the KarmaMeter (his [[TomatoInTheMirror entire life is a lie]], if he discovers the truth of the matter [[TheWoobie he'll be a psychological wreck for the rest of his life]], and you decide to kill him. Enjoy your loss of Clarity, [[YouBastard asshole]]).

* HorrorHunger: Disturbingly common. Not only are there Gristlegrinder Ogres and some Hunterheart Beasts whose teeth and mouths have become deadly weapons and who often spent their Durances chowing down on whatever or whoever they could catch, but some Kiths, such as the Darkling Leechfinger or Ogre Oni, can heal themselves by eating their foes. Any of these could face cannibalistic urges. And this isn't counting those driven to cannibalism through the workings of their steadily-worsening psychosis.
** The Ogre stereotype on Mortals says it all -- ''You're beautiful. On the other hand, [[ImAHumanitarian you taste like chicken.]]''

* LivingLabyrinth: The Hedge.

* {{Lunacy}}: The Contracts of the Moon deal specifically with derangements, the clauses ranging from telling if someone is suffering from one with just a look to infecting a crowd with a madness of your choice.
** There is also a Darkling kith called the Moonborn. Their power lets them infect themselves with a mild derangement and someone they touch with its severe version.
* TheLostWoods: The Hedge, in all its psychoreactive, space-twisting, soul-ripping glory. If you get lost in the Hedge, you may never leave again - at least, not as a human. And if you enter the Hedge, there's a *very* good chance you'll get lost.

* {{Doppelmerger}}: A Changeling and their [[ArtificialHuman Fetch]] -- the fae construct [[CaptureAndReplicate left to impersonate them]] when they were first kidnapped by TheFairFolk -- can attempt to merge together. It is a long, difficult process of coming to understand each other, but it gives the Changeling the Fetch's [[GhostMemory memories]] and a boost on the KarmaMeter.

* {{Grimmification}}: The Home Game!!
* GrowingUpSucks: Arguably inverted as opposed to the old Changeling; which the focus is no longer on keeping your innocence and naivete in a harsh and dark world but rather about finding the way back from the loss of innocence and the pains of life and learning how to put yourself back together and discover what comes next.

* HaveYouSeenMyGod: One of the example origin stories for the True Fae is based on the Manx interpretation of faeries: True Fae are actually angels whose God has left the universe. Without His guidance, they have gone completely insane.

* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: Subverted outright (Dancers In Dusk states few things rekindle a changeling's much-needed faith in other people then visiting a stranger's dreams for the first time).

* InhumanlyBeautifulRace: The Fairest (and many of the True Fae)

* FoeYay[[invoked]]: The ''closest'' thing [[TheFairFolk True Fae]] have to a friend is '''[[FridgeHorror a sworn enemy.]]'''

** The reason why this coup is so bad for the Miami Freehold, is that one of the key defences a Freehold has against the True Fae is the voluntary relinquishing of power. Its a [[[BrownNote concept that the True Fae cannot wrap their minds around]]] and each seasonal court has a unique defence against the True Fae that make it difficult for them to attack the Freeholds, partly because these defences impose specific conditions for the True Fae to interact with the Freehold, and partly because the True Fae can't be bothered tracking the seasons and a plan that works against a Summer Court falls apart the first day of Autumn.

'''The Courts:''' Half political party, a third support group, 5/7ths ruling body, and .75 masonic lodge, the Courts are the chosen Splats of Changeling. The various court systems offer protection from the Others by confusing Them with the sharing of power - or, at least, this is the theory.

* {{Arcadia}}: Bluntly subverted by the home of the True Fae. There are realms of nature, yes, and some places seem peaceful, but the reality of the place is closer to Hell (or perhaps the home realms of ''Franchise/{{Hellraiser}}'''s Cenobites) than it is to any sort of idyllic natural setting. Any vestige of the old {{Arcadia}} is found in the Hedge, an infinitely twisting maze of endless thorns that rip your soul out of your body, piece by piece. They even have a mechanic for it.

** The reason why this coup is so bad for the Freehold, is that one of the key defences a Freehold has against the True Fae is the voluntary relinquishing of power. Its a [[[BrownNote concept that the True Fae cannot wrap their minds around]]] and each seasonal court has a unique defence against the True Fae that make it difficult for them to attack the Freehold, finding that a plan of theirs completely unravels because a seasonal change occurs because paying attention to the seasons is something the True Fae deem beneath them.

* PredatoryBusiness: The [=MaxMart=] chain of box stores owned by Baron Fairweather, almost literally - it's part of his attempt to claim the mortal world as his own.

** [[spoiler: All the torture a Changeling is put through psychologically scars them and their time in Arcadia has [[HalfHumanHybrid made them part Fae]], [[WitchSpecies able to use fae powers and bound to The Wyrd]]. [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity But using too much of this magic takes its toll]]. [[TheCorruption Once a Changeling's connection to the Wyrd reaches its highest possible level]], sometimes the Changeling's [[SanityMeter Clarity]] will begin to drop at an exponential rate -- mainly because whenever they dream, they remember Faerie ''perfectly'', which means they have a Clarity-loss trigger condition every time they go to sleep. And when a Changeling hits Wyrd 10 and Clarity 0... [[TheVirus they are called to re-enter the Hedge, travel back to Arcadia, and become one of the True Fae.]]]]

* FaceFullOfAlienWingWong: [[spoiler: All the torture a Changeling is put through psychologically scars them and their time in Arcadia has [[HalfHumanHybrid made them part Fae]], [[WitchSpecies able to use fae powers and bound to The Wyrd]]. [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity But using too much of this magic takes its toll]]. [[TheCorruption Once a Changeling's connection to the Wyrd reaches its highest possible level]], sometimes the Changeling's [[SanityMeter Clarity]] will begin to drop at an exponential rate -- mainly because whenever they dream, they remember Faerie ''perfectly'', which means they have a Clarity-loss trigger condition every time they go to sleep. And when a Changeling hits Wyrd 10 and Clarity 0... [[TheVirus they are called to re-enter the Hedge, travel back to Arcadia, and become one of the True Fae.]]]]
** Also, Fetches are supposedly unable to conceive children. However, [[CreepyChild when they do...]]

* {{Familiar}}: Changelings (and other fae creatures) sometimes take Hedge Beasts as pet/sidekick/companions. These are Hobgoblins who look exactly like a mortal animal, except that they can speak and have human-level intelligence.
** They can also use Changeling Merits and Contracts. So its entirely possible to have an Ogre based around smashing things to have a Hedgebeast Buddy that's really good at research and packing Wizened contracts.
* FantasticDrug: Goblin Fruits in general have the potential to be like this; the corebook even contains a plot hook for a ''TabletopGame/VampireTheRequiem'' crossover in which a goblin fruit called "bloodroot" is being sold on to the local kindred. Bloodroot is harmless to changelings, but to vampires, it's a powerful narcotic -- and one they can actually feel wholeheartedly and without needing to use through human blood to enjoy.
** In addition, ''Rites of Spring'' lists rules for Glamour intoxication, letting Changelings who indulge too strongly get drunk on the essential power of human emotion.

* [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife Talecrafting Will Ruin Your Life]]: Addicted [[GenreSavvy Talecrafters]] tend to start seeing patterns out of fairy tales in everything, [[WrongGenreSavvy whether they're actually there or not.]] This can result in some ''[[IdiotHero very ]][[TooDumbToLive bad]]'' [[DeconstructedTrope delusions.]]
** Wait, what happens if you try to invoke this tro- [[RealityBreakingParadox *KABOOM!*]]

** [[ShopliftandDie You do NOT. FUCKING. BREAK. Market Law.]] Essentially it declares Goblin Markets a "Safe Zone". If you're in one, nobody is going to fuck with you; even if you run into your Keeper, they can't do jack. However, only those ''selling goods'' get full protection. The second one of them gets hurt or any of the other parts of Market Law get violated, [[IFoughttheLawandtheLawWon you get nailed with a powerful Curse, and every Goblin in the market rushes you and starts beating the everloving SHIT out of you.]] It says something when even the True Fae don't want to deal with this kind of crap. (Also: Don't even think about shortchanging or god help you STEALING from a Marketeer).
*** It IS possible, if you have goods to offer that the Goblins find useful or interesting, to become a Marketeer and gain total and full protection under Market Law; even if they avoid harming anything else, they can't touch you within the confines of market. The caveat is it's very difficult to fulfill the criteria to become a Marketeer and if you fuck it up too badly... Well, its not fun to say the least.

* SummonBiggerFish: This happens when someone uses Call the Hunt (see DangerousForbiddenTechnique above). Ideally, both enemies would kill one another off, leaving the Changeling safe from either.

* CloneDegeneration: The Fetch which the Fae leave behind in a Changeling's place is often somewhat... off from the original, even before its original returns. This often manifests as a tendency toward psychopathy. It's not fun. And just to prove that White Wolf is evil, the missing trait can be a personality ''flaw'' as well - meaning that the Changeling might come back to find a family man Fetch who's more moral and well-adjusted than the original. Still want to slaughter the guy to take your life back, JerkAss?