October Daye Wiki
Register
Advertisement
October Daye Wiki

Changelings are people with a mixture of fae and human blood running through their veins. If the fae blood is strong enough, they must make the Changeling's Choice of whether to live in the world of the fae, or die as a human.

"No one told me “changeling” could be an insult, or that it would mean living trapped between worlds, watching half your family die while the other half lived forever, leaving you behind. I had to find that out on my own."[1]

About[]

Each changeling's strength is different. Rarely, some get a full measure of faerie magic, even more than their parents. These changelings have no limits and are often very destructive.[1] Weaker changelings are more common. This group's gifts vary depending on bloodline. Whatever they can do, they cannot do it as well as a pureblood. They are more emotionally flexible than purebloods, however. They often appear to be a mixture of fae and human, with dully pointed ears and slightly sharper features, with unusually-colored eyes and/or hair.

Thin-blooded changelings are those with more human blood than fae blood - most commonly 1/4 fae to 3/4 human, though other combinations may exist. They are often so magically weak that they must use fairy ointment in order to see the entirety of Faerie, such as spells, illusions, pixies, and other details. They may appear human enough to not need the Changeling's Choice, allowing them to naturally live among humans and in ignorance of their fae heritage. They may experience slightly lengthened lifespans, though not so drastically different from human possibility as to draw attention.

Merlins[]

Merlins are changeling-like individuals of approximately 1/8 or less fae blood who still retain the ability to access magic.[2] While they appear human, merlins are "capable of working magic and perceiving the fae world"[3]; they can use potions and written incantations, as well as other magic worked by external sources. However, they are bound by none of the limitations of true changelings or fae, like iron or rowan.[2] The tiny amount of magic in their blood combined with human creativity and determination makes merlins very dangerous.[4] Their magic has only a single-note signature, as opposed to the double-note signature of most fae.[4]

According to Toby, "Merlins can cast spells I can't manage. And no matter what line of descent their fae ancestors claimed, they don't seem to follow any of the normal divisions. A Tuatha Merlin might be incredibly skilled at Flower Magic, or a Tylwyth Merlin might be an incredible blood worker. They don't have the talents of their ancestors, but if they can put together a ritual for something, they can probably bully the universe into letting them have it."[5]

According to Marcia, "Thin-blooded are a step above Merlins, but there's a lot of prejudice there, and they're not covered by the law- in fact, some people think the law should be interpreted to mean that all thin-blooded should be killed on sight, because they're so close to Merlins. If they marry humans, the bloodline goes into the mortal world, almost undetectable, and magic emerges later- dangerous, and unpredictable, and not within the Pureblood's control. Too many of the old ones remember the war against the Merlins, they remember how many Purebloods died. Thin-bloods are only a part of Faerie because it would be too much trouble to kill them all."[6]

Abilities[]

Certain parts of faerie, like dawn or goblin fruit, or the transition between the mortal world and the Summerlandsaffect changelings more strongly than purebloods because their defenses are weaker.[1] A changeling (or a human) will die when poisoned by Elf-shot, as opposed to simply sleeping for 100 years.[7] Conversely, the human blood in a changeling will provide a stronger defense against the poisonous effect of iron, sometimes to the point where they are hardly affected by it at all, thus making them able to wield a powerful tool against pureblooded fae.[8]

Although rare, changelings are born with power that stretches beyond that of even a pureblood. The downside is that they have no control and can be a danger to everyone around them. The horror stories were used on weaker changelings to remind them that they could turn bad, but the stories persisted because of the devastation their out-of-control magic has caused. Two identified examples of overpowered Tuatha de Dannan changelings - a boy from Blind Michael's Hunt and the former changeling Chelsea Ames - had actually almost destroyed the fabric of reality by ripping open portals through to sealed lands like Annwn. While several Firstborn had to reverse the damage done after that first changeling had died from overexertion, Chelsea had been stopped before she could cause irreversible damage and Toby had shifted her into a pureblood to place the power blocks she lacked.

Some changelings fall to madness, especially if they have a mix of fae bloods, and they might get killed so they won't be a danger to others.[9][10]

Role in Fae Society[]

Changelings remain with their parents until they make the Changeling's Choice.Those who choose Faerie are taken from their mortal lives and grudgingly accepted into the fringes of fae society. Those who choose their human side are killed.[1]

Most changelings hold a difficult position in faerie society. They are too human to truly belong, but their longevity makes it difficult for them to remain in the mortal world. Many end up holding minor positions at Court.[1] Changelings are not protected by Oberon's Law (but may be held accountable to it), and are not counted among the Fae census.[11]

Devin created Home as a refuge for changelings on the fringes of fae society.[1]

The Changeling's Choice[]

The Changeling's Choice comes to every changeling child of sufficient strength. It is a simple one: are they human, or are they faerie? Since the strength of every changeling varies, so does the age at which the choice is made. Some precocious children make it at age three, weaker ones hold out until their early teens, and it never comes to the weakest at all.[1] The eldest recorded Choice was at 16, where Toby had offered it to Chelsea, a changeling raised out of Faerie's knowledge but still aware of what she could do.[12]

Whether the child chooses human or faerie, they do not remain long in the mortal world. Those who choose faerie are taken to the Summerlands to live with their fae parent until they reach maturity. They never see their human parent again. Those who choose to remain human are killed in tragic "accidents," and the faerie parent is left to mourn with their human partner.[1]

Toby is the only known character to receive the Changeling's Choice more than once. The first time it was offered by Sylvester, and Toby chose to live in Faerie like her mother.[1] The second time was offered by Amandine while in mortal danger, and she chose Faerie again.[7]

Toby offered the Changeling's Choice to her own daughter, Gillian, who chose the mortal world. Normally Gillian would be killed for that choice, but Toby was able to shift her blood to fully human and send her back to live with her father.[13]

Baby Magic[]

All changeling children are born with a form of defensive illusions that can naturally hide their Fae features until they are old enough to spin illusions. Baby magic however doesn't last, with each dawn passing, the natural illusions begin to gradually burn away and usually by the time they are seven, the baby magic is stripped completely and exposes their Fae heritage. Chelsea's baby magic had failed, but her human mother Bridget was able to disguise her Fae features and hide her from Faerie until she was sixteen by making her wear tinted shades and styling her hair over her ears. [citation needed]

Characters[]

Main article: Category:Changelings

Mythology[]

A Changeling was believed to be a fairy child that had been left in place of a human child stolen by the fairies. The theme of the swapped child is common in medieval literature and reflects concern over infants thought to be afflicted with unexplained diseases, disorders, or developmental disabilities.

A changeling is typically identifiable via a number of traits; in Irish legend, a fairy child may appear sickly and won't grow in size like a normal child, and may have notable physical life of characteristics such as a beard or long teeth. They may also display intelligence far beyond their apparent years, as well as possess uncanny insight. A common way that a changeling could identify itself is through displaying unusual behaviour when it thinks it's alone, such as jumping about, dancing or playing an instrument — though this last example is found only within Irish and Scottish legend.

A human child might be taken due to many factors: to act as a servant, the love of a human child, or malice. Most often it was thought that fairies exchanged the children. In rare cases, the very elderly of the fairy people would be exchanged in the place of a human baby, so that the old fairy could live in comfort, being coddled by its human parents.

Simple charms such as an inverted coat or open iron scissors left where the child sleeps, were thought to ward them off.

Quotes[]

  • "Changelings don’t grow up in the human world. It simply isn’t done.[1]

References[]

Types of Fae (Browse All)
Creator
MaeveOberonTitania
Habitat
AirFireLandSea
Physiology
Animal FeaturesCreaturesShapeshiftersSkin-ShiftersWinged
Appeared in Series
AdheneAes SidheAfancAlmereBannickBansheeBaobhan SithBarghestBarrow WightBlodynbrydBogeyBridge TrollCait SidheCandelaCentaurCephaliCeryneian HindCetaceChangelingCoblynauCu SidheDaoine SidheDóchas SidheDopplegangerDryadEllyllonFetchFirstbornFollettiGean-CannahGlastigGremlinGwragenHamadryadHippocampusHobKelpieKitsuneLamiaMerrowManticoreNight-hauntPeriPixiePucaRaven-maidRedcapRoaneRose GoblinSatyrSelkieShyi ShuaiSileneSirenTuatha de DannanTylwyth TegUndine
Advertisement