Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2013 14:13:37 GMT -6
Book one: physiology and basic psychology
Changelings, a mysterious species with little known about them. By nature they are hidden from prying eyes. They are there though, sprinkled throughout Equestria. Their numbers have significantly increased after the defeat of Chrysalis. Her hive became scattered afterwards and still hasn't succeeded in regaining order.
Physiology: Straight to the point on their most unique feature. Changelings feed on love, more precisely, the magic of love. There are a number of methods to do so and changelings can even give extra love to each other or back to their victims. Some of the more common methods of draining include unicorn like spells and deep, purposeful breaths. Changelings are also born from eggs. They start out a good bit more developed than ponies.
As far as biology goes, changelings can vary wildly even in the same class as others. Their surface can be hard as a beetles or as soft as a praying mantis or lightning bug. Some have panels on them, like a scorpion, others only have openings at joints.
They are also affected differently by other emotions, even residual ones. Jealousy and hate can be harmful, happiness can give a sort of sugar rush but no emotion other than love can be used as nourishment. It should also be noted that love is extremely unpredictable. There aren't many absolute rules to loves or how to changelings can feed. There are more absolute rules, but conditions change.
'Rules' of feeding:
1.Directly feeding off of love is the most effective way of feeding.
2.Infatuation counts as love but isn't quite as filling, nor as draining.
3.Ponies can easily become husks when tricked intoned true love
4.When drained it becomes easier to continue feeding and to convince ponies nothing is wrong
5.A changelings magical power increases with how much love it absorbs
6.Some ponies have more powerful love than others
7.Everything else is rather case by case.
8.Changelings must feed on some sort of love to live. There are no 'vegetarian' changelings.
Symptoms of being low on love vary, but are very similar to the effects of not sleeping, minus the irritation. Hallucinations are possible after a long enough period, and a bit after that even the most aggressive changeling will become very very very docile, and have a clouded mind but also lazy, so don't try and go get a hungry changeling to paint a fence for you, it won't go far.
Changeling specific magic can be used even with incredibly low love reserves
Changing: only loosely confined by size. Even small changelings can turn into large ponies, but bigger sizes take more energy. Almost no changeling could hold something the size of a manticore or teenage dragon for extended periods.
Half-shield: a unidirectional shield, shaped like a triangle. Power depends on will
Green fire: takes up a lot of energy quickly. These fires are magical and tend to be more of a threat than a weapon because they don't burn things very much. They also show up when changelings strain themselves magically.
Mind control: only possible to the weak minded or heavily drained unless a changeling is very powerful, queens have an easier time
Hive-mind: more of a psychic link than a controlling force. Only experienced queens can strongly effect others will and still can't force a changeling to harm itself.
Changelings can also use numerous other spells, though most don't have the chance to learn complex magic but they almost always know enough to blend in and can learn certain spells very well. They have a talent for copying some less basic spells, but have trouble applying them freely.
Changeling forms: incredibly numerous and diverse. Changeling forms don't seem to be genetic, nor are they immediately visible. Changelings seem to solidify what their job is around the same time ponies get cutiemarks. Changelings who spend a lit of time away from the hive tend to gain more physical differences. They also have the ability to change over time. Many changelings develop their own specialized way taking love and will tend to stick to that way if it gets them enough love to get by
Drones: usually simple minded. Unique traits vary but are minuscule. They usually are inside the hive and don't really leave.((I personally don't recommend drones for being available, but being more like designated NPC hordes.))
Soldiers: (probably should let silver take this)
Scouts: usually a bit skittish and stressed. They also hold more allegiance to the queen than most. That said, they're some of the most likely to defect. They interact the most with ponies and have the most exposure to others.
Queens: physically unique from most changelings. They are actually one of the most affected by changeling instinct. They may take actions against their better judgement if it means the hive might get food. A queen's biggest goal is finding a steady food source for her hive. Growth is secondary but may happen first, which makes a queens life very busy and stressful. They may seem calm and collected but most are constantly scheming and planning.
Psuedo-Queen(king?): After changelings have left or lost their hive they may gain unique qualities after a time. This usually has the need of intense individuality. They may gain large differences in physiology, compared to normal changelings, and even have changes in mind set, assigning themselves a singular, straightforward mission, usually to help other changelings. They are usually larger and very queen shaped. The transformation is more dependent on how estranged the changeling perceives itself to be from the hive and whether or not it wants to change.
Next: Book Two: culture, interaction and history
Coming soon to a PM box near Whammy
To be followed by Book Three: The Hives
Changelings, a mysterious species with little known about them. By nature they are hidden from prying eyes. They are there though, sprinkled throughout Equestria. Their numbers have significantly increased after the defeat of Chrysalis. Her hive became scattered afterwards and still hasn't succeeded in regaining order.
Physiology: Straight to the point on their most unique feature. Changelings feed on love, more precisely, the magic of love. There are a number of methods to do so and changelings can even give extra love to each other or back to their victims. Some of the more common methods of draining include unicorn like spells and deep, purposeful breaths. Changelings are also born from eggs. They start out a good bit more developed than ponies.
As far as biology goes, changelings can vary wildly even in the same class as others. Their surface can be hard as a beetles or as soft as a praying mantis or lightning bug. Some have panels on them, like a scorpion, others only have openings at joints.
They are also affected differently by other emotions, even residual ones. Jealousy and hate can be harmful, happiness can give a sort of sugar rush but no emotion other than love can be used as nourishment. It should also be noted that love is extremely unpredictable. There aren't many absolute rules to loves or how to changelings can feed. There are more absolute rules, but conditions change.
'Rules' of feeding:
1.Directly feeding off of love is the most effective way of feeding.
2.Infatuation counts as love but isn't quite as filling, nor as draining.
3.Ponies can easily become husks when tricked intoned true love
4.When drained it becomes easier to continue feeding and to convince ponies nothing is wrong
5.A changelings magical power increases with how much love it absorbs
6.Some ponies have more powerful love than others
7.Everything else is rather case by case.
8.Changelings must feed on some sort of love to live. There are no 'vegetarian' changelings.
Symptoms of being low on love vary, but are very similar to the effects of not sleeping, minus the irritation. Hallucinations are possible after a long enough period, and a bit after that even the most aggressive changeling will become very very very docile, and have a clouded mind but also lazy, so don't try and go get a hungry changeling to paint a fence for you, it won't go far.
Changeling specific magic can be used even with incredibly low love reserves
Changing: only loosely confined by size. Even small changelings can turn into large ponies, but bigger sizes take more energy. Almost no changeling could hold something the size of a manticore or teenage dragon for extended periods.
Half-shield: a unidirectional shield, shaped like a triangle. Power depends on will
Green fire: takes up a lot of energy quickly. These fires are magical and tend to be more of a threat than a weapon because they don't burn things very much. They also show up when changelings strain themselves magically.
Mind control: only possible to the weak minded or heavily drained unless a changeling is very powerful, queens have an easier time
Hive-mind: more of a psychic link than a controlling force. Only experienced queens can strongly effect others will and still can't force a changeling to harm itself.
Changelings can also use numerous other spells, though most don't have the chance to learn complex magic but they almost always know enough to blend in and can learn certain spells very well. They have a talent for copying some less basic spells, but have trouble applying them freely.
Changeling forms: incredibly numerous and diverse. Changeling forms don't seem to be genetic, nor are they immediately visible. Changelings seem to solidify what their job is around the same time ponies get cutiemarks. Changelings who spend a lit of time away from the hive tend to gain more physical differences. They also have the ability to change over time. Many changelings develop their own specialized way taking love and will tend to stick to that way if it gets them enough love to get by
Drones: usually simple minded. Unique traits vary but are minuscule. They usually are inside the hive and don't really leave.((I personally don't recommend drones for being available, but being more like designated NPC hordes.))
Soldiers: (probably should let silver take this)
Scouts: usually a bit skittish and stressed. They also hold more allegiance to the queen than most. That said, they're some of the most likely to defect. They interact the most with ponies and have the most exposure to others.
Queens: physically unique from most changelings. They are actually one of the most affected by changeling instinct. They may take actions against their better judgement if it means the hive might get food. A queen's biggest goal is finding a steady food source for her hive. Growth is secondary but may happen first, which makes a queens life very busy and stressful. They may seem calm and collected but most are constantly scheming and planning.
Psuedo-Queen(king?): After changelings have left or lost their hive they may gain unique qualities after a time. This usually has the need of intense individuality. They may gain large differences in physiology, compared to normal changelings, and even have changes in mind set, assigning themselves a singular, straightforward mission, usually to help other changelings. They are usually larger and very queen shaped. The transformation is more dependent on how estranged the changeling perceives itself to be from the hive and whether or not it wants to change.
Next: Book Two: culture, interaction and history
Coming soon to a PM box near Whammy
To be followed by Book Three: The Hives