Homebrew Wechselkind Species Details

 

A wechselkind is a construct crafted of wood, clay,
and ceramic in the form of a small child, animated by
faerie magic and concealed in a glamour that makes
them appear identical to a stolen mortal babe. Once the
glamour fades and the lie is revealed, the wechselkind is
often cast out by its foster family, if not destroyed.
Occasionally, though, a family takes pity on the poor
creature and attempts to raise it as they would a child,
only to find that while their mind develops normally, a
wechselkind is forever bound in the unchanging form of
a childlike doll.

Whether nurtured or shunned, the wechselkind
eventually finds itself an outcast in the world and must
fend for itself as best it can. With few physical needs,
the wechselkind often wanders from place to place,
watching the people it encounters with envious eyes,
hoping for a place to finally fit in.

The residual magic of its faerie glamour allows it to
conceal itself in the guise of a human child, and a lone
wechselkind often takes to begging by the side of the
road or doing odd jobs around an isolated farmhouse,
searching for some scraps of acceptance or a small trinket
or two to take with it when it must inevitably move on.

Recently, with the advent of the Weeping Pox, the
wechselkind have started to emerge from hiding and
be recognized as a separate race of creatures. With their
immunity to disease, a number of wechselkind have
offered their services as nurses and doctor’s assistants in
plague-stricken regions, gaining recognition and praise
from those able to see beyond their tragic beginnings.
These wechselkind are grateful for a sense of purpose and
a place to belong, but remain wary. Once their usefulness
is at an end, they know they may be cast out once more

Wechselkind Traits

Constructed of sturdy materials and enchanted with powerful faerie magic, wechselkind possess several traits that distinguish them from the other races of Etharis.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2 and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Age

As constructs, the wechselkind do not age as
normal creatures do. They are forever trapped in the
doll-like body of a stolen child. As such, their maximum
age is more a function of natural erosion and damage than
of time, occasionally needing to replace or fix body parts
when needed. You are immune to magical aging effects.

Alignment

Faerie are as close to the embodiment of
chaos as most mortals are likely to see, and their creations
usually follow that trend. Although some tend towards
mischief, more wechselkind lean towards good than evil.

Artificial Form

As a constructed creature, your
body functions differently than a normal person.
You have advantage on saving throws against being
poisoned, and you have resistance to poison damage.
You are immune to disease. You don’t need to eat, drink,
sleep, or breathe. You are still considered humanoid.

Faerie Glamour

When the faerie leaves a
wechselkind in place of a mortal child, they cover it
with a glamour to make it appear identical to the child
that was stolen. Over time this glamour fades, but
a wechselkind can still call upon it in times of need.
You may cast the disguise self spell once with this trait,
but only to take on the appearance of the child you
were intended to replace, and you regain the ability
to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your
spellcasting ability for this spell.

Childish Agility

You can move through the space
of any creature that is of a size larger than yours. You
gain proficiency in the Acrobatics skill.

Language

You can speak, read, and write Sylvan
and one other language of your choice.