Homebrew Ender's Change(shape)ling Species Details

Changelings are a race of humanoids whose arms and legs are slightly longer than they would fit their appearance, with skin tones ranging from the palest grey to varying shades of very light blue. Changelings also usually don't grow body hair, but it is rumored that if a dwarf was one of the parents they possibly could. Their eyes are dark as the night, which makes it difficult to see the iris and pupil. If transformed, a changeling's eyes appear normal to others according to what is imitated, but on a closer examination, the conjunctiva around the iris is slightly tinted in a weak yellowish tone. On their forehead, they have two small horns above the eyes on the hairline. The base color of the hair is based on the skin color but includes another color in varying intensity, commonly violet. Their ears tend towards a double-pointed form, like an elve's ear, but with a split-tip, and the noses can range from flat and slit like a skeleton to subtle or even beautiful button noses.
In contrast to their distant appearance, the doppelganger, changelings can be male or female, but are bound to the one sex they were born with and are omnivores. They can tolerate eating raw meat, but most can't digest raw fruits and plants well. A changeling's body features are often described as a bit strange or even off-putting by the common folk.
History

Changelings, because of their ability to change into any person they want or need just like their distant relatives the doppelganger, have a long history in numerous different activities including but not limited to acting, working in the business of lust, and conducting stealth and espionage missions. Some of the more popular changelings have managed to gather so much fame in their career, that they were known in the whole land and acclaimed by their fans for their talent on the stage. But as it is, bad times are remembered longer.
In times of conflict, it wasn't uncommon to fall victim to a changeling spy of the other faction. The fear was ever-present and unbearable in most circumstances. The thought that one of your closest comrades or friends could suddenly slice your throat drove many people into insanity. Just as scary is the thought that any travelers or strangers you meet might in truth be wanted criminal changelings from a well-known dangerous bandit band, scouting out the streets to plan their next raid.
In larger cities, however, many people find something irresistible about changelings for their potential to grant someone their most desired fantasies. However, due to several changelings prominently working in less than savory jobs outside of their communities a certain stigma has stuck to them over time with most considered to be untrustworthy and having too many secrets, despite the fact that those who make their living with these unsavory jobs only represent a small part of the whole species similar to whatever else could be found in any other culture per se. The ever-changing nature of changelings and their experiments with new looks and personalities, however, tend to only feed the prejudices held against them. But most of the aversion directed towards changelings from other races is due to the fact that changelings are and have been by nature not interested in raising their own young and often switch out their children with other races.
The history of the species itself and how it came to be is little known. It is theorized, that the now known race of the changelings was in earlier days a collection of half breeds between doppelganger, humans, and half-humans of all kinds, which overlapped at some point and formed the modern changelings. But unfortunately, these were happenings long before the recording of history. Maybe some very old dragons or an aboleth may know, but it can also easily be nothing but hearsay.

Ender's Change(shape)ling Traits

Half-Human, Half-Doppelganger - the changeling is the master of disguise and intrigue.

Shapechanger

As an action, you can change your appearance and your voice. You determine the specifics of the changes, including your coloration, hair length, and sex. You can also adjust your height and weight, but not so much that your size changes. You can make yourself appear as a member of another race, though none of your game statistics change. You can't duplicate the appearance of a creature you've never seen, and you must adopt a form that has the same basic arrangement of limbs that you have. Your clothing and equipment aren't changed by this trait.
-You stay in the new form until you use an action to revert to your true form or until you die.
-Even to the most astute observers, your ruse is usually indiscernible. If you rouse suspicion, or if a wary creature suspects something is amiss, you have advantage on any Charisma (Deception) check you make to avoid detection.

Changeling Instincts

You have proficiency in Deception, Insight, Intimidation, and Persuasion.

 

Telepathy

Telepathy. You have the magical ability to communicate mentally with any number of willing creatures you can see within 120 feet of you. A contacted creature doesn’t need to share a language with you, but it must be able to understand at least one language. Your telepathic link to a creature is broken if you and the creature move more than 120 feet apart, if either of you is incapacitated, or if either of you mentally breaks the contact (no action required).

 

Stealthy Movements

Thanks to the fluidity of your body and your doppelganger heritage, you are proficient in the Stealth skill.

 

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and two other languages of your choice.

Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma score increases by 2. In addition, one other ability score of your choice increases by 1

Unsettling Visage

When a creature you can see makes an attack roll against you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the roll. You must use this feature before knowing whether the attack hits or misses.

• Using this trait reveals your shapeshifting nature to any creature within 30 feet that can see you. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Divergent Persona

You gain proficiency with one tool of your choice. Define a unique identity associated with that proficiency; establish the name, race, gender, age, and other details. While you are in the form of this persona, the related proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses that proficiency.