Chapter Text
EXCERPTS FROM CH. 1: ON THE NATURE OF CHANGELINGS:
The study of all subjects begins with the aim of the student, and so it has been the discovery of the authors that most treatises on changeling children are bent toward the identification, prevention, and dangers of them. Too many families view the changeling as at best a smudge upon their character and at worst an invasive and voracious sort of vermin. This approach benefits none, for it sets down the changeling as a monolithic type that is identifiable only in the negative, that is, ‘not human’.
A fuller study of the instances of children placed in houses by the fae, usually in replacement of a stolen human infant, will reveal that the clans of fae that perform this odd practice and the nature of the creatures that are left as infants are many and varied. Positive identification is crucial both to prevent further predation and to prevent misfortune to the children involved.
First and most importantly, in the vast majority of cases, the creature left behind is an infant of the perpetrator’s own clan or one stolen from a rival clan during a skirmish, as innocent to and of its origins as any orphan left at a church's steps and to be treated with the care due to any child. Though the most notorious case, it is actually exceedingly rare that an adult fae assumes a child's shape, and in all cases this can and should be verified by means that do not do permanent harm. Another common practice is to transform the young of wild animals into human shape, and when this is skilfully done the pup, fawn, lamb or kit shall mature as a human with only harmless quirks to mark its origin, so long as it is raised up in health in a good household. (See Figs 1-2)
(Fig 1: Wolffe in his Teething, the noble sacrifice of the wooden baluster. After this a happy accord was reached by providing blocks of wood bound in cowhide.)
(Fig 2: Wolffe's canines and incisors, visibly enlarged but far from attaining the promise of his birth species. [He was coaxed to sit for this sketch with the promise of strawberry ice to follow and performed most admirably, a brave little man]).
In yet another case--
FURTHER EXCERPT
…One may conclude by the oral reports and the observations made by the authors of this Codex that the Fae have great ability to change the young of one kind into the seeming and even the nature of another kind. Yet, a more troubling type of magic exists; one that should give all researchers pause.
Many are the stories in the British Isles of a child replaced; sickly, the child perishes, and is revealed to be nothing more than a dead branch or carven figurine. Prior researchers have dismissed this as an illusion cast over the object, the implication being then that no life was created or lost thereof and yet this cannot be said in all cases to be the truth.
For, among the changeling cohort the authors have studied personally there were two such children and in both cases their life and liveliness were no illusion; they can feel pain, and fear, and hunger, and satisfaction, and joy like any other. They are life created we know not how, but they do most conclusively live.
Such little ones cannot thrive long without specialised care; the authors speculate that it is in death that these unfortunate children return to their origin state. The authors do not seek to prove this conclusively, being as they are more concerned with the preservation of these little lives, and rely only upon hearsay (Appendices).
Among the cohort of the authors’ case are two individuals, two different kinds of these created life. With another instance of either of these types, it is essential that the child be named and brought into the family in whatever way the household practices; a proper adoption of Name and Soul among Followers– or according to the customs of the household, be that Brit Mila or Aqiqa or ‘Christening’ or like practice. Do not name such a babe after the child it has replaced; such a shared soul might weaken both to tragic effect.
The first of these ‘still lived’ types encountered is the branch or roseling: one child is born of living wood; believed to be a length of wild rose vine. The fae magic preserved the life within the cut wood beyond natural span, but the child was seen to fade much more quickly than his fellows until provided with sunlight, earth to rest in and healthy quantities of water. Acquiring the ideal environment for such a child may prove challenging in some climates; identifying the child’s specific needs will be aided if the child’s native flora can be identified. Should a glasshouse be available, it may provide a more ideal habitat than the natural season. See: Fig 6b
Thorn was identified by the flowers and namesake thorns that grew in his hair and about his body; by feeding him food fit for a human child the appearance of these lessened, but this after a period of weeks set in sunshine in a crib filled with wet earth to see him from death’s doorstep. Though now grown healthy and independent and taking a usual diet, he still takes a medicinal benefit from submerging his bare feet or fingers in water. See: Fig 6a, 8b
The second kind– only recently identified among the study through misadventure– the doll turned child. This child’s nature was far more difficult to identify, the boy having no plantlike features whatsoever. At first all that could be ascertained was that he was sickly and pale and failed to thrive.
The authors now know of only one method of positive identification in this case: the touch of cold iron reveals the child’s original shape (Fig 9a). This is cruel and will cause great distress to the child. Better to use inference to identify a doll-child; mark what treatments it responds best to.
The authors can provide only their experience as example: Our doll child, an earnest boy named Echo, took some benefit from the treatments of his wild-roseling sibling. This was ascertained by much trial and error– but more critical and beneficial was frequent close contact with a healthier, willing soul who could share their warmth and strength with the struggling infant (Fig 7). A devoted brother and a willing and informed wetnurse worked miracles in the boy’s case. Do not neglect such a one, and do not superstitiously chase cats or dogs away from the bedside when they would otherwise provide needful warmth and comfort.
It may be a sign of such a child that they lack certain native reflexes and instincts. Echo was given to mirror phrases and motions from very early on, as good as his name, though he has grown far more lively and independent since. As a single individual he cannot be taken as characteristic of the type, however. It would be a mistake to attribute to nature what is actually common shyness. An avenue for further study in another case.
-Ed note: Restorative effect of sun, earth, water may only apply to dolls made of wood? We have only the one to guess by. -J. Fett
-Ed note: Could the mechanism by which a doll is given life be similar to the myth of Japanese tool-spirits? In the stories thereof the bringing to life of an inert object is accidental, an accretion of spirit over time. Perhaps the fae know a way to accelerate this process to their own ends. Only conjecture: I never encountered such a spirit myself during my travels, and reports were generations old. -M. Gilamar
(Fig 6a, Thorn, age 1, laying in earth; note root tendrils sprouting from hands and feet. These have sensation; not to be cut! They will fall off naturally once the babe is strong enough to live solely on food like any other child.)
(Fig 6b, Jango aids a Seelie companion in the construction of our solarium. Note the installation of glasshouse siding and roofing over a former porch, ready handiwork for human means; and the integration of tropical flora through the joists and beams of the floors, walls, and ceiling, only achieved through the considerable talents of our fae ally [of a great naga species, and familiar with many tropical locations]. Thorn, age 1 (bottom right, far left), sleeps in a cradle of banana leaves; Hardcase (left), Jesse (right) and Gregor (far right), age 1, sleep beside him in what was once a cradle of banana leaves).
-Ed note 20th May 1858- Jango “aids” only as an anchor. There may be a pretty potted shrub in the way in the sketch, but I recall how little his feet touched the ground when “lifting” those beams with Mistress Shaak. -K. Skirata)
-Ed note 22nd May 1858- It is true. Mistress Shaak had no need of my assistance. She is most capable.
(Fig 7, Echo and his ‘twin’ Fives, age 1, in their shared crib. Even as an infant Fives seemed to understand that Echo relied upon him; much outcry and protest when separated from his weaker brother. The peaceful sleep pictured here only achieved when both babes were quartered together.)
(Fig 8a, A tragic accident: Echo’s mysterious nature was revealed by a bad fall against the iron fence of the church. He was then age three by human reckoning, capacity and size of a lad of six. His carven arm is a source of great misery to him, but he has allowed it to be drawn to aid future changelings like him, kind little soul. Some comfort to be taken by the twigs sprouting from the carven limb; even this part of him is thoroughly alive and has paced him in growth.)
-Note added: ten years on, still not reconciled to the stupid ugly thing but at least it remains of a size with me. I can handle iron with the wooden hand, no pain, so that is something, too bad it is so clumsy. I cannot feel properly with these fingers but sometimes I seem to hear whispers through the wood and it is damn unnerving. -Echo
-Note added: Language! This is Skirata’s influence. -J. Mereel
-Note added: Learnt it off father actually. I wouldn’t repeat anything Skirata taught me in mixed company. -Echo
(Fig 8b, Healthy, muddy lads: Echo and Thorn, here four years of age by human reckoning and around eight by appearance, taking a restorative mud treatment at the millpond (not restorative to their trousers!) Note oak leaves wreathing Echo’s arm, rose blooms in Thorn’s hair. They are joined in solidarity by Cut-up (far left) Fives (second left) and Fox (far right) who have no need of this treatment but delight in a mess like most boys of their age.)
[Chapter One Excerpts End]