This month marks the 11th anniversary of first playing my favorite rpg setting/premise: Changeling the Lost. I started with an ambitious campaign run in our house system, built on a handmade prop. I’ve run a ton of CtL since then, including the WoD system and my PbtA hack. It’s the game I’ve written the most about on Age of Ravens. In honor of the anniversary I present one of my favorite short pieces, useful for CtL and perhaps fodder for other modern supernatural games.

CHANGELING CIVIL CEREMONIES (6/11)
Changelings, more than any other supernatural group, have to work and blend with their community. They want that community to survive and thrive- as a hiding place and as a source of rich emotion and humanity. I like the idea of a Freehold tying itself to the lifecycle and existence of its city. I imagine that they would take up and create rituals and ceremonies drawing on local events. In our campaign we don’t have seasonal courts, but instead two+ parallel courts. However I imagine, given that most events are date based, they would be associated with one of the Seasons (perhaps shaping how they get expressed). Note that I’m not talking about National Holidays, but local events which arose out of the local history. Much like a Contract Maker, there might be Changelings who serve as ritual masters.

I think it is interesting to think about Changeling “magic” as a kind of found and associate magic. They make pacts with ideas and things in order to create effects. The Courts themselves arise from ancient bindings and rituals. They exist in a mutual protection pact (which does raise the question- what do the seasons get out of the deal?). Mages, Werewolves and Vampires have access to powers- some with drawbacks, but none quite as restricted as those the Changelings operate under. And because Changelings will likely be living in one community for their lives- they would make magic of those places.

So consider the local festivals, events and places which could be made into a Changeling ritual. In such cases, I imagine the Changelings don’t control the mortal side of things, but more latch on to the essential nature of the events.