The Anatomy of a Changeling Part 02: Glamour

Glamour is the very essence of Fae Magic. It is the very essence of the True Fae, of Arcadia and the Wyrd. Born of emotion, Glamour gives shape to dreams and nightmares.

A Changeling can spend Glamour to:

• ·    Activate a contract without utilising a loophole.
•      Make shifts via Onieromancy or Hedgespinning.
•      Create or open a Hedgeway.
•      Strenghten or scour away the Changelings Mask.
•      Enact Pledges.
•      Activate a Kith blessing or, in some circumstances, a Seeming blessing.
•      See another Changeling’s mask.
•      Escape confinement.
•      Incite Bedlem.

Other actions may also require the expenditure of Glamour.

Harvesting Glamour is an intensely emotional action. Many changelings liken it to a combination of euphoric high, revelatory dream, and body-shuddering orgasm all taken in a single breath. They feed on the power of sentiment and the essence of emotion, drawing life from the very feelings of living things. This is not necessarily a predatory act (although changelings can prey on their victims to elicit Glamour of the appropriate “flavour” in an act known as ‘Reaping’), in that it does not require actually harming the subject. Instead, it's as if the subject creates a vapour cloud of emotional energy in which the changeling immerses herself, breathing it in, tasting it, and allowing it to fill her lungs and her mind and her heart.

While a changeling cannot harvest Glamour from any Fae creatures (including other changelings, denizens of the Hedge, or the True Fae), there is no limit to the type or amount they may attempt to harvest from intelligent beings such as humans, ghosts or vampires. While the mortals may wake up feeling not particularly rested, any creature that is the target of harvesting loses a willpower due to emotional fatigue, there are no reliable tales of this causing any serious harm. A changeling who harvests Glamour infused with their court’s ruling emotion gains an additional point of Glamour. Animals may not be harvested; their emotions are simply too far from human to fuel the changeling’s fae mien.

Changelings most frequently harvest Glamour from human emotions. The type of emotion doesn't matter; it can be positive or negative, joy or hatred, lust or sorrow, as long as it is a strong feeling. The changeling must be close enough to experience the emotional reaction first-hand—she cannot harvest Glamour from across the street, watching her target with binoculars. She can also be the cause of the emotion, and most often this is the case. The roll required for harvesting is flexible in practice, depending on just how the changeling goes about interacting with the target. A hard-edged Ogre might feed on the fear of the thug he just intimidated with Strength + Intimidation, while a Beast swooping through orgiastic crowds of clubbers might use Manipulation or Wits + Socialize. Composure is often used when attempting to remain relatively passive while soaking up ambient emotion, while a Power or Finesse Attribute plus a relevant Skill works when actively eliciting emotions.

Changelings garner one point of Glamour per success on a harvesting roll. The actual amount or the required roll can be modified by various factors. Fresher or more deep-seated emotions are more “nourishing” in a sense than fleeting or faded old feelings. Slapping someone in the face generates a quick rush of anger, but it is the Fae equivalent of a candy bar: little enough sustenance except to sate the moment's appetite. Provoking a fight or a long-festering rage provides much more potent Glamour. New love, fresh and powerful grief, or the ecstasy of an addict taking that first hit for the day are to changelings what a three-course meal is to the candy bar example above. A single character may only be harvested once per scene.

Reaping

If harvesting is subtly drawing from the ambient emotion around the Changeling, reaping is the direct and forceful act of riping emotions from the target, leaving them a deadened husk.

Reaping does not require a roll, but causes a breaking point. And requires touching the target. The Victim loses one willpower point per dot of the Changeling’s Wyrd, and gains the Ravaged Condition. The Changeling recovers all lost Glamour.

The effects of this condition are not immediately obvious; it manifests as severe lethargy, which may not even be evident for hours afterward. It could be mistaken for expression or exhaustion. Characters aware of the phenomenon, such as hunters and Huntsmen, may use be able to understand and track the Changeling via the effect.

Glamour Deprivation

A Changeling who falls to 0 Glamour suffers from Physical deprivation as though starving, as well as suffering the Deprived Condition. No matter how much she eats or drinks, she gains no nourishment until she possesses at least one point of Glamour.