Changling: the Lost - Character Help

[Kesnit]

My wife and I have gotten permission to bring some Changlings into a WoD mixing-pot LARP. They are part of a motley with 1 of each season, but only 2 (Winter and Fall) are PCs. The ST, however, is allowing us to give generalities on the Spring and Summer (though we will not enter play with the allies. Instead, we will have to find them.)

Spring: Wild West "snake-oil salesman"
Summer: World's Strongest Woman, 1980
Fall (my wife): she's still putting the concept together, but will be some kind of researcher. Probably a Wizened
Winter (me): Pinkerton in the Wild West before being taken. Darkling Mirrorskin. Duke of Truth and Loss. Up close and personal killer.

What I am stuck on is what my PC does when he isn't killing people or fetches. My wife pointed out that "hitman is a real job." That's true, but I'm trying to give a little more depth to the guy. I thought of bartender, but another of my PCs is a club owner and I need to keep them separate.

Ideas?

[Brother Oni]

My wife and I have gotten permission to bring some Changlings into a WoD mixing-pot LARP. They are part of a motley with 1 of each season, but only 2 (Winter and Fall) are PCs. The ST, however, is allowing us to give generalities on the Spring and Summer (though we will not enter play with the allies. Instead, we will have to find them.)

Spring: Wild West "snake-oil salesman"
Summer: World's Strongest Woman, 1980
Fall (my wife): she's still putting the concept together, but will be some kind of researcher. Probably a Wizened
Winter (me): Pinkerton in the Wild West before being taken. Darkling Mirrorskin. Duke of Truth and Loss. Up close and personal killer.

What I am stuck on is what my PC does when he isn't killing people or fetches. My wife pointed out that "hitman is a real job." That's true, but I'm trying to give a little more depth to the guy. I thought of bartender, but another of my PCs is a club owner and I need to keep them separate.

Ideas?

Apologies in advance if I fail to understand some core concepts about Changling and the Fey. I normally played Kuei-jin, so my knowledge of them is limited to them being tasty.


Reading up on the Pinkerton Detective agency suggests they were one of the first PMCs, so providing bodyguard services or private detective work; the latter would tie in nicely with the investigative work required for recovering fetches if I'm reading that link correctly.

If you wanted to expand it, he could run his own detective agency, with all the other employees helping feed back potential leads. That would shift his role to more intelligence analyst, depending on how international you wanted to make it (e.g. Jack Ryan from the Tom Clancy universe). This might tie in quite well with your wife's potential concept of a researcher - she's a 'consultant' that your agency contacts now and again for specialist knowledge.

[Eldest]

My wife and I have gotten permission to bring some Changlings into a WoD mixing-pot LARP. They are part of a motley with 1 of each season, but only 2 (Winter and Fall) are PCs. The ST, however, is allowing us to give generalities on the Spring and Summer (though we will not enter play with the allies. Instead, we will have to find them.)

Spring: Wild West "snake-oil salesman"
Summer: World's Strongest Woman, 1980
Fall (my wife): she's still putting the concept together, but will be some kind of researcher. Probably a Wizened
Winter (me): Pinkerton in the Wild West before being taken. Darkling Mirrorskin. Duke of Truth and Loss. Up close and personal killer.

What I am stuck on is what my PC does when he isn't killing people or fetches. My wife pointed out that "hitman is a real job." That's true, but I'm trying to give a little more depth to the guy. I thought of bartender, but another of my PCs is a club owner and I need to keep them separate.

Ideas?

Are we talking NWOD or OWOD?

Now honestly, I'd consider how your character view violence, and make that their day job. Do they want to just go after the jerks, or those that deserve it? Work security, maybe a bouncer position. Might makes right? Muggings. Might makes right but, like, intelligent about it? Be the enforcer for local organized crime, the one that shows up when the protection payment dims to remind them what they're paying for, and stops other organizations from muscling in on your turf.

Alternatively, think about various seedy jobs, since that seems to be the vibe you're after, and figure out how the darkling part works for them. A pawn shop owner who keeps lucking into rare finds or fences stolen loot, maybe even a street level con artist ripping people off, never being seen behind the charming smile. Changeling are all about vibes.

[The Glyphstone]

Lost is the NWOD line, OWOD is Dreaming.

[Kesnit]

Are we talking NWOD or OWOD?

NWoD. OWoD is Changling: the Dreaming.

Do they want to just go after the jerks, or those that deserve it?

I kind of see him like Deadpool. He's a mercenary, but has a little bit of a code of ethics. He prefers jobs where the target deserves to die, rather than just who someone pays him to kill.

maybe even a street level con artist ripping people off, never being seen behind the charming smile. Changeling are all about vibes.

Hmm.. That has merit...

[SarahCornel]

This character must follow your actions. Think about it.

[Segev]

Professional hit man who takes over the lives of those he kills until payment is received. Sometimes kills people to just take their lives over because he wants that life. One method of "assassination" is to actually trick the person into signing up for a trip beyond the Hedge, where he sells them to Gentry in return for favors and protection to keep his own Faerie Lord from being able to find/recover him. In some cases, may actually work to get the mortal a Title or few that will set them up as free pseudo-fey.

Maybe also does the "professional acquisitions" thing, and is a freelance kidnapper for Gentry who take a liking to particular people. Whether he leaves a Fetch in place or takes over the life, himself, depends on what the client is willing to pay and whether he likes the life.

[Anonymouswizard]

One method of "assassination" is to actually trick the person into signing up for a trip beyond the Hedge, where he sells them to Gentry in return for favors and protection to keep his own Faerie Lord from being able to find/recover him.

This is getting dangerously close to privateering, which pretty much means an automatic death sentence if discovered, at the least it stinks of being a Loyalist. Even if just doing it to keep their Keeper happy the best treatment for a Loyalist is exile from the freehold. Best to just leave them in a corner of a hedge and hope nobody let's them out.

Changelings see becoming influenced by the Wyrd a bad thing, both Changelings and Fae-touched have it pretty rough. So selling somebody into a Durance is pretty much the worst crime possible.

Being a hitman isn't a bad direction for this character, but I'd probably play up the detective or bodyguard angle. Admittedly this is mainly due to seeing so many 'assassin' PCs I'm just tired of it (three in one party...), but diversifying a concept is good. I also recommend a hobby that's completely unrelated, maybe they collect first editions of novels translated into Vietnamese or are building the Hedge's first model trainset, maybe they're just really into cross stitching. Just something to do in their off hours.

[Kesnit]

This character must follow your actions. Think about it.

Huh?

Professional hit man who takes over the lives of those he kills until payment is received. Sometimes kills people to just take their lives over because he wants that life.

Nope, he kills, unless the contract says to bring the person in alive.

One method of "assassination" is to actually trick the person into signing up for a trip beyond the Hedge, where he sells them to Gentry in return for favors and protection to keep his own Faerie Lord from being able to find/recover him. In some cases, may actually work to get the mortal a Title or few that will set them up as free pseudo-fey.

Maybe also does the "professional acquisitions" thing, and is a freelance kidnapper for Gentry who take a liking to particular people. Whether he leaves a Fetch in place or takes over the life, himself, depends on what the client is willing to pay and whether he likes the life.

This is getting dangerously close to privateering, which pretty much means an automatic death sentence if discovered, at the least it stinks of being a Loyalist.

^This. My character HATES the True Fae and would NEVER sell mortals to them.

Being a hitman isn't a bad direction for this character, but I'd probably play up the detective or bodyguard angle. Admittedly this is mainly due to seeing so many 'assassin' PCs I'm just tired of it (three in one party...),

He's the only assassin PC in play at the moment, and there hasn't been another in the 6 years I've been in the game.

but diversifying a concept is good. I also recommend a hobby that's completely unrelated, maybe they collect first editions of novels translated into Vietnamese or are building the Hedge's first model trainset, maybe they're just really into cross stitching. Just something to do in their off hours.

My wife came up with the idea that he is a remote personal trainer. Since gyms were closed during COVID, a lot of people started doing formerly-in-person jobs via Zoom (or the like). He teaches fitness classes.

[Anonymouswizard]

He's the only assassin PC in play at the moment, and there hasn't been another in the 6 years I've been in the game.

Oh, assassins aren't bad. I've just seen them crop up across multiple systems and groups to be sick of them. Generally handled far less maturely than you have.

My wife came up with the idea that he is a remote personal trainer. Since gyms were closed during COVID, a lot of people started doing formerly-in-person jobs via Zoom (or the like). He teaches fitness classes.

That's actually a cool idea, totally go with it.

[Pauly]

Considering the character’s origins are in the Old West, I think that would inform how he sees the world, and would try to be a modern equivalent of something he was familiar with.

You want a job that justifies you sneaking around, getting information on other people and being where you’re not supposed to be. Building on the ex Pinkerton investigator angle.

Some options
- Deputy to the sheriff (note *not* the sheriff which is too high profile). Probably doesn”t work as a policeman for a large modern PD, but for a more rural locale this is doable, Just keep changing location every few years.
- Private Investigator. In the past would have been specializing in divorce, but noe insurance work is the main bread and butter of PIs. A sidebar could be fraud/loss prevention investigator for a large corporation.
- Owner of the local newspaper in a small town or reporter in a larger town. If a more modern, but higher profile, take is wanted the citizen youtube reporter

[comicshorse]

Going with the Old West theme how about Bounty Hunter or Bail Enforcement Agent to bring it up to date. Its action orientated, gives you reasons to be out asking questions and making contacts in dodgy places that will help with your 'other job' and duties as a member of the Duchy in case the police get curious with your activities

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bounty_hunter

[Pauly]

Going with the Old West theme how about Bounty Hunter or Bail Enforcement Agent to bring it up to date. Its action orientated, gives you reasons to be out asking questions and making contacts in dodgy places that will help with your 'other job' and duties as a member of the Duchy in case the police get curious with your activities

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bounty_hunter

Bail Bondsman also works. Gives access to cash, links into the local underworld and police, plus the ability to help out the Duchy if any of their affiliates get swept up by the law as well as the aforementioned license to be nosy.