The Undone

All changelings know that they will more than likely be Undone before ever reaching a ripe old age.   Undoing reigns as the leading cause of death for changelings (along with violence at the hands of enemies). The loss of even one fae life is a horrible blow, as it marks another win for the Autumn world against magic, the fae, and the Dreaming itself.   The fae soul that is Undone lies resting inside the mortal body it once inhabited, waiting for that mortal shell to die. Only then can the fae soul reincarnate into a different form to return to the mortal world.   All fae know the desolate end to which they are doomed. No matter how bright the spark burns, no matter how fierce the spirit, eventually Banality wins. Through a natural Fading or an unnatural Undoing, the Mists can cloud even a fae mind. Most remember nothing of their lives as changelings, waking from what seems like a long dream to lead normal, average lives like any other mortal.   Some few retain just enough memory of the Dreaming to be driven mad by it. Though they are in every way outwardly normal, they catch glimpses in the corners of their eyes, they see reflections in mirrors, and they feel the brush of things that aren't there across their skin. They are the paranoiacs, the conspiracy theorists, the recluses off in the woods. Though they are often misdiagnosed with a variety of mental illnesses, the Undone are not mad. They are like amnesiacs, seeing familiarity everywhere but unable to name it.   Kithain try their best to avoid Undone when they are identified. A fae's presence sometimes triggers bouts of grief, rage, or confusion in the Undone, which can lead to dangerous behavior. As well, changelings often find that the Undone are unsettling, uncomfortable reminders of the fate which awaits them all.    

The Death of Dreams 

A changeling coming Undone is an exceedingly tragic circumstance, as everything magical and wonderful about them is permanently extinguished (at least in this lifetime). An Undone character doesn't even get a glorious send off, but fades into normalcy, forgetting their Kithain friends and their chimerical adventures, becoming just another face in the crowd. It's a powerful conclusion for a character's story, but can be simply too tragic for some players to think of it befalling a beloved character, at least "onscreen" during play.  

The Mists

The Mists wear down the changeling’s connection to the Dreaming and keep them from naturally gathering Glamour from the world around them. Over time, a changeling runs out of Glamour unless she can find more from external sources. Eventually, she begins to lose touch with her own fae self. The changeling loses touch with not only her fae mien, but the memories of her fae lives, her memories stripped away by the Forgetting. The process of recapturing lost memories can seem like an impossible struggle against Banality itself, as the changeling is trapped within a nightmare of half-remembered visions and puzzling yearnings.   Should the changeling not receive the Glamour she needs to recover from her slide into Forgetting, she may be wholly subsumed by the Mists and Undone. This process speeds up should the changeling be harmed by anything that damages her fae mien, such as weapons like cold iron. Yet even those fae who have lost their way in the Mists may recover bits and pieces when the Mists part, and allow them a glimpse of their true selves. For changelings, that allows them tiny fragments of their past incarnations or even of Arcadia itself before the Mists lower again under the crushing weight of the world’s Banality.  

Grumps

A sudden infusion of Glamour can bring a grump back from the edge of becoming Undone, but if a project or quest catches and consumes them, it’s very possible for a grump to move back to a wilder’s lifestyle. A sudden revelation that changes the way they see the world can even bring them back to an awestruck childling. It takes more than a simple break from an established routine to change the way a grump sees the world, but breaking that routine is a good first step to bringing Glamour back into a grump’s life.    Some grumps may initially resist such changes out of the comfort of the familiar; Banality has a habit of breeding itself, and many grumps have stared it in the face without flinching. While some slip quietly into Undoing, others attempt to cling to the scraps of Glamour that connect them to the magical world. Freeholds, especially those with more impressive Balefires, are a haven for those clinging to their fae selves, but isolating themselves from the mortal world they have been a part of for quite some time can be difficult.  

Effects of Banality

Once inside, Banality slowly snuffs out a changeling’s spark of Glamour. A young changeling who becomes permanently Undone can usually rebuild a life for herself, albeit without her full potential. A changeling Undone after living a full life is often mistaken for a senile geriatric in the throes of dementia.