Court of Change

Several hundred years ago, a disruption shook the Somer Plate. It was the emerging of the power of shapeshifting, in the forms of creatures with such inherent power.   The first was the changelings, appearing as if out of nowhere. The changeling's were confused, never having heard of the Somer Plate, while the people of the Somer Plate were in awe and shock. Some resented the new beings that seemingly came from another world, suspicious of their unfamiliar power. Others were amazed, welcoming the changelings to their communities. Then there were those who were so in wonder of the changeling's powers, that they thought them to be deities.   The second was the desire to imitate that power, and claim it for oneself. Many scholars collected changelings in various ways, be it by hiring them or kidnapping them, and observed them to find out how their power worked. This would eventually lead to the discovery and creation of spells that would allow people to change their shape. This would lead to an abuse of this power, leading to the total ban of shapeshifting.   The Court of Change is an organization born of the first, by people convinced that the changelings were demigods, sent to them by their gods to serve as middlemen between the humans and the deities. They worship changelings, placing them in the position of prophets and venerated beings. After the ban of shapeshifting, the Court of Change would proclaim themselves the protectors of changelings, giving them a safe haven and a place to belong.   Of course, this wasn't a wholly positive experience for the changelings, as they, while treated with the highest honour, were kept in chambers serving as temples. While bathed in the finest wines and gifted precious gifts befit gods, the changelings were expected to bring the Court words from the gods. Unfortunately, dragging out the visions and saying that the gods didn't speak to them that day wasn't an option; the Court thought that the changelings were in constant contact with the gods, and saw the changelings that wouldn't relay their words to them as greedy and selfish. Changelings that didn't share, didn't get to belong.   The way that the Court punished the selfishness of keeping the gods' words secret was placed in solitude, in chambers cold and bright. The fallen prophets were then told that unless they shared the words that they so selfishly kept to themselves, they would be kept in the chamber of light until they changed their mind. This was a secret punishment, and as the changelings were kept apart except when they were fertile and ready to procreate, and it then involved a lot of ceremonies, the changelings couldn't warn each other about it. Many changelings placed in the chamber of light would start to make up visions, as a way to not land in the chamber again. If a changeling ran away, they would be hunted down and have no second chances; they would be put in the chamber of light for the rest of their time.