History NightmareFuel / ChangelingTheLost

*** Becoming a Changeling requires only three things: Entry into Arcadia, sufficient exposure to Arcadia to acquire certain Arcadian characteristics, and a return to Earth (technically, the last isn't required). Usually this involves unpleasant or flatly traumatic experiences, but they're not essential, just extremely common. The main author has said that he wanted to avoid romanticizing abduction and imprisonment, and in retrospect went a bit too far the other way.

** Oh, please, that doesn't even begin to describe the nightmare fuel of being a fetch. Think about it; you're a normal man, woman, child, just living your average life. And then things start to go mysteriously wrong for you. You wake up from terrible nightmares, awful things filled with blood and death -- ''your'' death. And then you start to see it. A monster, wearing ''your'' face, stalking you. It might seem to vanish from the shadows, or look at you out of a mirror, or shift shapes into some harmless beast, but you know it's always there. Watching you. From there, you got two choices:

** ''Autumn Nightmares'' dedicate a chapter about Fetches, with optional merits, backgrounds, and Echos. But most terrifying is the ''Wyrd Consumption''. The Fetch tries to defend itself, bit the Changeling in desperation. And then it tasted something, craved for more, and takes more and more bites of the Changeling until only bones are left. From thereon, the Fetch is no longer a Fetch; it's a '''[[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Devourer]]''', creature born of hunger and desperation, only seeking to satisfy its hunger and live a bit longer.

** To make matters worse, the Hunstmen are specifically designed to counteract the Changelings' biggest advantages. ColdIron has no effect on them, their bonds can negate a changeling's ability to escape, and while they can't actually ''break'' the Seasonal Bargains, they are very good at exploiting the loopholes in each Season's protections.

* The premise of the game is that you were abducted into Arcadia by the Fae and subjected to mind rape, soul rape, torture rape, and/or actual rape. For ''years''. Until the abuse ''metaphysically changed you into something not entirely human''. Meanwhile, a 'fetch' has been left behind to wear your face, own your memories, live your life, and eventually die in your stead. So assuming you finally escape, you are (at minimum) unable to live a fully normal life, bear all the PTSD and then some of having survived years of literally inhuman abuse at the hands of Eldritch Horrors who are nigh-omnipotent in their home realm, and are still being hunted by said horrors. Oh, and since the fetch is created ''unknowing'' of its role as an impostor, getting even a fraction of your old life back requires you to ''murder an innocent being''. But this isn't the NightmareFuel. Oh no. The NightmareFuel is all of the above is ''the True Fae reproduction cycle''. That's right. The purpose of kidnapping you and twisting and breaking you into something not entirely human? Well, if your Wyrd score gets high enough as a Changeling, you can become one of the True Fae. Seriously, it's all right there in the ''Equinox Road'' supplement, particularly [[TomatoInTheMirror chapter 2]]. Of course, you may still may try to ScrewDestiny...

[[caption-width-right:350:[[DraggedOffToHell This]] is what will happen if they get their hands on you.]]

* The Second Edition introduces a new group of antagonists: the Huntsmen. Huntsmen are lesser fae that hunt escaped changelings to bring them back to the True Fae. They are utterly relentless in the hunt, possess powers such as being able to appear out of nowhere to surprise unsuspecting victims or shapeshifting to better blend into crowds, and their snares are ''very'' good at keeping the normally slippery changelings bound and helpless. Killing a Huntsman does no good, since they can just reform and return to try again as long as their missing heart (which are torn out by the True Fae) still beats. And if you manage to destroy the heart? The True Fae that sent the Huntsmen will know what happened, and you'll likely have to contend with a ''new'' Huntsman.

* The Second Edition introduces a new group of antagonists: the Huntsmen. Huntsmen are lesser fae whose hearts are torn out by the True Fae when being forced to hunt escaped changelings. They are utterly relentless in the hunt, possess powers such as being able to appear out of nowhere to surprise unsuspecting victims or shapeshifting to better blend into crowds, and their snares are ''very'' good at keeping the normally slippery changelings bound and helpless. Killing a Huntsman does no good, since they can just reform and return to try again as long as their missing heart still beats. And if you manage to destroy the heart? The True Fae that sent the Huntsmen will know what happened, and you'll likely have to contend with a ''new'' Huntsman.

** And if by some miracle you become powerful enough to convincingly oppose the True Fae, [[spoiler:you are almost certainly [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope too far down]] the road to [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie turning into one of them]] to ever turn back.]] Enjoy!
* The premise of the game is that you were abducted into Arcadia by the Fae and subjected to mind rape, soul rape, torture rape, and/or actual rape. For ''years''. Until the abuse ''metaphysically changed you into something not entirely human''. Meanwhile, a 'fetch' has been left behind to wear your face, own your memories, live your life, and eventually die in your stead. So assuming you finally escape, you are (at minimum) unable to live a fully normal life, bear all the PTSD and then some of having survived years of literally inhuman abuse at the hands of Eldritch Horrors who are nigh-omnipotent in their home realm, and are still being hunted by said horrors. Oh, and since the fetch is created ''unknowing'' of its role as an impostor, getting even a fraction of your old life back requires you to ''murder an innocent being''. But this isn't the NightmareFuel. Oh no. The NightmareFuel is [[spoiler:all of the above is ''the True Fae reproduction cycle''. That's right. The purpose of kidnapping you and twisting and breaking you into something not entirely human? Well, if your Wyrd score gets high enough as a Changeling, you can become one of the True Fae. Seriously, it's all right there in the ''Equinox Road'' supplement, particularly [[TomatoInTheMirror chapter 2]].]] Of course, you may still may try to ScrewDestiny...

** More interestingly, one could see Privateers (Changelings who work as mercenaries for the True Fae, which usually entails dragging OTHER Changelings back to Arcadia) and Loyalists (Changelings who either didn't escape before they were totally brainwashed, or escaped and are being heavily blackmailed to do their Keeper's bidding) to encapsulate Acceptance. [[spoiler:And becoming a True Fae at Wyrd 10/Clarity 0 could be seen as Understanding.]]

* From 2E spoilers, we have Huntsmen, hobgoblin mercenaries of the True Fae sent to retrieve their stolen and escaped property. Spoilers ''also'' have icons, bits of your identity embedded in the Hedge. If a Huntsman finds one before you do, [[BeingWatched he knows where you are. Period]]. Oh yeah, and they're all {{Voluntary Shapeshifter}}s too, to the point of one quite capable of pretending to be a toaster for days on end. [[ParanoiaFuel Sweet dreams!]]
** From more recent spoilers, we can honestly say the Huntsmen? [[GeniusBruiser They're worse.]] [[TheHeavy They're]] ''[[ImmortalAssassin so much worse.]]'' [[spoiler:They're lesser fae native to Arcadia that the Keepers, in their obsession to regain their old property, forced into a physical form so ''alien'' to them, their dominant feeling is ''sheer, unbridled agony'', and told that if they want to go back to normal, they are going to get a specific changeling and bring them back. Each one of them ''hates'' you for providing the impetus to force them into such a horrifying state, and due to a combination of playing to the story of the Hunt and their own anger towards changelings in general, they're {{Sadist}}s who prefer to slowly wear down their prey until they're so broken they submit willingly to the chains. Killing one, or forcing it to run out of [[{{Mana}} Yearning]] just ([[FamilyUnfriendlyDeath messily]]) banishes it to Arcadia for two weeks, and when it comes back, it will murder a random bystander just to remember how mortal life works, then keep coming. Worst of all, Huntsmen are smart; they know just how afraid of them changelings are, and so, they've all agreed to accept something called a Token of Reprieve as a successful Hunt and leave their target alone. How does one get a Token of Reprieve? Finding another Huntsman, and [[DealWithTheDevil agreeing]] to ''sell their current target out.'' It's really amazing the Lost have the courage to get out of their house in the morning-not that it'd save them.]]

*** Autumn Court is about Bargaining their time away by with the occult.

* Fetches typically don't know they aren't actually that human person. You could be the replacement for someone suffering in Arcadia at this very moment.

** From more recent spoilers, we can honestly say the Huntsmen? [[GeniusBruiser They're worse.]] [[TheHeavy They're]] ''[[ImmortalAssassin so much worse.]]'' [[spoiler:They're lesser fae native to Arcadia the Keepers, in their obsession to regain their old property, forced into a physical form so ''alien'' to them, their dominant feeling is ''sheer, unbridled agony,'', and told that if they want to go back to normal, they are going to get a specific changeling and bring them back. Each one of them ''hates'' you for providing the impetus to force them into such a horrifying state, and due to a combination of playing to the story of the Hunt and their own anger towards changelings in general, they're {{Sadist}}s who prefer to slowly wear down their prey until they're so broken they submit willingly to the chains. Killing one, or forcing it to run out of [[{{Mana}} Yearning]] just ([[FamilyUnfriendlyDeath messily]]) banishes it to Arcadia for two weeks, and when it comes back, it will murder a random bystander just to remember how mortal life works, then keep coming. Worst of all, Huntsmen are smart; they know just how afraid of them changelings are, and so, they've all agreed to accept something called a Token of Reprieve as a successful Hunt and leave their target alone. How does one get a Token of Reprieve? Finding another Huntsman, and [[DealWithTheDevil agreeing]] to ''sell their current target out.'' It's really amazing the Lost have the courage to get out of their house in the morning-not that it'd save them.]]

*** Becoming a Changeling requires only three things: Entry into Arcadia, sufficient exposure to Arcadia to acquire certain Arcadian characteristics, and a return to Earth (technically, the last isn't required). Usually this involves unpleasant or flatly traumatic experiences, but they're not essential, just extremely common. The main author has said that he wanted avoid romanticizing abduction and imprisonment, and in retrospect went a bit too far the other way.

* The premise of the game is that you were abducted into Arcadia by the Fae and subjected to mind rape, soul rape, torture rape, and/or actual rape. For ''years''. Until the abuse ''metaphysically changed you into something not entirely human''. Meanwhile, a 'fetch' has been left behind to wear your face, own your memories, live your life, and eventually die in your stead. So assuming you finally escape, you are (at minimum) unable to live a fully normal life, bear all the PTSD and then some of having survived years of literally inhuman abuse at the hands of Eldritch Horrors who are nigh-omnipotent in their home realm, and are still being hunted by said horrors. Oh, and since the fetch is created ''unknowing'' of its role as an impostor, getting even a fraction of your old life back requires you to ''murder an innocent being''. But this isn't the NightmareFuel. Oh no. The NightmareFuel is [[spoiler:all of the above is ''the True Fae reproduction cycle''. That's right. The purpose of kidnapping you and twisting and breaking you into something not entirely human? Well, if your Wyrd score gets high enough as a Changeling, you can become one of the True Fae. Seriously, it's all right there in the ''Equinox Road'' supplement, particularly [[TomatoInTheMirror chapter 2]].)]] Of course, you may still may try to ScrewDestiny...

* The entire ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheLost'' line is terrifying. At any moment you could be dragged away by immortal, unstoppable fae creatures and turned into their slave. If you ever regain your mind and fight your way back into your own world, you find a double has been leading your life and you've been physically warped by your whole ordeal. It's the sort of thing that keeps you awake at nights, jumping at every little noise.

** Of course, sometimes this ministry winds up having the [[HunterTheVigil opposite effect.]]

** From more recent spoilers, we can honestly say the Huntsmen? [[GeniusBruiser They're worse.]] [[TheHeavy They're]] ''[[ImmortalAssassin so much worse.]]'' [[spoiler:They're lesser fae native to Arcadia the Keepers, in their obsession to regain their old property, forced into a physical form so ''alien'' to them, their dominant feeling is ''sheer, unbridled agony,'', and told that if they want to go back to normal, they are going to get a specific changeling and bring them back. Each one of them ''hates'' you for providing the impetus to force them into such a horrifying state, and due to a combination of playing to the story of the Hunt and their own anger towards changelings in general, they're {{Sadist}}s who prefer to slowly wear down their prey until they're so broken they submit willingly to the chains. Killing one, or forcing it to run out of [[{{Mana}} Yearning]] just ([[FamilyUnfriendlyDeath messily]]) banishes it to Arcadia for two weeks, and when it comes back, it will murder a random bystander just to remember how mortal life works, then keep coming. Worst of all, Huntsmen are DangerouslyGenreSavvy; they know just how afraid of them changelings are, and so, they've all agreed to accept something called a Token of Reprieve as a successful Hunt and leave their target alone. How does one get a Token of Reprieve? Finding another Huntsman, and [[DealWithTheDevil agreeing]] to ''sell their current target out.'' It's really amazing the Lost have the courage to get out of their house in the morning-not that it'd save them.]]

* Also of note is the fact of how the founders of the Seasonal Courts made their Courts: By besting the AnthropomorphicPersonification of the seasons at their own games. Mother Susan had dreams of motherhood that were ruined by the fae infertility. She forged Contracts with who-knows-what, and then gave her child up to Spring. Sam Noblood took a tree branch of autumn leaves as a spear and chased down Summer itself and forced it to make the pact (okay, that's not so much NightmareFuel as it is [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu awesome]]). It's not said how Clay Ariel got the pact with Autumn, only that she left with no weapon and a 'wry smile'. Considering the Autumn Court draws its power from Fear, whatever did happen must have been NightmareFuel. Snowflake John disappeared and came back a year later, claiming that because Winter couldn't find him, he got the pact.

** The premise of the game is that you were abducted into Arcadia by the Fae and subjected to mind rape, soul rape, torture rape, and/or actual rape. For ''years''. Until the abuse ''metaphysically changed you into something not entirely human''. Meanwhile, a 'fetch' has been left behind to wear your face, own your memories, live your life, and eventually die in your stead. So assuming you finally escape, you are (at minimum) unable to live a fully normal life, bear all the PTSD and then some of having survived years of literally inhuman abuse at the hands of Eldritch Horrors who are nigh-omnipotent in their home realm, and are still being hunted by said horrors. Oh, and since the fetch is created ''unknowing'' of its role as an impostor, getting even a fraction of your old life back requires you to ''murder an innocent being''. But this isn't the NightmareFuel. Oh no. The NightmareFuel is [[spoiler:all of the above is ''the True Fae reproduction cycle''. That's right. The purpose of kidnapping you and twisting and breaking you into something not entirely human? Well, if your Wyrd score gets high enough as a Changeling, you can become one of the True Fae. Seriously, it's all right there in the ''Equinox Road'' supplement, particularly [[TomatoInTheMirror chapter 2]].)]] Of course, you may still may try to ScrewDestiny...

** Also disturbing is how the four Courts of the Changelings, and their different approaches to life, map almost ''exactly'' to four of the possible reactions for survivors of sexual or emotional abuse: hedonistic escapism (Spring), violent acting-out and revenge fantasies (Summer), abused-turns-abuser (Autumn), and paranoia (Winter). Notice how the faction of "eventually overcome the trauma and move on with your life in a healthy fashion" doesn't exist in Changeling society.

** Also of note is the fact of how the founders of the Seasonal Courts made their Courts: By besting the AnthropomorphicPersonification of the seasons at their own games. Mother Susan had dreams of motherhood that were ruined by the fae infertility. She forged Contracts with who-knows-what, and then gave her child up to Spring. Sam Noblood took a tree branch of autumn leaves as a spear and chased down Summer itself and forced it to make the pact (okay, that's not so much NightmareFuel as it is [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu awesome]]). It's not said how Clay Ariel got the pact with Autumn, only that she left with no weapon and a 'wry smile'. Considering the Autumn Court draws its power from Fear, whatever did happen must have been NightmareFuel. Snowflake John disappeared and came back a year later, claiming that because Winter couldn't find him, he got the pact.
** And Clarity, the morality stat equivalent from ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheLost'' almost perfectly mimics PTSD as the consequences of its lower values. At 0, the ''least'' disturbing thing that can happen is just mysteriously vanishing forever. Instead, you can go into complete nonfunctioning catatonia as the scope of your trauma finally fully catches up with you... or become debilitated by constant hallucinations that you never escaped your torment.
** In-game, the Scarecrow Ministry actually ''creates'' NightmareFuel, for good purposes. In ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness'', the monsters are real, and they hope that by keeping [[{{Muggles}} the masses]] afraid of dangerous places, they can keep them safe. If you see an [[UrbanLegends urban legend]], you had better ''pray'' that it's just one of them...
*** Of course, sometimes this ministry winds up having the [[HunterTheVigil opposite effect.]]
** Even the [[TheFairFolk True Fae]] themselves aren't immune. A big part of why they're constantly looking for sources of conflict and struggle in their "lives" is that ''they cease to exist without it''. And one of the best ways to make a source of conflict that gives you an "other" to define your own existence against? Making a Changeling.