Mutoequus - Changelings

The polls are in, and so I shall release my version of the changelings!

Oh how the queen shall not be pleased, but no matter!

She, in particular, I believe, is a highly powered changeling who has the first two background and Own Authority, and has taken so much power that she has those slits in her eyes from some of her forms.​

Mutoequus Affectus Raptor
Classification: Metamorphic Monstrous Arthropod Equinoid

Often known as Changelings for short, the land that they originate from is filled with Equinis Faust, who only know of these kinds of changelings.
This of course has caused them to never earn a “Simple Name” beyond their dimensional science name, and so many other inter-dimensional species just call them Muto Ponies.
These creatures are external parasitic monsters who seek out a vulnerable member of the Equinis Faust species and through diabolical plots, will take the place of that which they love most, and slowly feed off of their prey’s emotions until they become nothing but an emotionless husk. At that point, the Affectus Raptor will change back to their true form and seek out a new target.
In their true form, they have a black flesh-like exoskeleton and glowing single-color eyes. They have tattered looking ears and tails, torn web-like manes, a horn in place for a unicorn, insect wings, and large saber teeth.
Hive Mentality: While not connected under the same thought process, changelings are far more confident when running in groups. It is rare to find a changeling alone, as they are afraid of working without numbers. They are usually under a monarchy ruled by a single Queen. While in the presence of one another, a mutoequus gains +2 to every d100 roll per other member of their hive within 40’.
Form Shift: Mutoequus can change their form to match that of any other playable Equinoid. To do this, they must first find a target to take the form of. Once in this new form, they can gain up to 1 CR from the stats of their target. They can also use all of the species traits that their target had. They also have the option to “falsify” the form, where they will not gain any CR or traits, in case there are negative traits they wish to not have. At this point, if they are able to over-power their target with their skills, they are well on their way to feasting on emotions. This is a polymorph, and only a Stone of Truesight will allow anyone to see the true form behind it.
Emotion Parasite: When in a place of high emotion, (funerals, parties, weddings, etc,) they regain 5% of their max HP and WP per turn. When causing mental conditions, (like Fear, Confusion, Charm, etc,) they regain a flat 5% of their max HP and MP back. While in combat with a successfully drained emotion husk as an ally, they gain 5% to all of their offensive and defensive rolls, including damage.
Flight: The insect wings on their backs allow them to fly. While taking a form without wings, they can still fly, (and it’ll look just a bit strange to everypony else.)
Handless: They do not have hands, but instead have hooves. They can cast magic using their horns as if they were hands, and can carry some things in their mouths. While taking an alternate form that does not have a horn, they can still use their magic.
Tough Shell: Having a tough outer shell, they gain half of their current endurance as bonus defense. This counts as a lower layer armor, and any armor worn over this will supersede it as per the rules of “wearing more than one set of armor.”
Mutoequus are an interesting way of playing a multi-shaped creature. One alone could easily infiltrate the stocks of society to break it apart, but their fear of working alone makes it difficult to do. Their low presence leads to them only having Two Life Karma. However, due to their need for Stealth and Dominating Willpower, their species stats are as follows:
+2 Strength
+4 Endurance
+8 Willpower
+2 Speed
+6 Stealth
+2 Perception

Primary Deity
Mutoequus don’t really believe in deities as a higher power, which is why so few really watch them. It’s rare for one to look to a deity unless they are currently posing as somepony else.

Background Options
(-10) Boosted Energy: With this background, any time this mutoequus uses Energy Blast they deal +15 Damage for every SP obtained through Emotional Bond or Devour. The cost of Energy Blast increases by 2 MP for every SP obtained through Emotional Bond or Devour.
Loner: Removes Hive Mentality, and eliminates their fear of working alone. This must be taken before Own Authority or Loner from the all-species background options.
(+10) Confused: This mutoequus has taken a form a long time ago and at some point got amnesia, or in some other means lost the memory of their life before being what they are now. So they live their life without doing anything they can do as a changeling, and if they ever learn the truth they will believe themselves cursed, and will always try to “find a way to remove the curse.” From rules perspective, this will make their Hive Mentality work only with the host they were feeding on from the form they were in, and if they are in a form without a Horn or Wings, then they will not realize they have them. (Unless dropped off a cliff, then their instincts might kick in.)

Species Skills
Energy Blast
Requirements: In True Form
Cost: 10 MP
This attack fires off a beam of energy from the user’s horn. The beam is a Willpower to-hit, and deals 1d12+Willpower Neutral Magic Damage. A target hit by Energy Blast must make a Willpower RC against three times the damage taken, or suffer from Charm.

Devour
Requirements: In True Form
Cost: 2 WP
This is a melee attack where the mutoequus makes a biting attack on the target. The to-hit is normal, but if the hit succeeds it deals 1d12+Strength+Magic Breaching 12 Damage, and if any damage bypasses the target’s defense, the target will take 1 SP Unblockable Damage, and the user will restore 5 HP and MP multiplied by the Target’s CR. If this attack deals more than 50 damage, the target must make a Willpower RC 75 or suffer from Fear.

Memory Read
Requirements: Form Shifted
Cost: 1 WP per Target CR
One a successful Gaze, this ability may be used on any target that has memories of the creature the user has Form Shifted into, including the original owner of the form. The user must win a Willpower Battle with the target, and if they do then they will gain all of the target’s memories of the current form.

Emotional Bond
Requirements: Form Shifted
Cost: 2 WP per Target CR
This ability is able to be used on any target that has a Strong Emotional Bond with the form the user has taken. Using this ability on the target will place them under a Charm condition, causing them to further believe and obey anything the user says. This Charm lasts one hour for every point of Willpower the user has, and lasts one hour less for every point of Willpower the target has. During this effect, the target loses 1 SP for every hour, and will not recover SP during the effect. If they reach 1 SP during this bond, they will be permanently under the effects of Charm until the user of the ability is destroyed or releases them from it.

Confuse
Requirements: 20 Willpower
Cost: 20 MP
Usable without casting a spell, the user must succeed at a Gaze attack. If they do, then the target must beat the user in a Willpower Battle or suffer from Confusion. The user has a bonus of 50% to their Willpower while using this skill.