Since I don't know how much Steven's told you, I'll try to make sure to extrapolate.
Were you nonhuman before arrival? If so, describe your state prior to coming to this universe. I was born human. But at the time of my capture, yes, I was nonhuman - what was locally known as a Changeling. A being who was taken by ones we call the Gentry, also known as Fair Folk, to be used for any manner of things that would warp and shape our physical, mental and insubstantial traits until we were no longer human. If left with the Gentry in their home of Arcadia for too long, we become fully transformed and unable to leave. I and another were able to escape before that happened.
My physical appearance was also heavily altered. My skin turned to paper and I lost a substantial amount of weight, though it didn't affect my physical shape. My eyes were replaced with rough-cut glass spheres, although I could still see with full clarity, and my fingers would leak some manner of writing ink constantly.
When did you first encounter/become familiar with the paranormal in your world? How frequently were you exposed to these paranormal encounters? I was familiar with paranormal and mythology through fiction in a very typical manner - I read a lot, and was pursuing a Masters in Publishing. When I was taken by one of the Gentry, who we came to refer to as our Keeper, it was somewhere around four years of extended, continuous contact, as it's not just the presence of our Keeper that affects us, but exposure to their realm of Arcadia as well.
Were the entities you encountered tangible or intangible beings? While mine was primarily tangible, I've heard tell that other Gentry are far less so - it seems to be a personal choice for them. As well, some Changelings are affected in such a way that they too become primarily intangible beings.
Did any of the entities you encountered display extrasensory powers (ESP, mind-altering or reading abilities, etc)? If so, what were they? Mind altering is one of the primary abilities that I'm aware of Gentry possessing, since they must alter the minds of humans in order to capture them in the first place, to some degree.
Did you have certain abilities in your home dimension that are currently not available to you now? If so, what were they? Yes. Changelings are in possession of powers known as Contracts - these are quite literally contracts that previous generations of Changelings and Fair Folk have made with meta concepts such as the seasons, the hearth, elements and other such abstract concepts. My own are with the Hearth (allowing me to force back luck on people), Summer (allows me to sense the nearest source of rage), and Animation (which allows me to both intimately know an object, its history and use, damages and how to use it with a trained expertise). I'm also capable of identifying story patterns that may be playing out in reality, and force reality to conform to the trope - I assume you're familiar with the expression "third time's the charm", for example.
These are all powered by a form of energy known as Glamour - emotional energy that we harvest from other beings, primarily humans. I personally find rage to be most potent in my harvesting, as it's tied strongly to the Summer Court I'm allied with.
Do you believe in astrology or divination? Not astrology, but divination is a not-uncommon power among the right kind of Changeling.
What color would you describe your aura to be? I can honestly say I don't know.
SURVEY TEXT
I was born human. But at the time of my capture, yes, I was nonhuman - what was locally known as a Changeling. A being who was taken by ones we call the Gentry, also known as Fair Folk, to be used for any manner of things that would warp and shape our physical, mental and insubstantial traits until we were no longer human. If left with the Gentry in their home of Arcadia for too long, we become fully transformed and unable to leave. I and another were able to escape before that happened.
My physical appearance was also heavily altered. My skin turned to paper and I lost a substantial amount of weight, though it didn't affect my physical shape. My eyes were replaced with rough-cut glass spheres, although I could still see with full clarity, and my fingers would leak some manner of writing ink constantly.
I was familiar with paranormal and mythology through fiction in a very typical manner - I read a lot, and was pursuing a Masters in Publishing. When I was taken by one of the Gentry, who we came to refer to as our Keeper, it was somewhere around four years of extended, continuous contact, as it's not just the presence of our Keeper that affects us, but exposure to their realm of Arcadia as well.
While mine was primarily tangible, I've heard tell that other Gentry are far less so - it seems to be a personal choice for them. As well, some Changelings are affected in such a way that they too become primarily intangible beings.
Mind altering is one of the primary abilities that I'm aware of Gentry possessing, since they must alter the minds of humans in order to capture them in the first place, to some degree.
Yes. Changelings are in possession of powers known as Contracts - these are quite literally contracts that previous generations of Changelings and Fair Folk have made with meta concepts such as the seasons, the hearth, elements and other such abstract concepts. My own are with the Hearth (allowing me to force back luck on people), Summer (allows me to sense the nearest source of rage), and Animation (which allows me to both intimately know an object, its history and use, damages and how to use it with a trained expertise). I'm also capable of identifying story patterns that may be playing out in reality, and force reality to conform to the trope - I assume you're familiar with the expression "third time's the charm", for example.
These are all powered by a form of energy known as Glamour - emotional energy that we harvest from other beings, primarily humans. I personally find rage to be most potent in my harvesting, as it's tied strongly to the Summer Court I'm allied with.
Not astrology, but divination is a not-uncommon power among the right kind of Changeling.
I can honestly say I don't know.