A Changeling is a being in West European folklore and folk religion, typically described as the offspring of a fairy, troll, elf or other legendary creature that has been secretly left in the place of a human child. The apparent changeling could also be a stock, an enchanted piece of wood that would soon appear to grow sick and die. A human child might be taken due to many factors: to act as a servant, the love of a human child, or malice. Most often it was thought that faeries exchanged the children. Simple charms, such as an inverted coat, were thought to ward them off.


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The Changeling, or Founders, are skilled shapeshifters who are viscous liquid in their original form. They have the specialized ability to change their biomolecular structure to mimic anything, even energy forms such as fire, as they can manipulate mass as well as shape. A limitation, at least for Constable Odo, of this skill is the inability to hold a solid shape over 16 hours. Changelings must revert to their liquid state or endure a painful "decomposition". A quantum stasis field generator designed by the Tal Shiar was proven successful in trapping a Changeling in solid form. Changelings neither need food nor rest, and even in liquid state maintain a level of alert consciousness. In their liquid state, Changelings can "link" with each other, melding separate bodies into one mass and completely exchange all the information, feelings, and emotions with the other. Changelings have long lifespans, often living for hundreds of years. Thus far, no Changeling has died of natural causes, so the age expectancy cannot be determined. Once dead, Changelings turn to a solid ashen compound.

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