[Major Spoilers] Clara and The Changeling?

[Tystefy]

They look exactly alike. They kinda act alike- it would be difficult to know who you're talking to if their name wasn't displayed. It would be safe to assume Clara and The Changeling are the same person.

However, when you are to meet Murky's Friend, it's clear Clara and The Changeling are 2 different entities... considering, for the first time, you can see both of them at the same time.
During this event, Clara adamantly argues against our theory that the Sand Plague has a voice/mind/avatar. She either does not personally believe this or she is straight-up lying to you. You can also steer the conversation towards her as a possible baddie. She demands you leave Murky alone and get back to work, that she'll protect Murky.

The Changeling, on the other hand, is quite knowledgeable of the Sand Plague, Unlike Clara (who claims she will protect Murky), The Changeling will help you save Murky by transferring Murky's infection to you. She will only do this if you've learned enough clues about the Sand Plague.

Finally, if the conversation with The Changeling steers towards Clara, she'll reply "She is an impostor. I'm the real one."

My question is... what's their deal? What is going on?

[Gor Mor]

Nobody knows, Clara included. Even her campaign from the original does not provide direct answer, - whether there's two of them or she's just a deranged girl with split personality.

[Renoehe]

I didn't play Devotress in the original but I was aware of the big spoiler being that there were two of her and it had something to do with her miracle powers bending reality. This was less apparent when you were playing the other characters in the original, but in P2 they straight up tell you at multiple points. There's one dream in P2 where Lara is a schoolteacher and there are two Changelings in her class. Her new title, "The Changeling," even implies this in that for there to be a Changeling, there have to be two children: a real child and a fake one.

The Changeling's story will probably feature the heaviest plot rewriting once it comes out since the original character's story was very underdeveloped compared to the Haruspex and especially the Bachelor. So yeah. Looking forward to that in 2022.

[ian.alvord]

The first time we see her, she is standing in front of a painting. I think that was meant to be a clue as to what she is.

[Lodis]

I thought that the changeling is just the sand plague in a different form like when it´s talking to you as orderly

[ian.alvord]

Originally posted by Lodis:

I thought that the changeling is just the sand plague in a different form like when it´s talking to you as orderly

I thought this too, until the orderly/plague guy said I had more respect for life and death than did changeling. Meaning they are not one in the same.

[Tystefy]

The thing about Pathologic is that, unlike most games, the NPCs will lie to you. They'll straight-up lie to your face and you might never even know about it.

[Gor Mor]

Originally posted by Fauxy:

I didn't play Devotress in the original but I was aware of the big spoiler being that there were two of her and it had something to do with her miracle powers bending reality.

In the original, she once lied that she had a misbehaving sister that made all misdoing and started receiving letters from her in a sleep while being certain whole game she just created the Sister by her magical powers. On the other hand, just when she arrived in town, the first person who meets her is Grace, and Grace wonders why did the Changling returned as they already talked a minute ago, so the Sister was there from the beginning and actually "arrived" in the Town before Clara, with this whole "created from the lies" thing was the delusion either.

Originally posted by Fauxy:

There's one dream in P2 where Lara is a schoolteacher and there are two Changelings in her class.

This is a dream, it could show many things. On the other hand, outside of dreams, there's never both of them standing together, even at the Crow Stone.

[Renoehe]

Yeah, clearly it's supposed to be ambiguous still but they draw a lot more attention to it in P2 I feel. Clara is really interesting as a character, and really unique as a protagonist. I hope we get to play her sooner rather than later. I just want more Patho content lol, this is like my game of the decade.

[ian.alvord]

It's never spelled out, but I'm certain that Changeling and Shabnak-Adyr are one in the same.

[StrayDogFreedom]

Originally posted by ian.alvord:

It's never spelled out, but I'm certain that Changeling and Shabnak-Adyr are one in the same.

Oh, for sure. I definitely think so, She gives you the infection after all if you save Murky (which I'm sure everyone did and always does because you're a monster otherwise). I'm not sure whether the Changeling and Clara are the same though and whether it's Clara or the Changeling that is the Shabnak-Adyr. I think Clara is the one sitting in the Abattoir at the end while the Changeling is with the mistresses, but I can't recall.
Maybe Aspity was the true Shabnak Adyr, then the Changeling in talking to people learned of the idea and created a twin her to explain things not working out with the Shabnak Adyr in mind and thus created the Shabnak Adyr 2.0 while the actual plague is the Executor/Shaman stalker. Or... um... maybe Clara just always was the Shabnak and... I don't know lol. Confusery

Originally posted by Gor Mor:

On the other hand, outside of dreams, there's never both of them standing together, even at the Crow Stone.

Not side by side but if you walk back a bit you can easily see one of them by the fire while the other is behind the Crow Stones at the same time.

[Demetry842]

She has a split personality. But this is one character. She's a plague. And plague can kill people (evil). But, in a same time plague can solve the crisis (savior).

Plague it's - "Earth's answer" (scream) for a "broken proportionality" (you can find it in a game).

Earth - in a wide sence. Not only lands, trees, and rivers... But the whole ecosystem\physics (world). if the system is in equilibrium - it is healthy. Broken equilibrium = system is sick or even dying. In reality it can bring famine, natural disasters, or.... plague....

Plague - it's dangerous, but it's not the main problem. It's just a symptom.

(For example - In a middle ages the plague took many lives. But, the real cause of death, was in overpopulated cities, lack of medical knowledge, greedy rulers who kept people in bestial conditions..... etc)

With plague, system trying to "kill broken proportionality". And return to equilibrium (equilibrium in a broad sense. Not only primitive animal life. After all ... a highly developed, intelligent community can also be harmonious with the world (at least in theory:))). From here - Clara's dual nature (killer\savior).

In the original game - you can play as changeling. And it will depend on your actions - the characters will be infected, or not. Also - you will find which NPC, and how, contributed to the "broken proportionality"... what caused the plague. After this - you can judge them = they will get infected. Or you can convince them to repent and change (From here - "changeling").

[Pazuzu]

Actually the original makes it very clear that Clara is a metacharacter aware of her status as a video game person--her changeling is the sum of all the choices you don't make as a player.

[Demetry842]

In original (russian) she is not a "changeling".

She is - "imposter". Nobody called her, but she came, and says that she can save the situation. An uninvited plague that calls itself a savior = imposter. But she really can. So "changeling" - can be better (just in russian "changeling" doesnt sound so good).

But it's all - does not change the main idea of this character. Your choices or not - she still a plague. The plague may have a double meaning (or even more:)). But it's one thing.

For example - you came in to a small settlement. And you see that people there do not care about personal hygiene. And so they start to sick. You can try to explain them - why they are ill = they will change and become better (of course, if they listen to you).

As a result, we have: the disease pushed them to improve. The problem is solved. (Your choice)

Or you can do nothing. A big epidemic will break out. And almost everyone will die. But the few remaining - they themselves will understand that to breed dirt - this is not good. Or they will die with time too.

As a result, we have: the disease solved the problem of dirty settlement. Radically - but solved. (not your choice)

But in both cases it’s the same disease. Same Clara. But with two faces. Clara is one. But you can perceive it as a symptom that leads you to change something in the current system and become better. Or give up on everything and take unpleasant consequences.