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Adult Shadow Mimic
medium monstrosity (shapechanger), neutral evil
| Mod | Save | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| STR | 20 | +5 | +5 |
| DEX | 18 | +4 | +8 |
| CON | 22 | +6 | +10 |
| Mod | Save | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| INT | 15 | +2 | +2 |
| WIS | 16 | +3 | +7 |
| CHA | 20 | +5 | +9 |
Traits
- Any Tiny, Small, Medium, or Large object it has seen
- Any creature it has seen with a Challenge Rating of 10 or lower
The mimic perfectly replicates biological functions, scent, injuries, voice, and mannerisms. Physical examination cannot reveal the disguise.
Only magic or a successful DC 21 Intelligence (Investigation) check made after prolonged suspicious interaction can identify inconsistencies.
The mimic reverts to its true form if it dies.
Actions
A grappled creature is restrained.
On a failure, the mimic consumes fragments of the target's memories and personality for 30 days. During this time, the mimic can flawlessly imitate the target's voice, memories, emotional behavior, and mannerisms.
If the target dies while affected, the mimic permanently absorbs the identity.
Reactions
The attacker must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn.
Adult Shadow Mimic
medium monstrosity (shapechanger), neutral evil
| Mod | Save | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| STR | 20 | +5 | +5 |
| DEX | 18 | +4 | +8 |
| CON | 22 | +6 | +10 |
| Mod | Save | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| INT | 15 | +2 | +2 |
| WIS | 16 | +3 | +7 |
| CHA | 20 | +5 | +9 |
Traits
- Any Tiny, Small, Medium, or Large object it has seen
- Any creature it has seen with a Challenge Rating of 10 or lower
The mimic perfectly replicates biological functions, scent, injuries, voice, and mannerisms. Physical examination cannot reveal the disguise.
Only magic or a successful DC 21 Intelligence (Investigation) check made after prolonged suspicious interaction can identify inconsistencies.
The mimic reverts to its true form if it dies.
Actions
A grappled creature is restrained.
On a failure, the mimic consumes fragments of the target's memories and personality for 30 days. During this time, the mimic can flawlessly imitate the target's voice, memories, emotional behavior, and mannerisms.
If the target dies while affected, the mimic permanently absorbs the identity.
Reactions
The attacker must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn.
Adult Shadow Mimic
Adult shadow mimics are consummate infiltrators capable of maintaining convincing identities for years or decades. Many quietly embed themselves into cities, guilds, noble houses, or criminal organizations, feeding rarely and carefully to avoid detection.
Most people live their entire lives without ever encountering a shadow mimic.
Most scholars believe they do not exist at all.
That uncertainty is exactly what allows them to survive.
Shadow mimics are among the rarest known shapechangers in the world. Unlike ordinary mimics, which imitate objects through instinct and predatory adaptation, shadow mimics possess uncanny intelligence and an almost supernatural understanding of behavior, language, and identity. They do not merely disguise themselves. They perform lives.
A shadow mimic may spend years as a dockworker, a priest, a city official, or a wandering sellsword. Some establish families. Some accumulate wealth and influence. Some disappear after decades without anyone realizing they were never human at all.
No reliable origin for the species exists. Arcane theorists argue they are creatures born from living darkness. Others believe they are failed experiments in illusion and fleshcraft. A few ancient texts describe them as parasites from a realm where identity itself is mutable.
Whatever the truth, shadow mimics are not inherently mindless killers. Young specimens are driven primarily by hunger and instinct, often struggling to maintain stable identities for long. Older shadow mimics become frighteningly patient and psychologically sophisticated. Ancient specimens can manipulate entire communities without ever revealing themselves.
Their disguises are nearly impossible to penetrate through mundane means. They breathe, bleed, sleep, eat, sweat, and age convincingly. Many do not even maintain a “default” identity anymore. After centuries of stolen memories and borrowed lives, some elder shadow mimics no longer remember what they originally were.
A city could host a shadow mimic for fifty years without incident.
Then one day, someone vanishes.
And suddenly a respected magistrate, beloved innkeeper, or trusted companion is gone forever, because they never truly existed to begin with.