Mimic

Two Mimics seen in their original forms.

The Mimics are a slime-like race of creatures formed of flexible, durable, rubber-like black ooze. They're capable of replicating the DNA of humans, and as their name suggests, mimicing them.

Origin

During the most recent plague to hit Valmasia, close to a hundred depraved meteors rained on the land. One of these meteors collided with a vast supply of Orichalcum beneath the sea, causing a freak accident to occur that gave birth to what Mimics refer to as 'The Source'. 

The Source is the original Mimic. It grew in size and magical power over time, with the Orichalcum acting as a conductor and the corrupt plague mana feeding it. It gained consciousness from this mana, able to delve into it and replicate the feelings it gave off--which was mostly of grief and anger, due to the harshness of the plague where the majority of the population were strucken by poverty inner turmoil.

Over the years, The Source, still deep in the ocean, began to reproduce, allowing its offspring to grow until they bubbled over the water's surface. At this point, the Mimics were separated into three giant masses, each on a corner of Valmasia. 

Physiology

• Born of The Source, the Mimics share the feelings of their creator and will rarely stray from a chaotic path. Much like their father, they wish to learn and grow, both in magical power and intelligence, doing so through observation and their racial ability: mimicing. They mimic via direct physical contact with a living organism, which takes roughly five minutes as they copy the organism's DNA and magical circuit. They may fail to do so if the target's mana surpasses their own. They do not inherit memories via mimicing--only a perfect, exact physical replication and powers of their target, which seem to come naturally to a Mimic. The form will expire, along with its powers, if replaced by another.
• Their bodies are incredibly flexible. They can become as thin as paper or expand as large as a rhino. When not altering their form, a Mimic is typically 3 feet in height, but this does vary.
• In their base forms, they have no need to consume food and are capable of surviving on a minimal amount of water alone, which they absorb into their bodies. They also do not require oxygen and are able to swim for extended periods-- up to several days for the typical Mimic. When they copy another organism, however, their physical needs and limits adjust to that race.
• Their body's liquid seems to have a resistance against heat and electricity, but cannot stand cold tempatures-- coming to a freeze much faster than other materials. They tend to prefer hot weather due to this.
• Mimics are capable of breeding. Once they're fairly powerful, they can 'break off' their own ooze and develop it into a newborn. This newborn will even retain memories of their creator, and will often be similar as far as personality goes.
• Some Mimics are created as 'commanders', a Mimic that has control over the others, as long as their magical power is more potent. These are generally created as Dopplegangers. The commanders carry out the will of The Source, which is to acquire human templates for replication and knowledge, but often have many goals of their own too.
• The original wave of mimics was spawned in the year 798. Mimics begin their life relatively fully formed, able to move sapiently at a rapid speed of development depending on their mana intake- Their lifespans, thus, are far shorter than humans. Ordinarily mimics have an expected lifespan of 20 to 30 years- Magi mimics live to perhaps 60 and their bodies begin to break down around the age of 40, as their mana slowly dissipates, limiting their shapes and power as they lose control and precision. Finally, they crack apart, dessicating and becoming unable to hold water in a painful death by old age. Mimic age nerfs begin at 40, and affect magic damage and magic capacity.
• To make it completely clear, Mimic's cannot become vampires due to being purely magical creatures, and they are not genetically compatible.

Doppleganger

Unlike Mimics, a Doppleganger is born as a replica. They're a copy of a person, either living or dead, from the plague and beyond, replicated by The Source and typically much stronger than their more adaptive counterparts, but lacking the ability to shapeshift. They typically retain memories of the template used but are more chaotic in nature, highly unstable and dangerous: Dopplegangers are based off of the sinful emotions, hate, and regrets the base fostered deep inside of their hearts, and their fetters can remain strong, though others discard memories in favor of pure pursuit of their original's twisted desires.

• They bleed black instead of red, their blood a thicker ichor.
• They have an unnatural resistance to pain, able to block it out to an extent. They are still at the mercy of extreme torture, however.
• They can be killed as you would kill a human, with a few notable exceptions. Unlike Mimics, they're unable to regrow and reshape themselves to their power- a fatal wound will end them. If they survive the wound, however, removed limbs can be re-attached, though not regrown.
• They possess the ability to swim for extended periods ordinary mimics do, an internalized method.
• They are capable of very minor acts of fluidity with intense concentration and effort, however are unable to ever leave behind their template shape. They can change the age and appearance of their form based on memories, but are unable to assume any outside form, as chained as they are to their template's ego. These cosmetic changes do not slow down the aging process.