Demidoppel (5e Race)

Demidoppel

“	Bring on the freaks.	”
—A person who did not like demidoppels

Physical Description

The demidoppel is a strange perversion of a shapechanger that never quite made it to being a true sort. They resemble a humanoid that has strange mutations about their body. The most common feature they all share is blank eyes. These orbs are typically milky, but can take on a variety of colors when a demidoppel transforms. The rest of a demidoppel's body varies heavily from one individual to the next. They usually have strange patches of things like scales, fins, feathers, and fur, all mingling on different parts of their body. This can shift spots over night, so they might wake up with scales formerly on their elbow now on their face. Safe to say, it is therefore difficult to pin down a demidoppel because they might not look the same the next day. This is also made more difficult since their skin is usually a melange of shifting colors as well.

Most demidoppels are never seen in their true forms in public. They keep on disguises and clothes when their forms become too unstable to shift. When in their natural form, a demidoppel moves as if it were a being painted that is smearing across the world that is canvas. Their bodies, unlike changelings, have a harder time keeping up transformations for long periods of time. However, they also have some extra grace in their bodies from their mysterious origin often spent alongside fey entities.

History

Similar to the tales of changelings, demidoppels are born of the classic switcheroo. However, it is a slightly more wrinkly tale. When the real baby is snatched and replaced by dark forces, usually evil fey like hags, they do not come out unscathed even if they do not become one of their captors. The influence of monsters and other monstrous humanoids can imprint on stolen children and warp them. This is how demidoppels come about. the natural raw energy from fey, aberrations, and the world in general make a strong impression on some children and warp their very being entirely. They cease to be human entirely and grow up as a strange and mixed being. This process is not entirely unheard of, though it is markedly rare.

Society

The nature of demidoppels makes them almost impossible to coexist alongside for many. They are usually seen as freakish beings and so they must cover up when walking about in public. Many of them end up becoming disillusioned with society as a result and seek double lives. With their shapeshifting capabilities, this is rather easy to accomplish. Many demidoppels even disavow their heritage as a result. Some choose to remain within the communities that stole them away, leading to demidoppels existing in the Feywild as well as fringe pockets formed between this world and the other. Sometimes, particularly for demidoppels born of evil creatures spiriting away babies, they are slaves to their fake parents. Many demidoppels have escaped from servitude to beings like hags. Demidoppels do not number enough to constitute a blossoming population and do not have established places nor groups to call their own.

Demidoppel Names

Addresses for demidoppels have a need for specificity. Due to their changing physicality, most typical names like that which humans use are merely masks that demidoppels see fit to discard and change on a whim. These have little meaning on their own. A true name to a demidoppel pins them down. These true names are highly valuable to demidoppels and they will never reveal them to strangers save those they trust dearly. Their true names often reveal a facet of their shapeshifting, something that is a bit like a signature of theirs. Usually, it is a tack on to a false alias that implies knowledge of their true nature.

For example, many demidoppels use monosyllabic names for simplicity, which they can throw away at a moments notice if they are caught and need to assume a new disguise. There can be many demidoppels thus named Jin. However, one is actually Jin-with-vivid-blue-eyes, and the other is Jin-with-golden-cheeks. These extra adjectives describe a method of transformation unique to the individual that is like an unchangeable habit. Using this name implies exposure of their true self. So, even if one of the Jin's change their name to Vyn, they will remain Vyn-with-golen-cheeks.

While the first name is easy for demidoppels to disclose, they will rarely reveal their signature. Additionally, with their mixed bodies, gender for demidoppels is extremely fluid, to the point their names are androgynous.

Demidoppel Names: Bin, Cas, Dox, Fie, Hars, Jin, Lam, Mas, Nix, Ot, Paik, Ruz, Sim, Toox, Vil, Yug.

Demidoppel Traits

Humanoids changed by their swap at birth
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 2 and either your Intelligence or Dexterity score increases by 1.
Age. Demidoppels usually live to be about 260 years old, maturing at around 20.
Alignment. Many demidoppels are neutral. However, like their colorful bodies, many can be chaotic.
Size. On average, demidoppels are taller than the shortest human. However, their height range is more controlled and they peak at around six and a half feet. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 35 feet.
Shift Appearance. As an action, you can transform your appearance or revert to your natural form. You can’t duplicate the appearance of a creature you’ve never seen, and you revert to your natural form if you die. This appearance change also reverts after an hour. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all use after you finish a long rest.
When shifting your appearance, you decide what you look like, including your height, weight, facial features, the sound of your voice, coloration, hair length, sex, and any other distinguishing characteristics. You can make yourself appear as a member of another race, though none of your game statistics change. You also can’t appear as a creature of a different size than you, and your basic shape stays the same; if you’re bipedal, you can’t use this trait to become quadrupedal, for instance. Your clothing and other equipment don’t change in appearance, size, or shape to match your new form, requiring you to keep a few extra outfits on hand to make the most compelling disguise possible. Even to the most astute observers, your ruse is usually indiscernible. If you rouse suspicion, or if a wary creature suspects something is amiss, you have advantage on any Charisma (Deception) check you make to avoid detection.
Fey Influenced. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put you to sleep.
Persona's Embodiment. Define a unique identity; establish the name, race, gender, age, and other details. You gain proficiency with one tool, language, or skill of your choice in relation to that persona you create. You can change this proficiency every time you use shift appearance and make a new persona.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 6''	+1d12	130 lb.	× (1d8) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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