Medium monstrosity, neutral
Armor Class: 14
Hit Points: 52 8d8+16
Speed:
28 ft
Skills: Deception +6, Insight +3
Condition Immunities: Charmed
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft, passive Perception 11
Languages: Common
Challenge Rating: 3
Shapechanger. The doppelganger can use it's action to polymorph into a Small or Medium humanoid it has seen, or or back into it's true form. It's statistics, other than it's size, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. It reverts to it's true form if it dies.
Ambusher. In the first round of a combat, the doppelganger has advantage on attack rolls against any creature it surprised.
Surprise Attack. If the doppelganger surprises a creature and hits it with an attack during the first round of combat, the target takes an extra 10 3d8 damage from the attack.
Actions
Multiattack. The doppleganger makes two melee attacks.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack +6 to hit, reach 5 ft, one target. Hit 7 1d6+4 bludgeoning damage.
Read Thoughts. The doppelganger magically reads the surface thoughts of one creature within 60 feet of it. The effect can penetrate barriers, but 3 feet of wood or dirt, 2 feet of stone, 2 inches of metal, or a thin sheet of lead blocks it. While target is within range, the doppelganger can continue reading it's thoughts, as long as the doppelganger's concentration isn't broken (as if concentrating on a spell). While reading the target's mind, the doppelganger has advantage on Wisdom (Insight and Charisma (Deception, Intimidation, and Perception) checks against the target.
Doppelgangers are creatures who mimic others, and usually kidnap victims to study them and take their place. Sometimes the latter results in the death of the victim. It is sometimes mistook for a ghost or apparition of the person, and a harbinger of misfortune.
The species is a set of blue skinned, hairless beings, and usually works solo. A few times they will work together in small packs to carry out a job. They are swindlers, identity thieves, and stealers of secrets. They are too lazy to look after their own young and will assume an identity of a handsome young man to seduce women. It will get her pregnant, and then disappear to leave her to look after the young. After a while the child will grow and when puberty hits, it will change into a doppelganger. From there it hunts out it's own kind to learn about it's species history and how to live.
Doppelgangers seem to originate from central European lands dominated by Germanic speaking peoples. The rumour is is that they are corrupted fey doomed to walk the earth and fulfil a number of roles. The doppelgangers are cursed never to be able to settle in any one area, and create their own society. they can't breed with each other so must do it with other species, and in doing so leads to the belief in changelings in Germanic lore. Also, to see one acts as a warning of approaching destruction of someone when they see themselves as a changed doppelganger.
Suggested Environments
Urban environments.
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