By Frank Gori
(pictured: a regular mimic)
"Creating makes me die a thousand deaths, because it means making order, and my entire being rebels against order. But without it I would die, scattered to the winds." -Albert Camus
In the ecology section of the mimic we find an echo of a tale about an alchemist trying to create life from inanimate objects through a lost eldritch formula. This formula resulted in the first mimics, which have adapted and evolved into an ambush predator. Mimics also have a number of variants, and the ecology section further suggests the rumors of mimics the size of dungeons.
This is a natural extension of that story.
The alchemist/wizard* in question was an elvish woman named Davina Aquila.** When she lost her husband before they could have children, she saved and preserved many of his fluids to use in experiments to bring forth new life.
Mimics in all their variations and cloakers represent her early work. Unfortunately they lacked any attributes she admired from her husband and she abandoned these creations to the wilds, not expecting them to adapt and reproduce.
Eventually she turned to animating her arcane bonded item, creating something more akin to a symbiant mimic. In a way, the missing component in her quest to create true life from her husband’s remains was a loving bond.
The formulas Divina created have been responsible for mimics, cloakers, and many other aberrations. Her lab and that formula been lost and rediscovered many times throughout the ages. The symbiont mimic is one of the few adventurers do not lament.
*In the upcoming Into the Breach: The Alchemist we will do a PRC based on mixing elements of alchemy and wizardry to create life.
**Look for Davina Aquila in a future installment of our new line of villains $1 Generals
Symbiont Mimic
What appears to be an ordinary bracer shifts suddenly into a bat-like like reptile that flies forward with claws extended.
XP 800
N Tiny aberration (shapechanger)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +14
DEFENSE
AC 21, touch 16, flat-footed 15 (+4 Dex, +5 natural, +2 size)
hp 52 (4d8+21)
Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +7
Immune acid
Weakness hibernation state
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee slam +9 (1d4)
STATISTICS
Str 3 Dex 18, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 12
Base Atk +3; CMB +0; CMD 13 (can't be tripped)
Feats Multiattack, Precise Strike, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +10 ,Climb +8, Disguise +8 (+18/+28 when mimicking creatures/objects), Escape Artist +11, Intimidation +8, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) +10, Perception +10; Racial Modifiers +20 Disguise when mimicking objects
Languages Common
SQ mimic object
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Companion Bond (Ex) The symbiont mimic can form a bond with any character that doesn’t already have a familiar or animal companion. Once this bond is formed the symbiant mimic gains link, and share spells abilities. When mimicking a piece of equipment it takes and confers the better of the two save bonuses. With skill checks it automatically aids another with skills it possesses. When bonded to another creature the symbiont mimic advances its HD and statistics like a druid animal companion except that it starts at 4 HD and with a 3 BAB. Every other feat gained must be a teamwork feat though.
The downside of this bond is that is causes 2 permanent Constitution damage that cannot be restored by anything short of a wish.
Hibernation State (Su) When it is not bonded to a host the symbiont mimic loses its ability to mimic creatures and takes the form of a random object. It can shift the type of object it is when a humanoid creature with an Intelligence of 3 or greater is within its 100 ft telepathy range.
Mimic Creature (Ex) A symbiont mimic can assume the general shape of any Tiny creature, such as a cat, crow, or viper. When assuming a creature’s form, the symbiant mimic gains any natural forms of movement and attacks inherent to the form taken but no special abilities. When using a form that has a bite attack the symbiant mimic adds 1d4 acid damage at size Tiny + an additional 1d4 per size category it can assume. The creature cannot substantially alter its size, though. A symbiant mimic gains a +10 racial bonus on Disguise checks when imitating an object in this manner. Disguise is always a class skill for a mimic.
When the symbiont mimic and its companion reach 8 HD it can change its size and take the form of any small creature, gaining the small creature’s physical statistics. When it reaches 12 HD it can change its size up to that of a medium creature and utilize a medium creature’s statistics. At 16th level the symbiont mimic can change form and assume the size and statistics of a large creature. If it takes the form of a humanoid the symbiont mimic is proficient with simple weapons and up to light armor.
Mimic Item (Ex) A symbiont mimic can assume the general shape of any Tiny object such as a short sword, a buckler, or a gauntlet sized for a medium creature. At 8 HD it can assume the form of any Tiny object such as a small shield, longsword, or breastplate sized for a Medium creature. At 12 HD it can be any Medium-sized item such as full plate armor or a tower shield. At 16th level it can be Large-sized objects like a small wagon. When used as a weapon, treat damage as a normal item of the type mimicked + 1d4 acid damage per size category, when used as a shield or armor it confers the normal bonus +2 because of its high natural AC, and when used as any tool or other more mundane item it is the same as that item except it has a hardness of 20 and its own hit points. A symbiont mimic gains a +20 racial bonus on Disguise checks when imitating an object in this manner. Disguise is always a class skill for a mimic.
Mimic Tactics (Ex) As a standard action, the symbiont mimic can grant any teamwork feats it knows to the recipient of its bond. The companion of this bonus feat gains it for 3 rounds plus 1 round for every two levels they possess. The companion does not need to meet the prerequisites of these bonus feats. The symbiant mimic can use this ability once per day, plus one additional time per day at 5th level and for every 5 levels thereafter.
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