Creature Bio: Dungeon Mimic (Patreon)

Dungeon Mimics are semi-humanoid beings with transformative, non-Euclidean geometric properties. While their appearances are as varied as humans, Dungeon Mimics all share a few general traits. They consist of a hard outer shell that is ‘bigger on the inside’ and a shapeshifting, living latex-like goo held within. Dungeon Mimics are so named because they are shapeshifters who ‘mimic’ normal objects, and because they are commonly found posing as treasure chests in dungeons, temples, ruins, and other dangerous structures.

The shell of a Dungeon Mimic acts as protection and a container for their soft insides. The most common appearance of Dungeon Mimic shells is that of a wooden or metal treasure chest, but they have been known to have a wide variety of shell shapes depending on the individual. Some recorded shapes of Dungeon Mimics’ shells include chest of drawers, briefcases, refrigerators, crates, coffins, computer casings, police boxes (yes, really), shipping containers, and, in one case, even a railroad carriage. Their shells cannot shapeshift like the goo within, but they can be replaced: Under exceptional circumstances, a Dungeon Mimic can ‘shed’ their shell after spending significant time and effort creating a new shell underneath the old one. Their new shell can be a different size and appearance than their original should the Dungeon Mimic choose. This process is labour-intensive and exhausting, and thus is not undertaken lightly.

The goo of a Dungeon Mimic can be controlled, reshaped, and alchemically transformed at will. Though they can assume any form, Dungeon Mimics often favour a humanoid shape accompanied by simple tentacles sprouting from their reserves of liquid. A Dungeon Mimic can imitate any life form they choose - however, they each have unique appearances they identify with that they will often assume for their own comfort and happiness. The chemical makeup of their goo can be altered to create any material of their choice - these materials are thus far indistinguishable from their counterpart materials which were not created by a Dungeon Mimic. The objects and substances they create can either remain a part of their body or be painlessly severed. Severed material can be re-integrated into a Dungeon Mimic’s goo should they simply touch it and choose to merge it back into their body. Otherwise, the severed material will act precisely as it would had it not originated from a Dungeon Mimic - for example, a wooden chair created by a Dungeon Mimic would be nothing more and nothing less than a wooden chair until it was re-integrated with the Dungeon Mimic who created it. Dungeon Mimics cannot integrate materials that did not originate from themselves. Materials made by Dungeon Mimics do not need to re-integrate, nor are they required to replenish their creators - Dungeon Mimics have a seemingly bottomless supply of goop contained within their non-Euclidean shells. Dungeon Mimics cannot separate their goo from their shells, as both are important aspects of their bodies. The natural colour of a Dungeon Mimic’s goo varies from individual to individual, and appears to have no variance of effects on the goop’s properties.

Dungeon Mimics can communicate fluently in human language, but do not have a language of their own. Socially, emotionally, and personality-wise, they are as diverse as any other person. One trait many Dungeon Mimics have in common, however, is the fear of complete solitude. The lonely nature of existence as an immobile Dungeon Mimic deep in a desert temple, lost in a thick forest, or hidden in a cold cellar - for example - can take a toll on one’s spirits. This leads to one of the most common traits observed in Dungeon Mimics: Most Dungeon Mimics claim one or more people - human or monster - as their ‘Treasure’. Their attachment with these individuals is always one of love, be it romantic, sexual, familial, or other depending on the person. Dungeon Mimics enjoy holding their Treasure in their bigger-on-the-inside shells, much like how a treasure chest holds its treasure.

Though an uncommon occurrence, A sufficiently isolated Dungeon Mimic may be hasty in their choice of Treasure and claim the first person they meet after ages of solitude. These desperate monsterfolk will attempt to snare their new Treasure and hold them within their shell. They then try to befriend their Treasure and persuade them to remain theirs forever. Ultimately, the lonely Dungeon Mimic will release their Treasure and revoke their claim on them should they refuse.

Usually, however, Dungeon Mimics will claim people they know want to be their Treasure. Dungeon Mimics most frequently claim people who they have gotten to know and care for, and who treat them as people.

Though they greatly enjoy holding their Treasure within themselves, Dungeon Mimics will not imprison them. As stated, Dungeon Mimics’ bonds with their Treasure stems from love, so they want their Treasure to be happy as much as possible. Dungeon Mimics are fiercely protective of their Treasure: they will panic if their Treasure is put in danger and do all in their power to ensure their safety. In the event their Treasure dies, a Dungeon Mimic will often grieve by writing a memoir of them to hold inside themself in their place. ‘Widowed’ Dungeon Mimics may choose to claim more Treasure at a later point in time, but will never do so to replace the Treasure they lost: Dungeon Mimics will keep their deceased Treasure in their hearts for as long as they live.

Inside their shells exists a whole other dimension, and possibly an entire universe. It is unknown if this dimension is where the Dungeon Mimic’s gooey insides are stored, or if it is made of their goo. What is known, however, is that the Dungeon Mimic has immense control over the dimension inside them, including the power to create and alter materials. This fact is cited by those who support the theory that this dimension is created by the Dungeon Mimic’s goop. While unable to detach their humanoid form from their shell in our realm, Dungeon Mimics are free to exist without a shell while inside their own dimension - for example, they may assume a completely human form inside their dimension. One report describes a Dungeon Mimic who created a customised village for themself and their Treasure to live in while inside their dimension.

It is unknown how Dungeon Mimics are born. All Dungeon Mimics who have been asked report that they do not know where they came from. Their memory of early life is always hazy at best or nonexistent at worst - as such, their earliest memories are usually of them simply existing where they came into the world.