Shapechanger or Doppler Syndrome

Always drink from a silver cup...

Created by Mu

Shapechangers, a word that can shake the core of great cities. Often seen as the cause of many civilisations to collapse through subterfuge and deceit, the face of these Dopplers has been corrupted by the fear that those closest to you, may in fact be that of an impostor.

Transmission & Vectors

There are no vectors to transmit the ability to morph.

Causes

Shape changing is generally caused through genetic mutation, but some cases have seen survivors of vampire or lycanthrope attacks to rarely show the ability to change shape.

Symptoms

In heightened states of emotion, shapechangers can manifest new features such as, but not limited to: claws, fangs, fur, muscular growths, darkvision, heightened speeds, increased metabolism, etc.

Treatment

There is no definable cure from being a shapechanger, asides death.

Prognosis

Shapechangers can slowly develop their abilities, and hone them. Those who do are no longer to be considered to be afflicted by this condition, but instead seen as a race of their own.

Prevention

Ingestion of silver caplets or regularly bathing in water with a tablespoon of quicksilver. A shapechanger turns into a malformed mess when exposed to silver when they are in a doppler form.

Epidemiology

The only way this condition could move through a population is that of having an infestation of vampires or lycanthropes, in which there are survivors.

History

History is littered with shapechangers, to the point where there have been mass uprisings against them. The Riot of Twelve Nights in Goldgarde, Ganeria, saw many of these shapechangers burned at the stake, tortured, murdered, and overall massacred. Since then, it has been considered that the "Golden Age" of shapechangers has come to an abrupt and bloody end.

Cultural Reception

Those who are afflicted with the shapechanger condition are usually feared by the public, and are hard to track as some can turn into others to hide from the people. It is sometimes the hype of a city's propaganda to alert folk of known cases of "dopplers" in the area.

Type

Supernatural

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Uncommon