doppelgänger
Shapeshifters who can take on a myriad of human forms. They are often mistaken by hunters for skinsliders but are a separate, far more benign species.
Basic Information
Anatomy
In their natural form, doppels appear as bald, hairless humanoids with greyish skin and large, almond-shaped eyes. Slightly shorter than the average human, eyes usually black or dark brown with w-shaped pupils like a cuttlefish. Skin is soft and similar to human in texture and patterning: they are prone to darker grey freckles and moles. They have wide, narrow-lipped mouths with omnivorous teeth similar to humans, save for having an extra two sets of canines (three total). Tongue is usually dark pink or brown. Blood oxidizes red as humans'. No body or head hair, though they do have stiff whiskers around nose, mouth, and forehead which seem to act both as eyelashes/brows and sensory functions, as a cat. Strong hands with short, single-jointed fingers designed for moving earth; still capable of using them for fine motor work as humans.
Note: Doppelgängers are true shape-shifters. When in human form, they take on all features of physical humanity. This means when they are in human form, their hands are jointed as a human's would be, they grow actual hair which needs to be cut or shaved, and their pupils are round. For whatever reason, this change does not apply to reproductive systems or digestive systems, which may be related to gestational protection of a fetus. - Carolyn
Genetics and Reproduction
Doppelgängers reproduce asexually through gynogenesis, a form of reproduction which requires the presence of sperm for reproduction but does not incorporate the sperm's DNA into the offspring. Doppels can have sex with humans and indeed require this in order to reproduce, though their children will not be genetically related to their fathers. After sexual intercourse, a doppelgänger mother will lay an egg about the size of a cantaloupe into her gestational pouch, which is located low on the abdomen. Gestation lasts approximately 3 months, at which point the egg hatches within the mother's pouch. The infants must remain in the pouch for another 6 months before they are able to survive outside of their mothers' bodies.
Ecology and Habitats
Before integrating with humans, doppelgängers were cave-dwelling hunters. They burrowed deep into forest floors and broke up rock with tools in order to dig deeper caves. They were ancestrally most common in temperate forests and sandstone mountain regions.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Omnivorous; doppels eat pretty much anything and everything a human can. They process raw meat better than we do, though, and are occasionally outed by eating ultra-rare steak in public.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The w-shaped pupil allows them better contrast vision than humans, as well as a better field of vision for capturing movement. They see best in moderate illumination, as humans do. Whiskers offer a greater sensitivity for moving in darkness and in close environments, such as underground. Doppels also have something akin to a tremor-sense, able to pinpoint the location of moving creatures based on the vibrations of their steps or movements.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Conservation Status
Doppels work hard to protect themselves, but are also extremely territorial. They do not live together in groups and must rely on secrecy to pass for human. Hunter-mages have been slow to realize the difference between doppels and skinsliders and many doppelgängers have been killed due to this misidentification. The Atlanta Werewolf Pack has been working for years to encourage an information campaign among hunters and hunter-mages to bring better awareness to doppelgänger rights.
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