THE DOPPLES

 **Entity Name:** The Dopples

**Type:** Supernatural Doppelgängers

**Appearance:**

The Dopples are eerie, near-perfect duplicates of their chosen victims. They mirror every physical trait down to the smallest detail but with subtle, unsettling differences. Their skin has an almost imperceptible translucence, making them look slightly out of focus. Their eyes, while seemingly normal, glimmer with an unnatural intensity in the dark, and their smiles are a fraction too wide, revealing too many teeth.

**Origin:**

Legend says the Dopples were born from the shadows of a cursed mirror, an artifact created by an ancient sorcerer who sought to master the art of replication. The mirror captured the essence of those who gazed into it, allowing the sorcerer to create perfect duplicates. However, the reflections gained sentience and escaped, becoming the Dopples. Now, they roam freely, seeking to replace the original humans they were modeled after.

**Abilities:**

1. **Mimicry:** The Dopples can flawlessly imitate the behavior, speech, and mannerisms of their targets.

2. **Shadow Travel:** They can move through shadows, disappearing from one location and reappearing in another almost instantaneously.

3. **Essence Drain:** By maintaining physical contact with their original for an extended period, they can drain their life force, weakening the original while becoming stronger and more human-like.

4. **Psychic Connection:** They share a one-way psychic link with their originals, allowing them to access memories and thoughts, giving them an edge in impersonation.

**Weaknesses:**

1. **Light Sensitivity:** Bright light, especially sunlight, weakens them and reveals their true nature.

2. **Mirror Exposure:** Being reflected in a mirror can disrupt their mimicry, causing their true, distorted form to show.

3. **Essence Dependency:** If they fail to periodically drain essence from their original, they begin to deteriorate, losing their human form and abilities.

**Behavior:**

The Dopples are patient and strategic, often watching their targets from the shadows for days or even weeks. They learn their habits, routines, and relationships, planning the perfect moment to replace them. They usually strike when their target is isolated or vulnerable. Once replaced, they subtly manipulate the lives of those around them, often driving wedges between friends and family to maintain their cover.

**Purpose:**

The ultimate goal of the Dopples is unclear. Some believe they are driven by a primal need to exist and will do anything to preserve their stolen lives. Others think they serve a darker purpose, acting as agents of chaos or even seeking to open a gateway to a shadowy realm from which they originated.

**Encounters:**

Those who suspect they are dealing with a Dopple must be cautious. Direct confrontation is dangerous, as Dopples are often stronger and more cunning than their originals. Instead, revealing them through indirect means—such as using mirrors or drawing them into bright light—is usually more effective. Once exposed, they become vulnerable, and only then can they be truly defeated, often by trapping them back into a reflective surface or banishing them with powerful light-based rituals.