mimicry
Ever lusted after an ability? Be careful what you wish for… the Mimic seems to be able to mirror abilities they have directly witnessed, and for a short while, wield them as though they were their own! While exciting, this ability is tempermental, and the replacted magic is never quite as strong as the original. Perhaps these wolves are doomed to live in the long shadows cast by others…
TIER RATING
This is a tier three ability.
STAGES
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STAGE 1: Beginning stage
In it's first stage, the mimic struggles with completely uncontrolled bursts of magic, influenced by any magic user in close proximity, regardless of stage. The mimic has no control, and their results are usually warped or fractured versions of the source ability - for example, mimicry of a shieldwolf may project a shattered shield, or mimicry of a changeling may cause the mimic to half-shift into a different face. The effects typically last only seconds, and are disorientating and confusing for the mimic to endure.
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STAGE 2: Intermediate
Acquired by completing three pieces of artwork or roleplay that relate directly to your ability
With practice and continued exposure to other magical individuals, the mimic seems able to have developed better control, and is able to copy the skills of any tier 1 magic easily. They can mimic tier 2 magic with mixed results, but tier 3 magic still evades their control. In addition, accidental absorbtion of tier 3 magic can still result in strange and macabre manifestations of the ability, leading to exhaustion for the mimic.
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STAGE 3: Master
Acquired by completing a further three pieces of artwork or roleplay that relate directly to your ability.
In addition to the above, the mimic is now able to quite confidently absorb and command tier 2 abilities. Furthermore, they can mimic tier 3 abilities with varying results. Mastery of their ability leads to better control, and the mimic is rarely, if ever, driven to exhaustion or disorientation.
OVERALL RESTRICTIONS
This ability is mostly passive, in that the user cannot choose who to mimic. They will naturally absorb a fragment of magic from any ability in a 4 metre proximity. If they are in a group setting along with several magical characters, they will absorb the ability belonging to the character closest to them in terms of distance. Mimicry has no affect on the individual they are mimicing, and they will not be able to feel that their ability has been copied.
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A mimic can only mimic one ability at a time. If they encounter a wolf with two abilities, you may decide between the players which one the mimic will absorb.
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The mimic can use their last-absorbed copy magic for up to 1 day, or until they come into contact with another magical ability, at which point the power of the newcomer will replace the previous one. No one power will remain in place forever, and the mimic cannot copy the same ability in succession (e.g. mimic a changeling, wait a day, then mimic a changeling again). The mimic inherits all the restrictions of the ability they absorb.
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In stage 3, if the mimic witnesses the magic user performing their ability, the mimic is more likely to be able to perform a near-perfect copy.
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Changing quickly between abilities will cause a character to feel symptoms similar to motion sickness, possibly resulting in vomiting and in rarer cases, collapse.
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Mimicry cannot mimic barren, as this is immune, or soul bond, as this requires two parties.
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The mimic cannot use their absorbed ability against the root they absorbed from - e.g. they cannot enthrall the enthraller; they cannot take the original form of the changeling; they cannot draw strength from the negative emotions of the shadow empath; and so on.
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The absorbed ability, when used by a mimic, will never be as strong as the original. You should use your own common sense when you depict the mimic displaying a learned behaviour, and be aware that sometimes their copied magic will not go entirely to plan. The mimic should not be over-powered, nor played as the master of all magic. They are simply able to reflect and repeat the powers of others.