A strange and alien monstrosity, the caricature shares many qualities with the common mimic. However, whatever dark corner of the spheres where it developed imbued the creature with real intelligence and wicked cunning. The caricature most commonly sneaks aboard vessels as a piece of cargo. Once aboard, however, it quickly kills a crew member or passenger and takes its place. From there, the monster plays the remaining humanoids’ paranoias against one another. Slowly, but surely, it widdles down its prey until those that remain are too weak and too few to resist. Then it lurks on the dead vessel for salvagers to come by. Or, if a ship puts into port before then, it escapes to a new vessel to start again.

Caricature

Medium monstrosity (shapechanger), neutral

Armor Class 12 (natural armor)

Hit Points 52 (8d8 + 16)

Speed 30ft

Str 18 Dex 12 Con 15 Int 10 Wis 10 Cha 16

Skills Deception +5, Stealth +5

Damage Immunities acid

Condition Immunities prone

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10

Languages -

Challenge 3 (700 XP)

Shapechanger.

The caricature can use its action to polymorph into an a medium humanoid or object or back into its true, amorphous form. Its statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.

Adhesive (Object Form Only).

The caricature adheres to anything that touches it. A Huge or smaller creature adhered to the mimic is also grappled by it (escape DC 16). Ability checks made to escape this grapple have disadvantage. The caricature can activate or deactive this ability as a bonus action.

False Appearance (Object Form Only).

While the caricature remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from an ordinary object.

Grappler.

The caricature has advantage on attack rolls against any creature grappled by it.

Innate Spellcasting (1/Day).

The caricature can innately cast Tongues, requiring no material components. Its innate spellcasting ability is Charisma.

Actions

Multiattack.

The caricature makes two attacks; only one of which may be a Bite.

Pseudopod.

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage. If the caricature is in humanoid or object form, the target is subjected to its Adhesive trait.

Bite.

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) acid damage.

Seems Sus (Recharge 5-6)(Humanoid Form Only).

The caricature speaks to a humanoid that can understand it within 30ft and references another humanoid that creature can see. The caricature explains how there is something off about other humanoid and they cannot be trusted. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Charisma save or be charmed by the caricature, and suspicious if not outright hostile toward the refered to humanoid. This effect last for 1 minute, ending if the caricature uses its shapechanger ability, bite, pseudopod, or dies. This is a magical effect.