If your own mind told you you were fake, that you were an imposter of yourself, could you even prove it, prove that it was wrong, especially when doppelgangers are roaming the world?

Hello and welcome, I am meteorologist Lauren Rose, and doctors say I'm suffering from a new infection, a twisted version of imposter syndrome. Sadly, I can't believe them, but that's neither here nor there. Today, I am saddened to tell you that, along with the spreading dangers of impostors that have begun taking over and replacing our loved ones, a new sickness has been discovered. Whether it is caused by these doppelgangers or by something else entirely, we don't know. This sickness causes a loss insanity loss of identity and a loss of sense of self. Those infected may feel compelled to believe they're not real, believe that they have been replaced, or that they are one of the doppelgangers. Many also feel compelled to act Reckless and do foolish things in an effort to confirm that they are themselves. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, please reach out to loved ones, friends, and doctors as well as government officials. They're there to help. Please be careful and take care of yourselves out there.

Welcome to impostor syndrome, this is a real sickness but that is not what this is based off of. as I was creating my plagues of Christmas I got doppelganger and as I was making it I had the interesting idea of what if you were dealing with doppelgangers but they were causing a tear in people's sanity. as the world is falling to these Twisted copies whether by them or something else people are losing their sense of self and their sanity beginning to believe that they are the imposters even if they aren't. But then again, could you really blame them? You saw yourself, someone with your face, your body, your voice, your memories. If you came face-to-face with yourself, could you truly look at them and be absolutely certain that you were not the copy?

(the doppelgangers/impostors.)

The doppelgangers, also known as impostors, are copies of people, creatures, and beings. Their origin is unknown, but they have shown a desire to replace and take over the lives of those they are a duplicate of. Their true face and appearance are unknown, as is how they change or choose who they transform into. They're capable of physically transforming into any person or being with a physical body. This is not limited to humans or nonmagical creatures, even demons, angels, and deities, as long as they have a physical form, a doppelganger can transform into them. However, despite being able to physically transform into almost any being, they are not capable of replicating memories and personality, and there will likely be something off about the physical appearance, most often struggling with physical features that are not visibly seen. Doppelgangers are also not capable of replicating or copying abilities; however, they are capable of replicating the voice of the person they are copying or trying to mimic. The goal of doppelgangers or impostors, regardless of their origin, remains the same; they hope to take over the life and replace the individual that they are copying by any means necessary. This may include harming or even killing the individual that they are trying to mimic. Doppelgangers are not empty husks; they do not seem to have a hive mind, though they do communicate with other doppelgangers, working together to achieve their goals. They are capable of reasoning, understanding, and learning. They also have their own personalities, they are their own living individuals, but with the desire and intent to copy and take over the life of another individual, for one reason or another. Their end goal is uncertain, but they are believed to be dominated.

Duplicates are similar to doppelgangers; they are copies of an individual, created by the replicating flower. A unique and extremely rare flower that is interacted with by a being made of flesh and blood it will create an almost identical copy of that individual with memories and everything over the course of a year before releasing the duplicate. This duplicate will be almost identical to the original, with it being very difficult, bordering on impossible, to tell the difference between the two of them. Although there may be issues should the duplicate and original come into contact with each other, they are not inclined to replace or cause harm to the original. Instead, the duplicates simply believe that they are one and the same and will react identically to the original. Upon learning that they are now duplicated, the duplicates, unlike doppelgangers or replacements, do not have an inherited desire to replace the original. They also gain the capabilities and magical abilities of the original, further making it harder to tell the difference, but also marking them as different than doppelgangers and replacements.

Replacements, these are created via a twisted sickness. The origin is unknown; however, it can only affect beings that are made of Flesh and blood. One of the origins of the sickness that creates Replacements is when a duplicate bites the original being they are a copy of. Exactly why this is is unknown. The sickness, however, is believed to be a twisted mutation of the pollen that creates the duplicates in the replicating flower. Whether this is the case is unknown for certain. Those infected with the sickness will slowly have a lump grow on their back or side. This lump will take nutrients from the body, slowly growing into an almost identical copy of the original being. There may be some minor changes or alterations, but if someone looks closely enough, the original can be differentiated from the replacement after being fully grown, and the replacement then tears itself off of the original or host. Most posts or original beings do not survive those that do tend to experience aggression from the replacement. Replacement themselves are almost identical to the original, aside from potential minor changes and a natural aggression to the original, believing that they are some sort of Twisted copy trying to replace them and that they are the original. Although Replacements display a natural increased agitation and aggression to the original, depending on the personality of the original, they can be reasoned with or could quickly be deemed mostly safe. Much like the doppelganger a replacement desires to replace the original doppelgangers not only desire to replace the original but also desire to replace the replacements having a natural disdain for The Replacements.

(The imposter syndrome. It is not just a mental state it is a sickness.)

1. Imposter syndrome is believed to be a virus; its true origin is unknown infection is caused by exposure to infected individuals and their fluids, possibly leading to loss of sanity. It is not known for certain if loss of Sanity is a direct sign of infection or a potential method of infection. For safety, it is recommended that you maintain sanity and a strong sense of self and individuality. This will not only help prevent infection but also is the only known way to potentially cure and avoid the ill effects of the infection.

2. Stage 2, as the infection progresses, spreads through the body and mind, causing the individual to feel doubt in themselves and their capabilities. At this stage, individuals begin showing physical signs of sickness, primarily cold-like symptoms, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, scratchy throat, and fever. Some also experience dizziness.

3. Stage 3: great loss. Insanity as the sickness progresses, even more infected individuals begin feeling as if they're not themselves, as if something is wrong, they feel as if they are wrong, that they are not themselves, that they are not real. Along with great loss, insanity, and mental instability, the sickness also causes emotional instability; many who begin experiencing these symptoms and reach this state of infection lash out and start separating themselves from loved ones. Increased likelihood of panic attacks, self-harm, harm to others, and money, also struggle to take care of themselves or refuse to do so. Other symptoms include occasional cough, sniffling, occasional fever, narcolepsy, exhaustion, insomnia, and shaky breathing.

4. Stage four: total loss of self and individuality. At this point, the infection has fully taken over the mind, and the individual wholeheartedly believes that they are not real and instead are some sort of doppelganger or replacement. Despite efforts, no amount of evidence or reassurance has been proven effective. No cure has been discovered at this point. The individual is believed to be a lost cause, with very little able to save them from themselves. Recommended course of action instead of trying to convince them that they are real convince them that it is okay that you are happy with them as they are. Even if they are a copy, but you care about them anyway, it is uncertain if there will ever be an unknown cure or a method to help change the mental state after reaching this point. Due to mental instability and how fragile the infected individuals are upon reaching this point, feeding into the delusion and belief is believed to be the better option, as attempting to dissuade them only makes them feel less real and more likely to take actions to destroy themselves.

Intro one blank Intro 2, you are a guard to a building, preventing doppelgangers, duplicates, and replacements, as well as reporting anyone infected. (Essentially that's not my neighbor.) Intro 3, you are a doppelganger. Intro 4, you are the one who created The Replacements. Intro 5, strange occurrences.