Shapechanger. The mimic can use its action to polymorph its surface to resemble any book. 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 mimic adheres to anything that touches it. A Medium or smaller creature adhered to the mimic is also grappled by it (escape DC 12). Ability checks made to escape this grapple have disadvantage.
Bookkeeper. While the mimic has at least 1 hit point, its pages and anything written on them can’t be damaged and don't deteriorate with age.
False Appearance (Object Form Only). While the mimic remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from an ordinary book.
Grappler. The mimic has advantage on attack rolls against any creature grappled by it.
Mimic Spell (1/Short Rest). The mimic can cast a spell written in its pages as though from a spell scroll. Spells of 1st-level and higher are considered to be of a higher level than the mimic can normally cast. Whether the mimic succeeds or fails to cast the spell, the spell is not lost and remains written on the mimic's pages.
Pseudopod. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 0 ft., one creature holding the mimic. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) bludgeoning damage. If the mimic is in object form, the target is subjected to its Adhesive trait.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing damage plus 2 (1d4) acid damage.
Book Throw. The mimic hurls itself at space up to 20 feet away. If that space is occupied by a creature, that creature must succeed on a DC 12 Strength or Dexterity saving throw (target's choice) or take 3 (1d4 + 1) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. On a successful save, the creature takes no damage, isn't knocked prone.
Description
There are two kinds of book mimic. The first are merely tiny mimics that happen by to imitate a book. The second are the true book mimics, sometimes referred to as "book guardians". Rather than a mimic that becomes a book, a book guardian is a normal book that has been encased by a mimic and integrated into its body.
A book mimic envelops a book entirely within its own body, which resembles a thick, often textured, leather binding. This mimic opens one or more eyes on its cover to survey whoever handles it. If the handler speaks the correct password or shows the mimic the correct symbol, object, or gesture, it opens, allowing the handler access to its pages. A handler that fails to provide the proper "key" is denied access, and must fight to gain entry.
Anyone that threatens the mimic or its volume soon discovers that the book mimic, though tiny, is far from helpless. Like their larger kin, they can issue forth pseudopods to attack, secrete adhesive from their skin, and produce acidic saliva from their maw. Book mimics being used as spellbooks have even been known to cast spells written in them.
In a fray, book mimics bite and slap assailants, or spring away to escape, scuttling to slip down chutes or under furniture nearby to keep its book and its secrets safe.
Variant: Book Mimic Familiar
Book mimics are willing to serve as familiars for other creatures. A mimic acting as a familiar gains the following trait:
Familiar. The mimic can serve another creature as a familiar, forming a telepathic bond with its willing master. While the two are bonded, the master can sense what the mimic senses as long as they are within 1 mile of each other. A mimic familiar is considered to be the same class as its master, and can function as a spellbook. Spells can be copied to or from the mimic's pages as with a wizard's spellbook, regardless of the master's class.
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