Chloe, the Human Hivemind

The heroes in The Broken Brides of Europe had not to directly confront Doktor Mesmer, because he had already been absorbed by the hivemind he created… and it was eager to absorb more consciences and continue to grow. It was a horrific encounter.

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Chloe’s Drone CR 6 MR 1

Agile hivemind mesmerist human aristocrat 2

N Medium humanoid (hivemind, human)

Init +21, dual initiative; Senses Perception +0

Defense

AC 13, touch 12, flat-footed 11 (+1 Dex, +3 dodge, +1 natural)

hp 17 (2d8+8)

Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +3

Defensive Abilities evasion, hive mind

Offense

Speed 60 ft.

Melee unarmed strike +0 (1d3–1)

Special Attacks hypnotic stare, painful stare (+1 damage)

Mesmerist Spells Known (CL 2nd, concentration +6)

1st Level (2/day)- murderous command (DC 15)

0-Level (2/day)- daze (DC 14), unwitting ally (DC 14)

Statistics

Str 8, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 11, Wis 10, Cha18

Base Atk +1; CMB +0; CMD 12

Feats Conduit Casting*, Dodge, Skill Focus (Diplomacy)

Skills Bluff +8, Diplomacy +12, Knowledge (nobility) +5, Knowledge (religion) +4, Perform (dance) +9, Perform (sing, string instruments) +8, Ride +5, Sense Motive +4

Languages Common

SQ assume identity +2, assume knowledge, mesmerist trick (fearsome guise) 1/day

Gear alluring philter (150 gp), fetish of natural armor +1 (1,500 gp), hypnotist’s locket (pocket watch) (250 gp), mesmerist’s kit (35 gp), noble’s outfit (75 gp)

The first drones of Chloe were chosen among young and naive kidnapped scions of aristocracy. None of them was particularly adept at combat or instructed in magic (base stats as a Princess NPC). If Mesmer had not been exhausted and damaged after the ritual and if the drones’ hivemind had not protected them from his mental spells, Chloe would not have been able to overwhelm the doctor and force him to join the collective (losing his physical body in the process). The four base bodies gained thus the mesmerist simple template (modified by Mesmer’s Thought Eater archetype’s abilities) and a portion of mythic power.

Despite the drones’ physical weakness, it was somewhat difficult for the heroes to defeat them, since they wouldn’t kill the children but only set them free from the spell. If Chloe had had the time to extend their consciousness to more drones, they would have been a much more formidable menace.