Fantasy Monster: Trail Of Thought

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Trail Of Thought

A translucent strand of scintillating colors, floating in the air, circling over heads of others.

CR 2; XP 600
N Tiny Construct (animate, incorporeal)

Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, detect thoughts; Perception +6

Aura implant idea (10 ft.)

Defense
AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 13 (+1 deflection, +1 Dex, +2 size)
hp 22 (4d10)
Fort +1; Ref +2; Will +3

Defensive Abilities hold the thought, incorporeal; Immune construct traits

Weakness susceptible to damage and conditions caused by mind-affecting effects

Offense
Speed fly 20 ft. (perfect)

Melee incorporeal touch +6 (3d6 nonlethal)

Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

Special Attacks implant idea

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 4th, concentration +5)

Constant—detect thoughts (DC 13)

Statistics
Str —, Dex 12, Con —, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 13
Base Atk +4; CMB +3; CMD 13

Feats Hover, Improved Initiative

Skills Fly +17, Perception +6, Stealth +13

Language none; passively and constantly read thoughts of nearby creatures with detect thoughts

Ecology
Environment settlements, ruins
Organization solitary, pair, stream (3–10)
Treasure incidental

Special Abilities

Hold The Thought (Su) While trail of thought can't actually possess other beings, it can attach itself to a non-mindless being, usually while the creature is fascinated, sleeping, or otherwise unaware of its surroundings. Being incorporeal and weightless it doesn't disturb the host, and can take 10 on Stealth checks  to avoid being noticed. Whenever the host takes an action that matches the trail of thought's nature, the trail heals 5 hit points.

Implant Idea (Su) A trail of thought projects its essential concept into the minds of nearby sapient beings, which lingers at the edge of their consciousness as long as they remain in range. Any saving throw against a mind-affecting effect that would compel to act or behave in accordance with the core idea of the trail of thought suffers ‒4 penalty, as does Charisma check made to avoid following similarly resonant appeal while under effects of a charm. Any actions taken in direct accordance with the particular trail of thoughts gain +2 morale bonus to attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks. This is a mind-affecting effect.

Shocking Thought (Su) A trail of thought can lash at a nearby creature delivering a mental shock, inflicting 3d6 points of nonlethal damage on a successful incorporeal touch attack. This is a mind-affecting effect.

When a powerful entity forcibly sheds an unwanted idea, an inconvenient memory, an annoying desire, or an intrusive thought, the discarded concept can coalesce into one or more of self-sustaining mindforms, bodiless presences that wander around, seeking sapient beings that will enact the trail of thought's underlying nature more often than not.

While they don't actively compel people do anything, trail of thoughts subtly empower anyone who chooses to follow through, which might convince them to do so again in the future. With enough reinforcement, a sapient being might lock itself into a cycle of repetition, over and over again.

A trail of thought can be bound as an improved familiar (requires caster level 7th), though finding one fitting would-be master's personality might be challenge in itself... Skilled casters could in theory create one themselves, but by very definition, a trail of thoughts are made from parts of their minds they cast away forever.