Cerebric CystThis floating, purple brain has occult sigils glowing on its surface and tentacles made of ectoplasm.Cerebric Cyst CR 7Source Occult Bestiary pg. 13
XP 3,200
NE Tiny ooze
Init +6; Senses thoughtsense 30 ft., Perception +16
Aura brain static (30 ft.), mental static (30 ft., DC 19)DefenseAC 19, touch 19, flat-footed 14 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +2 insight, +2 size)
hp 85 (10d8+40)
Fort +9, Ref +9, Will +11
Defensive Abilities evasion, prescience; Immune ooze traitsOffenseSpeed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (good)
Melee 2 tentacles +13 (2d6 electricity plus empowering strike and psychic sting)
Space 2-1/2 ft., Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks empowering strike, psychic sting
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 10th; concentration +14)
Constant—enshroud thoughtsOA
At will—charm monster (DC 18), dominate person (DC 19), mind thrust IIOA (DC 16), synesthesiaOA (DC 17), telekinetic projectileOA
Psychic Magic (CL 10th; concentration +14)
9 PE—mind thrust IIIOA (3 PE, DC 17), synaptic pulseOA (3 PE, DC 17)StatisticsStr 4, Dex 19, Con 18, Int 15, Wis 22, Cha 19
Base Atk +7; CMB +9; CMD 22 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Defensive Combat Training, Dodge, Great Fortitude, Iron Will, Weapon Finesse
Skills Bluff +14, Diplomacy +6, Fly +20, Perception +16, Sense Motive +16, Stealth +15
Languages Aklo (can’t speak), Common (can’t speak); telepathy 100 ft.EcologyEnvironment any ruins or underground
Organization solitary, pair, flight (3–6), or colony (7–12)
Treasure incidentalSpecial AbilitiesBrain Static (Su) While within 30 feet of a cerebric cyst, creatures take a –2 penalty on all saves against the cerebric cyst’s attacks, spells, and other abilities. This is a mindaffecting effect.
Empowering Strike (Su) When a cerebric cyst hits a target creature with a tentacle attack, after resolving the damage it can, as a swift action, use one of its spell-like abilities without provoking attacks of opportunity.
Prescience (Su) A cerebric cyst’s limited precognitive ability grants it a +2 insight bonus on initiative checks, on Reflex saves, and to Armor Class. Cerebric cysts are never surprised or flat-footed.
Psychic Sting (Su) Creatures hit by a cerebric cyst’s tentacle must succeed at a DC 19 Fortitude saving throw or take 1d6 points of Intelligence damage. When a cerebric cyst deals Intelligence damage, it regains 1d6 hit points. This attack deals twice as much Intelligence damage and heals the cerebric cyst of twice as much damage if the victim can cast psychic spells (including by virtue of possessing the psychic magic universal monster ability) or has the Psychic Sensitivity feat. The save DC is Constitution-based.DescriptionWhile a typical brain ooze is content with feeding on and subjugating the minds of lesser beings, cerebric cysts focus on a higher prize. Only the minds of psychic beings sate the vile and cruel hunger of these creatures. Cerebric cysts often manifest greater number of aggressive abilities than their brain ooze cousins, stunning and weakening their quarries’ mental defenses before draining their victims’ precious intellectual energy through their ectoplasmic tentacles.
A cerebric cyst is willing to devour the power of non-psychic beings, but it gains only minor satisfaction from their mental energy. Psychic creatures, however, are a true delicacy, and cerebric cysts occasionally establish facades such as fake schools for gifted children in order to lure such pliable chattel to them and thus avoid the need for arduous hunts for psychic sensitives.
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