Brainchild

From PathfinderWiki
Brainchild
The Greenbrier Hunter, a brainchild.
(Creature)
Rare
Large
Mental

Level
11
Alignment
Source: Bestiary 3, pg(s). 38

Brainchildren are rumors brought to life, springing from thoughts and fears about hypothetical killers.1

Appearance

Brainchildren have no inherent appearance and always appear as their prey expects them to, down to the items they appear to possess. When conflicting beliefs exist, the brainchild chooses the form it takes in a given moment.1

Abilities

Born of rumors, the abilities brainchildren possess also come from rumor. If local gossip ascribes to the brainchild an immunity to a particular kind of magic, that brainchild gains that immunity. If legends tell of a weakness, the brainchild possesses weakness. A brainchild's foes must believe in those strengths and weaknesses or else it will lose that facet of itself for that fight. A defeated brainchild reforms as long as anyone truly believes that the brainchild still exists.1

All brainchildren fight with conjured weapons and possess the ability to kill with fear.1

Ecology

Brainchildren can appear in any region where superstitions and fears about remorseless killers grip the populace strongly enough. The rumors often begin with a death from a phantasmal killer spell that is ascribed instead to some superpowered killer. Brainchildren cleave strongly to this tale of murder and are often driven only by a desire to terrify and kill.1

On Golarion

In parts of Shenmen, brainchildren are known as yohoi.2

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Paizo Inc., et al. “Monsters A-Z” in Bestiary 3, 38. Paizo Inc., 2021
  2. Liane Merciel. Kuchisake-onna” in To Bloom Below the Web, 67. Paizo Inc., 2024