Ceroptor Swarm

Ceroptor Swarm CR 16

XP 204,800
CE Gargantuan aberration (swarm, extraplanar)
Init +5; Senses blindsight (life) 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +28

DEFENSE HP 280

EAC 30; KAC 31
Fort +14, Ref +14, Will +21
Immunities swarm immunities

OFFENSE

Speed 10 ft., fly 60 ft. (perfect)
Melee swarm attack (4d8+16 P plus paralysis)
Space 20 ft.
Offensive Abilities ganglion probe, paralytic toxin
Spell-like Abilities (CL 16th)

1/day—mind thrust (6th-level, DC 24), true seeing
3/day—crush skull (DC 23), feeblemind (DC 23), greater synaptic pulse (DC 23), telepathy
At will—mind thrust (4th-level, DC 22), confusion (DC 22)

STATISTICS

Str +0, Dex +5, Con +7, Int +10, Wis +4, Cha +0
Feats Combat Casting
Skills Bluff +28, Intimidate +28, Mysticism +33, Physical Science +33, Stealth +33
Languages Aklo, Common
Other Abilities steal body

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Ganglion Probe (Ex)

As a standard action, a ceroptor swarm can forcefully insert one of its ganglia into a helpless creature’s nervous system. Inserting the ganglion deals 1d6 points Dexterity damage. For each round thereafter, for as long as the ganglion remains inserted, the ceroptor swarm continues drawing fluids dealing an additional 1d6 points of Dexterity damage. If this ability damage exceeds the target’s Dexterity score, any additional Dexterity damage becomes Dexterity drain. A ganglion probe can be torn out by hand with a successful grapple combat maneuver or a DC 25 Strength check; in either case, a successful check deals 4d6 points of damage to the creature being probed.

Large Swarm (Ex)

A ceroptor swarm gains swarm immunities and swarm attack, but does not gain the swarm defenses trait.

Paralytic Toxin (Ex)

Creatures subjected to a ceroptor swarm’s swarm attack must make a DC 24 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1 round for each round they are inside the swarm.

Steal Body (Ex)

Individual ceroptors within a swarm can attempt to decapitate and inhabit the corpse of any creatures slain within the last 12 hours that occupy the same space as the swarm.

Once the ceroptor takes full control of the host body, it becomes a bodied ceroptor and breaks from the swarm, reducing the swarms HP by 10.

In all other respects, the steal body is identical to the ceroptor ability of the same name.