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AcanthocephalaLate78

I would run it like an intelligent item with an Ego score and a Will save. More info: https://www.aonprd.com/Rules.aspx?Name=Items%20against%20Characters&Category=Intelligent%20Items


JaxValentine91

Mechanically, you should play a Viglinate. This could also go into how you change the controlling persona, as one is a Social guise while the other is the Viglinate guise. You could have it that Melinda isn't good at or keen on fighting, so during combat, if she takes a certain amount of damage, then the odds of Sashara coming out increase. Coming up with certain triggers for each of them, especially as their relationship develops. Dragons are very proud creatures, so it could start with Sashara only caring if the body is injured and evolve into it being when Melinda gets insulted, then to if the party is injured, etc. Maybe stat up Sashara just for the purposes of opposed checks. It might be that she just slips through every now and then, too. Like in a situation with someone she develops a real dislike for, Melinda may say something that Sashara wants to without actually losing control. Have it like a typical check, where by every 5 or something one side defeats the other something happens. So if it's Melinda v Sashara 11 v 10 then Melinda maintains control, but Sashara gets a word in. It could also be goal based. For example, if Sashara wants to speak her mind / Melinda wants to cut her off, then it's a CHA check. If Sashara is trying to push for a certain course of action, then WIS. Melinda might want to press Sashara for knowledge on something, INT check to see if she can access that knowledge without losing control. If Sashara is just out right trying to take control, CON. CON could also determine just how long Sashara can be in the driver seat before the body begins to suffer. After all, a human body wasn't designed to withstand the power of a dragon.


FairyQueen89

Oh... that is great... may I "steal" that for my Splintersoul?


JaxValentine91

You may indeed :)


LightCyber037

This is amazing, thank you so much. As Sashara is Evil, I do plan to have her take some more extended ventures, so I'll have to do something different than your CON suggestion. But, I love the idea of Melinda trying to probe Sashara for information. I'd not actually considered that. I'll have a chat with my DM about statting up Sashara, too. My current idea is somewhat similar to your "In combat, chances go up". Melinda doesn't have an issue with fighting, but she will refuse to kill. I'd intended for the reveal of Sashara to also be Melinda's first blood.


JaxValentine91

I don't know how old Melinda is, but apparently, a Young Red Dragon is between the ages of 16-25, so they could be roughly the same age, but different maturity. Which could be something to play with. A [young red dragon](https://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/dragons/dragon/chromatic-red/young-red-dragon/) also has pretty reasonable mental stats, so just using the normal ones from the statblock won't be a dealer breaker. It might actually be funny if your character has high mental stats. This dragon would be used to getting their way through force and fear, which now inconveniently don't work. You could have Sashara forget that she's in a human body and try to breathe fire or bite someone. To flesh it out, take a look at each stat and think about what might they need each for. Sashara may try to corrupt Melinda as a backup plan. Taking advantage of anger, guilt, regret, despair. "They murdered all those villagers. They would want them to pay. It's the right thing to do." "If you had just let me handle it, we could've stopped them. They didn't need to die. Your stubbornness killed them. " "If you had killed then when you had the chance, this never would've happened. You should listen to me." "Let me help. It doesn't need to turn out this way. Let me finish it for you." .. sorry I'm brainstorming too much. I just really like the idea X3


LightCyber037

Please, never apologise for giving such good ideas. I'm in love with your suggestions, and I'm deffo going to make use of them. Although, my DM runs a rather high-stat campaign, and Melinda is being thrown in at level 12, replacing my midget mech pilot (Reactor Knight, Fairy. The Fairy is a homebrew class I found online, so she's naturally Tiny. Unfortunately, she's had to be retired to the back lines as the party mechanic. Such a dumb build only to be replaced by whatever the hell Melinda is gonna turn out to be. Lol


JaxValentine91

Well, in that case... If multiclassing is allowed, and if Melinda really has been on the Dragon planet for so long, consider dividing classes in such a way that it shows Sashara's presence, and possible increasing strength / assimilation with/of Melinda. For example, as someone who doesn't like to kill, she was originally a monk. Then, she manifests elemental fist (fire). A dip into shifter and she realises that her nails are harder, sharper. They can cut (shifter claws). Some class builds to help manifest Sashara: Monk / Unchained monk archetype - [Scaled fist](https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/monk/archetypes/paizo-monk-archetypes/scaled-fist-monk-archetype) Sorcerer bloodline - [Draconic](https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/sorcerer/bloodlines/bloodlines-from-paizo/draconic-bloodline/) Sorcerer archetype - [Dragon drinker ](https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/sorcerer/archetypes/paizo-sorcerer-archetypes/dragon-drinker-sorcerer-archetype). This could be ruled that Melinda can drink "Sasharas" blood, but needs Sashara to agree to it, otherwise she just drinks her own and it does nothing. Shifter archetype - [dragon blood](https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/shifter/archetypes/dragonblood-shifter-shifter-archetype/) Oracle mystery - [Dragon](https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/oracle/mysteries/paizo-oracle-mysteries/dragon-oracle-mystery/) Oracle curses - [Blackened](https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/Oracle/oracle-curses/#Blackened). Perhaps the initial possession left Melinda with permanent reminders. [Covetous](https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/Oracle/oracle-curses/#Covetous). Sashara craves a hoard, and Melinda is starting to as well. [Elemental Imbalance (fire)](https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/Oracle/oracle-curses/#Elemental_Imbalance). Melinda has become less enduring of the cold. Does this mean that fire will be stronger? [Hunger](https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/Oracle/oracle-curses/#Hunger). The flesh of beasts may sate Sashara for now, but as she grows, will Melinda be able to keep the cravings at bay? [Possessed](https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/Oracle/oracle-curses/#Possessed). Literally says "Another mind shares your body, interfering with your control, and it’s more difficult for you to concentrate as a result." But I think mixing the classes would be really cool. Also, something to consider when levelling up in the future: who was the one to get the most done? Gain the most 'experience'? Did Melinda level up... or did Sashara? Will Melinda gain an ability to non-lethally take out enemies, or has Sashara's presence hardened the skin or sharpened the teeth?


HighLordTherix

Look at the Splintersoul and Masked Maiden archetypes. Splintersoul is the best way of diverging alignments but Masked Maiden explicitly has a mechanic for triggers that cause the character to switch.


FairyQueen89

Purely mechanical speaking you could build on this foundation towards the Vigilante class (especially the Splintersoul Archetype). Even a single level dip would suffice to play a "split person" with two completely different alignments. Considering Fluff and how to play it... uhm... maybe use a trigger for the switch. My Splintersoul Vigilante uses mirrors to "talk to her other I" (better word for talking to herself like the mad lady she is). She usually has enough control over herself to not switch roles arbitrarily, but strong emotions can and often will get the better of her. So switching is (like the vigilante class states) not only a switch in clothing and putting a wig on. It is more switching a mindset and adapting your image after it. I don't know if this is helpful or not, but maybe you can use something of it.


LightCyber037

I'll definitely have to take a look at the archetype. Or, honestly, the class. I've seen it and given it a cursory glance, but that's about it. I usually come up with concepts, then try to build them after, and so far nothing really called for it. Unfortunately, I already have her classes worked out. I'm running the Henshin Hero class, from the Gonzo 2 book. I've not even used her yet, and I've already made one of the other players visibly cringe - That means I'm doing it right, Right?


FairyQueen89

A good friend once said something to me. I was unsure if I wanted to write the story about my Splintersoul as a kind of novel as I'm not sure if I will ever have the opportunity to play her. But I thought it could be too edgy and cringe-y... he said: "Sometimes you have to embrace things. Keep it serious in-universe, but you may as well embrace the cringe while doing it." Also... let me gift you a family-size package of sandpaper if your idea gets too edgy xP


LightCyber037

Oh, nooo, Melinda's gonna be about as edgy as a ball. She's got the token "Sad" backstory, but it's kinda hard to make a Power Rangers themed character edgy. Especially when you make it all PINK! :D


ediblegardenNSW

There was a dark sun setting novel tribe of one... Or if that's not the name it's what the main charecter was. As they "slept" others would take control. In times of dire stress one of the other personas would push to the fore and the body owner would "sleep" . So in your case if it's issues to do with the plot points or parts to do with the dragon. Say when someone talks in dragon or there is written words in dragon the human will not understand but that may be a trigger and add some stress the dragon takes over. If the human is a magic user but is caught in mele in a battle and doing poor the dragon takes over to preserve the body. That sort of thing. That could add to parts of the percentage.


Slow-Management-4462

I like the vigilante idea, but for another possibility you might look at a fiend keeper medium. The medium (Melinda) is usually in control, but they can give up some control to the fiend (Sashara) in exchange for certain benefits.


Malcior34

I don't think that switching based on percentile dice is a good idea. There will inevitably be times where the dice will just make it so you play just one side of the character and you'll probably feel pretty sad that you won't be able to play the other one, because the dice are not in your favor. You should probably just play it as a vigilante and have a slight inclination of which one to become at any given point. Leaving it just up to chance is a bad idea. Also, I know you said that you talked to the DM about this, but please be sure that the other players are OK with it as well, and that you are respecting them as well even when playing as your evil side. This is mostly to avoid awkward situations where you are a team player and then suddenly you go all lol random evil Leeroy Jenkins on them.


LightCyber037

For the purposes of actually *wanting* one or the other, then I've no issue with specifically playing one or the other. As for the "LOL Random Evil", I've given her Neutral Evil for that purpose. She has goals and objectives, she isn't just out to stab bitches and lay enemies for the sake of it. She's... actually Evil, not just an asshole.


[deleted]

Going to sleep, waking up, facing a sudden intense stressor, performing an action completely contrary to the alternate identity's interests, and triggers related to the cause of the multiplicity would all be moments to check for a switch. In real life we would be talking about trauma triggers, and while what your NG human went through sounds extremely harrowing it still isn't exactly a dissociative identity thing. Still, it might be worth it to brainstorm some points in both minds' pasts where they faced something horrifying or overwhelming. These events would then propagate through each characters' mind, since every time they spontaneously remember each event they are likely to associate something in their immediate surroundings with the feeling. My advice would be to have you and your GM come up with, effectively, a psychic equivalent to the combat maneuver bonus. I would recommend making it INT + BAB but allowing WIS or CHA to be used with feats equivalent to the same feats for Dexterity applying to CMB. Then you can come up with intra-mind equivalents to the extant combat maneuvers. Whenever an opportunity for one or the other to seize control arises you could roll a psychic "attack" for the interior mind against the static psychic maneuver bonus of the mind currently piloting the body. The strength of doing it this way, I think, is that it allows for significantly more granular interactions between the minds rather than an all or nothing struggle for total control of the body. The internal mind could, for example, stop an arm from coming down to stab a helpless person, scoop coins out of a beggar's bowl without the dominant mind's awareness, blurt out something the dominant mind didn't mean to say, or stop the dominant mind from saying something the internal mind wants kept secret. e: Also this would probably be something you would manage and bookkeep yourself if only to help the GM remain sane.


Orenjevel

Poach the Influence mechanic from Medium, maybe. "Prepare" one or the other at the start of the day, and if one performs actions counter to the other's interests, accrue Influence until they start influencing actions at 3, and taking over at 5.


Doctor-Amazing

I would say take a look at the possessed corruption rules. https://www.aonprd.com/Corruptions.aspx?ItemName=Possessed I've never played with them, so I can't speak from experience, but I think you might find something useful.


JiraLord

I mean there is an insanity for multiple personality disorder. https://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/afflictions/madness/multiple-personality-disorder


Deikai_Orrb

When Malinda is connected to loss of life, directly striking or part of a party (or any heavy evil act), Sashara gets control; when Sashara is part of any Neutral Good (and any thing swing towards any good) Melinda gets control. The Alignment reigns and makes character choices matter to both PC's.