I hope it's okay if I post this question again, but this time here.
I'm currently running Curse of the Crimson Throne AP and party will soon get to the end of third story arc (Escape from Old Korvosa). I started AP before Updated Edition and still haven't had time to read it/take a look at changes and additions to the overall story in full detail. But I know that there is an addition with raiding Red Mantises HQ under the Longacre Building.
Considering that the place is also the training grounds for Grey Maidens, I'll make sure that PCs are going to meet some of these fine ladies. Because two of them, are sisters of their respective brothers from the party. Story short - they "enlisted" on their free will, but were conditioned, as other recruits, to serve the Queen with unquestionable loyalty (and have, time from time, "sessions" that maintain this state).
When the party will go on the raid, they will meet these unfortunate relatives in full armor and with their minds messed up. Therefore, no immediate recognition from their respective brothers, avoidance of fighting and trying to "bring them back" (not immediate at least).
Now the problem is that until the raid, party isn't yet on Queens hit list. So there is no reason to put sisters under some intense brainwashing, to make them almost mindless constructs under Ileosas thumb. Only the "standard procedure", which I think consists of spells, drugs/alchemical creations (to make the mind susceptible) and some technics (diplomacy skill maybe?).
I'd be happy to hear any advice on matter of what spells and other stuff I should use, to flesh up the procedure of indoctrination. So they too do not snap back in one round, and run away with party. I kind of hope for some roleplay, and even "accidental death" of one of the sisters for a dramatic story/motivation to really hate Ileosa and make her a villain to remember.
P.S.
Therefore, we rolled for backgrounds, got the skeletons of it for each character, and players went to flesh them up. And I must say, they made decent enough stories. Yes there was a bit of "dead parents" trope, but mostly because of rolls. Others in PCs families where alive (cannot say fine, because they tied some of them with AP story traits). After that, I again warned them, that this AP has elements that target not only their characters, but characters family and friends.
Players got the taste of it, when we got to the second story arch of AP, with the plague epidemic. I cannot say that they weren't interacting with them before, but they probably assumed that plague will avoid these NPCs. At the end of the second arc, which took literally seven days of in-game time, plague silently killed two of them (others managed with their Fortitude rolls against the plague) and almost killed the father of the paladin (character had to be informed by his adopted brother about the problem). Players were caught of guard yes, but they took it rather well. Questions were asked to clarify some things, but no hard feelings.
By this time, party wasn't (and isn't even now) knowing that the plague was engineered by Ileosa, and what is behind the Gray Maidens. They avoided fights with them, so they had just distaste towards them, thinking that they are misguided iron fist of the Queen. The sisters in question knew even less. One enlisted because of her idealism, wanting to help the city as her brother does (party is by the way, a special task force at City Guard) and serve the monarchy (Queen did pose herself as innocent lady trying her best in this chaotic times). Second one was an Academae student and was invited in Gray Maidens. Being determined and mostly ambitious (because this magic school isn't for the soft sort), she took the chance to be someone there.
Characters, after sisters enlisted, being in Bloodsworn Valley and doing some adventuring/getting noble titles and lands, sent letters to them asking to break with Maidens, but got no response (explanation on why will need another wall of text, but suffice to say its tied to one of brothers background and choices). Now they think that there is something fishy with Grey Maidens.
tl;dr version of spoiler text - sisters where introduced in PCs backgrounds; players know me and I them for some years (was their GM earlier many times); warned them that this AP will hit not only their characters but their respective circle of NPCs; playing the villain smart and cunning, so her actions didn't seem tyrannical to the less informed; inserted motivations for respective sisters to join Gray Maidens; prefer at least some of the world to move forward without direct involvement from the party.
Modify Memory, to make them forget who they were before/ implant false memories to make them loyal to the throne.
since the spell only lets you change 5 min/casting you would either have to say that it was cast a lot, or GM handwave it as being more effective in this case.
If you use Modify Memory and you could fid a way toi justify it, you could give Ileosa the mythic version of that spell.
Another way to deal with this is to create specific cursed magic items affecting the wearers with continuous charm person effects that could be turned into full scale dominate as needed (their helms or some sort of choker could be ideal for this). In order to break these effects the sisters would have to be treated with remove curse.
If you use Modify Memory and you could fid a way toi justify it, you could give Ileosa the mythic version of that spell.
Another way to deal with this is to create specific cursed magic items affecting the wearers with continuous charm person effects that could be turned into full scale dominate as needed (their helms or some sort of choker could be ideal for this). In order to break these effects the sisters would have to be treated with remove curse.
This certainly will be the next step. But for now, party isn't top priority on Ileosas list of things to deal with. Therefore, no need in Ileosas personal touch and high grade magic items.
For now, sisters should have the standart "treatment" used on them. As any other recruit would get, from Grey Maidens that supervise and maintain the "moral state" aligned with Queens interests.
If you use Modify Memory and you could fid a way toi justify it, you could give Ileosa the mythic version of that spell.
Another way to deal with this is to create specific cursed magic items affecting the wearers with continuous charm person effects that could be turned into full scale dominate as needed (their helms or some sort of choker could be ideal for this). In order to break these effects the sisters would have to be treated with remove curse.
This certainly will be the next step. But for now, party isn't top priority on Ileosas list of things to deal with. Therefore, no need in Ileosas personal touch and high grade magic items.
For now, sisters should have the standart "treatment" used on them. As any other recruit would get, from Grey Maidens that supervise and maintain the "moral state" aligned with Queens interests.
If it's a weaker effect you want then charm person cast with the extend spell metamagic feat (+1) will get the job done. A lvl 4 spellcaster ma it last 8 hours, so a few of them can keep this up all day long.
You might also rule the "treatment" (drugs, hynosis and such) is mundane in origin and has the same effect as charm person but lasting longer because it's not using a magic lasting a definite amount of time. Also, you might want to check out the rules for torture
Or you could use the Hypnotism Occult skil Unlock.
It's not super strong but you can tweak the rules in order to make it work as you need (those pesky Grey Maidens Matrons may be very good at this sort of thing...)