Size. If attempting to speak with multiple creatures, activating a magic item with a command word, or casting a spell that requires verbal components, the Mind Flayer has to improvise a method of speaking. They now dwell within the Underdark, preying upon the various races kept within - usually the Drow. An illithid tadpole that fails to undergo ceremorphosis gradually grows into a neothelid assuming it survives its first 100 years as a mindless slug eking out a living on subterranean vermin. A tendril can also be broken if a creature takes an action and succeeds on a DC 15 Strength check against it. About one in every 25 illithid tadpoles matures into a ulitharid. False Appearance. If you want to get extra tactical when using a Mind Flayer, Id suggest grabbing a copy of The Monsters Know What Theyre Doing. While it is primarily the Gith that they are on guard against, this serves them well against other foes such as Drow raids, miscellaneous terrors of the Underdark, and, of course, adventurers. Assuming the Mind Flayer lives a full life cycle, they can live up to 135 years. The target recognises you as the sender and can reply in a like manner. 1/day each: dominate monster, plane shift (self only). Armor Class 15 (breastplate) Hit Points 127 (17d10 + 34) Speed 30 ft. Proficiency Bonus +4 . They lose all their previous sense of self and gain the mind of a typical Illithid. Intelligence Bonus Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) bludgeoning damage. After 1 minute, the diseased creature's skin becomes translucent and slimy, the creature can't regain hit points unless it is underwater, and the disease can be removed only by heal or another disease-curing spell of 6th level or higher. While brains from animals can be used to stave off exhaustion gain, it will not remove it. benefits: You gain telepathy out to a range of 120ft. You must consume at least one brain per month. Tentacles. Either/or implies only one of the two can be cast at will. It creates a small, incorrectly proportioned creature that resembles an Illithid , but with only a fraction of their intellect or power. They capture a dragon and perform Ceremorphosis on it. Multiattack. Adult illithids are hairless humanoids that stand about 6 feet tall, with 4 long tentacles dangling down from their mouths. With free will, it is now able to make decisions for itself and could reasonably choose to be good. Occassionally, a ship that contains an Elder Brain doesn't have a physical helm at all, and is instead exclusively controlled psionically by the Elder Brain. rev2023.5.1.43405. Consider changing the following for mechanical reasons and transparency, As an action, you can use the Illithid Tadpole to cast (). The Tzakandi has advantage on attack rolls against any creature grappled by it. PS: I appreciate anybody reading the above, the formatting might be not the most helpful yet unfortunately. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 30 ft., one target. Parabolic, suborbital and ballistic trajectories all follow elliptic paths. If the Nautiloids lose crew members, they could easily use Ceremorphosis to bring the numbers back up. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. A Mozgriken has a crooked posture and only three facial tentacles, and are imbued with energy straight from the Plane of Shadow. Innate Spellcasting (Psionics). Before he can scream, a searing pain erupts in his head, and a mass of tentacles emerges from the figure, wrapping around his head and cracking it open as he takes his last breath. The doppelganger makes two melee attacks. While underwater, the Abolithid is surrounded by transformative mucus. The warship can fire its mangonels (DMG, ch. While the tadpole is implanted you gain the following In colonies with access to a large food supply, they may be able to eat brains as often as once per week. However, the Mind Flayers Mind Blast ability could potentially stun an entire party and directly lead to one or more characters dying. Tentacles. It can take only 2 actions if it has fewer than twenty crew and only 1 action if it has fewer than ten. You can grapple creatures and hold small trinkets with your tentacles. Armor Class 15 (breastplate) Hit Points 71 (13d8 + 13) Speed 30 ft. . Closely connected to another race of humanoids, the Gith, Mind Flayer utilized humanoids for both sustenence and slave labor. There was a time, thousands of years ago, when Illithids were the uncontested dominant power of the Inner Planes. Illithid do not subsist on a normal diet, instead they gain nourishment through consuming the brain of a living humanoid. Nautiloids also have an internal layout that can be similar to an Illithid lair. This can be enhanced by using a Mind Witness. As part of this move, it can use its naval ram. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. Mind Blast. Psychic Drain (Costs 2 Actions). Mental Strength. Gnome squidlings were creatures that resulted from unsuccessful attempts at performing a modified version of ceremorphosis, in which an illithid tadpole was implanted into a gnome. Everything that is known about Mind Flayers diet details their consumption of humanoid brains. Mind Flayers largely stay within their tight-knit colonies and connected to the Elder Brain. For instance, a Beholder that has been implanted with an Illithid tadpole becomes a creature known as a Mindwitness. Your Intelligence Score increases by 2, and your Wisdom or Charisma Score increases by 1. only) Spellcasting. Another race, known as the Gith, were particularly relied on for slave labor. As of yet, no sign of the Mind Flayers' previous civilization in their astral domains exist, and the survivors had infiltrated the Material Plane and went into hiding. Slaves within a Nautiloid are either newly kidnapped individuals of various races (preferably races that are unable to fly) and individuals of lesser magical ability to prevent escape via magical means. No more than once every 24 hours, the target can also repeat the saving throw when it is at least 1 mile away from the Abolithid. Funneling all of this information into the Elder Brain as a type of massive repository of information, the colony focuses in perfect unison on their goals. Whether you know them as Mind Flayers or Illithids, a tentacled, psionic horror with a taste for brains by any other name would be just as insidious. However, some situations may arise that cause a Mind Flayer to no longer be under the control of the Elder Brain. Mind Flayers are incredibly intelligent and very well-informed. Grabbing their prey with these tentacles, the Mind Flayer holds its victim tight while biting into their head with its small, circular mouth lined with razor sharp teeth. Mind Flayers who go beyond that range only do so under strict orders from the Elder Brain. Below is a list of effects that may happen during Ceremorphosis to Player Characters, or NPCs. They are warm-blooded amphibians, and spend the first 10 years of life as tadpoles, swimming in the elder-brain pool until they either die (which most do) or grow into adult mind flayers. Some Mind Flayers (such as the Mind Flayer Psion variant in Volos Guide to Monsters) dedicate themselves entirely to refining their innate psionic abilities. Each creature in that area must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 42 (12d6) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'tabletopjoab_com-banner-1','ezslot_3',126,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'tabletopjoab_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',126,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-banner-1-0_1');.banner-1-multi-126{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Instead, the Qualith inscriptions psychically transmit the thoughts of the creator to the Mind Flayer that reads it by touching the inscription with its tentacles. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage. Only the mucus that drips from the Illithids skin is able to counteract this enzyme. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be magically charmed by the Abolithid until the Abolithid dies or until it is on a different plane of existence from the target. They're naturally powerful psions, and when fed a steady diet of humanoid brains they tend to exude a slick protective mucous coating. Size. This creature remains within your control until killed. While the tadpole is implanted you gain the following Superior Darkvision. It also includes a select number of Ceremorphosis chambers should the Illithid crew run low. The baseline for survival for a Mind Flayer is being able to eat one brain per month. In reality it means I ask the DM where I can go, and most likely means the group are dead and I am escaping to who cares where. The Mind Flayers mouth produces a powerful enzyme that is able to melt through the victims skull. A creature that touches the Uchuulon or hits it with a melee attack within 5 feet of it must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or become paralyzed for one minute. If a creature is reduced to 0 hit points in this way, you can use an action to consume their brain. Intelligence is your Spellcasting ability for these spells. Everything within Mind Flayer culture revolves around serving the Elder Brain. It might be possible for someone who touches a Qualith inscription to get a brief transmission of the authors thoughts. The Abolithid makes one tail attack. Subservient to the Illithids, Tzakandi are often used as shock troops should an Illithid Colony require it, due to their survival tactics and combat prowess. Tentacles. 3/day each: dominate monster, plane shift (self only). This process is called Ceremorphosis and transforms the host into a Mind Flayer.The Mind Flayer Lifecycle. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Because they dwell in subterranean lairs close to their food sources, its not uncommon for Mind Flayers to begin to meddle with local affairs. Spider Climb. Otherwise, dominating the heaviest hitter and turning them against their allies can do the trick. Illithids, and other humanoids, gain certain feats when they level up. I can't express how much I love the curse idea! Mind Flayers can feed off of the slaves that they keep in their colonies, but are typically hesitant to do so if given a choice. Claw. When a true dragon becomes a brainstealer dragon, they retain their original statistics except as described below. Exalted. So, is this homebrew magic item balanced? Mind Blast. Particularly healthy Mind Flayers eat one brain every two weeks. Beyond using their telepathy, many Mind Flayers speak Undercommon in addition to any other languages that they might have learned. Hit: 22 (4d8 + 4) piercing damage. A Mozgriken's thoughts cannot be read, and the Mozgriken can see through the eyes and ears of a creature that can telepathically speak to. Ranged combatants like archers are your best bet when fighting a Mind Flayer. Imagine what could be done with an Ogre thrall! Your energy is represented by your Psionic Energy dice which are all a d6. Nevertheless, it adds a dark undertone to the Mind Flayers already chilling demeanor! The psychic tadpole emits a bolt of psychic energy. In either case, roll a d20. Few Nautiloids exist, but there are some cases of Illithids trying to rebuild or replicate their former strength. If you grapple a creature in this way, you deal psychic damage equal to your Intelligence Modifier to the creature per turn. A Nautiloid Crew usually consists entirely of standard Mind Flayers and its variants (Psion, Arcanist, etc) as well as some of the lesser Illithids listed within this supplement. The Essential Books EVERY Game Master Should Read, Immersive Theatre Techniques for Game Masters, Turn & Destroy Undead in D&D 5e Explained, The Ultimate Guide to Warlock Patrons in D&D 5e. The warship can fire its ballistas (DMG, ch. The warship can use its helm to move with its oars or sails. Through various events the Ceremorphosis was ended, and I was left with the live tadpole within me. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. At the bottom deck of a Nautiloid is the Slave Deck. Hit Points 100; -5 speed per 25 damage taken. . Grappler. You need to hit a target, DC17, CR15 or lower target, beast, dragon, or monstrosity. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) slashing damage. Hit: 4 (1d10 - 1) psychic damage. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 15 saving throw or take 22 (4d8 + 4) psychic damage and be stunned for 1 minute. From the 3.5e Monster Manual V, concerning the Madcrafters of Thoon, a race of creatures that was once Illithid (pg. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'tabletopjoab_com-box-4','ezslot_1',128,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-box-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'tabletopjoab_com-box-4','ezslot_2',128,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-box-4-0_1');.box-4-multi-128{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}As far as their clothing, most Mind Flayers dress in styles that are fitting of the Underdark. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Ultimately, though, this progression is determined by the Dungeon Master. On the other hand, a Mind Flayer that primarily feeds on something like Goblins or Grimlocks is unlikely to have these types of priorities. In the AD&D 2e sourcbeook Monstrous Arcana: The Illithiad, p.11, asserts that most normal means are ineffective at restoring their original form:. The Urophion pulls each creature grappled by it up to 25 ft. straight toward it. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Medium aberration, lawful evil. A New Race, and New Monsters, as well as a what the process of Celemorphosis does to an Individual when implanted with an Illithid Tadpole! They may use Drow prisoners within the Underdark, or use humans, elves, dwarves or orcs in other locations. Extract Brain. Because only a very small amount of the nourishment that a Mind Flayer receives from eating a brain is from the physical substance of that brain, they are very unlikely to feed on animals. Illithids origins consisted of several ships known as Nautiloids. After each spell is cast in this manner it can't be used again until you complete a short or a long rest. At will: _nondetection _(self only)__ With Mind Blast, the Mind Flayer will have no difficulty at all extracting the brain of at least one character. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage. Following the Gith uprising, pockets of Mind Flayers still exist. There might be some minor differences, but the majority of it should be similar to what a Mind Flayer would learn from the inscription. With the victim unable to move, slimy tentacles wrap around their head and pull them closer to the Illithids mouth. Pincer. A Tzakandi is created from a Lizardfolk, but they tend to be less intelligent than their Illithid masters. Every ship needs Cargo, and even Illithids follow this universal rule of nautical travel. It is highly intelligent, and feared for its powerful psionic . Not only does the Mind Flayer gain an ally, but the partys best counter to the Mind Flayers tactics isnt on their side anymore! The initial stages last for approximately a few hours as the tadpole begins eating away at the host's brain. Tentacle. Once you recieve this feat, you somehow have an Illithid tadpole implanted into your brain, but instead of transforming, you gain a symbiotic relationship with it - but symbiotic doesn't always mean it will stay that way. While this supplement provides players with several options on new Ceremorphs for use in their games to expand Illithids and their kin, some may feel unsatisfied with the current line-up, and may wish to create their own. Cowardly. The dreadnaught can use its helm to move with its oars or sails. When you or another creature you can see within 30 feet of you takes damage, you can use your reaction to expend one Psionic Energy die, roll the die, and reduce the damage taken by the number rolled plus your Intelligence modifier. Please feel free to let me know if it got into the way of clarity in any way. Gargantuan aberration, chaotic evil. However, there is one admittedly rare situation where the Lawful Evil alignment may not quite apply. (Illithid) 5e 4e 3e 2e 1e 5th Edition Statistics Size Medium Type Aberration Alignment Lawful evil Challenge rating General Information Patron deity Ilsensine Maanzecorian Vision Darkvision Activity cycle Any Diet Brains Average lifespan 125 years Homeland (s) Far Realm The Underdark Language (s) Undercommon Deep Speech Qualith Subraces Ulitharid You always have these spells prepared and they do not count against the number of spells you can prepare. Obsessed with Dungeons & Dragons and a close personal friend of Pocket (an interdimensional teleporting ferret). Part-time Druid, Full-time Hobo. If a Rogue Illithid wanders within 5 miles of an Elder Brain, it must roll a DC 20 Intelligence Save, or temporarily rejoin the hivemind. The Tzakandi magically emits psychic energy in a 60-foot cone. Depending on the setting, this can include various different races. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 200/800 ft. (cant hit targets within 60 ft. of it), one target. Mercy isnt in the Illithid playbook, so dont be afraid to be ruthless with its tactics! To add challenge to effective Long Rests and removing exhaustion, an Illithid may only gain Nourishment from brains. This system of tactile writing (similar to braille) is read by an Illithid's tentacles. Shapechanger. After each spell is cast in this manner it can't be used again until you complete a short or a long rest. A urophion's initial attack is a psionic mind blast affecting a cone-shaped area 5 feet wide at its origin, 60 feet long, and 20 feet wide at its extreme end. "You are merely a pawn, food waiting to be consumed by our colony! First of all this sounds like a fun way to merge fun and functionality. Only certain creatures can become Illithids, otherwise, both the tadpole and victim dies. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage. 222), although it works well with my wizard who quite likes to exert their will upon people, communicate using the Message cantrip and counts detect thoughts as a basic way to say hello. An Abolithid is a creation made from performing Ceremorphosis on an Aboleth, but is extremely rare, especially the older an Aboleth is. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. "A Vestige of Divergence typically remains dormant until its wielder achieves 9th level. What differentiates living as mere roommates from living in a marriage-like relationship? Lastly, the Elder Brain might instead dictate that total destruction is the answer. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. The ship drops a bomb at a point directly below it. Those that still survive have retreated to dark and secretive lairs. Tabletop Joab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. . The doppelganger can use its action to polymorph into a Small or Medium humanoid it has seen, or back into its true form. After each spell is cast in this manner it can't be used again until you complete a long rest. Mind Flayers are very rarely encountered alone even though encountering multiple Mind Flayers at a single time is somewhat rare. The mind flayer magically emits psychic energy in a 60-foot cone. Because the elder brain attacks any mind flayers who oppose its growing army, S'lthell fears the colony will collapse with no new mind flayers being born. Gnomes are notoriously difficult to guide through Ceremorphosis due to their quasi-magic being, and most attempts end in failure. Hit: 55 (10d10) piercing damage. These colonies exist in vast underground spaces, most notably the Underdark. Their minds are all linked together as a network which allows for quick organization and seamless functioning as each Illithid knows its exact role and purpose. Although it takes only one mind flayer to perform the process, any illithid not directly involved in the process is required to donate its psionic power to the effort while otherwise remaining inactive. Mind Flayers have very powerful psionic abilities that are the foundation of their abilities. On a success, the effect ends. The Doppelganger Illithid has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. These Illithids are able to mimic certain spells purely with their own psionic abilities. In keeping with the goals of the Elder Brain, a Mind Flayer colony focuses on building a secure base of operations before beginning the work that they believe will restore their empire. Once the hosts body has been completely taken over, the new Illithid spends the next twenty years growing and being educated in the colony. The overwhelming majority of these tadpoles are consumed by the Mind Flayer colonys Elder Brain. It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components: Due to your advanced mind, you have several abilities most humanoids don't. A Nautiloid Dreadnaught is an extremely large Nautiloid capable of holding large amounts of Illithids and passengers at once. These poor victims turn into mind flayers themselves, slaves to the elder brain. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Nevertheless, any and all information is of use to the Illithids and their pursuit of the Grand Design. The Brainstealer Dragon can grapple up to four creatures. After each spell is cast in this manner it can't be used again until you complete a long rest. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) psychic damage. Sometimes, a major plot point in a players' story involves them being implanted with an Illithid tadpole. Mucous Cloud. The mind flayer arcanist is a 10th-level spellcaster. Shillelagh Cantrip Guide for 5e | How To Whip Your Enemies Into Shape, The Legend of the Peasant Railgun in D&D 5e, Attack of Opportunity in D&D 5e Explained, Best Druid Spells By Level: A Top 10 List, 12 Monsters That Will Instantly Kill Your Characters. Up to DC18 without items, CR anything, requiring no verbal, somatic or material components. You can communicate telepathically to any creature that understands any language within 120 feet, that you are aware of. Bite. I just checked the other items in EGW and they are all around the place from advantage to skill check, through 8th level spell (evolving DC and max CR for target) to a "1 minute of fame" transformation, so it is pretty much impossible to balance anything base on these items. Magic Resistance. Jettison. Tentacles. If the process is successful, you retain some of your memories and more of your previous personality, and either take on the Illithid race, but instead are classified as a Small creature, or you adopt the Gnome Ceremorph statblock. Some attack bonuses and DC Saves do not account for CRs that are higher than the base Mind Flayer of Ulitharid, so should you wish to use higher CR creatures, feel free to make modifications so it may better suit their strength. Facial Tentacles. The Abolithid makes a Wisdom (Perception) check. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or become diseased. An Uchuulon resembles a normal Chuul, but they have a viscous mucous covering their carapace, and had sluggish movements. The reason being: In your version it might be considered "item use" rather than casting. RAW, can innate spellcaster dragons cast spells with somatic components? After all, as a creature with a 19 Intelligence, the Mind Flayer should absolutely play strategically.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'tabletopjoab_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_26',157,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-narrow-sky-1-0'); If the party is clustering together, the stun effect from its Mind Blast will make them into sitting ducks. Consume Mind. It might be fine with evil creatures of some intelligence, but its up to you if thats possibly still too cruel of a fate. But if that elder brain is slain and the mind flayer is not, they gain independence. This creates a culture of servitude and order in which any level of dissent or intrusion is immediately found and dealt with. The tadpoles that were chosen to become mozgriken were often weak and small and would otherwise be fed back to the elder brain. These inscriptions create no real changes to the material and, as such, can remain perfectly hidden in plain sight. The mature tadpole is inserted into the ear of a living humanoid, where it burrows into the creature's brain. Mind Flayers have great mental stats, but they are lacking in physical abilities. The Mind Witness is used as a telepathic hub for Illithid colonies, expanding their telepathic abilities for miles. Urophions acted as guardians and sentinels in illithid cities. You can also cast the spell using any spell slots you have. Why don't we use the 7805 for car phone chargers? Move. If combat is unavoidable for a Mind Flayer, you can absolutely bet that its prepared. Awakened. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage. Youd likely much rather have a cheeseburger or some pasta than be expected to be happy eating a handful of grass.

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