Illythid
Known as the Psuuja in the native dwarven tongues, the Illythid of Eoferan are some of the most feared entities of the deep denizens. They are known through lore and tales of the Nanorja and Naniluma to kidnap various species, both for labor, and to suck the very souls and minds from for sustenance.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Illythid are long and lean, with humanoid features and long face tendrils. The creation of an Illythid is wrought through a process known as ceremorphosis, where a Illythid tadpole infests and transforms a mortal host, normally a human.
Genetics and Reproduction
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Illythid reproduce through egglaying, which any member can do, as Illythid are sexless. Once the clutch is laid it is hatched in the tank of an elder brain, whom consumes some of the tadpoles, while others are eaten by bigger tadpoles. Those who reach maturity are then implanted in suitable hosts that have been captured by the Illythid, where the process of ceremutatis occurs. The hosts brain is eaten, the tadpole attaches to the brainstem, and all of the organs and structure of the host are reformed into that of an illythid. Rarely, this process causes an Ulitharid to be born.
Growth Rate & Stages
The Illythid spend a lot of their time as the tadpole permutation, swimming in a tank of pure viscous liquid psyche that surrounds the elder brain. Over time, a clutch will battle with each other to the death, ensuring only the strongest tadpoles remain to embark on ceremutatis in order to develop into the humanoid Illythid.
Conservation Status
This species is assumed to be thriving and dangerous deep below the deepest of the Dwarven mines. Generally they are unseen and thought by the general public to be more lore than fact, but a fair few know of their existence, either through magics such as scrying.
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
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