Illithids - the Mind Flayers

Few creatures are as alien and horrific as the Mind Flayers, also known as illithids. These humanoid appearing creatures are from The Far Realms and are masters of psionic energy. Both the Gith, and the Duergar races were created out of ages of slavery to the illithids. Long ago the slaves rose against the illithids masters and the Illithid Astral Empire is no more.

But in hidden places through the Nine Realms, colonies of illithids avoid detection by the Gith hunters, and seek to regain their ancient power.

Basic Information

Anatomy

A mind flayer is typically between 5'5" and 6' with a humanoid shape of two arms, two legs, a torso and a head. The head resembles and octopus, with four flexible tentacles posessing suckers around the mouth. The tentacles can extend nearly 5 feet and the mind flayer can manipulate them with precision. The mouth is a small circular opening at the base of the tentacles, lined with two rows of pointed teeth. The skin color ranges from purple to a greenish lavender, and is covered by a layer of glistening slime.

The mind flayer's hand have three narrow fingers and an opposing thumb, while the feet are broader than a humans, with webbing between the thick toes. The fingers and toes posses sharp nails, though these are soft cartilage and do not function as weapons.

Genetics and Reproduction

Mind Flayers lay eggs which hatch into tadpoles. The tadpoles are then inserted into a captured humanoid, (rendered docile through the Mind Flayers psionics) where as the tadpole matures, the humanoid is transformed into an adult Mind Flayer.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Mind Flayers eat the brains of humanoid creatures. Doing so, they will absorb some of the experiences and thoughts of the creature. The psionic energy of the dying creature is as important to sustaining the Mind Flayer as the actual flesh of the creatures brain.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

In a mind flayer colony, all the adults are linked telepathically in a network anchored by a central brain. This Elder Brain is the repository of knowledge and experience of the colony, and also of any brains consumed by the colony.