At a young age, you were abducted by a colony of Mind Flayers and infected with a parasite. Following a narrow escape, you sought out a cure and were left with no choice but to bargain with a self-serving evil. In exchange for the tadpole's removal, you sacrificed something very dear to you.
You may work alongside the DM to determine what you sacrificed and who took it from you, or roll using the table below.
- Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Arcana
- Languages: Undercommon, and two other languages of your choice
- Equipment: A jar containing your deceased Illithid parasite, an object which serves as a reminder or binding agent of your bargain (such as a written contract), and a pouch containing 5gp
You may select a bargain from this table, if your DM allows, or roll for one. Your bargain determines the nature of your struggle.
| d6 | The Bargain |
|---|---|
| 1 | I sacrificed my left or right eye to a Hag (Hag's Eye). |
| 2 | I exhanged my soul with a Devil who intruded upon my dreams (Devil's Advocate). |
| 3 | I pledged myself to the service of Queen Vlaakith, in exchange for the parasite's removal (Vlaakith's Puppet). |
| 4 | A renegade Mind Flayer performed an experiment which destroyed my parasite, but gave him power over my mind (The Thrall). |
| 5 | A powerful Wizard cloned my body and slaughtered me, freeing my soul from the parasite. In exchange, he asked for a personal clone to use however he wished (The Clone). |
| 6 | A Sharran doctor surgically removed my parasite. In exchange, I am to bring him a new living specimen every year as payment (The Patient). |
The Illithid parasite gave you a small glimpse of what lies beyond. Your mind has been honed to endure psychic attacks, as well as manipulate the minds of others.
You may cast Detect Thoughts as a spell-like ability once per long rest. If the targeted creature is an aberration, they have disadvantage on their saving throw. You do not need verbal or material components to perform this ability. Instead, you merely raise one free hand to your temple. You also gain resistance to Psychic damage and advantage on saving throws against Enchantment spells.
Additionally, your bargain has the following effect:
Hag's Eye: You must choose an eye which was sacrificed to the Hag. You keep the eye, but it has been altered with magic and carries a pale white hue. You have disadvantage on Perception checks which rely on sight, and suffer a -2 penalty to Passive Perception. However, your eye is truly unsettling to behold, giving you advantage on Intimidation checks. The Hag has the ability to see through the eye at will. The Eye does not count towards your attunement limit, but the Hag will lose her connection to it if you are under any effect which negates magic. Removing the eye causes you to suffer the effect of Power Word: Kill.
Devil's Advocate: Your soul is now pledged to a powerful Devil, binding you to serve it when you die. The Devil's pull gives you disadvantage on Death Saving Throws. Once your character dies, it is transformed into a Lemur in the Devil's service and is immediately sucked through a portal into the Hells. You cannot be resurrected. Not even a Wish may undo the bargain once your end has been upheld.
Vlaakith's Puppet: Queen Vlaakith has charged you to carry out her will, usually taking the form of a task that the DM determines themselves. If you openly oppose Vlaakith, she will spare no expense in hunting you down. You gain advantage on Persuasion checks against the Githyanki, and they will consider you a convenient ally for as long as you remain loyal to their queen.
The Thrall: Your mind has become a plaything of the renegade Mind Flayer. Once per long rest, the Mind Flayer may influence you as per the Suggestion spell, if it deems that you could do something which furthers its goals. The DC to resist the Mind Flayer's Suggestion is 5. Each time you succeed, the DC permanently increases by 1.
The Clone: The Wizard posesses a Clone of your body, subject to his will. This clone carries your appearance, voice and any other discerning features that you had when it was created. It is indistinguishable from you to most observers. The Clone is of no use to you, and you have no idea where it is, or what the Wizard wants with it.
The Patient: The price of your surgery is grim. For the remainder of your days, you must bring forth a new patient to the doctor once per year, when the moon is no longer visible in the night sky. You are uncertain of the consequences if you do not uphold this bargain.
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