The process of transforming a creature into a thrall requires the entire colony's energy and attention, making it no small matter. 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. A thrall-to-be is first rendered docile through psionic means. Using a low-power version of its Mind Blast ability, the mind flayer bombards the victim with energy that washes through its synapses like acid, clearing away its former personality and leaving it a partially empty shell. This step takes 24 hours. Over the next 48 hours, the illithids rebuild the victim's memories and personality, and the victim gains the skills and talents it needs to perform its intended function. The process that creates a thrall changes almost everything about the victim. The creature retains its Hit Dice, hit points, racial traits (but not proficiencies granted by race), and all of its ability scores except for Intelligence. After the first stage of the process, the creature's Intelligence is halved; when the second stage is over, its Intelligence score increases by 1d6. To complete the process, the thrall receives a new set of proficiencies, a new alignment, and a new personality. Some colonies have learned how to salvage a victim's psionic abilities during the process or how to implant psionic powers into their thralls. Also, some colonies know how to leave a victim's persona intact while infusing it with a fanatical loyalty to the colony's elder brain as well as telepathic power that allows the victim to communicate with its new masters as if it were a mind flayer. This sort of thrall makes a perfect spy, since most would never suspect its true nature.
1/ For example, if a character that has 16 in Intelligence Score, is becoming a thrall, he/she has now 8 (half)+1d6 in Intelligence Score, is it correct ?
2/ What are the new set of proficiencies ? How many proficiencies ? what about class features ?
3/ How many psionic powers ? For the telepathic power, is it the telepathic feat ?
Halved in first 24 hours, +1d6 in next 48 (new proficiencies added right after).
Whatever proficiencies it needs to do the job the mind flayers want (no class features). Unless the persona is preserved, they would lose all class features.
The ones in the mind flayer stat block at most (innate spellcasting, etc), but probably much less. Telepathy as a language, not feat.
A DM can add anything else they want, these are just guidelines. It is not meant to be a PC if that is why you are asking, and a player should lose control of their character if it becomes a thrall.
Yes, I know. But these guidelines came out years before Tasha's, and it says "as if it were a mind flayer," which don't have the feat by default.
True, but I get the impression that Waldham was unaware of those facts since they mentioned the feat in their post. You said it wasn’t a feat, but we both know it is, just that it doesn’t apply in this particular instance. I just wanted to make sure that Waldham (and whoever else may read this) knows that they’re not confused, yes the feat does exist, but that you are also correct. Call it for completeness sake.
Yes, I know. But these guidelines came out years before Tasha's, and it says "as if it were a mind flayer," which don't have the feat by default.
True, but I get the impression that Waldham was unaware of those facts since they mentioned the feat in their post. You said it wasn’t a feat, but we both know it is, just that it doesn’t apply in this particular instance. I just wanted to make sure that Waldham (and whoever else may read this) knows that they’re not confused, yes the feat does exist, but that you are also correct. Call it for completeness sake.
I didn't say it wasn't a feat, I said they get it "as a language, not a feat." I think you misread my comment.
For clarity: There is a telepathy feat, thralls -being NPCs- don't have player levels and don't get feats (by default).
Whatever proficiencies it needs to do the job the mind flayers want (no class features). Unless the persona is preserved, they would lose all class features.
The mind flayer can implant the number that it wanted for the proficiency ? What is the bonus proficiency ?
Whatever proficiencies it needs to do the job the mind flayers want (no class features). Unless the persona is preserved, they would lose all class features.
The mind flayer can implant the number that it wanted for the proficiency ? What is the bonus proficiency ?
Yes and no. It is by nature a custom NPC, so the DM can make the bonus whatever they want. But usually, you would base it off the creature's ability score and proficiency bonus (based on CR) just like any other creature or player.
Did a thrall permanently dominated by an illithid ?
What are the means to liberate a slave ?
MAGIC ITEM: GREATER SILVER SWORD Weapon (greatsword), legendary (requires attunement by a creature that has psionic ability) This magic weapon gran ts a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it. While you hold the sword, you have advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom , and Charisma saving throws, you are immune to being charmed, and you have resistance to psychic damage. In addition, if you score a critical hit with it against a creature's astral body, you can cut the silvery cord that tethers the target to its material body, instead of dealing damage .
If a thrall attuned to a greater silver sword, did it liberate from the illithid ?
Being a thrall goes way beyond being charmed. The book mentions the rehabilitation process:
A thrall can be restored to its former self through a combination of spells and ministration. The thrall must have regenerate, heal and greater restoration cast on it once per day for three consecutive days. The victim is restored to normal when the final round of spells is cast.
It seems to be the equivalent of powerful charm, disease, and brain damage combined.
Being a thrall goes way beyond being charmed. The book mentions the rehabilitation process:
A thrall can be restored to its former self through a combination of spells and ministration. The thrall must have regenerate, heal and greater restoration cast on it once per day for three consecutive days. The victim is restored to normal when the final round of spells is cast.
It seems to be the equivalent of powerful charm, disease, and brain damage combined.
I think it works as empowered version of create thrall ability from great old one. So if character is cured by remove cruse spell on level equial or higher than illithid 's psionic strenght, and then healed, he will be quite dumb, but after days of training will eventually learn back his lost skills, or will learn how to use his skills given by mind flayer.
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1/ For example, if a character that has 16 in Intelligence Score, is becoming a thrall, he/she has now 8 (half)+1d6 in Intelligence Score, is it correct ?
2/ What are the new set of proficiencies ? How many proficiencies ? what about class features ?
3/ How many psionic powers ? For the telepathic power, is it the telepathic feat ?
Thanks for your future answer.
A DM can add anything else they want, these are just guidelines. It is not meant to be a PC if that is why you are asking, and a player should lose control of their character if it becomes a thrall.
Telepathy is a language, but there is also a feat named Telepathic:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/feats/telepathic
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Yes, I know. But these guidelines came out years before Tasha's, and it says "as if it were a mind flayer," which don't have the feat by default.
True, but I get the impression that Waldham was unaware of those facts since they mentioned the feat in their post. You said it wasn’t a feat, but we both know it is, just that it doesn’t apply in this particular instance. I just wanted to make sure that Waldham (and whoever else may read this) knows that they’re not confused, yes the feat does exist, but that you are also correct. Call it for completeness sake.
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I didn't say it wasn't a feat, I said they get it "as a language, not a feat." I think you misread my comment.
For clarity: There is a telepathy feat, thralls -being NPCs- don't have player levels and don't get feats (by default).
My apologies. I must have read it quickly and misunderstood.
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I know the telepathy feat.
The mind flayer can implant the number that it wanted for the proficiency ? What is the bonus proficiency ?
Yes and no. It is by nature a custom NPC, so the DM can make the bonus whatever they want. But usually, you would base it off the creature's ability score and proficiency bonus (based on CR) just like any other creature or player.
Did a thrall permanently dominated by an illithid ?
What are the means to liberate a slave ?
If a thrall attuned to a greater silver sword, did it liberate from the illithid ?
Being a thrall goes way beyond being charmed. The book mentions the rehabilitation process:
It seems to be the equivalent of powerful charm, disease, and brain damage combined.
I think it works as empowered version of create thrall ability from great old one. So if character is cured by remove cruse spell on level equial or higher than illithid 's psionic strenght, and then healed, he will be quite dumb, but after days of training will eventually learn back his lost skills, or will learn how to use his skills given by mind flayer.