Homebrew Liberated Illithid - Mindflayer Species Details

Mind flayers, also known as illithids, stood at a height similar to thin humans, yet their physical appearance deviated drastically from humanoid norms. Their bodies were a grotesque parody of humanoid form, featuring soft, supple, and moist flesh that felt rubbery to the touch, a texture distinct from any other creature. Their skin exhibited a range of hues from mauve to greenish-violet. A healthy mind flayer, nourished by a diet rich in brains, exuded a thin film of slimy, glistening mucus that not only kept their skin moist but also emitted a faint odor reminiscent of onions, garlic, or even vanilla, though this scent was barely discernible from a distance. Their blood, when visible, appeared silvery-white.

The most striking feature of a mind flayer was its head, which resembled that of an octopus. Their elongated heads bulged and were ridged, with four flexible, unsegmented, and extendable tentacles of purplish-black hue surrounding their mouths. These tentacles, ranging from 2 to 4 feet in length, seemed shorter when the mind flayer was at rest. The tentacles constantly writhed and undulated, almost as if they had a mind of their own, and would flex in anticipation when sentient beings approached. They were incredibly dexterous and powerful, capable of performing both fine manipulations and strength-based tasks under the complete control of the mind flayer.

Contrary to popular belief, the mouth of a mind flayer was more akin to that of a lamprey than a beaked creature. It featured a circular, jawless orifice ringed by several rows of small, rasping teeth. Above and around their mouths, the tentacles hung, constantly dripping an oily slime. Mind flayers lacked exterior ears, instead possessing small, fleshy, ridged holes on both sides of their heads. Similarly, they lacked nostrils. Their eyes, sheltered by brow ridges, were uniformly pale, devoid of pupils, and bloated and featureless, resembling those of blind cave fish.

The hands of a mind flayer were long and slender, lacking an index finger but otherwise similar to those of a humanoid. Their remaining fingers and opposable thumb were colored red to mauve, with thick, black nails that, despite their menacing appearance, were composed of soft cartilage and therefore ineffective as weapons. Mind flayer feet were webbed and featured only two toes, also webbed, that could flex widely apart, presumably to aid in swimming.

Mind flayers typically adorned themselves in flowing, dramatic robes and cloaks. They were rarely seen without their distinctively two-lobed boots, which concealed their webbed nature. Additionally, they often wore high, flaring collars, dark hats, and various other ornamental pieces, adding to their enigmatic and imposing presence.

As a liberated mind flayer, you find yourself grappling with fragmented memories of your past life. While you vividly recall most aspects of your former existence, recollections from your time under the oppressive sway of the Elder Brains remain elusive, blurred, and difficult to access. Although you retain a wealth of knowledge and information, the circumstances surrounding your acquisition of this knowledge often elude you, leaving you with a sense of disconnection and alienation from those you once knew.

This fragmented recollection results in a unique variance in your priorities and outlook, as you navigate a world that feels simultaneously familiar and foreign. You may find yourself struggling to reconcile your current existence with the shadowy remnants of your past, leading to a profound sense of isolation and estrangement from the world around you."

Liberated Illithid - Mindflayer Traits

Since you freed yourself prematurely, you have lost most of your psionic abilities and have extra susceptibility to being charmed

Lost Connection

Due to the absence of an Elder brain or dominant figure in your brain you have a harder time resisting the will of mind controlling abilities. You have disadvantage on saving throws against magical charm effects.

Natural Beak

Your transformation into the Mindflayer body left you with a natural beak, strong enough to cracker skulls to devour brains.

Psionic Connections

Your severed connection to the Illithid Psionic network leaves you with the ability to send your thoughts to a creature within 120ft that you can see

These thoughts can be either words or emotions, please speak with your DM for further ruling. 

Illithid Flight

With this feat, your Mind Flayer physiology grants you the extraordinary ability of flight, allowing you to soar through the air with ease.

Thrallmaster

• As an action, you can attempt to turn a humanoid creature you can see within 30 feet of you into a thrall. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against a DC of 8 + your Intelligence modifier + your proficiency bonus. On a failed save, the target is charmed by you until you or your companions do anything harmful to it. The charmed target obeys your verbal or telepathic commands. If the target suffers any harm from you or another creature or receives a suicidal command from you, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on a success. Once you use this ability, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.
• You have advantage on saving throws against spells. 
• Starting at 6th level, you can permanently turn a humanoid creature you have charmed into a thrall by using a small mind blasts to lobotomize them. It takes several hours of constant mind blasts to perform this. You can have one permanent thrall at a time. At 9th level, you can have two permanent thralls, and at 12th level, you can have three permanent thralls. You gain an additional permanent thrall every 3 levels thereafter, to a maximum of five permanent thralls at 18th level.

Darkvision

Due to their time in space and underground Mindflayers have developed darkvision

 

Mind Blast

The mind flayer magically emits psychic energy in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 15 Intelligence saving throw or take 2d8 psychic damage and be stunned for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. Twice a Day

Stats

The default for Broken Illithid's would be +2 to Intelligence and +1 to Dexterity.

Illithid Hunger

The innate hunger gives you a natural instinct to devour brains when the opportunity presents itself. While you have a humanoid grappled or score the final blow on a humanoid during your turn you may make an additional bite attack with your beak as a bonus action for increased damage and healing full the damage done. 

Illithid Sleep

Mind flayers do sleep, but their sleep is different from that of most creatures. They enter a state called "reverie," during which they remain aware of their surroundings and can take mental actions, but their physical bodies rest. This state allows them to rest and regain their mental powers. The duration of this reverie is typically 4 hours, after which they are considered fully rested.