Homebrew Illithid (Mindflayer) Species Details

Illithid (Mindflayer)

Hailing from distant realms as nightmarish intruders, Illithids, or Mindflayers as known among common races, dwell secluded in their own shadowy societies. They sustain themselves by consuming the brain matter of sentient beings, particularly to fuel their eerie abilities. Renowned across myriad worlds as "mind flayers," they harbor a relentless drive for supremacy, exerting their formidable mental prowess to subjugate those around them.

Occasionally, individuals of Illithid descent venture into the realm of adventurers, albeit under rare and extraordinary circumstances. However, stepping away from the collective intellect of their kind weakens these Illithids, greatly diminishing their inherent psychic might. Those encountered beyond their enclaves are often spies, outcasts rejected by their own kind, or exiles condemned for transgressions even by their alien standards.

Physical Description

Illithids possess humanoid bodies with elongated, squid-like heads dominated by four tentacles that surround a fanged mouth. Their eyes are usually milky white, devoid of pupils, giving them an unsettling appearance. Their purplish-gray skin is slick and slimy, enhancing their alien and otherworldly aura. Their slender bodies are adorned with long, flowing robes or intricate armor, reflecting their penchant for both intellect and arcane power. Their body is frail and has the appearance of starvation. Despite this, their Lovecraftian appearance puts fear into those of gaze their eyes upon one of these creatures.

History

The knowledge behind the Illithids are slim to none, as not even the enigmatic Aboleths can unravel their origin. Rising to power through their insatiable thirst for dominance, they enslaved the Gith, once proud and noble, subjecting them to horrific experiments and mind-warping rituals that fueled the expansion of their empire across the planes. This chapter in Illithid history speaks of their cruel nature and unyielding desire for control, leaving scholars and sages puzzled about their true origins, with speculations ranging from cosmic entities to primordial forces, highlighting the chilling depths of their enigma. Though as they appeared in the current world, the Githyanki arrive from the Astral Plane to seek vengeance upon their former masters.

Society

Illithids live in vast, subterranean cities known as communities that are full of thralls which often outnumber ten-to-one or more by their mental slaves. Their culture reveres the Elder Brains, ancient, ageless beings they believe represent the collective personalities and identities of their kind. Illithids offer themselves up to its mass when they near the end of their lifespans, hoping to be absorbed into the titanic intellect of the Elder Brain. It is a closely guarded secret that the Elder Brains only consume the knowledge of their wards, with everything else being simply discarded and lost with the death of the body.

Young Illithids derive their personalities and emotional capacities from contact with strange crystals, containing the thought-impressions of previous illithids. This is the reason for the infamously cold and pitiless Illithid temperament and personality: Illithids normally do not feel any sort of positive emotion more powerful than a kind of sadistic, spiteful pleasure at the pain and submission of another creature. Thus, because the devices that teach young Illithids cannot imprint on them the full spectrum of emotionality, they grow up to build another set of such flawed devices for the next generation. Illithids who have spent long periods of time among other races of beings, devoid of the company of other illithids, are often mind-wiped or otherwise mentally scanned when they return to the networked intelligence of their community, to purge the outside influences that may have colored their thoughts and made them more like the surface creatures.

Illithids' alien nature makes them particularly resistant to magical forces and effects, and they regard the use of magic as aberrant and disdainful. All of their kind found studying arcane powers are shunned by their peers, and many are exiled from the community. Illithids consume the brain matter of living (or at least recently-living) creatures to sustain themselves with enzymes, hormones, and psychic energy. The brain of a large, intelligent predator like a wolf or bear provides enough sustenance for a full day, but the brain of a sapient humanoid is far tastier and can bolster an Illithids metabolism for at least a week, depending on the quality of the brain in question. Some rogue illithids cultivate a special kind of moss that becomes sapient in large quantities, and which provides similar sustenance when eaten.

Illithid Names

Illithids are hermaphrodic and reproduce via a process known as ceremorphosis, which consists of producing "tadpoles" via parthenogenesis, then allowing them to consume the brains of other creatures, eventually mutating them into new Illithids. They also use unique psychic impressions rather than names among themselves, but they do have transliterated Common equivalents to allow non-psionic creatures to address them.

Names: Altharid, Ilsenparint, Malinbossk, Qorik, Ullipsine, Xalliordell, Clarota

Illithid (Mindflayer) Traits

As an Illithid, you have the following racial traits:

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Age

Illithids typically experience an exceptionally extended lifespan, often reaching several centuries in age. This longevity allows them to accumulate vast amounts of knowledge and experience, becoming even more adept at manipulating minds and delving into arcane mysteries over time. As they age, Illithids often rise to positions of greater authority within their communities, wielding their accumulated wisdom and psychic abilities with even greater finesse. However, despite their advanced age, Illithids remain vigilant against threats, constantly honing their skills to ensure their continued dominance and survival in the treacherous realms they inhabit.

Alignment

Illithids normally have a natural tendency towards hierarchy, discipline, and cruelty, and have an alignment of lawful evil. Some individuals find themselves developing more-individualistic personalities than their fellows early after ceremorphosis and have an alignment of neutral evil. A minority lack the characteristic sadism of their brethren while retaining their preoccupation with the organization, and have an alignment of lawful neutral. Any Illithid of any other alignment, usually the product of unusual circumstances such as mutation, magical alteration, extensive contact with unshackled non-Illithid minds while cut off from the networked communal intelligence of their colonies, or intervention by otherworldly forces, is likely regarded by others of its kind as either a disgusting social deviant and pariah, or, at worst, as pollution to be purged. Many such Illithid are either mentally wiped blank and re-educated or simply thrown out of their home communities if their natures are too open and offensive to their fellows' sensibilities.

Size

Most Illithids are at least as tall as tall humans, standing at least a few inches shy of six feet, but their bodies very slender and emaciated, weighing much less than an average being of their stature. It could be argued that your size could be small or large however as rarely some larger or smaller creatures return alive and well through ceremorphosis. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Accustomed to the dark tunnels of the underdark, you can see in dark and dim light easier. You gain darkvision out to 60 ft. You can see in dim light as if it were bright light, and you can see in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't see colors in darkness, just shades of gray.

Levitate Spell

Newborn Illithids, born into the intricate hierarchy of their species, possess a latent ability to cast the Levitate spell, a manifestation of their innate psionic potential that allows them to defy gravity and maneuver with eerie grace within their dark and enigmatic societies.

Mind Blast

You harness the potent energy of your Illithid heritage, unleashing a devastating Mind Blast in a 35-foot cone as an attack. Each creature caught in the blast must make a saving throw against the overwhelming psychic force. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Intelligence modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 1d10 damage on a failed save and a 1d4 chance to be stunned for 1 turn. Those who succeed still feel the psychic assault but are spared from the stunning effect. The damage increases to 2d10 at 5th level, 3d10 at 11th level, and 4d10 at 17th level. You can use your Mind Blast a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest. 

Damage Vulernability

Masters of psychic manipulation and cerebral dominance, possess a unique vulnerability to psychic damage due to their intense reliance on mental fortitude. Their intricate psionic abilities demand unwavering concentration and focus, channeling their formidable mental strength into complex psychic maneuvers. However, this reliance on uninterrupted mental acuity leaves them susceptible to psychic assaults; any disruption to their concentration inflicts significant harm to their delicate mental faculties. This vulnerability serves as both a testament to their profound psychic capabilities and a cautionary reminder of the delicate balance required to wield such immense mental power.

Telepathy

You can communicate mentally with another creature that knows at least one language within a 30-foot radius. This creature doesn't need to share a language with you but unless they have telepathy themselves they can only receive and respond but can't initiate or terminate a telepathic conversation. You must be conscious to use this trait and can telepathically communicate with multiple creatures at once.