Homebrew Failed Ceremorphosis Species Details

When an Illithid undergoes ceremorphosis, it can occasionally take on some elements of the absorbed host creature's former mind, such as mannerisms. This typically manifests as a minor personality feature, such as a nervous habit or reaction (e.g., nail-biting or tapping one's foot), although the process that determines the type and number of traits so inherited appears to be stochastic. Some adult Illithids have even been known to hum a tune that its host knew in life. Usually, when a mind flayer inherits a trait like this, it keeps it a closely guarded secret, because, were its peers to learn of it, the Illithid in question would most likely be killed. This is due to an Illithid legend of a being called the "Adversary". The legend holds that, eventually, an Illithid larva that undergoes ceremorphosis will take on the host's personality and memory in its entirety. This Adversary would, mind and soul, still be the host, but with all the inherent abilities of an Illithid.

Occasionally, ceremorphosis can partially fail. Sometimes the larva does not contain enough chemicals to complete the process, sometimes there is psionic interference. Whatever the reason, it has happened that ceremorphosis has ended after the internal restructuring, resulting in a human body with an Illithid's brain, personality and digestive tract. These unfortunates must still consume brains, typically by cutting open heads (as they lack the requisite tentacles). These beings are often used as spies, where they easily blend in with their respective host types.

Illithid society also maintains a long-standing taboo related to deviations to or failures of the ceremorphosis process and hunt and destroy such exceptions. Occasionally mind flayer communities are attacked (often by vengeful Githyanki and Githzerai) and their inhabitants must flee. This leaves the larvae unattended. Bereft of exterior nourishment, they begin to consume one another. The survivor will eventually leave the pool in search of food (brains). This unmorphed larvae is known as Neothelids. If the Neothelid consumes an intelligent creature it will awaken to sapience and psionic abilities and grow to immense size, while retaining its memories of savage survival. In Complete Psionic, it was revealed that Illithids have a step between larva and Neothelid called a Larval Flayer, which looks like an overgrown tadpole. The existence of these beasts is a guarded secret among Illithids, and it is considered impolite to speak of them.

Failed Ceremorphosis Traits

Alien, frightening beings of great mental prowess and forceful personalities.

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 2.

Age

Ilithids complete ceremorphosis by the age of 9, and have become fully mature and complete in their education by age 15. Ilithids live longer than humans, but they do eventually die at around 120 years of age.

Allignment

Illithids normally have a natural tendency towards hierarchy, discipline, and cruelty, and have an alignment of lawful evil.

Size

Due to the desired traits needs to convert to the final form of an Ilithid, they choose humans or elves for the process. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Aberrant Mind

Your creature type is both humanoid and aberration. Even those ilithids who have undergone alignment shifts via magical means or mutations struggle to understand the feelings of less-alien beings. You have disadvantage on all Charisma ability checks.

Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Mind Blast

You can use your action to emit a psionic blast in a 15-foot cone. When you use your mind blast, each creature in the area of the blast musk make an Intelligence saving throw. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Intelligence modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 psychic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 3d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level. You can use this feature a number of times per long rest equal to your intelligence modifier (minimum of once).

Pass as another

Due to the the interrupted transformation, the Ilithid retains the appearance of the host body that was used. Allowing them to pass as one of that race with little effort needed, though some find it hard to pretend to be what they appear to be and often expose themselves.

Telepathy

You can communicate mentally with another creature that knows at least one language within a 60-foot radius. The creature must understand at least one language you speak. Unless they have telepathy themselves, the targeted creature cannot respond without speaking aloud. You must be conscious to use this trait and cannot telepathically communicate with multiple creatures at once.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Undercommon, and Deep Speech.