Page 65 - Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations

other creatures to distinguish whether that is a true emotion or Ulitharids
a display to impress outsiders or enemies. Because of this, mind An ulitharid is immediately distinguishable from an illithid
flayers are assumed to have either few emotions or tremendous by two characteristics: it towers over its cousins, standing 7 to

self-control. Both assumptions are wrong. 8 feet tall, and it has six tentacles rather than four.
Illithids feel intense emotions but internalize them almost The “birth” of an ulitharid is a significant event in an illithid

completely. A mind flayer that looks calm might be raging colony. They are sufficiently rare that a colony with a single

with a cauldron of emotion beneath the surface. In addition, ulitharid considers itself lucky.
an illithid’s emotions are entirely negative: Anger, fear, envy, As a tadpole, an ulitharid is indistinguishable from other
hate, shame, indignation, contempt, pride, and anxiety com- tadpoles. However, it spends twice as long as a tadpole—twenty
years, compared to the standard ten—before reaching maturity.
prise nearly their entire emotional repertoire. The closest they
CHAPTER 4 THE MIND FLAYERS come to experiencing joy is the feeling they get when eating Its true nature does not become evident even to other mind

flayers until ceremorphosis. Once an ulitharid begins its
a brain, but even this is mixed with such sadistic and hateful
transformation, it is greeted as something akin to a prophet.
overtones that it can’t be considered “happiness” as most races
would define it.

These creatures rise to positions of civil or military leader-
This constant negative emotional state colors an illithid’s
every thought and perception. Because it knows no happiness, ship within their communities, and they frequently receive
diplomatic embassies from other colonies that are not so
it spends no time planning how to become happy. Pride, sati- blessed. In addition to their greater stature and revered status,

ated curiosity, and self-satisfaction are a mind flayer’s highest ulitharids live twice as long as other mind flayers, compensat-
emotional states. These feelings motivate it to action. ing somewhat for their rarity of birth.
For ulitharid statistics, see Chapter 8.
ILLITHID VARIANTS
Illithids are not a homogenous race. Their decade-long incuba- Illithid Sorcerers
tion as tadpoles and the mysterious process of ceremorphosis Considering their powerful intellects, it’s not surprising that
spawn numerous mutations and variations. Most of these do many illithids study wizardry. What is surprising is that a
Illus. by W. England talent manifests itself in creatures as nonhuman and alien as
not survive.
small number of illithids are actually sorcerers. How sorcerous

An elder brain in its pool
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