Page 68 - Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations

On rare occasions, an illithid community collapses, typically
from an external assault, and the elder brain is killed. When ILLITHID MAGIC
that happens, the tadpoles are suddenly freed from predation Although their highly structured society is sometimes hide-
by the always-hungry elder brain. They, in turn, are no longer bound and conservative, illithids are tremendously creative
fed by their caretakers, and the tadpoles grow increasingly problem solvers. Whether working with pulleys and gears,
hungry. Driven by hunger, they turn to cannibalism. Only psionics, magic, alchemy, or a combination of all four, their
one tadpole survives from the thousands in the pool. great intelligence and natural competitiveness lead to unique
The psychic energy that this one survivor absorbs from solutions.
its fellow tadpoles (and possibly
from the decaying corpse of MIND FLAYERS
the elder brain, as well) allows AND MAGIC ITEMS
it to grow much larger than any Unlike many other aberrations, FLAYERS CHAPTER 4
normal tadpole would—to the whose physical shape makes the THE MIND
size of a small dog. Eventually, use of humanoid-crafted magic

hunger again drives it to a desper- items difficult, mind flayers are
ate act: crawling out of the briny humanoid enough in form to
pool into the greater subterranean wear the same magic items
world in search of food. Once free that any human character
of the pool, the creature lives could wear.

by preying on rats and other Mind flayers naturally
vermin, a diet that allows it favor items that add to their
to grow even larger. already formidable mental
Eventually, such an acuity, seeking out (or craft-
abomination catches and ing on their own) headbands
devours a sentient creature, of intellect or cloaks of cha-
whether a duergar, a drow, or a risma. They also greatly value
luckless human far from home. defensive magic, such as rings of Illus. by W. England

Consuming that first thinking protection, cloaks of resistance, and

brain triggers the same reaction bracers of armor. Mind flayers feel
in the tadpole that would have that they are far too important
occurred if the tadpole had been to allow themselves to be killed
implanted normally. It becomes through insufficient preparation,

self-aware, and its latent psionic and go to great lengths to provide
potential awakens. themselves with magical defenses
At that point, the creature of all sorts.
becomes a neothelid. Untrained, Illithids that gain levels as
savage, feral, and brilliant, it knows wizards or clerics acquire item cre-
nothing beyond the squalid, preda- ation feats and produce a variety of
tory existence it has lived so far. useful items—particularly items
Neothelids prowl subterranean that provide physical protection
passages in search of more brains from harm. In addition to bracers,
to sate their constant hunger, rings, and similar devices, mind

growing ever larger and more flayers also produce a number of
vicious. Truly leviathan speci- unique items, which are described
mens have been spotted prowling A brain canister below.
the deepest underground. Brain Canister: The ultimate
In addition to having the usual psionic abilities of an illithid, goal of every mind flayer is to join the elder brain upon death.

these creatures can spray tissue-dissolving enzymes from To be denied this is the worst fate imaginable. When illithids
their tentacle ducts, reducing victims to a puddle of slime die far from home, their brains cannot be brought back to
and leaving only the pulsing brain unharmed. They have no the elder brain before putrefaction begins. Once a deceased
knowledge of their links to illithids, so they’re just as likely illithid’s brain begins to rot, the elder brain does not accept
to prey on mind flayers as on anything else. it. This is viewed as a great waste.

Neothelids are described in the Expanded Psionics To prevent such a tragedy, mind flayers developed the
Handbook. brain canister. This metal urn is typically made from copper

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