Page 79 - Volo's Guide to Monsters

tion chamber are dumped into cages and cells in the
ruins in a single night.
The results of failed experiments from the transforma-
assault after it lands, can reduce an enemy settlement to
PRISON
the ship disgorging mind flayers and thralls to finish the
that their organs can be added to the library's contents.
possible to detect in the darkness. A sudden strike, with
chamber eventually are brought here to be dissected so
an enemy. Nautiloids move quietly and are almost im-
ments. Failed experiments from the transformation
the final phase of a plan to subvert, destroy, or control
weapon only in rare circumstances, perhaps as part of
mind flayers study the organs to refine their experi-
same fluid that enables them to keep brains alive. The
A colony that has access to a nautiloid uses it as a
books, but an array of still-living organs kept in the
OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE USES
The library in a mind flayer lair isn't a collection of
rial Plane.
LIBRARY (AND DISSECTION CHAMBER)
them one step closer to remaining trapped on the Mate-
nautiloids, meaning that the loss of any vessel brings
are studying.
The illithids have lost the secret of manufacturing
that teem with a variety of diseases the mind flayers
above even an elder brain.
lodious voices; another might have cages of specimens
counts a nautiloid as the greatest prize it can claim,
might contain musical instruments and thralls with me-
to conduct its personal research. One illithid's quarters
of vengeful githyanki and githzerai. A gith hunting party
almost every world and is likely to attract the attention
small series of chambers at its own and uses the space
nautiloid seen soaring through the air travels quickly in
Each member of the colony claims a single room or a
hidden, taking to the sky only out of necessity. Word of a
lLLITHID QUARTERS
colony in possession of one takes great care to keep it
other barrier.
Nowadays, a nautiloid is an incredibly rare sight. A
is always hidden by a secret door, an illusion, or some
out into almost every corner of the multiverse.
ers on sight and sound an alarm. Any entrance to a lair
this means, they have been able to spread themselves
watchers. The inhabitants of these rooms attack strang-
to move between worlds without going through Sigil. By
staffed by heavily armed thralls, constructs, and other
cific world t~ey seek. But mind flayers can use nautiloids
Chambers on the perimeter of the lair are continually
the Outer Planes, and find a doorway leading to the spe-
GUARDROOMS
Plane. Normally, travelers must venture to Sigil, a city in
move directly from one world to another in the Material
illithids that outwit it in discussions.
The most notable feature of a nautiloid is its ability to
is something of a bully, and has been known to destroy
a feasting.
nature of the planes. This particular colony's elder brain
for interesting creatures to take back home for study or
members to engage in debates on philosophy and the
they used the nautiloid's tentacles to scour the surface
elder brain relaxes here, and often assembles the colony
the worlds of the Material Plane without resistance,
that blocks all attacks except for psionic abilities. The
cles. Ages ago, when the mind flayers could fly through
by a nearly impenetrable layer of a glass-like substance
with an exterior deck and a large mass of rubbery tenta-
the elder brain holds court in its brine pool, protected
A nautiloid looks like an enormous conch shell fitted
Usually centrally located, the lair's resting pool is where
worlds of the Material Plane.
ELDER BRAIN RESTING PooL
can also transport mind flayers between the various
loids. Able to move through the Astral Plane, nautiloids
for battle.
Mind flayers employ bizarre flying ships called nauti-
the thralls gather here to arm themselves and ready
NAUTILOIDS
the needed muscle power. In the event of an attack,
flayer in need of assistance can visit this room to obtain
than before.
here to rest, eat, and wait for new orders. Any mind
pled wretches, but a few emerge stronger and tougher
the colony's thralls. As they complete tasks, they come
that undergo this process are turned into twisted, crip-
The lair's common room serves as a gathering spot for
to warp their physical development. Most creatures
COMMON ROOM
kept here, bombarded with psionic energy in an effort
small cells. The subjects of promising experiments are
parasites, and any sickly ones are disposed of.
The transformation chamber contains a number of
or kept if it is of interest, their hair is shaved to prevent
TRANSFORMATION CHAMBER
chambers. Their gear is removed and either destroyed
Freshly captured victims are processed in the cleansing
these tadpoles stand a better chance of survival.
CLEANSING CHAMBERS
pool. Should the brine pool be destroyed in an attack,
kept in smaller pools under guard, away from the brine
continue their examinations at a much greater depth.
The elder brain dictates that populations of tadpoles be
kept in the colony's brain library. Here, the mind flayers
TADPOLE CHAMBERS
Extracted brains that are exceptional in some way are
BRAIN LIBRARY
nearby library.
where in the lair: They are eventually processed in the
most interesting ones are added to the brain library.
prison, to prevent them from getting underfoot else-
prove boring or dull are evefttually consumed, while the