Dungeons & Dragons 5e Race/Species : Mindflayer Szalsen
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Mindflayer Szalsen
From the Undercommon "Sza" meaning "pitiful" and "ilsen" meaning "brain", these Illithed are considered disabled amongst their fellows. Born of an Illithid tadpole that had some sort of disfigurement, missing piece, or irreparable type of damage done to it during the ceremorphosis process - most often nearly successful attempts at removal that removed only part of the creature. These types of Mindflayer are only mostly changed, but something of the internal organs and mind of their host has remained. Never the memories, but some touch of personality, creating an anomalous Illithid with the distinct ability to eat foods other than brains (though they are the tastiest), a smaller cranium, and more stunted psionic mind. Most of the time, these Szalsen can be brought to heel. Now and then, however, one is born that can connect to the hive mind of the Elder Brain without being subject to control. These anomalies are usually killed, unless they can glean the plans to do so quickly enough to make their escape or happen to be a member of a rare, somewhat forgiving, Elder Brain.
ability score increase:
+2 to your choice of Intelligence or Charisma, +1 to the remaining of the two
age:
Illithid are born adults after Ceremorphosis, and live an average of 125 years
alignment:
Usually Chaotic
Size:
Medium
speed:
30
Languages:
Common, Undercommon, Qualith, Telepathy 60ft.
race features:
Darkvision. Accustomed to life underground, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.
Telepathy. You can speak telepathically to any creature you can see within 60 feet of you. You don't need to share a language with the creature for it to understand your telepathic utterances, but the creature must be able to understand at least one language.
Devour Brain. Illithid must consume at least one brain a day, or one intelligent, humanoid brain per week. In a minute, you can extract the brain of an unconscious creature within 5 feet of you. You instantly kill the target by devouring its brain.
Devouring a brain with this feature or the "Extract Brain" psionic ability provides you with 5 temporary hit points until you take a rest, then roll 1d20.
Psionic Mind. You gain resistance to psionic abilities, and psychic damage.
At 10th level, you may choose one cantrip from the Wizard spells list to cast at will. This spell uses your Intelligence modifier for spellcasting, and is considered Psionics when used instead of magic.
Tentacles. Your tentacles become a natural weapon which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal psychic damage equal to 1d4 + your Intelligence modifier instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. When you attempt to grapple a creature, you can use your tentacles for it. If the grapple succeeds, the target must make an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, it is restrained as long as it’s grappled. By making a similar grapple check at disadvantage, you can attempt to extract and devour the brain of a humanoid creature grappled by your tentacles.
Darkvision. Accustomed to life underground, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.
Telepathy. You can speak telepathically to any creature you can see within 60 feet of you. You don't need to share a language with the creature for it to understand your telepathic utterances, but the creature must be able to understand at least one language.
Devour Brain. Illithid must consume at least one brain a day, or one intelligent, humanoid brain per week. In a minute, you can extract the brain of an unconscious creature within 5 feet of you. You instantly kill the target by devouring its brain.
Devouring a brain with this feature or the "Extract Brain" psionic ability provides you with 5 temporary hit points until you take a rest, then roll 1d20.
- 1-5. You learn 1 piece of useless information
- 6-10. You learn 2 pieces of useless information
- 11-15. You learn 1 piece of useful information
- 16-20. You learn 2 pieces of useful information
Psionic Mind. You gain resistance to psionic abilities, and psychic damage.
At 10th level, you may choose one cantrip from the Wizard spells list to cast at will. This spell uses your Intelligence modifier for spellcasting, and is considered Psionics when used instead of magic.
Tentacles. Your tentacles become a natural weapon which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal psychic damage equal to 1d4 + your Intelligence modifier instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. When you attempt to grapple a creature, you can use your tentacles for it. If the grapple succeeds, the target must make an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, it is restrained as long as it’s grappled. By making a similar grapple check at disadvantage, you can attempt to extract and devour the brain of a humanoid creature grappled by your tentacles.
Szalsen are slightly smaller, with shorter tentacles than their Illithid brethren. They often have a head much closer to that of a human in size, though the general appearance is the same. Many of them have stockier bodies, a result of weakened minds incapable of levitating themselves as an Illithid would often otherwise choose. In other ways, they are identical to their Illithid kin, easily mistakable as an Illithid that came from a shorter race, and are by no means easy to deal with as a result. The key difference of note is that Szalsen tend to be more human in their expressions and speech, maintaining an echo of the personality the host had before their sentience was devoured, as well as a distinct disconnect from other Illithid.
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by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.042 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 08:23, Nov 22 2024