Illithid in Ravenloft

[The_God_Brain]

Throw in a few illithangers impersonating Kython's just to get out of the same nest alive and you have one interesting adventure.

Dopplethids. They are called dopplethids

[The_God_Brain]

[Tangent]
Then again i've always been a firm supporter of stem-cell research so it makes sense to me. I would grow a spare set of my own organs in a heartbeat if the technology allowed it.

For those that follow such things they are getting close. They are almost at a point where they can grow a liver in a dish. Another odd development i heard on screensavers the other night was for a robotics convention they grafted living skin on silicone. (It look like skin on a computer graphics card). Pretty weird, this wacky futuristic world we live in says me. [/Tangent]

Thats not quite the same as body modification as meant here. We're not talking about growing new organs (for the record, I agree with you 100% about stem cell research), but rather having a prehensile tail grafted onto your spine with a poisonous stinger.

Illithid are perfectly willing to add tentacle extension and other nasty grafts to their bodies. There are a number of reasons for this. The first being that illithid value knowledge and power over just about anything else, including their own lives, health and vanity. As such, illithid are willing to take risks with their own physical makeup that other races wouldn't. If it suceeds, they are more powerful, if it fails they know what doesn't work and can try again. Secondly, illithid in their current form don't really grown their own bodies...they infest them and change them into what they are from the original host. So, they really don't view bodies as sacredly as most other creatures do...those of us who only get one. Finally, illithid don't have sex. They are genderless and don't develop relationships with one another based on romantic attachment or attraction. While most humans would be reluctant to have a second set of arms grafted on (despite the obvious benefits) because it hinders their attractiveness to those they might pursue romantically, illithid don't suffer from this social hinderance.

[ScS of the Fraternity]

But concerning the illithids "grown arsenal", does anybody remember the "squil"-weapon from "Earth- Final Conflict"? the Taelons had a couple of strange bio-experiments going on that could also work for the Illithids.

That reminds me, there are a lot of ideas that can be scavanged from the tyranids of the Warhammer 40K series. Though not terribly gothic, these creatures carried a huge variety of organic weapons that would be appropriate for the illithids and their thralls.

For example, instead of crossbows, they carry harpoon guns, which carry a tendon-like tow-line to reel in targets. The illithids might also use membranous nets, which constric on activation and crush victims to pulp. Another idea would be the glow-maggots, insideous worm-like creatures engineered to allow the illithids to hunt the Broken-Ones. The adult worm is fired like a blow dart and burrows into the victims body to lay eggs. Days latter the eggs hatch and burrow out of the body. They are attracted back to the psionic-throb of the Godbrain, and as they return they excrete feces that are luminous under light. The illithid hunting parties keep their eyes pealed for these green trails, which lead the way back.

[daffy72]

[/quote]Dopplethids. They are called dopplethids [/quote]

Sorry
*Hangs head in shame

[alhoon]

I don't recal ever dissagreeing with you about that.

IMC, the Illithid are kept in check by a number of things, including a Thanni illithid slayer named Bowe Vizzuk. More on him later.

That's where we disagreed. When I proposed a squad of 3 mind flayers 2nd level psychic warriors and an ullitharid 6th level psion, hunting down this man.

You have told me that he went pretty well in a "test" against 4 mind flayers. This may have worked, but only once. Now the mind flayers now of him and certainly they are prepared (as by not striking anyone like him with mind blasts, but rather escaping if not equipped accordingly).

[alhoon]

Didn't friend Alhoon (the lich who isn't a lich) devise such a path for evil psionicists?

I don't think I had ever made that path. Perhaps I did sometime, but I don't have it now.

[The_God_Brain]

I don't recal ever dissagreeing with you about that.

IMC, the Illithid are kept in check by a number of things, including a Thanni illithid slayer named Bowe Vizzuk. More on him later.

That's where we disagreed. When I proposed a squad of 3 mind flayers 2nd level psychic warriors and an ullitharid 6th level psion, hunting down this man.

You have told me that he went pretty well in a "test" against 4 mind flayers. This may have worked, but only once. Now the mind flayers now of him and certainly they are prepared (as by not striking anyone like him with mind blasts, but rather escaping if not equipped accordingly).

Yes, I've put Bowe up against the illithid as you mentioned and he still came out on top...by running away. He's not an idiot, and he would retreat before dealing with illithid when he wasn't ready. Also, Bowe has gone up in level since you read his statistics two years ago. Likewise, the newly improved Illithid Slayer prestige class is even MORE powerful. When put up against the party you mentioned above, he slaughtered them. Bowe is an illithid killing machine.

As for the illithid sending out a party to "hunt him down"...the illithid don't really work like that in Ravenloft. They have to keep an even lower profile. They would be more likely to send a single, very powerful illithid, or a group of non-illithid subordinants, since Bowe has moral problems with killing humans. Better still, they would manipulate innocent people to try and take him out, which creates a problem for Bowe as he certainly doesn't want to kill someone who has been forced to attack him. In fact, in my campaigns that is usually what happens.

Furthermore, Bowe is a fictional NPC in my personal campaign. The illithid haven't managed to kill him yet because it doesn't suit the story. I don't know why this was ever an issue for you...and I'm mystified that it still is. Let it go.

[daffy72]

Hows this for an idea?
Remember that really stupid star trek when aliens stole Spock's brain?
And the even more stupid idea that Bones could control the body with a clicking remote control?

Hows that for an Illithid bio weapon? Something like an adapted Illithid tadpole that is like the Earth Final Conflict Squill. But it attaches at the base of the skull, slowly feeding, growing feelers into its host. Illithids could control them with a device that enhances their psionics.. a helm or something. (like a helmet, not a spelljammer helm)
They could truly do a lot of damage if they used children as their scout force. How many heroes can just run down an alley slaughtering children? I would think unless they are evil they would have to roll morale/ sanity for evey kid they attack.

But anyway... That could be a bizarre plot that slowly unfolds.. first taking over a child pick pocket ring, etc.

[Jester of the FoS]

So I was thinking of an alternate use for mind flayers. In place of the gothic horror of Cthulic lore.

What about standard '50s Black-n-White horror?
Monsters from beyond the stars. Paniced small towns in Middle America. Mind controling beasts and terrifying creatures beyond imagination. Fits in great with Doppleganger Plants and other related monsters.
Ravenloft owes as much to the B&W Universal horror movies as it does to folklore and Victorian lit.

[alhoon]

Furthermore, Bowe is a fictional NPC in my personal campaign. The illithid haven't managed to kill him yet because it doesn't suit the story.

Hey! Believe me, I can understand perfectly this reason! He is an unstoppable illithid slayer, no buts, no stats. Not this level or that, he does the dirty job and he does it well.

I didn't try to force you play your game the way I proposed. I just asked a question.

[The Nightmare Man]

That reminds me, there are a lot of ideas that can be scavanged from the tyranids of the Warhammer 40K series. Though not terribly gothic, these creatures carried a huge variety of organic weapons that would be appropriate for the illithids and their thralls.

For example, instead of crossbows, they carry harpoon guns, which carry a tendon-like tow-line to reel in targets. The illithids might also use membranous nets, which constric on activation and crush victims to pulp. Another idea would be the glow-maggots, insideous worm-like creatures engineered to allow the illithids to hunt the Broken-Ones. The adult worm is fired like a blow dart and burrows into the victims body to lay eggs. Days latter the eggs hatch and burrow out of the body. They are attracted back to the psionic-throb of the Godbrain, and as they return they excrete feces that are luminous under light. The illithid hunting parties keep their eyes pealed for these green trails, which lead the way back.

These aren't bad ideas actually.

I wonder what use we can make of the other bio-weapons that the Tyranids use...

[The_God_Brain]

Furthermore, Bowe is a fictional NPC in my personal campaign. The illithid haven't managed to kill him yet because it doesn't suit the story.

Hey! Believe me, I can understand perfectly this reason! He is an unstoppable illithid slayer, no buts, no stats. Not this level or that, he does the dirty job and he does it well.

I didn't try to force you play your game the way I proposed. I just asked a question.

I understand. However, one of the important elements of the illithid slayer class is that they become immune to the illithid mind blast ability. Likewise, at a certain level they actually reflect it BACK on the illithid. If anything, the illithid would be reluctant to engage Bowe directly because of this.

[BlackBoxGamer]

Hows this for an idea?
Remember that really stupid star trek when aliens stole Spock's brain?
And the even more stupid idea that Bones could control the body with a clicking remote control?

What do you mean? That was a classic episode! I mean, who could forget the line "Brain and Brain. What is Brain!?"

Sheer roddenbury genius at its finest!

BBG

[ScS of the Fraternity]

Ugh, forget it! You think players are bad now? Just wait until they get the chance to control other characters with a stupid tricorder.

DM: Well big suprise, guys. You find the NPC you left to watch the Mind Flayer dead. The Mind Flayer is long gone and the guard's head is as empty as Paris Hilton's.

Player 1: Oh gee, what a shame. That's the fifth time thats happened this week.

Player 2: Well, no use crying about it. Let's get the machine in his noggin and add him to the rest of the army. How many does that make now? Fifty?

[daffy72]

DM: Well big suprise, guys. You find the NPC you left to watch the Mind Flayer dead. The Mind Flayer is long gone and the guard's head is as empty as Paris Hilton's.
Player 1: Oh gee, what a shame. That's the fifth time thats happened this week.
Player 2: Well, no use crying about it. Let's get the machine in his noggin and add him to the rest of the army. How many does that make now? Fifty?

Player 3: Hmmmm. Maybe we should stop assigning Hirelings with red shirts to guard them?
Player 4: Shut up. They're cheap.