What's this have to do with D&D?
Mind flayers eat... the brains of other intelligent beings. They speak... Through a hive mind controlled by a malevolent, authoritarian over-consciousness. They reproduce... By implanting their larvae into the skulls of other intelligent beings and controlling their bodies. Before we can even begin to address the ethical issue of if they are inherently evil, we have to address the utilitarian issue of their existence being inherently destructive to the life and bodily autonomy of all other intelligent beings. There might be a fun story to tell about liberating the Illithid from the enslavement of the elder brains and trying to find a way to coexist with them. But the immediate issue isn’t even one of good vs. evil, it’s one of survival.
Lord of the Rings was filmed in New Zealand. Lord of the Rings influenced D&D. Therefore all New Zealand content is related to D&D. (That's the best I can do on short notice.)
I'd have to go back and look (I don't care for the Adventure) but I'm pretty sure you could replace then name, and yes it's simply a perpetuation of stereotypes about that culture.
you mistake me it seems that this would matter to you, you will use the stats in your home game however you want so what about this is deeply important as I suspect that is the real thing for one side?
You need to think outside of the box! Who's to say eating brains and implanting larvae is evil? In fact, if you step a little closer I'll explain more... A little closer... Oh don't mind that, it's just a weird new facial hair style in trying out called "tentacle beard." A little closer............. slurrrp
