D&D (2024) How does mind flayer feeding actually work?

[aco175]

I always pictured them a bit like a mosquito and that the beak would poke a hole and they had a proboscis straw-thing like a juice box. Have one on hand for the big moment.

 

[tetrasodium]

That process took a lot longer than 6 second’s though.

As described in 2e or

Spoiler: graphically like this

 

[Corinnguard]

Mindflayer: "I would like a Cerebral Slurpee, please."

 

[Reynard]

 

[Vikingkingq]

That process took a lot longer than 6 second’s though.

True, but the Egyptians were trying to keep the head in decent nick for preservation later; the Illithid is doing more of a quick slurp and then toss it away once you’re done, like an empty Capri Sun.

 

[BookTenTiger]

The illithid stores the brain in a cheek pouch until it has time to properly digest it later. After an encounter with a full adventuring party it looks like this:

 

[J.Quondam]

Maybe their jaw is like a rotating serrated melon baller.

Because tentacles are at least as sexy as they are scary, their facial wriggly bits are for just show, more for mating rituals than for feeding.
.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

They have lamprey like mouths under the tentacles.

 

[BookTenTiger]

They have lamprey like mouths under the tentacles.

This could also be a possibility:

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

I figure in whatever way most squicks out the PCs.