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<blockquote data-quote="Ath-kethin" data-source="post: 7118187" data-attributes="member: 6798775"><p>According to classic D&D lore, there is no "surviving" becoming an illithid; if the tadpole fulfills its biological purpose, it takes over the host's form completely and irrevocably. A "half-illithid" comes about when a tadpole is inserted into the brain of a non-human. They are not as powerful as true illithids, but are much stronger than normal specimens of their race. My point in all that is that a "half-illithid" isn't going to be something that could work in this instance, at least by RAW canon.</p><p></p><p>It IS possible for an illithid to sever ties with and flee its community and Elder Brain, though this is normally done in the pursuit of magical knowledge and eventual lichdom. So that could work as a background if it fits what your player wants to do. </p><p></p><p>Realistically, I think your race writeup will work fine. The biggest hurdle the PC will have to overcome, as others have noted, will be the fact that they will terrify almost everyone they meet, who will likely resort to violence immediately. It's not wise to take chances with mind flayers. That said, there is precedent for illithgids to trade with and have strong connections with other races, from fellow Underdark denizens to basically everyone in the Astromundi Cluster. I guess if you want to play it that way, there's no reason ind flayers couldn't be an accepted (if distasteful) trading partner to a kingdom. As their reproductive cycle is a closely guarded secret, even that might not deter greedy merchants from dealing with the illithids. And that's assuming the creatures are well-known enough to even be feared and distrusted beyond their obviously alien appearance.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ath-kethin, post: 7118187, member: 6798775"] According to classic D&D lore, there is no "surviving" becoming an illithid; if the tadpole fulfills its biological purpose, it takes over the host's form completely and irrevocably. A "half-illithid" comes about when a tadpole is inserted into the brain of a non-human. They are not as powerful as true illithids, but are much stronger than normal specimens of their race. My point in all that is that a "half-illithid" isn't going to be something that could work in this instance, at least by RAW canon. It IS possible for an illithid to sever ties with and flee its community and Elder Brain, though this is normally done in the pursuit of magical knowledge and eventual lichdom. So that could work as a background if it fits what your player wants to do. Realistically, I think your race writeup will work fine. The biggest hurdle the PC will have to overcome, as others have noted, will be the fact that they will terrify almost everyone they meet, who will likely resort to violence immediately. It's not wise to take chances with mind flayers. That said, there is precedent for illithgids to trade with and have strong connections with other races, from fellow Underdark denizens to basically everyone in the Astromundi Cluster. I guess if you want to play it that way, there's no reason ind flayers couldn't be an accepted (if distasteful) trading partner to a kingdom. As their reproductive cycle is a closely guarded secret, even that might not deter greedy merchants from dealing with the illithids. And that's assuming the creatures are well-known enough to even be feared and distrusted beyond their obviously alien appearance. [/QUOTE]
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