Mind Flayers & related monsters

[reanjr]

When you think of the illithids – mind flayers – what sort of creatures do you associate with them?

As allies? None. They are too pimp to need others.

Enemies?

Aboleth, Gith(|yanki|zerei), drow, dwarves, and humans, in that order.

 

[WmRAllen67]

Also, the creatures from the “Sunset World” from Dragon #150.

Here's a second vote for these-- the Embrac, Saltor, Kirgid, &c &c... I've thought about introducing Illithids IMC by having one or two of these show up in the remoter wilderness, and sending the PCs out to investigate...

Also, the Aboleth seems to fit right in, and to that I'l add the Amiskwa, Hallucigenia and all their kin from "Creatures that Time Forgot" in the April 1994 Dragon (don't know the number offhand-- I have a printout of the article, but the Archive CD's at work!)

 

[glass]

The only thing I can think of that noone has mentioned yet is Neh-thalggu.


glass.

 

[Li Shenron]

I always used them as solitary or at least too alien to associate with anyone else.

 

[diaglo]

Binky Farnsworth

he slammed a thread of mine over on the WotC boards by bringing up Half-illithids.

and then... Angelsboi read it.

and then... introduced one into the campaign we were playing.

 

[The_Universe]

Just to add to my earlier comments, I don't use mind flayers at all unless they're going to be the focus of a campaign arc. Their utter alienness and strange *creepy* evil sets them apart thematically from almost every other monster in the game.

They work well as creatures of the Underdark, but to have them as merely part of a host of races denies their power...if I had Illithids in the underdark, there would be only illithids and their slaves...they're so creepy, essentially, that they deserve to be the "stars" of a game, and trying to shoehorn them in to something else seems like it would be an insult to any other theme you were trying to present, or at the very least a distraction.

So, if I'm using mind flayers, then I am using every truly alien creature I can find. Chuul seem like they would work well, and the new illustration of the doppelganger makes them seem enough like space aliens (rather than twisted fey) that they seem like they'd make excellent slaves for mind flayers - some people are being controlled, others replaced by cunning doppelgangers, and slowly society crumbles until only the Mind Flayers have enoug power to ascend to the twisted thrones of the world.

 

[BOZ]

And oddly, I think of those bugs from Wrath of Khan.

*squirms and twitches*

 

[painandgreed]

Another vote for nobody except for humanoid slaves, on a daily dealings anyway. They'd have various monsters and magical beast that they'd also breed. Somtimes things they could only do so by feeding said slaves. Of course, the same slaves are food for the Flayers also, so there would probalby be quite the slave culture as they'd probably be breeding as fast as possible. The only others that would go to their cities would be creatures that would trade with the Flayers for their knowledge and magic. Flayers are in need of information, slaves, and rare supplies and it is much easier to allow trade to come to them than try and venture out into a world that wants them dead with no questines asked. Drow make up the most of the traders as they are slightly more acceptable than Mind Flayers but not by much.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

The scary part is, I'm beginning to know your mind... FEAR ME! (waves mouth-tentacles menacingly)

Squintacles, thank you.

 

[Sejs]

Pseudonatural creatures, humanoid slaves, intellect devourers, and Dr. Zoidberg.