Shade said:
Perhaps we could just say that they sometimes mistake gems for psicrystals?
if that’s all it is, then we could say they collect all gems they find, thinking them to be psicrystals. With an Int of 0, they might not even know why they’re doing it at all – sort of a programmed response.
Shade said:
Why not just simplify it to this.
Fungal Immunity (Ex): Ustilagors are immune to all detrimental effects of molds and fungi. This includes fungus-based diseases (such as cerebral parasites), hazards (such as brown mold), and the attacks of fungoid creatures (such as the poison of violet fungus). This immunity does not extend to oozes, slimes, or jellies.
LOL! I had written up my own description before I saw yours:
Fungus (Ex): An ustilagor is covered with a symbiotic fungal growth that keeps the creature from drying out and masks its psionic aura from detection. This fungus makes an ustilagor immune to the debilitating effects of cerebral parasites, and to special attacks from fungus creatures, such as spore or seed-based attacks, poison, and disease.
You know, if a cerebral parasite counts as a fungal disease, then we don’t even need to mention it by name.
“they can jump and dart with amazing agility” so, shall we say that its Dex mod is used for Jump checks then?
and, I wrote up some flavor text:
This creature is about the same size and shape as a human brain, and covered with a mossy, gray fungal growth. It scuttles and darts about on a set of spindly coral-like legs. On the front of this brain-thing is a long, ribbon-like tendril dripping caustic fluid.
The ustilagor is the larval form of the deadly intellect devourer (see the Expanded Psionics Handbook). It is essentially mindless, but endowed with psionic powers nonetheless. It hoards gems of all sorts, thinking them to be psicrystals, and will attack a creature carrying gems or jewelry.
Mind flayers farm ustilagors, viewing their soft, moist bodies as culinary delights. They will sometimes raise an ustilagor to adulthood, to use the intellect devourer as a watchdog.
Combat
An ustilagor attacks physically by flicking out its flexible tendril, which secretes an alkaline substance. It prefers to use its psionic powers, to cause opponents to desert the battle.