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I'm thinking I'd like to go with a gishy fear build, something like Illithid 7/Paladin of Tyranny 3//Dread Necromancer 4/Dread Witch 5/Dread Necromancer +1 (5); and then taking the final level of Illithid followed by maybe Crusader on the one side, and Dread Necromancer on the other.
When in his disguise form, Mak'Ta appears the same as any other Illithid, tall, thin of frame, one of the many/few.
However, when Mak'Ta chooses to reveal his true form, one of a Swarmlord, he truely stands out. He has a unusually large number of tentacles, his skin becomes a scaled purple, with bluer patches, his Telepathy seems to have a static behind it with an unusual force, and his form becomes more muscular and filled out.
Fluff
Spoiler
Mak'Ta is the result of a Swarmlord being implanted to become a Mind Flayer. The Eldar Brain of that specific group was the sort to seize any advantage, and after much examination of the result, hid Mak'Ta amongst his other experiments, letting him learn and grow. Once he joined his 'peers' he could flawlessly hide his differences, and made for a perfect slave master... And executioner. Lesser Mind flayers who stepped to far out of line simply disappeared after a torture session, and Mak'Ta gained another servant that was indistinguishable from his other more animalistic servants.
Latter, as Mak'Ta further learned, and learned some darker secrets, he worked his way into the position of a miner, being able to use more potent servants in the expansion of the tunnels. When Mak'Ta learned the truth about the Elder brain, he first stayed, until the elder brain learned Mak'Ta knew.
His escape was short, and very, very bloody.
Swarmling Discriptions
Spoiler
Mak'Ta's swarmlings appear to be rather stocky Illithids with a smaller number of larger tenticles. However they are bent over, much to broad, and know where near as frail looking.
Most of Mal'Ta's servants who are infested or assimilated look similar, if smaller.
Aganon (Cohort) (Discription, again very relevent)
Spoiler
Aganon appears to be a rather tall and broad orc, from a distance. But similarities end there.
Aganon is covered with purple scales and a thick purple hide, and his nose appears overlarge. He bears two tentacles coming from each cheek and one from the back of his neck, often wrapped around his own neck.
Fluff
Spoiler
Aganon was, true to his distant appearance, a rather tall and stocky orc. Created a little before Mak'Ta's ejection, he has always been the loyal sort, a cheifteins body guard no less, and had taken vows to never flee the field alone. His transformation has kept most of his personality, and his new found strength makes him rather cocky, however he now owes his allegiance to Mak'Ta, due to the influence of the hive mind that surrounds Mak'Ta.
Menathet and Mintou (Level 5 Follower) Discription
Spoiler
Menathet and Mintou both, like Aganon, from a distance appear something they are not, they appears to be a drow. But now, there skin is purple, not black, and is thick and rubbery, and coiled around his arms lay two tentacles, rarely used but present.
Fluff
Spoiler
Menathet and Mintou used to be a Drow captains, and are twins. Both were rather minor, little more than charismatic slavers who commanded those forced to fight. When offered a chance of knew life as embraced on a attack that was obviously designed to get rid of them for political reasons, they didn't think twice and doesn't look back. Now partered to command hives, they are rather similar, however they still retain constant contact. Occasionally the duo go a little above their station, but a sense of friendship with Mak'Ta, created by the hive mind, and Mak'Ta's power keep them in their place.
Last edited by Erik Vale : 09-25-2012 at 09:19 PM.
Indeed. It's just that there's Abstersine and his lieutenant Ullipsine, and the alhoon is kinda touchy about those who try to start ****. He doesn't mind if you think what he does is wrong, since you're perfectly entitled to your own opinion, and you're even allowed to leave The Enlightened if you want, but that he's the leader here shouldn't be forgotten. The reason I'm saying all this is because, as far as I know, ulitharids have an even bigger superiority complex than other mind flayers. Rightfully so, but still.
__________________ FOUR QUEENS. HMM. THAT IS VERY HIGH.
Death looked down at his cards, and then looked up into Granny's steady, blue-eyed gaze.
Neither moved for some time.
Then Death laid the hand on the table. I LOSE, he said. ALL I HAVE IS FOUR ONES.
The key is to make the current leader think he is in charge, while you make sure all he really does is your bidding, while taking all the aggro.
I figure at int 18+ everyone is a schemer...
If I successfully grapple an elder brain and all that, can I eat it?
Ehh, my guy is stupid for an Illithid (int 14) but has charisma out of the wazoo, If it weren't for the max cohort level limit, I would have a mid-teens one.
As for grappling an elder brain...
1: Thats just plain evil/wrong, and you will probably be rather bloated, I don't think it would fit in your stomach.
2: If you can get that close.
And altering my character slightly and fluff. Making him even more of a leader at the expense of close combat. But hey, he isn't supposed to be CC anyhow.
Last edited by Erik Vale : 09-25-2012 at 09:15 PM.
Ehh, my guy is stupid for an Illithid (int 14) but has charisma out of the wazoo, If it weren't for the max cohort level limit, I would have a mid-teens one.
As for grappling an elder brain...
1: Thats just plain evil/wrong, and you will probably be rather bloated, I don't think it would fit in your stomach.
2: If you can get that close.
And altering my character slightly and fluff. Making him even more of a leader at the expense of close combat. But hey, he isn't supposed to be CC anyhow.
Well, the character is large as standard, and has expansion for 2 extra size categories. I figure his appetite increases as well when he happens to be colossal :p
Yeah, as close combat as the room allows...
And getting close to elder brains is a matter of being sneaky enough :p (we got that b-roll)
__________________
Spoiler
I am a
Chaotic Good Human Wizard/Sorcerer (2nd/2nd Level)
Even if you got downright huge, that's a really big brain to munch on. He'd do well to share anyway. Eating an Elder Brain would be a once-in-many-lifetimes experience, so I'm sure that everyone else would fight to have a nibble.
__________________ FOUR QUEENS. HMM. THAT IS VERY HIGH.
Death looked down at his cards, and then looked up into Granny's steady, blue-eyed gaze.
Neither moved for some time.
Then Death laid the hand on the table. I LOSE, he said. ALL I HAVE IS FOUR ONES.
Last edited by Manly Man : 09-26-2012 at 12:26 PM.
Hmm, that is a good idea. Slay an elder brain, then start an illithid fast-food company using teleportation as delivery service for those that don't have teleport themselves yet
Funny to see how "Fred" evolved from the totem rager build it was before.
Almost done, just need some items perhaps and fluff. Which is essentially: stage 1; angry baby: I am strong, thus I am powerful. Stage 2; nihilistic teen: I am smart, thus I am powerful. Stage 3; evolved adult: I am disciplined, tall, smart and cautious, thus I am powerful.
If necropolitan isn't available, consider lich, alhoon or spectral savant.
__________________
Spoiler
I am a
Chaotic Good Human Wizard/Sorcerer (2nd/2nd Level)
The Prepared Adventurer: "I've seen this kind of psychic mushroom-beast before. We're going to need fire."
Spoiler
Oliver "Dashing" Dashwood was a known and respected adventurer in his day. That day came to a quick end when, during an adventure into the lightless depths of the Underdark, he was set upon and seized by illithids and slated to become one of them through the process called cenomorphosis.
Yet, Oliver was a man who had always believed in being prepared for anything - and was also the luckiest son of a bitch on the face of the planet - and had in his possession an herb that he had discovered himself which the illithid could not abide. By eating the herb himself, the mind flayer tadpole they infested him with weakened and eventually died. Oliver's human mind survived, even as his human body was hideously changed by the tadpole's genetic commands even as it died.
He remained within the mind flayer colony for months, living in fear among one of the most strongly psionic races in the world, before he could realistically fake his death and flee.
Yet illithids are known and despised the world over, and Oliver looked just like them. More, he WAS an illithid in body; he had no choice but to feed the craving for minds once a month, just as a true mind flayer must...
Something like that, anyway. I like factotum characters way more than is healthy.
__________________ People seemed to like this better, but only marginally so - the way one might prefer to be stabbed than shot. Optimally, one isn't stabbed or shot. Optimally, one eats some cake! But there are times when cake is not available, and instead we are destroyed. This is the deep poetry of the universe. -- Tycho Brahe
Saidoro, I think your character is the one that appeals most to me for a meleer, though maybe taking levels as a Psychic Warrior instead of a Fighter is something to consider.
I need one level in a full BAB class before level 6 to qualify for paladin as early as I did, Fighter 1/PsiWar 1 is go, though. Sheet
What is your take on the interaction between prestige paladin and the battle blessing feat?
Can Illithid advance both PsiWar and Warmind? (I figured I might take warmind later fow sweeping strikes.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by dyslexicfaser
"I've seen this kind of psychic mushroom-beast before. We're going to need more fire."
Taking the first seven which are above 4. (20d8)[1][4][2][3][2][8][4][4][2][6][3][8][2][7][6][6][8][4][4][2](86)
2d10's-
Spoiler
Taking the first two which are above a 5. (10d10)[9][4][9][5][10][3][3][8][10][2](63)
Plus 8 at first level, plus 20 from Constitution Modifiers, gives me a grand total of 95 Hit Points.
...Could use a little more, but I'll be okay. Just gotta stay moving...
The Seventh Jade Phoenix Mage
Yes. Of course I remember. How could I not.
My brothers and I journeyed into the Underdark. We went looking for the prison in which we kept the Souldrake. A thousand years had passed, and the seals needed to be checked. We were strong in those days. We thought we would be safe. But we were wrong.
An ambush. Ithilids, presumably a raiding party on their way to the surface for fresh brains. They surprised us in the dark, caught us unawares. The Jade Phoenix fought bravely, but it was not enough. There were too many, and their power was strange and unknown to us. We did not stand a chance against them.
Six of our number were slain that day, to be reborn again in new bodies. Six fled to the surface, where I suppose they remain to this day.
I was not so lucky.
The Ithilid captured me, dragged me down into the depths of their realm. A human of such power was worthy to undergo the transformation, they whispered into my mind. I would be reborn, in a new flesh.
It was not a concept I was unfamiliar with. The Jade Phoenix is constantly reborn, my soul flying to a new body every time I died. But this was not like those times. It was not the glorious, flaming rebirth I had experienced before. This was dark, fetid, corrupt. My body was twisted, wretched from its natural form. My mind, too, was broken, made into their mind. But my soul-the soul of the Jade Phoenix-that remained untouched.
For years I watched, dormant, as my body engaged in all manner of unspeakable things. For the glory of the Ithilid, my body became a monster. I devoured the minds of innocents, enslaved the creatures of the dark, and my body grew stronger. But the soul of the Jade Phoenix is patient. The Ithilid knew nothing of my sacred trust, and that was how I wanted it.
The opportunity came when this new me, Morandoac, discovered the truth of the Elder Brain…
Morandoac
I had always been strong.
My body was filled with physical vigor. The human who had been chosen for my ceremorphosis was at peak physical condition, a martial artist of the highest caliber and a skilled mage. It was that which made him worthy to become my vessel, and I inherited that strength. I often found myself on the front lines of raids, securing the choicest brains for myself by my initiative. The others may have found my actions rash, but with my superior physical stature, I was more capable of performing such attacks.
I never was as skilled in the arcane arts, or in psychic abilities. Indeed, I displayed an almost pathetic lack of ability in those areas for a long time, which I admit to feeling some amount of displeasure at.
Of course, that changed on the day I discovered the true intentions of our glorious Elder Brain.
I had been chosen to deposit the brain of a recently deceased comrade into the Elder Brain’s pool. It was considered a great honor, though not so great as joining the Brain itself. But something curious occurred. As my hands touched the waters of the pool, I caught the barest glimpse of the process by which the mind was consumed. And consumed it was. The Elder Brain devoured my comrade, incorporating all of its skill, power, and flexibility, but not the personality itself.
We did not live on in the Elder Brain.
The shock unlocked something inside me. I felt a burning, a powerful fire in my chest, the likes of which I had never known. I flew into a powerful rage, taking my dagger and striking my comrades who were close to me. I had lost any self-control in my fear and anger at the Elder Brain’s deception.
I was restrained, and placed in a holding cell to await trial. It was then that I felt the fires again. I communed with this strange presence. The Jade Phoenix, it calls itself. Apparently, my host was a member of an ancient order which sealed away a threat to this world. His soul had become trapped in my body during the ceremorphosis. It was an interesting idea.
More interesting was the power I obtained by communing with the Jade Phoenix. I could channel arcane energy, in very specific forms. I could make weapons from pure arcane energy.
Secure in my new power, escaping from my cell proved much less problematic. I was able to flee my compound, and make my way to the surface. I wandered alone for some time. Free from the influence of the Elder Brain, I did take some time to reevaluate my mental structure. After all, a creature of such magnificent mental power was more than capable of subtly adjusting my mentality over the many years I had spent with it. The Jade Phoenix guided me to one of those who also shared this shard of power, and though our forms may have been different, he still treated me with the utmost respect.
Whether this was from fear or true feelings of kinship, I cannot say.
In any case, it was not long before I found my way to the Enlightened. A group of Ithilid who had also discovered the truth of the Elder Brains. In a way, we do represent a compound of our own. It is much different than the way I lived before. The plotting, the scheming, the potential rivals looking for a way to eliminate me, they were not present. Instead, the Enlightened work together for the common good of the whole. Not all of us could be said to be precisely moral in the human sense, least of all myself. But I think this has potential. Perhaps, if we can be free of the influence of the Elder Brains, there is hope for the Ithilid yet.
Of course, there is still the matter of this Souldrake, and the sacred charge of the Jade Phoenix. I have sworn to fulfill the oath as best as I can, in return for this power. But I do not know how the other Enlightened will react should the circumstances of my relationship to the Jade Phoenix Mages become known. For now, I shall keep the source of my power a secret as best I can, lest I rouse some anger amongst them.
__________________
ATTENTION ANYONE WHO I'M PLAYING WITH:
No news is good news.
Awesome Hex avatar by kpenguin
Last edited by THEChanger : 09-26-2012 at 11:57 PM.
So, I most sincerely apologize for not saying anything for as long as I have. I've had little time to say anything and look through this; as I am very, very tired, I shall make a sufficient reply and answer your questions later.
__________________ FOUR QUEENS. HMM. THAT IS VERY HIGH.
Death looked down at his cards, and then looked up into Granny's steady, blue-eyed gaze.
Neither moved for some time.
Then Death laid the hand on the table. I LOSE, he said. ALL I HAVE IS FOUR ONES.
Reading through the Lord of Madness section on illithids I made special note of the part where it says that all emotions and motivations of a mind flayer is negative. Which might be tricky role-playing.
So how do we handle that?
__________________
Spoiler
I am a
Chaotic Good Human Wizard/Sorcerer (2nd/2nd Level)
Just because you only feel negativity doesn't mean you can't be good, or that you can't do nice things. Sure, you don't get any emotional satisfaction over it, but you know that it's the right thing to do in that it is for greater benefit of others. Your anger is directed towards your enemies, your hatred and loathing is for the atrocities you've committed, and you concentrate on tempering your fury and abhorrence, your desire for vengeance, into something more like righteousness, delivering justice to the wicked.
Given, this sounds more suitable to justify having a mind flayer Paladin than most other classes. Come up with explanations of your own character's behavior, and you ought to go far.
For your question about the third-party psionics, you're welcome to put up what you wish, but I'll check the final product to see what level of cheese you've got.
And for your question about the Psychic Warrior and Warmind, Yes, they both can be advanced, but note that they have to have different powers. They pick from the same list, so be sure to get from one what you couldn't from the other. Keep this sort of thing going though (stacking a bunch of different psionic classes at each level), and I'll have to do something about it.
When it comes to Battle Blessing, you're more than welcome to apply it; after all, they are still Paladin spells. You could even go so far as to use the alternate class features mentioned in Unearthed Arcana or the other books (Cursebreaker anyone?) out there.
__________________ FOUR QUEENS. HMM. THAT IS VERY HIGH.
Death looked down at his cards, and then looked up into Granny's steady, blue-eyed gaze.
Neither moved for some time.
Then Death laid the hand on the table. I LOSE, he said. ALL I HAVE IS FOUR ONES.
Last edited by Manly Man : 09-28-2012 at 01:02 PM.
... I made special note of the part where it says that all emotions and motivations of a mind flayer is negative. ...
Just because you only feel negativity doesn't mean you can't be good, or that you can't do nice things. Sure, you don't get any emotional satisfaction over it, but you know that it's the right thing to do in that it is for greater benefit of others. ...
I see no reason that this could not be machinations of the Elder Brains. Mayhapse they suck down positive emotions and such like milkshakes, and now that the characters are "Free" from their influence those emotions may begin to return.
__________________
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never... Ouch, Hey oh nevermind...
On the stacking of Flayer levels and mainfester/caster levels, i was thinking that I would apply Flayer levels alternating with caster and manifester levels, that don't actually count until I take the next level of a caster or manifester class, until I qualify for Cerebremancer, i.e.
ECL1 Flayer (+1 pending ML)//Wizard ML -//CL 1
ECL2 Flayer (+1 pending CL)//Psion ML 2//CL 1
ECL3 Flayer (+1 pending ML)//Wizard ML 2//CL 3
ECL4 Flayer (+1 pending CL)//Psion ML 4//CL 3
ECL5 Flayer (No Bonus)//Cerebremancer ML 5//CL 5
ECL6 Flayer (No Bonus)//Cerebremancer ML 6//CL 6
ECL7 Flayer (No Bonus)//Cerebremancer ML 7//CL 7
ECL8 Flayer (No Bonus)//Cerebremancer ML 8//CL 8
ECL9 Ulitharid (No Bonus)//Cerebremancer ML 9//CL 9
ECL10 Ulitharid (No Bonus)//Cerebremancer ML 10//CL 10
I would have 2 level 1 powers, 2 level 2 powers, 4 level 3 powers and 4 level 5 powers known, since I would not get the powers known bumps at levels 1 and 3. Obviously higher level known slots could be filled with lower level powers. I would have 81 base Powerpoints + bonus for Int and ML.
I would also have 3 cantrips, 2 level 1, 3 each level 2 3 and 4, and 2 level 5 spells per day plus bonus for Int.
This may turn STP Erudite vs Psion, in which case it would be 5 unique powers /day but with all of my spells known as powers known as well...
__________________
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never... Ouch, Hey oh nevermind...
Looking through the character sheets that have, more or less, been completed, I'd say that I'm good with three of them so far, those being Erik Vale's, THEChanger's, and Saidoro's characters. Escheton, the only thing so far that I'm having trouble with is wondering why you've got only nine levels on the side of the class opposite the Mind Flayer/Ulitharid part. Did you get another template that I'm unaware of?
Apart from that, remember that three is the absolute bare minimum to make this function, and five is my max for characters accepted, so I may end up having to reject one or two of you. No offense intended if it comes to that.
Looking at your build, Ahus, I'd say you would be an excellent addition, having a great arsenal with both your Wizard and Psion abilities. You may want to pick your psion's discipline before you start finalizing everything, though.
__________________ FOUR QUEENS. HMM. THAT IS VERY HIGH.
Death looked down at his cards, and then looked up into Granny's steady, blue-eyed gaze.
Neither moved for some time.
Then Death laid the hand on the table. I LOSE, he said. ALL I HAVE IS FOUR ONES.
How can I even take templates when my Illithid levels will negate any and all benefits?
Because if I can...a template would be nice. And I would look into it.
Now, would I need to take template levels at the first levels per se?
__________________
Spoiler
I am a
Chaotic Good Human Wizard/Sorcerer (2nd/2nd Level)
You can take templates at any levels that you would qualify for, though inherited ones have to be at the first level. As well, there are templates that have been turned into class levels in the monster thread that I have in my first post, liches being one particularly useful example.
__________________ FOUR QUEENS. HMM. THAT IS VERY HIGH.
Death looked down at his cards, and then looked up into Granny's steady, blue-eyed gaze.
Neither moved for some time.
Then Death laid the hand on the table. I LOSE, he said. ALL I HAVE IS FOUR ONES.
Last edited by Manly Man : 09-29-2012 at 01:01 PM.
Hmm, those do look interesting. Spellwarped creature and creature of legend are nice, but maybe a bit much. Perhaps something for later.
For now I think I'll fill the missing level with draconic.
He has a penchant for eating the brains of draconic creatures and has taken over some of their might.
The paralysis immunity should prove useful if I need to fight that alhoon at some point :p.
Is draconic one of the templates that has to be take in full and/or at character start?
__________________
Spoiler
I am a
Chaotic Good Human Wizard/Sorcerer (2nd/2nd Level)
I suppose he could have eaten a dragon brain or two too many, but there are other ways in which the template can be acquired, as it is, normally, an inherited template. Perhaps, for some reason, you have a Brainstealer Dragon in your lineage, perhaps several generations ago, and through your psychic development have managed to bring forth this latent power.
I don't do this sort of thing very often, since finding an excuse other than magic to let an inherited template be an acquired one instead that isn't simply "A WIZARD DID IT!" can be difficult, going on a case-by-case basis. I'm only allowing this one since dragons do, if only extremely rarely, play a part in illithid culture. Consider your character a near one-in-a-million chance, and play with it accordingly. I don't think there's any Psion out there with an Ego Whip that could make one as big as your character's so much as flinch.
__________________ FOUR QUEENS. HMM. THAT IS VERY HIGH.
Death looked down at his cards, and then looked up into Granny's steady, blue-eyed gaze.
Neither moved for some time.
Then Death laid the hand on the table. I LOSE, he said. ALL I HAVE IS FOUR ONES.
I have no trouble with it being inherited. It gives full bab, so its fine as a first level opposed to Illithid. It might even give a better explanation of his earlier life's focus on the beastly. (which makes his id as vast as his ego...:p)
What campaign setting were you thinking of?
Because I was considering campaign hooks. And as we now know that our personality will not live on, the enlightened will look for ways to extend their lives. Personally I prefer not to go alhoon or sand lich.
Perhaps an artifact hunt through Xoriat if we are doing an Eberron campaign.
Or a direct effort towards becoming a Deity if Forgotten realms.
__________________
Spoiler
I am a
Chaotic Good Human Wizard/Sorcerer (2nd/2nd Level)
So, many apologies for the lack of replies. I had been quite busy since about the thirtieth, and then when I was just about ready to make the post... frakking site had to go down.
As much of this is going to take place in The Underdark, it's either Greyhawk or Forgotten Realms. I usually prefer Greyhawk, as boring as some of you may find it, though the actual area will be homebrewed; The Underdark does, after all, span pretty much around the entire world, so there's plenty of room for some custom places. I planned for our first adventure hook to be a fetch quest, sort of. Abstersine had found out about an inquisition of mind flayers that had been kidnapped, restrained and debilitated by a group of githyanki. Whether or not it's a good thing that the githyanki found them instead of the githzerai is questionable, since at least the githzerai will kill them quickly.
From there on, how things go with how well you guys handle this first bit will help me determine which part to do next, since I do have a few different branches in mind to follow.
__________________ FOUR QUEENS. HMM. THAT IS VERY HIGH.
Death looked down at his cards, and then looked up into Granny's steady, blue-eyed gaze.
Neither moved for some time.
Then Death laid the hand on the table. I LOSE, he said. ALL I HAVE IS FOUR ONES.
Okay, another break in attention to this bit. Sorry, life can be several things that I shouldn't mention on here, even if they get censored.
So, only got one thing to say Ahus: the link's broken. If I can have a look at it, we'd probably be ready to start.
__________________ FOUR QUEENS. HMM. THAT IS VERY HIGH.
Death looked down at his cards, and then looked up into Granny's steady, blue-eyed gaze.
Neither moved for some time.
Then Death laid the hand on the table. I LOSE, he said. ALL I HAVE IS FOUR ONES.
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Re: Matter That Matters (3.5)
I need one level in a full BAB class before level 6 to qualify for paladin as early as I did, Fighter 1/PsiWar 1 is go, though.
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