Dragon

Monsters

-

Psionics

Dragon 78

I t   w a s n ? t   s o   m u c h   t h e   w a y   t h e   v i s i t o r
looked as the way he appeared ? the
assembled adventurers had expected him
to enter through the doorway like everyone else. The visitor instead faded into
b e i n g   f r o m   t h e   v e r y   a i r   i t s e l f   i n   t h e   c e n t e r
of the room, as hardened warriors and
cynical thieves stepped back from the
a p p a r i t i o n   i n   f e a r .
 

It was Melakar the White-Bearded who
first recovered his bearing. He cleared his
throat and stepped toward the visitor.
?Greetings, and welcome,? he began.
?We sent messengers into the astral plane
a s k i n g   f o r   t h o s e   w h o   w o u l d ,   f o r   a   p r i c e ,
t e l l   u s   a b o u t   t h e   r a c e   k n o w n   a s   m i n d
flayers, to satisfy our own curios??
 

T h e   v i s i t o r   h i s s e d   b e t w e e n   t h i n   l i p s ,
and the mage stopped and paled.
 

? D o n ? t   p l a y   w i t h   m e , ?   s a i d   t h e   v i s i t o r .
? Y o u   a n d   y o u r   g u e s t s   a r e   p l a n n i n g   t o
raid a mind flayer lair you?ve heard
rumor of, and you are desperate to know
more about the creature beforehand.
 

S u r e l y ,   o l d   f o o l ,   y o u   d i d n ? t   t h i n k   t o   h i d e
t h a t   f r o m   a   t e l e p a t h ,   a n d   e s p e c i a l l y   f r o m
a   g i t h y a n k i   k n i g h t . ?   A f t e r   a   m o m e n t   t h e
visitor smiled wickedly, and his pointed
teeth gleamed. ?Ah, you did think you
c o u l d   h i d e   i t . ?   T h e   g i t h y a n k i   l o o k e d   a t
the adventurers around him. ?None of
y o u   c a n   h i d e   a n y t h i n g   f r o m   m e !   T a k e
your hands from your weapons! Should
you do the least harm to me, the vengeance of the githyanki will destroy you
a l l ! ?

Slowly the adventurers around the
r o o m   f o r c e d   t h e m s e l v e s   t o   r e l a x .   T h e
githyanki warrior also assumed a calmer
p o s t u r e ,   a n d   t h e n   t u r n e d   b a c k   t o   t h e
m a g e .
? S p e a k   q u i c k l y .   T h e   g r a v i t y   o f   y o u r
world tortures me, and even thoughts of
your gold do not give me great comfort.?
? W h e r e   d o   t h e   i l l i t h i d s ,   w h o m   m e n
call the mind flayers, come from?? asked
t h e   m a g e   i n   a   t r e m b l i n g   v o i c e .
The githyanki?s eyes narrowed. ?Mind
flayers are not of your world. They are
n o t   o f   a n y   k n o w n   w o r l d .   T h e y   h a v e   b e e n
t r a v e l i n g   t h e   p l a n e s   f o r   s o   l o n g ,   n o t   e v e n
they know where they come from. From a
secure base underground or from a darke n e d   p l a n e t   t h e y   s e n d   o u t   p r o j e c t i o n s   o f
themselves to new prime material planes,
s c o u t i n g   a n d   s e a r c h i n g   f o r   a   n e w   r e a l m   t o
conquer and enslave.
?Once a realm is discovered, it is
doomed; the mind flayers have one of
their number remain projected at the new
p l a n e   w h i l e   o t h e r s   u s e   t h e i r   p s i o n i c   p o w e r s   t o   e n t e r   t h e   S i l v e r   R e a l m ,   t h a t   w h i c h

y o u   c a l l   t h e   a s t r a l   p l a n e .   T h e s e   o t h e r s
t h e n   f o l l o w   t h e   s c o u t ? s   s i l v e r   c o r d   t o   t h e
e n t r y   p o i n t   t o   t h e   n e w   p l a n e ,   u s e   p s i o n i c
s c i e n c e   t o   e n t e r   t h a t   p l a n e ,   a n d   b e g i n
b r i n g i n g   a b o u t   i t s   d o w n f a l l .   O u r   m a g e s
b e l i e v e   t h e i r   l o s t   h o m e   p l a n e   w a s   a n t i magical, and that they possess the same
n a t u r e ,   f o r   t h e y   r e s i s t   m a g i c a l   i n f l u e n c e s
s o   s t r o n g l y   t h a t   e v e n   t h e   m o s t   a c c o m p l i s h e d   w i z a r d s   a r e   t a x e d   t o   s l a y   t h e m . ?

?Why do they live only in darkness??
asked an elf. ?I?ve heard they can walk
a b o u t   i n   t h e   s u n   l i k e   a n y   o t h e r   m o n s t e r . ?
? W r o n g .   T h e   i l l i t h i d s   c a n n o t   t o l e r a t e
l i g h t   e x c e p t   i n   f a i n t   i n t e n s i t i e s .   T h e i r
eyes are not like those of humans or elves;

they have solid white abominations in
p l a c e   o f   e y e s ,   w i t h   n o   p u p i l s   v i s i b l e .   O u r
scholars have tested and dissected these
eyes, and we find that they focus light in
a strange manner, so that a sudden bright
light will overwhelm the visual nerves
and leave the creature in agony. We have
f o u n d   t h a t   a   m a g i c a l   l i g h t   s p e l l   c a s t   s u c cessfully upon an illithid?s eyes will send
i t   i n t o   s p a s m s .   W h e n   b l i n d e d   l i k e   t h i s ,   i t
i s   i n   t o o   m u c h   p a i n   t o   u s e   i t s   p s i o n i c
powers, and is helpless and easily slain.?
T h e   g i t h y a n k i   s u d d e n l y   t u r n e d   t o   h i s
l e f t .   ? Y o u   a r e   c o r r e c t , ?   h e   s a i d   t o   a   s i l e n t
dwarven warrior, who gasped and
s t u t t e r e d .
T h e   g i t h y a n k i   c o n t i n u e d ,   c u t t i n g   o f f
the dwarf?s response. ?You were assumi n g   t h a t   t h e   m i n d   f l a y e r s   c a n   s e e   i n t o   t h e
m i n d s   o f   o t h e r s   a s   I   c a n ,   a n d   y o u   a r e
r i g h t .   F o r   m e ,   t h e   p o w e r   c a m e   a s   a   g i f t   o f
f a t e ;   f o r   t h e m ,   i t   i s   n a t u r a l   t o   a l l .   H o w ever, they cannot understand the thoughts
they receive, and furthermore do not care
to understand them. They know only
their own secret tongue and the languages of their allies under the earth.
?The power they have to read minds is
u s e d   o n l y   t o   c o m m u n i c a t e   a m o n g   t h e m selves, each illithid reading the passing
t h o u g h t s   o f   t h e   o t h e r   a n d   t h i n k i n g   i t s
o w n   t h o u g h t s   t o   b e   r e a d   i n   t u r n ,   a n d   s o
f o r t h .   T h e y   a r e   a l s o   k n o w n   t o   u s e   t h i s
talent to detect the presence of other
b e i n g s ,   u s u a l l y   i n t r u d e r s   i n   t h e i r   c i t i e s

a n d   l a i r s .   T r u e   s p e e c h   t h e y   s a v e   f o r   t h e i r
r a r e   c o m m u n i c a t i o n s   w i t h   n o n - i l l i t h i d s .
T h e y   m a y   a l s o   c r y   o u t   f r o m   t h e   p a i n   o f   a
l i g h t   i n   t h e i r   e y e s ,   o r   w h e n   c e r e b r a l   p a r a s i t e s   d r a i n   t h e i r   p s i o n i c   p o w e r s . ?
The dwarf?s face tightened and looked
m o r e   g r i m   t h a n   u s u a l .   ? Y o u   w o u l d   d o
w e l l   t o   c o n f i n e   y o u r   p r y i n g   t o   o t h e r s , ?   h e
g r o w l e d .   ? W h a t   I   t h i n k   i s   n o n e   o f   y o u r
b u s i n e s s . ?
T h e   g i t h y a n k i   l e a n e d   b a c k   a n d
shrieked, in what seemed like a laugh.
? N o n e   o f   m y   b u s i n e s s ?   F o o l s !   E v e r y t h i n g
here is my business ? I wouldn?t have
c o m e   i f   i t   w e r e   n o t !   Y o u   s o u g h t   a   b e i n g
who knew all the strengths and weaknesses of the mind flayers, and you got
m e .   W h o   b e t t e r   t o   a s k ,   y o u   t h o u g h t ,   t h a n
the greatest enemies of the brain-eaters?
T h e   g i t h y a n k i   ? t h e   p e o p l e   o f   G i t h ,   w h o
l e d   u s   o u t   o f   s l a v e r y   a n d   i n t o   t h e   S i l v e r
R e a l m ,   o u t   o f   t h e   c l a w s   a n d   t e n t a c l e s   o f
t h e   m i n d   f l a y e r s !   W e   k n o w   m o r e   o f   m i n d
flayers than you would learn yourselves
i n   a   l i f e t i m e . ?
A   s k e l e t a l   f i n g e r   s t a b b e d   o u t   a t   t h e
audience; jeweled armbands jingled and
loose brown wrappings swayed from his
a r m s .   ? I   r e a d   b l i n d   s t u p i d i t y   i n   a l l   o f
y o u .   H a l f   o f   y o u   b e l i e v e   t h a t   y o u   n e e d
o n l y   r u s h   u p   a n d   h a c k   a t   t h e m   w i t h   y o u r
p i t i f u l   s w o r d s ,   a n d   t h e   r e s t   o f   y o u   t h i n k
t h a t   y o u r   m a g i c   w i l l   t u r n   t h e   t r i c k . ?
T h e   g i t h y a n k i   g l a n c e d   t o w a r d   t h e   c e i l i n g ,   t h e n   l e v e l e d   h i s   h e a d   a g a i n .   ? I ? l l   t e l l

y o u   w h a t   I   s a w .   I   s a w   a   m i n d   f l a y e r   h i t
directly with a wizard?s fireball spell, and
t h e   s p e l l   d i e d   o u t !   L i g h t n i n g   a n d   c o l d   a r e
almost always wasted on them, as though
the attack was never made. They shrug
o f f   m a g i c   a s   o n e   o f   y o u   w o u l d   b r u s h
away a bothersome insect. I saw a
g i t h y a n k i   w a r r i o r   o l d e r   t h a n   a n y   o f   y o u
here, even you elves, charge a mind flayer
? and in seconds it ruined his brain with
blasts of mental energy. Three times it hit
him ? three times! The warrior was dead
before he took ten more steps. It took five
warriors more to bring the brain-eater
down, and I was the only one of the five
to come away with my brain and mind
still intact.?
The room was silent, and the githyanki
continued. ?Yes,  brain-eater.  That?s what
I said. Illithids relish the brains of
humans and similar beings the way you
eat the meat of cattle and fowl. To them,
eating brains is a symbolic gesture. All
illithids believe that they are the master
race, the true and rightful rulers of all
sentient creatures. They have no kinship
to humanity or any other known race.
They worship no gods, because they deem
themselves the ones who should be
worshipped.
?Being as intelligent as they are,
endowed with psionic powers, and as
physically weak as they are, the illithids
believe that the mind is everything and
all-important.? The githyanki tapped the

y e l l o w e d   s k i n   o f   h i s   t e m p l e   w i t h   a   b o n y
f i n g e r .   ? T o   e a t   t h e   b r a i n   o f   a n o t h e r   r a c e
i s   t h e   u l t i m a t e   s y m b o l   o f   d o m i n i o n   o v e r
t h a t   r a c e .   T h e y   c o n s u m e   t h a t   w h i c h   i s
i m p o r t a n t   t o   t h e m .   T h e i r   t e n t a c l e s   h a v e
?They have a psionic power that espeb o n y   r i d g e s   t h a t   c u t   f l e s h   a n d   b o n e   w i t h
cially helps them achieve their evil ends
?
e a s e ,   e x p o s i n g   t h e   i n s i d e   o f   t h e   s k u l l .
a   p o w e r   o f   d o m i n a t i o n   t h a t   t h e y   u s e
with pleasure on their victims and those
M a n y   c o l l e c t   t h e   s k u l l s   o f   t h e i r   v i c t i m s
w h o   w o u l d   a t t a c k   t h e m .   T h i s   d o m i n a t i o n
power allows the mind flayer to control
and adorn their bodies with the trophies.
every movement of a single victim, to an
u n l i m i t e d   e x t r e m e .   O n c e ,   o n   a   r a i d   t o   a n
i l l i t h i d   l a i r ,   I   s a w   a   g i t h y a n k i   c a p t a i n   r u n
himself through with his own sword
w h i l e   u n d e r   t h e   c o n t r o l   o f   o n e   o f   t h e m .
They would have a far easier time doing
t h e   s a m e   t h i n g   t o   o n e   o f   y o u . ?   T h e
githyanki stopped and scanned the room
with an expressionless gaze.
No one spoke when the warrior paused.
H i s   g o l d e n   a r m o r   g l i n t e d   i n   t h e   t o r c h light, and dazzling gems of a dozen pure
colors flashed from his rings, bracelets,
and armor as he stood waiting.
? C o m e ,   c o m e , ?   t h e   k n i g h t   p r o d d e d .   ? I
can read a hundred questions in your
m i n d s .   A s k   t h e m   o u t ,   s o   I   m a y   b e   p a i d . ?
A   h a l f l i n g   s h i f t e d   i n   h i s   c h a i r .   ? Y o u
s a i d   t h a t   t h e   .   .   .   i l l i t h i d s   .   .   .   l i v e   i n   c i t ies?? he whispered.

    The githyanki nodded. "Cities buried
deep under the earth, in caverns wider
than you would imagine. Each world has
only one major illithid city, but many
smaller outposts are set up elsewhere in
the underlands. The mind flayer lair you
intend to assault is but one of many this
world supports, and you are nowhere
near the major city."

    "Where is their major city in this
world?" called a priest, taking a step
toward the githyanki.

    The warrior shifted slightly, perhaps a
shrug. "Later. Ask again when you have
more gold."

    "Please, at least tell us more about their
cities," beseeched Melakar.

    "I can tell you what I have seen. The
great cities of the mind flayers are
nothing like those you inhabit. They
force slaves to carve the structures out of
living rock, and then slay all the workers
afterward. They use few stairways or
ramps because each one can float its body
by psionic means and use another psionic
power to slow its fall. With these powers
they can raise themselves up to escape
enemies, and cross underground rifts and
rivers without slowing.

? A n   i l l i t h i d   c i t y   i s   a   s i g h t   n o   o n e
forgets. Out of the darkness of a great
chamber rise their stone towers, outlined
b y   p a t c h e s   o f   s o f t l y   g l o w i n g   s p o r e s   t h a t
have attached themselves here and there.
N o   s o u n d   c a n   b e   h e a r d   f r o m   w i t h i n ,

except the chittering of their wererat
friends and the deep, echoing growls of
other creatures who roam their streets.
?They keep terrible guardians. Wererats, beholders, and grimlocks work with
them ? the beholders on somewhat of a
more even basis than the other two races,
which are used as fighters in the illithids?
wars. Their cities are open to some devils
and the rakshasas, but these are rarely
seen. Hellcats will serve them, mites will
inhabit the ruins around them, and they
are known to sometimes employ ogre
magi.
?All of these horrible allies have one
thing in common ? they are not creatures an illithid would eat. Beholders are
protected by their armor. Ogre magi can
heal their own wounds, wererats are poisoned with the disease of lycanthropy,
grimlocks are scaled and foul to the taste,
mites are all but brainless, and the rest of
their cohorts are all spirits from other
planes.

?Why do they keep allies if they are so
powerful? Because illithids prefer others
to do their fighting and their physical
labors, and wish to have a delaying force
to hold off intruders while the cowards
flee further into their city. A mind flayer
city has many surprises, especially in the
remote interior.?
Melakar pulled at his beard and said in
a conversational tone, ?I?ve heard that
githzerai also work??
The githyanki screamed. Melakar
shrank back, aghast.

?Githzerai! Mad, traitorous wretches!
Rot their souls in eternal flame! They
claim kinship with us, the true people of
Gith, yet they betray us all by allying
themselves with the slavers! Blind they
are, and mad for thinking the illithids
will not deceive them. If the illithids are
good for one thing, let it be for eating the
brains of the githzerai ? and yours as
well!?

Enraged, the githyanki unsheathed his
sword faster than anyone could react.
Melakar barely had time to jump back as
the sword-point swished in an arc at the
level of his neck. In the next instant, the
warriors around the room drew their
weapons and hefted them for a charge at
the mad visitor . . .
. . . who was no longer there. Just as
quickly as he arrived, the githyanki was
gone, the sound of his battle-scream lingering briefly after his body disappeared.
"Has he gone for good?" the halfling
said anxiously, looking around the room.
"He didn?t even get his gold."
Melakar sat down, trembling. The
questioning had not gone at all the way
he thought it would. No one else spoke,
and he looked up at the halfling.
"I wish I knew, my friend. We may not
sleep well for many nights to come." Or,
thought Melakar, perhaps for many
nights more than that. Time passes
slowly in the astral plane, and githyanki
memories are long. . . .