Grimoire of Ilsensine

Grimoire of Ilsensine

Appearance Legendary Battle

This book is written in qualith, an ancient language used by It is described as a fierce fight between a colossal platinum
Illithids during writing. The pages are made of what appears dragon and Astrid Moriarti, however the mindflayers noted
to be leather, and the cover is painted an unnatural black. The that a powerful charm was used on the dragon to make it
head of a mindflayer with long outstretched tentacles can be fight that had not been seen before by them. They note a
felt embossed on the cover. powerful red dragonborn that seemed to command it,
however when they attempted to ambush him and devour his
Mindflayer History brain, they were easily defeated by him.

This book appears to be detailing the history of Galveria from A group of adventurers quickly formed to fight the rampaging
the point of view of mindflayers living under Old Isslemar, dragon, unaware that it was charmed. During the fight
before it was magically lifted out of the ground and between the platinum dragon and the adventurers, the
teleported, causing the Wound of the World. Though rumors dragon proved to be more than a match with the aid of the
spread that it was caused by Yyngvaar, most academy red dragonborn. During the battle, the red dragonborn was
students and the resident mindflayers know this to not be temporarily banished, ending the charm on the dragon and
true. driving it into madness. The now maddened dragon became
more unstable, and was destroying towns at record pace with
The mindflayer's rested below the city at an entrance to the no regard to its safety or exhaustion. It was then that Astrid
underdark below the sewers, where they would capture Moriarti opened a portal to the Dragon Eerie, unleashing the
unsuspecting students and devour their brains undetected. power of the staff to send him through, effectively defeating
However, Yyngvaar's arrival to Galveria created a crisis that Yyngvaar as the portal was closed.
cause the guards of Old Isslemar to be dispatched to The battle appeared to be at an end, however the unstable
reinforce towns and rural areas across the land, allowing the magics within the staff caused it to be separated from Astrid,
mindflayers to venture into the city largely undetected due to hiding itself from his attempts of scrying and searching until
their powerful psionics. From inside the city, they were able it fell into the hands of a noble family governing over a newly
to abduct more prominent figures and devour their brains, founded town named Appleworth.
gaining knowledge of the ongoing dragon crisis through
these acts. Aftermath

The circumstances surrounding the dragon's arrival The nobles of appleworth knew the staff held incredible
interested the mindflayers, and due to the lack of needed powers, and soon after word escaped that such a staff had
security in the town, they were able to witness much of the been found years after the defeat of Yyngvaar, the Astri
dragon's rampage across the land through the memories of Council sent emissary after emissary to convince the nobles
their victims. to hand over the staff to Astrid. The nobles grew tired of these
requests and involved a force of lawkeepers known as the
Unlikely Allies Oathkeepers, who decided to mediate the discussion as a 3rd
party.
As the mindflayers intruded more and more of the city, their Unfortunately for the Council, the Oathkeepers ruled that the
existance became more noticable by the powerful Archmages staff belonged to the nobles due to the time between its last
and Archdruids of Old Isslemar. As Astrid Moriarti turned his use and the nature in which it was found. The Council knew
attention to the mindflayer problem, he easily dispatched that an attempt to seize the staff would only result in fighting
them before coming across a powerful Ulitharid named or war between the factions, and returned to the Astri
Gar'thalas that lead the mindflayers away from an Elder Gardens until the staff would change hands again.
Brain deep within Galveria. He requested that Astrid help
him seek a book that would allow him to become an Alhoon, The nobles dissected the staff, learning of its functions and
promising him Illithid artifacts and powers if he did so. agreed that the best use of the staff to benefit the land would
Astrid reluctantly agreed, and was given the Spire of Endless be to divide its power to be used by everyone. 3 Obelisks
Gates. True to his word, but unwilling to coexist with the were constructed with the help of a famous inventor named
mindflayers, he used the staff and his powerful magics to Barnaby Fizzlebrocket, a gnome that had a reputation as
demostrate his power, lifting the city of Old Isslemar into the being able to manipulate magic items of any caliber and even
sky and teleporting it out of harms way before renaming it the create new ones to fit his needs.
Astri Gardens. This display of power cemented his position Time went on and the mindflayers slowly died out, unable to
as the leader of this floating city, creating a council of recover from those that died fighting Astrid. The Ulitharid
powerful magic users to oversee the city and the use of that gave the staff to Astrid is unaccounted for, likely still alive
magics across Galveria, naming themselves the Astri Council. and in hiding somewhere.
Astrid returned to the mindflayers, bringing them a book
known as the Book of the Vile Dreamer, a powerful collection
of magics originating from the feywild. However, Gar'thalas
was no longer there, and the mindflayers had fled fearing
Astrid would return to destroy them.

New Beginnings Mindflayer Patron

It is written that mindflayers below Old Isslemar lost their A creature may ask for favors from Ilsensine,
ability to lay eggs, and began to turn to other methods of though this ritual must be performed within 1 hour
creating mindflayers in an attempt to continue their species. of devouring an unwilling creature's brain. To cast
While they detailed many methods for creating imperfect spells requiring a Mindflayer Patron, this ritual must
versions of their kind, they describe being near the end of a be performed daily before spells requiring
cycle in this world. The Elder Brain had described the Mindflayer Patron can be cast.
continent of Galveria to be doomed and warned its servants Performing this ritual has a 50% chance to induce
to avoid the surface and soon the Prophecy of the final cycle temporary madness, and a 5% chance of inducing
would come to pass, and the dragon would return to continue permanent madness.
its destruction of Galveria, lead by the red dragonborn. Below
is the prophecy written as it was described by the Elder Brain Mindflayer Mutation
before Gar'thalas and his followers left the colony.
"She sits at the master's table now, covered in unwanted A creature can attempt to gain a mindflayer
blood. Murderer of kings, opener of doors. " mutation by feeding a Myconid a Potion of the
To her left shall lie the distrust of the master of the Tentacled Lord and allowing it to poison you. If the
waters, seeker of despair at the 13th age. poison is not cured before the creatures next long
To her right shall be the one who bears the eyes of the rest, it suffers 8d10 psychic damage as it sleeps
enemy, who knows only war. and gains a mindflayer mutation, granting new
Further left shall be a patron to the master, too far for her combat properties.
to heed his calls of trespass. A Potion of the Tentacled Lord can be crafted by
Far to the right sits the boy with the burning crown, mixing wyvern blood with the ashes of a vampire, ink
feasting upon chaos. of a freshly killed squid, 1 crushed pearl, plus one
Directly across stands the feychild, a crownless king and additional ingredient depending on the type of
vassal of balance, the inheritor of this cataclysm. All who mutation desired. It takes 4 hours to brew and
sit are fed lies, and all that listen shall know the voice of requires a DC18 skill check.
the usurper.
Death becomes us all." Mindflayer Knowledge

Book of Knowledge A creature that spends a total of 8 hours studying
this book can make a DC17 INT SAVE to try to
This book appears to contain knowledge regarding understand its teachings about mindflayer combat
mindflayer techniques and methods that can be passed down tactics. On a failed save, the creature suffers 4d10
to non-mindflayers at a cost. Though rare, some mineflayers psychic damage and must start their research over.
perform arcane magics instead of psionics, and the author of
this book appears to have been focusing on creating spells
unique to mindflayers.

Mindflayer Magic

Casting a spell from this ancient book requires a
modification to the caster's body. This involves
splitting the users tongue with a blade coated in
the blood of an aberration. This modification
becomes permanent after 24 hours, only reversible
by a wish spell after this time.

This modification allows the user to properly speak
the verbal components of spells in this book, but
all persuasion checks are at disadvantage when
speaking to non-mindflayers. In additon, when casting
non-mindflayer spells you may be asked to roll from a
wild magic table, which effects take place before the
spell is cast.

This is unofficial Fan Content permiattreedpurnopdeerrttyhoefFWanizaCrodnsteonf tthPeoClicoya.sNt.o©t aWpipzraorvdesdo/efnthdeorCsoeadsbtyLWLCiz.ards. Portions of the materials used

Mindshield Servant of Ilsensine

1st Level Enchantment 3rd Level Conjuration
Casting Time: 1 Action Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: Touch Range: 30ft
Components: V Components: S, 1 Brain of an adult humanoid(which the
Duration: 10 Minutes
Requirements: Mindflayer Magic spell consumes)
A blue tinted glow surrounds a creature or object you touch, Duration: 1 Hour
granting them a number of temporary hitpoints equal to your Requirements: Mindflayer Patron
intelligence modifier + 1d4, a minimum of 1. While these The caster chooses an unoccupied space within 30ft and
temporary hitpoints remain, the target has advantage against offers a brain to Ilsensine. A mindflayer forms in the
intelligence saving throws. unoccupied space, consuming the brain as it forms. This
Mindflayer holds no loyalty to the party, nor does it view them
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot as enemies. It can be persuaded to act on behalf of the party,
of 2nd level or higher, you can affect one additional creature. though is not compelled to do so. After 1 hour, the mindflayer
In addition, the number of temporary hitpoints gained dissolves leaving behind a black stain on the floor.
increases by 1d4 for each slot level above 1st.
Only 1 mindflayer can be created by this spell at a time, and if
Thoughtscar the spell is recast, any previous mindflayers created will
disappear from existence and a new one created.
1st Level Enchantment
Casting Time: 1 Action Mindfeast
Range: 10ft
Components: V 5th Level Enchantment
Duration: Instant Casting Time: 1 Action
Requirements: Mindflayer Magic Range: 10ft
Speak a series of forbidden Illithid words, causing pain in the Components: V, S
mind of any creature within 10ft that is not deafened. The Duration: Instant
creature(s) must make a DC13 INT SAVE or suffer 1d10 Requirements: Mindflayer Magic, Mindflayer Patron
psychic damage and be unable to act until the end of their Psychic energy erupts from your hands, plaguing the mind of
next turn on a failed save. an unwilling creature within 10ft with thoughts of aberrations
and cosmic horror. A creature must make a DC15 INT SAVE
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot or suffer 6d8 psychic damage and be stunned until the end of
of 2nd level or higher, the damage dealt by increases by 1d10 its next turn. If this damage reduces a creature to 0 hitpoints,
for each level spell slot above the first. they die and their thoughts and experiences are absorbed,
granting a permanent +1 to the caster's intelligence score,
Eyes of Flaying not exceeding a total of 20 intelligence. A creature with less
than 8 intelligence automatically fails this saving throw.
3rd Level Divination
Casting Time: 1 Action Planar Nomad
Range: 5 miles
Components: S 5th Level Conjuration
Duration: 10 minutes(Ritual) Casting Time: 1 Action
Requirements: Mindflayer Patron Range: Touch
A creature you have seen within the past 7 days that is within Components: V, S
5 miles of the caster must make a DC15 INT SAVE. On a Duration: 1 Minute(Concentration)
failure, the creatures most recent memories(past 24 hours) Requirements: Mindflayer Magic, Mindflayer Patron
become known to the caster. If the caster encounters the You touch a willing creature, granting them the gift of
individual on the same day this spell was cast on them, the powerful Illithid teleportation magic. The target can cast
caster has advantage on persuasion and intimidation checks misty step once per turn as part of the attack or movement
while conversing with them, as well as advantage on survival action, gaining 1d10 temporary hitpoints when it does so.
checks that involve tracking the target. On a successful save, Teleporting in this way does not count towards the number of
the target becomes aware that they were targeted by a spells a creature is allowed to cast per round.
magical effect but know not the source or type of spell.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot
of 7th level or higher, the number of targets affected by
Planar Nomad increases by 1, and the number of temporary
hitpoints increases to 2d10.

This is unofficial Fan Content permiattreedpurnopdeerrttyhoefFWanizaCrodnsteonf tthPeoClicoya.sNt.o©t aWpipzraorvdesdo/efnthdeorCsoeadsbtyLWLCiz.ards. Portions of the materials used

Mindflayer Mutations

Mindflayer Claws Mindflayer Tendrils

Added Ingredient: 4oz of bone powder from a creature with Added Ingredient: 2 of the longest tendrils from a freshly
claws killed squid(killed within 12 hours).

Benefit: Deal an additional 1d4 + INT MOD psychic damage Benefit: Gain the ability to cast Tongues on yourself once per
with unarmed strikes. day without expending a spell slot. In addition, gain the
ability to speak and understand Deepspeech.
Mindflayer Brain
Mindflayer Conversion
Added Ingredient: 1oz of crushed diamond worth 100gp
Benefit: Advantage on INT SAVES and permanent +2 to INT Added Ingredient: All previous ingredients from previous
mutations, in addition to drinking the blood of a powerful
SCORE mindflayer.

Mindflayer Skin Benefit: Become a mindflayer. There is a 50% chance you
retain your previous memories and alignment, as well as
Added Ingredient: Potion must age 1 day in a flask made of keeping any ability scores and spellcasting abilities that
beholder flesh. exceed a mindflayer's natural abilities. There is a 50%
chance the imbiber dies instantly.
Benefit: Magical resistance to spells and effects below 3rd
level.

Mindflayer Feet

Added Ingredient: 2 femurs belonging to a humanoid that
attempted to flee from the imbiber.

Benefit: Gain the ability to cast Levitate at will, without
expending a spell slot.

Mindflayer Body

Added Ingredient: The heart of a powerful spellcaster(10th
level or higher), diced.

Benefit: Gain 1 additional spellslot, which is always equal to
your highest available spellslot. In addition, you learn one
cantrip and one 1st level spell from the wizard spell list. -1
to Strength Score.

Alternatively, you may choose to instead gain 1 superiority
dice, which is a d6. If you have at least 1 level in the fighter
class, this becomes your current superiority dice value. -1 to
Wisdom Score.
Alternatively, you may choose to instead gain 1 ki point. If you
do not have a level in the Monk class, this ki point can be
used to gain 20ft of additional movement and recover this ki
point at the end of a long rest. -1 to Constitution Score

Mindflayer Eyes

Added Ingredient: 20 giant spider eyes, blessed by a
worshiper of Ilsensine.

Benefit: Gain 60ft of darkvision, which can see through
magical darkness. In addition, when you spend more than
1 minute investigating a creature, you learn its Intelligence
Score.

This is unofficial Fan Content permiattreedpurnopdeerrttyhoefFWanizaCrodnsteonf tthPeoClicoya.sNt.o©t aWpipzraorvdesdo/efnthdeorCsoeadsbtyLWLCiz.ards. Portions of the materials used

Mindflayer Tactics Meditation

Ambitious Strike Requirements: Mindflayer Body, Mindflayer Knowledge
If you do not have temporary hitpoints, you may begin
Requirements: Mindflayer Brain, Mindflayer Knowledge meditating as an action, spending up to 3 superiority dice to
After landing a melee attack, your Mindflayer Brain quickly gain temporary hitpoints equal to the dice spent.
calculates the weakest point in the targets defenses. You may
spend 1 superiority dice to roll the damage dice of the attack Hardened Claws
at advantage, adding the superiority dice to the result.
Requirements: Mindflayer Claws
Illithid War Cry As a reaction, you may spend a number of superiority dice to
increase your AC by the number spent(not the amount rolled),
Requirements: Mindflayer Tendrils gaining up to +3 AC until the start of your next turn. If a
As an action you may spend a superiority dice to let out a creature makes a melee attack against you during this time
murderous howl in Deepspeech. Any creatures that can that misses due to this ability, you catch their weapon,
understand Deepspeech or has a Mindflayer mutation within preventing the creature from making any more attacks until
30ft can add your superiority dice to their next attack, and the end of its turn.
attack with advantage.
Hivemind
Displace Magic
Requirements: Mindflayer Brain, Mindflayer Body
Requirements: Mindflayer Skin, Mindflayer Knowledge As an action, you open your mind to other mindflayers,
During a turn in which you suffered magical damage, you allowing creatures within 1 mile with a mindflayer brain and
may spend a superiority dice to make a weapon attack as an body to link with your mind. While linked in this way,
action, adding your superiority dice to the attack. A creature creatures may spend spellslots, superiority dice, and ki points
hit by this attack also suffers 1d10 psychic damage for each from the pools of other linked creatures.
non area of effect spell that affected you this turn, ending the To maintain this link, all linked creatures must maintain
effects of all non area of effect spells targeting you. concentration, ending the effect for all linked creatures if any
of them fail a forced concentration check or are no longer on
Mindvision the originating plane of existence the link was formed. When
a creature joins a hivemind, all existing members of a
Requirements: Mindflayer Eyes hivemind must be willing for the new member to join.
As an action, you spend 1 superiority dice to look into the
mind of a target you can see, revealing one of the following: Mind of a Monster

Their alignment Becoming a mindflayer, in part or as a whole, is no
Their current hitpoints small feat. Transforming a character's body is
Their total level of combined classes dangerous and will have widespread consequences.
Their lowest ability score Most town guards recognize the traits of a
A creature affected by Mindvision knows their mind has mindflayer, and will make it their priority to
been invaded by you, and can only be affected by this once investigate and sightings of mindflayers or people
per day. with monstrous features. While this is not illegal, it
is considered to be the hobby of evil or otherwise
Thoughtwalk illicit individuals.

Requirements: Mindflayer Feet, Mindflayer Knowledge
You may spend 1 superiority dice to make an a melee attack
at a creature you can see within 60ft, adding the superiorty
dice to the damage roll. You teleport to the target when you
do so, and if the creature's INT SCORE is lower than yours,
the attack is made with advantage.

This is unofficial Fan Content permiattreedpurnopdeerrttyhoefFWanizaCrodnsteonf tthPeoClicoya.sNt.o©t aWpipzraorvdesdo/efnthdeorCsoeadsbtyLWLCiz.ards. Portions of the materials used

  This document was lovingly created
using GM Binder.
WWW.GMBINDER.COM
If you would like to support the GM Binder developers,
consider joining our Patreon community.