Regeneration (Ex): An elder brain takes normal damage from sonic- and acid-based attacks. Telepathic Awareness (Su): Within a radius of 350 feet, the elder brain detects all creatures whose minds are not shielded with an effect such as mind blank, even through solid rock. Within this same range, it can communicate with any creature that has a language.
Illus. by M. Phillippi
NEW MONSTERS
CHAPTER 8
ELDER BRAIN SOCIETY
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An elder brain is the physical and spiritual center of its illithid community. It serves as a living repository of the community’s technology, history, and psionic expertise, as well as its advisor (or more often, as its de facto leader). It is the right and obligation of every illithid to merge with the elder brain when its natural life span nears its end. Though most illithids hope otherwise, their sacrifice is complete—their egos are subsumed, and their gray matter serves only to revitalize the elder brain. An elder brain preys upon the thousands of illithid tadpoles that share its briny pool. The tadpoles that survive are deemed strong enough to be used to create true illithids.
ELDER EIDOLON The art of crafting magical constructs to serve as guardians has existed for eons. It was an old practice when the humanoid races took their first tentative steps toward the mastery of magic, and today, most constructs that exist are based on the humanoid form. Yet constructs from previous epochs still exist in the darkest, most secluded regions of the world. Known collectively as elder eidolons, these ageless creatures guard sites that have long since been abandoned, the races that built them having faded into obscurity. Eidolons are all that remain of these ancient races, and from their form one can surmise that the world is better off without them. An elder eidolon is built of ancient rock, basalt, porphyry, obsidian, or other igneous stone. Its surface is covered with ancient runes or glyphs from forgotten, dead languages. While the features of an eidolon might appear somewhat eroded or timeworn, the creatures remain quite sturdy and dangerous. Eidolons are mindless, and do only what they are ordered to do by their creators. The process for creating eidolons has long since passed into antiquity, so eidolons that still exist are without masters. They continue to perform their prior tasks, relentless and eternal in their obedience. These instructions must be simple, such as “Remain here and attack any hu-
manoids that enter this room” or “Patrol the perimeter of this building.” Often, the focus of an eidolon’s task has long since crumbled away, yet the construct continues to guard or patrol for eons after the location itself has gone to dust. Damaged eidolons repair themselves quickly, or can be repaired in an appropriate workshop or laboratory. The person performing the repairs must have the Craft Construct feat or 10 ranks in Knowledge (architecture and engineering), and must spend 50 gp and 1 hour per hit point restored.
SAMPLE ELDER EIDOLON Elder Eidolon Kraken Gargantuan Construct Hit Dice: 20d10+60 (170 hp) Initiative: +0 Speed: Swim 20 ft. Armor Class: 28 (–4 size, +18 natural, +4 deflection), touch 10, flat-footed 28 Base Attack/Grapple: +15/+43 Attack: Tentacle +27 melee (2d8+16/19–20) Full Attack: 2 tentacles +27 melee (2d8+16/19–20) and 6 arms + 22 melee (1d6+8) and bite +22 melee (4d6+8) Space/Reach: 20 ft. (9 squares)/15 ft. (60 ft. with tentacle, 30 ft. with arm) Special Attacks: Constrict 2d8+24 or 1d6+24, improved grab, insanity aura Special Qualities: Construct traits, damage reduction 10/adamantine, darkvision 60 ft., fast repair 5, immunity to magic, low-light vision, otherworldly geometry Saves: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +6 Abilities: Str 42, Dex 11, Con —, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 1 Skills: — Feats: Improved Critical (tentacle) Environment: Any Organization: None Challenge Rating: 15 Treasure: None Alignment: Always neutral Advancement: — Level Adjustment: —
