Aliphids, more commonly known under the fear-inspiring name of mind flayers, were a strange psionic race. Though they appeared relatively similar to humanoids in physical build, they were very alien, with unnatural ways of thinking, acting, and strange biology.

Origins

It is unknown when and how the first aliphids arrived on Ochebana, but they certainly came from somewhere else. Most mind flayers could be found on Oshmondu and Gaia, likely because of the unequaled mental vulnerability of mortal races on these planes. Almost from the very beginning, aliphids created hidden cities centered around their elder brains and began enthralling other races as servants and soldiers.

Several times, the aliphids succeeded to create larger states, even nascent empires with large enthralled armies and powerful monsters under their control. However, their ultimate goal of enthralling the entire world was never achieved; likely, because the rise of aliphids tended to make everyone else join forces against them. Aliphids were simply too alien, too different, too evil to be allowed to become powerful.

Biology

Though aliphids looked humanoid, the way they functioned and formed symbiosis with other organic forms was utterly alien.

Typical mind flayers were tall humanoids with glistening purple, pink, grey or white skin; some black or dark blue variants were also known to exist. They had deep black eyes, large skulls, and their most marked characteristic were tentacles and extensible mandibles instead of a mouth. They also had uncommon strength, able to compare even to much bulkier orcs or dwarves, and had exceptionally powerful mouths capable of drilling into or cracking through bone.

Perhaps the aliphids' strongest attribute was their psionic ability, which their extended brains were specially adapted to. Aliphids were able to produce magical effects through sheer willpower, much like wizards, and were also able to focus specifically other creatures' minds, numbing or controlling them. Aliphids communicate with each other telepathically.

Megaphids. A more powerful variant of the aliphid was the megaphid. These individuals were slightly taller and stronger than their brethren, but the marked difference were longer tentacles and much more powerful psionic ability.

Reproduction

Aliphids did not have a gender, and did not reproduce sexually. Instead, individual aliphids were able to produce tadpoles, worm-like creatures which did not survive long in the open. Aliphids would crack open a humanoid's skull with their powerful mouths and inject the tadpole, upon which the humanoid would physically die. Their body would however continue to physically function and, over the duration of a few tendays, morph into a new adult aliphid. This process, called ceremorphosis, was very tricky; it was much more common for the host to simply die, or the result to be a misshapen, twisted creature doomed to an early death, than for a functioning aliphid to be created. Certain conditions, such as preconditioning the host physically and especially mentally, or choosing certain hosts with good racial and magical characteristics, could improve the process's chances of success. Megaphids were the greatest success.

Aliphid Aberrations

Tadpoles were not the full extent of aliphid biological aberrations. Another creature they produced were elder brains, large organic masses hovering in brine pools with awesome psionic abilities. Other monsters, such as mutated thralls, deadly snake-monsters called neophids, and other alien things were also part of aliphid biology.

Culture

Though they could survive alone, aliphids rarely did so: they found their strength in groups. The smallest social unit was usually the phratry, a group numbering anywhere between a handful and a few tens of individuals. Phratries had single leaders, often megaphids, who dictated the phratry's mission and actions, and were usually restricted to a single geographical location or hideout.

Sometimes, aliphids managed to create an elder brain, which became the hub of a larger, settled community called elthry. Elthries could number several hundred individuals and were usually quite powerful, with an extensive telepathic network set up by the elder brain and awesome psionic power to enthrall numerous servants or even control or destroy whole neighboring communities.