Intellect Devourer

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Intellect Devourer Introduction

In the shadowy recesses of the Underdark, where the air is thick with the scent of damp earth and the oppressive weight of darkness, lurks a creature of insidious cunning and malevolent intent—the Intellect Devourer. This aberration, born from the twisted machinations of mind flayers, is a horror that preys not upon the flesh, but upon the very essence of thought and consciousness.

The Intellect Devourer is a grotesque sight to behold, resembling a brain with four clawed legs, skittering with unnerving agility. Its surface glistens with a slick, membranous sheen, pulsating with a sickly, otherworldly glow. Despite its small size, the creature exudes an aura of palpable menace, a silent promise of the mental devastation it can unleash upon the unwary.

These vile entities are often found in the labyrinthine tunnels and caverns of the Underdark, where they serve their illithid masters with unwavering loyalty. However, they are not confined to these subterranean realms. Legends speak of Intellect Devourers infiltrating the surface world, slipping into towns and cities under the cover of night, seeking out new victims to sate their insatiable hunger for intellect.

Whispers among the learned and the wise tell of the Intellect Devourer's terrifying ability to consume the mind of its victim, leaving behind a hollow shell, a puppet to be manipulated at will. It is said that those who fall prey to this creature are doomed to wander in a state of living death, their bodies animated by a malevolent force, their souls trapped in a nightmarish limbo.

As you venture deeper into the unknown, keep your wits about you, for the Intellect Devourer is ever watchful, lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. In the presence of such a creature, even the bravest of adventurers must tread carefully, lest they find themselves ensnared in its deadly grasp, their minds devoured, their fates sealed in darkness.

Intellect Devourer Skills & Traits

Skills

• Perception +4
• Stealth +5

Senses

• Blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius)
• Passive Perception 14

Languages

• Understands Deep Speech but can't speak
• Telepathy 60 ft.

Abilities

• Magic Resistance: The intellect devourer has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Actions

• Multiattack: The intellect devourer makes one attack with its claws and uses Devour Intellect.
• Claws: Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) slashing damage.
• Devour Intellect: The intellect devourer targets one creature it can see within 10 feet of it that has a brain. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Intelligence saving throw against this magic or take 11 (2d10) psychic damage. Also on a failure, roll 3d6: If the total equals or exceeds the target's Intelligence score, that score is reduced to 0. The target is stunned until it regains at least one point of Intelligence.
• Body Thief: The intellect devourer initiates an Intelligence contest with an incapacitated humanoid within 5 feet of it that isn't protected by protection from evil and good. If it wins the contest, the intellect devourer magically consumes the target's brain, teleports into the target's skull, and takes control of the target's body. While inside a creature, the intellect devourer has total cover against attacks and other effects originating outside its host. The intellect devourer retains its Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as its understanding of Deep Speech, its telepathy, and its traits. It otherwise adopts the target's statistics. It knows everything the creature knew, including spells and languages. If the host body dies, the intellect devourer must leave it. A protection from evil and good spell cast on the body drives the intellect devourer out. The intellect devourer is also forced out if the target regains its devoured brain by means of a wish.

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Battle Tips for Intellect Devourer

The Intellect Devourer is a cunning and dangerous creature that can pose a significant threat to adventurers. Here are some tips for Dungeon Masters on how to effectively use this creature in battle:

Using the Intellect Devourer in Battle

• Ambush Tactics: The Intellect Devourer is most effective when it can surprise its opponents. Consider having it hide in the shadows or use its telepathic abilities to lure adventurers into a trap.
• Targeting the Vulnerable: Focus on characters with low Intelligence scores, as they are more susceptible to the creature's Devour Intellect ability. This can quickly incapacitate key party members.
• Possession Strategy: Once an adventurer's intellect is devoured, the Intellect Devourer can take control of their body. Use this to sow confusion and distrust among the party, potentially turning allies against each other.

Coordinating Multiple Intellect Devourers

• Divide and Conquer: Use multiple Intellect Devourers to split the party, isolating weaker members for easier targeting.
• Overwhelming Assault: Coordinate attacks to overwhelm a single target, ensuring that at least one Devourer can successfully devour the target's intellect.
• Telepathic Communication: Intellect Devourers can communicate telepathically, allowing them to coordinate their attacks without alerting the adventurers.

Fleeing and Survival Tactics

• Retreat to Safety: If the battle turns against them, Intellect Devourers can use their small size and agility to retreat into narrow passages or hidden areas where larger creatures cannot follow.
• Feign Weakness: Pretend to be defeated to lure adventurers into a false sense of security, then strike when they least expect it.
• Use of Host Bodies: If an Intellect Devourer is in control of a host body, it can use the host's abilities to aid in its escape or to continue the fight from a distance.

By employing these strategies, Dungeon Masters can create challenging and memorable encounters with Intellect Devourers that will test the wits and resolve of any adventuring party.