Do alhoons still have to eat braaaaiiins? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Do alhoons still have to eat braaaaiiins? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
JulesCARV
02-07-06, 04:47 PM Normal, humanoid liches don't have to eat, breathe, etc, anymore after they go through the transformation. Do illithid liches? I think I saw a picture of an alhoon with its tentacles wrapped around a head once, so maybe they still do.

Maybe I'm ascribing motivations that no illithid could ever really have to one here, but it would be kinda neat to see an alhoon who became undead because he didn't want to kill anymore people to keep feeding himself.
Feor
02-07-06, 05:03 PM Most likely once they become liches they no longer have to eat brains, they just do it because they enjoy it.
Mirtek
02-07-06, 06:34 PM I don't even think they enjoy it, as one of the disadvantages of undeath is to become unable to enjoy the things the living are able to enjoy.

He most likely does it because it's a horrific way to kill, and if he can't taste anymore, he's taking his joy from seeing the terror of his victims
Wyrd Bearer
02-07-06, 08:48 PM Just as a note, I have both Libris Mortis and Lords of Madness, so my post is going to be a bit different than if I just posed using the core books (and besides, core illithids and undead are extremely boring, I prefer outside sources for them anyway).

Undeath doesn't completely eliminate the senses, it alters them to befit the state. Skeletons have very little sense; they have no skin, no tongue, no ears, no eyes, no nose. Basically, they can percieve little beyond mute tactile sensations, the loudest of sounds are near mute to them, they have no taste, no smell and they see only what comes from their darkvision and what little perception of normal sight they have left.

Now, an alhoon is much different than a skeleton, as it still has most of its original skin and organs, they're just in a different state than they were while the illithid was living. So the alhoon can still taste the brain, though the taste is dull and nearly non-existant. The tentacles can still probe and feel the bare minimum sensation percieved from the raw brain. The alhoon can smell the scent of blood in the air as it pushes through the skull and rips the steaming brain from the victim, though a scent that may be a strong scent of iron is but the merest of perfumes to the alhoon.

Since the alhoon is sentient, it can take vile pleasure in consuming a brain, even though it technically does not need to eat. Besides being a habit that comes as naturally to a flayer as breathing does to us, brains also provide a normal flayer with psychic energy; whether or not this is a requirement or a benefit to an alhoon, I do not know but I'm sure it couldn't hurt to keep up a good intake.

Finally, personal satisfaction. To defeat a powerful enemy and consume his heart is a potent sign of your own power. To an illithid, devouring the brain of a powerful psyker or mage would be quite the treat to its alien ego.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
JulesCARV 02-07-06, 04:47 PM	Normal, humanoid liches don't have to eat, breathe, etc, anymore after they go through the transformation. Do illithid liches? I think I saw a picture of an alhoon with its tentacles wrapped around a head once, so maybe they still do. Maybe I'm ascribing motivations that no illithid could ever really have to one here, but it would be kinda neat to see an alhoon who became undead because he didn't want to kill anymore people to keep feeding himself.
Feor 02-07-06, 05:03 PM	Most likely once they become liches they no longer have to eat brains, they just do it because they enjoy it.
Mirtek 02-07-06, 06:34 PM	I don't even think they enjoy it, as one of the disadvantages of undeath is to become unable to enjoy the things the living are able to enjoy. He most likely does it because it's a horrific way to kill, and if he can't taste anymore, he's taking his joy from seeing the terror of his victims
Wyrd Bearer 02-07-06, 08:48 PM	Just as a note, I have both Libris Mortis and Lords of Madness, so my post is going to be a bit different than if I just posed using the core books (and besides, core illithids and undead are extremely boring, I prefer outside sources for them anyway). Undeath doesn't completely eliminate the senses, it alters them to befit the state. Skeletons have very little sense; they have no skin, no tongue, no ears, no eyes, no nose. Basically, they can percieve little beyond mute tactile sensations, the loudest of sounds are near mute to them, they have no taste, no smell and they see only what comes from their darkvision and what little perception of normal sight they have left. Now, an alhoon is much different than a skeleton, as it still has most of its original skin and organs, they're just in a different state than they were while the illithid was living. So the alhoon can still taste the brain, though the taste is dull and nearly non-existant. The tentacles can still probe and feel the bare minimum sensation percieved from the raw brain. The alhoon can smell the scent of blood in the air as it pushes through the skull and rips the steaming brain from the victim, though a scent that may be a strong scent of iron is but the merest of perfumes to the alhoon. Since the alhoon is sentient, it can take vile pleasure in consuming a brain, even though it technically does not need to eat. Besides being a habit that comes as naturally to a flayer as breathing does to us, brains also provide a normal flayer with psychic energy; whether or not this is a requirement or a benefit to an alhoon, I do not know but I'm sure it couldn't hurt to keep up a good intake. Finally, personal satisfaction. To defeat a powerful enemy and consume his heart is a potent sign of your own power. To an illithid, devouring the brain of a powerful psyker or mage would be quite the treat to its alien ego.