__________________QUICK STATSName Kruz'Iik B'Ahl'Ok
Age untold eons
Gender Male
Species Mindshifter
Height 9'4
Build Thin but wiry
Occupation N/A
Residence Wanderer
__________________SPECIES SPECIFICSGeography Mindshifters have hives all over the known universe and beyond, but their population is relatively (and thankfully) low, and Mindshifters are never seen out of their hive, save for the nigh unique Mindshifters that are assigned the task of accumulating vast stores of knowledge by taking to the stars
Physical Appearance Mindshifters are naturally unnerving beings, given their unique looks. Their true forms are tall, shadowy black humanoids with large glowing red eyes, always shifting on the edge of perception. Their outlines are always blurry, like they're constantly dissolving into the world around them. The average build of the Mindshifter is tall and lean, with most of them pushing nine feet in height. Any bodily features are indiscernible, however, since their jet black bodies appear only as silhouettes, save for the eyes.
This alien appearance is due to their otherworldly origins. When the gods first created the universe, the massive amounts of energy combined with the mental power the gods exerted coalesced into a race of creatures neither physical or intangible, neither alive or dead, composed of both matter and something else entirely.
Gender Differences Female Mindshifters are almost indiscernible from the males physically, but often take female forms when they shapeshift.
Racial Attributes/Abilites Mindshifters are almost unnervingly hard to kill, known to persist through even decapitations. Whether one has ever actually been killed, however, is up to debate, seeing as all their dealings with outsiders are through illusion.
Mindshifters are also curiously strong given their thin appearance. This is because their bodies themselves naturally repel matter, which allows them to swipe objects as big as carriages out of their way, and easily pick up assailants.
All Mindflayers are psionic at birth, and this natural psychic power is the center of their culture and society. These powers manifest in the physical world, the mental world, and even in the metaphysical realm.
Culture Mindshifters do not have neither a patriarchal nor matriarchal society, although children-bearing females are held in high regard. Society is built around the psionic capabilities of its members, a "Psiocracy" of sorts. Those with more literal power are almost always higher up than weaker individuals. Mindshifter laws operate on an "eye for an eye" basis, where those accused are put under "trial" (submit to having their minds read) and if they are found guilty the individual who was wronged (or the immediate family, if it was a murder) gains the right to impart on the convicted a punishment equal in proportion to the crime. Needless to say, almost all convicted murderers are executed.
Mindshifter language is a strange entity. Mindshifters, although capable of producing words using their advanced vocal chords, have a very complex system of communication involving their entire bodies that only an Mindshifter can utilize (except for telepathy, which is the most common communication form with outsiders). The Mindshifter language is primarily telepathic, but uses the body features to help the message across. The average Mindshifter uses the hands for gestures, emphasis, and even entire words. Subtle eye color changes like brightening around the edges or colored spots helps project emotion, and hums and chimes of varying pitch distinguish between tone.
Mindshifter music is always a series of flat notes performed orally, entirely by females, and can be simple melodies or grand sweeping cacophonies of beauty, depending on how many are involved. All Ilithid music feels strange to outsiders, as the tones are charged with psionic energy that conveys emotions and messages only a Mindshifter can read. Mindshifter art appears to be little more than slabs of stone covered in writing. Artists are not the ones who can literally paint the best picture, but the ones that can describe the best picture. The slabs are meant to be read with the mind, so that a beautiful mental image appears. Ilithid art can convey all five senses, completely placing the viewer in the intended scene.
Mindshifters are avid eaters of pretty much anything, but they have a particular taste for minds. The more impatient Mindshifters prefer not to waste time draining the minds of their victims (usually the rare outsider that blunders in), and go straight for the source. With their teeth and claws. The smarter the victim, the more delicious the meal.
(They like to eat brains, is what I'm sayin')
__________________IN-DEPTH STUFFPhysical Description Kruz'Iik (and Mindshifters by extension) looks like this:
Image courtesy of Dreadcentral.com
Personality Being an Mindshifter, Kruz-Iik is enigmatic and intelligent by nature. He is prone to dodging around questions or giving direct answers, as bluntness is not the Mindshifter way. He thinks of himself and Mindshifters in general as superior to what he refers to as the "Lesser Races", which constitute anyone without psionic powers or aptitude. He tends to be favorable to those with magical aptitude however, as wizardry is something that requires mental prowess, a trait favored in Mindshifter society.
However, unlike other Mindshifters, Kruz'Iik is open to strangers in a curious way. Kruz'Iik is uncharacteristicall
y inquisitive, even for a race that can read minds almost as easily as breathing. Being on an ordained mission from the Mindshifter leadership to learn about the outside world as much as possible, he claims to know the habits of creatures (even sentients). Unfortunately, Kruz'Iik has an extremely lateral mind, and is quite cold and heartless with some of the things he has to do for the sake of information. Murder, psionically aided seduction, dining on brain, and slow and methodical mind draining are all things he would do without the bat of an eye if there was no other option. After all, what is the mind of a primitive against the knowledge of the Mindshifters?
Magic/Abilities Kruz'Iik is a master psion, capable of breaking the very laws of the universe to achieve his goals. He is capable of telekinesis, mental attacks and mind control, controlling biological processes with sheer force of intellect, and even minor genesis. Kruz'Iik possesses a bite strong enough to crack through a skull to get to the meaty brain inside.
When not on the offense, Kruz'Iik uses subliminal telepathy, psychology, and rhetoric in even casual conversation.
Relationships Kruz'Iik is a long-standing member of the Mindshifter nobility, being an individual of significant power. Although he's rather lowly when it comes to overall standing, he still wields great power, especially since he is the father of four children with the daughter of a more powerful Mindshifter.
History(Will be filled in when I come up with something)
