Change back to illithid form or something very powerful.
I have no idea why the fuck it was seen a good idea to change into something so clearly inferiour.

Tell the Elf that you are not so stupid to fall for her trap and that you were just faking it (blatant lies, I know... at least it will save our image somewhat)

Reduce her to a bone-miniature until we think of a gruesome enough punishment.

(I waited, YetiDespoilerGuy!)

Return to Illithid form. The plan was that she would show you everything about the female form, and there is no reason why she shouldn't.

Grow a penis.

Skip to next morning.

Change back into an Illithid. Change her back into the Illithid/Elf Hybrid punishment form. Then, give yourself the experimental genitals again.

Also, some point in the future, fleshwarp the Despoiler into your torso.

Oh sweet, it's this thread.

Eat her brain. Grow her brain back. Eat her brain.

Repeat until the bedroom is coated in blood.

>>14787772
I think OP said that we can't do that. I thought it would be a good idea.

How long has it been since we have dined on brain?
Are we still eager to explore mortal sexuality?

Multitask. By all means, leave the details out.

Two paths to choose from:

Punish her horribly by eating her brain and restoring it.

OR

Punish her less horribly by having sex with her.

Cast your vote.

>>14787804
Both. At the same time.

>>14787817
>Both. At the same time.
The worst part is that it is a logical move. Fulfill the previous objective. Dine. Punish insubordination.

It's not like we're playing a good guy, here. Or even a guy whose mind works in the same way as us.

>>14787817
>>14787831
>MFW I realise they have a point.

Tentacles. Make use of 'em.

>>14787817
>>14787831
>>14787844
>>14787846
/tg/ you SCARY ASS MOTHERFUCKER.

Just do the brain thing.

Eat her brain. Ignore the horny voices in your (t)h(r)ead.

Eat her brain while sexing. Make it clear that if she behaves, only one of these things will occur at a time.

>>14787817
I...hmm...yes.
We're an abomination with an alien mindset; it makes perfectly logical sense in that context.
Let's just get this part over with.

BRAINS! I MUST HAVE THEM!

Any knowledge of the female form we will pick her skull to find. It is only fitting.

You give Iriana one last smile, cold and mercyless, from your elven lips before tapping yourself and growing back into your tall, muscular enhanced illithid form. Large membranous batwings sprout from your shoulders, and your large dark eyes glow with malevolence. Your psychic communication is like a hammer in her mind.

"You thought you could betray me with simple pleasures of the flesh? You always were a fool, and a haughty fool at that. At least your brain can still have -some- use"

With that, you grab her as she tries to run, holding her tight with your vise-like hands as you turn her around and expose the back of her neck.

The screams are muffled, but even so your two minions downstairs shudder.

THE NEXT DAY:

You stir from your gentle rest feeling deeply sated, not needing sleep as such. Peering around your luxurious bedroom, you are content to see that you have managed to keep blood and other fluids off the furniture and walls. You'd hate to have to pay to have the entire room cleaned. The sheets still bear silent witness to the horror that occured in the night. The Despoiler whispers gently and writhes in your hand as you rise. Lying face-down on the bed next to you is the halfbreed body of Iriana, but her eyes are unseeing and focused off in the distance. By repeatedly consuming her brain matter and regrowing it you have reduced her to a virtual blank slate, her original mind presumably gone forever.

What do you wish to do now? It is early morning, and you feel fully rested after the savage battle yesterday.

>>14787922
((Well done, and tastefully at that. Excellent job.))

We shall go see what our more... productive minions have accomplished.

Make her into a bone figurine. We may find a way to repair her mind into one more... Cooperative in the future.

(Awesome writing. Did we actually end up sleeping with her, or did you decide to overlook that. Not that I'm blaming you.)

>>14787922
Too bad we lost a high-level caster, but I suppose it was necessary. Perhaps we can experiment with artificially constructed personalities now that we have an empty brain to play with.

But first, go downstairs, and see what progress has been done in planning our expedition.

Now we need to find a new way to portal between planes with ease. At least we can find the underdark on the same plane. We'll need to investigate the town for sources of biomass soon. I still say we should just purchase a ranch or 50 heads of cattle to make monsters of. We can transmute something to make money in the interim.

>>14788026
Oh god, this is turning into a Dunwich Horror scenario, isn't it? Cows go in, don't come back out.

Putting your robe back on (it's basically just a kilt now, due to the wings) you stroll out of the bedroom with the tiny bone figurine of Iriana in your hand. You playfully toss it up and down as you descend the stairs. It's possible that you could restore her personality with your artifact... if you so wished. Or maybe try to give her a completely new one.

As you enter your study, you see the main table is still overpacked with maps, documents and books. The duergar/gargoyle is slumped in a chair, sleeping, utterly immbole. Xura the erinyes is curled up on the couch, a pillow piled haphazardly on top of her dark hair.

It's a very peaceful scene, almost touching even to your alien aesthetics.

What happens then?

>>14788026
I support the idea of purchasing a ranch. It'll give us a source of new biomass to prepare for our expedition. My only concern is the problem of actual ranch hands for the proper care and breeding of the cattle.
I think we should consider it an investment for a source of biomass that keeps on giving.

I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream

Turn her into a Lemure. Use her as an example to ensure that the Balor-turned-Erinyes remains faithful.

Barring that, a flesh golem always has its uses.

We're psionic right? Let's peek in on their thoughts. See what they think of us and their situation in general.

You perform a quick psionic mindreading of your two minions on a whim. The duergargoyle (he needs a name) sleeps soundly, dreaming of gold, riches and slaves, all flittering past your mind like smoke. The erinyes rests fitfully, twitching as dark terrors menace her. And then you realize with clarity that Xura is -afraid- of you. You had hoped this was the case, but suspected it may also be feigned. But she really does fear you. Apparently being top of the pile for millennia and then being toppled and reduced to a servant, and transmogrified into her racial enemy, has spooked the erinyes deeply.

Do you wish to transmute the Iriana-statue now, and if so into what choice? Or do something else?

>What happens then?
1. The scene is appreciated
2. The erinye is ordered to take care of the logistics of our journey
3. The duergar is ordered to take care of our arms. A set of ordinary, or at least ordinarily looking weapons forged by him would be useful if we don't feel like announcing our presence.
4. Experiments on personality and memory shaping are conducted from then on. Subject Iriana will have its mind crafted to feel most extreme emotions [from hatred through ecstasy and depression to love] in order to prove that we can shape it however we please. Mind wipes after each procedure are necessary.

>>14788065
Adventuring will handle that. Nobody cries about missing kobold tribes

>>14788073
Why flesh golem?

We could take a rat and turn it into adamantine golem if we wished to

>>14788164
Is that OP? Or another good hypothetical-dialogue writer?

>>14788055
What's our current resources in terms of money and magical items besides the Despoiler and a Hat of Disguise?
I hope that we were able to salvage some of the magic items, gear, and money from our former party members.

As for action, use our Hat of Disguise to take up our Al persona again, and wake up Xuras. We have shopping to do, and she is to be our secretary when dealing with the outside world.

>>14788178

((Lost my name for some reason. Bah))

We can make money by turning some of our figurines into golden statuettes, but we need to resist the temptation to just sell a wall of gold. It will be too obvious.

I say pick three miniatures, and make them into three statuettes of gold, about a foot each, and encrust them with fairly valuable gems. If we are asked, we discovered them in the dungeon.

Make them look like they go together. People will pay more for a set.

Gentlemen! What if we make a mine, factory or something like that which is populated by beings of animated flesh?

Your resources are large. Large enough to have mounted a successful raid on the Abyss. You have lots of gold, and a complete arcane laboratory.

((I have been pointed out that the Despoiler only works on living beings. So for the future we'll assume you can transmute living creatures into forms resembling non-living ones, but not really transmute base materials and metals and such.))

>>14788245
Been suggested, read old thread.

Anyways, we should wake our minions, transmute all of us into humans, and go into town with money in hand. We have shopping to do.

>>14788263
Then I reiterate my call for taking up our Al persona and waking up Xuras in preparation for a shopping trip.

>>14788232
This. Then go to a large marketplace, and sell/barter with them. We can buy interesting trinkets, and consider business possibilities while there.
>>14788263
((So are we unable to change things into stone/precious metals/gems etc, but we can make them into bone/flesh/plant matter etc?))

((If so, make the statues out of a fine bone-china-type substance))

>>14788263
Somebody come up with a list of valuable materials that are formed from organic materials.

Disguise ourselves as Al, obtain cattle.

Valueable organic goods:
Spice
Ivory
Food
Pack/Work Animals
Dragonscale Armor

and countless others

((How long do you suppose it would take people to read the old thread? Because after that amount of time, I imagine this thread may become busier.))

thats a pretty disgusting dildo

>>14788348
Drugs. Serotonin, DMT, Adrenaline, or anything else you wish - we can have it all by the bucketload.

You resume your illusionary human guise, a slender, brown-haired man. Walking over to prod the erinyes, you are inwardly happy to see her twitch as she wakes up, turning to stare up at you.

"Xura. I have need of you. I need some things bought" you say.

She rises to her feet, stretching her naked form, then becoming self-aware and hiding her pale curves as much as she can.

"What? What are we doing? I can't go outside like this" she mumbles.

You notice the dwarfgoyle stir in his chair as well, stretching his muscles.

>>14788373
Dragonscale Armor, brilliant. It's twice as expensive as normal armor. We'll just have to transform rats into ancient wyrm dragons that don't have a brain and then skin all their hide.

>>14788378
It was almost 350 posts if I recall and a lot of it was bickering. Could be about 30 minutes, maybe more for slower readers.

Anyways, time to become an illithid cowboy. We need to hire a ranch hand too. Although since darkport is a PORT city I doubt we'll find a ranch in town. Might have to travel.

>>14788373
>Ivory
Practical. Probably best form to sell statues in
>Food
Oh ho HO. We need to test this one out.
>Pack/Work Animals
That might contribute to our cheap labour idea.
>Dragonscale Armor
Good thinking. Possibly for personal/army use.

Also, I would add
>Plants
Exotic, never-before-seen flowers and herbs with peculiar natural effects of our choosing. With practise, we could provide narcotic, therapeutic or other kinds of substances from very carefully designed plant life.

>>14788413
Give her a curtain to wrap around herself and tell her to stop whining.

I see we're going for the Machiavellian style of leadership. Fear over love, eh?

Give Xura some attractive form for bargaining with hapless male merchants.

Pick some miniatures to make into bone china statuettes to sell.

>>14788413
Make her hair grow, cut it, and then transform it into some decent clothes. Scold her for annoying us with such a trival matter.

>>14788479
I like the sound of this, especially if we grab a knife and point it at her threateningly... Even though we're just cutting some hair.

>>14788425
I would also add

>Prostitution
Think about it. Magically bind some people/animals. Alter their brain chemistry until they're just lusty whores with undying loyalty to you, and set them to work.
We don't even need to worry about STDs.

>>14788431
This

then we'll get some clothes for her from market

>>14788499
We're a mindflayer pimp?

...sort of want.

>>14788413
Sigh an obviously bubbly illithid sigh.
Tell Xuras to go through Iriana's wardrobe and find something befitting our secretary.
Either that, or transform the pillow she was using into an acceptable set of clothing.

>>14788511
I'm not sure the pillow is alive.

>>14788509
From a business point of view, it makes sense. We can tailor to the most perverse, acquired fetishes imaginable.

Combine that with all the other ideas- fine bone china, dragonscale armour, narcotic plants, fine food...

Profit.

>>14788528
Personally, I'd rather keep our enterprises as natural looking as possible. Attention is bad, for now.

>>14788528
Guaranteed to blow your mind!

((To recap, we can only transform living beings into other living beings. Your tiny statuettes are still alive, in a fashion, but you can't make drapes into clothes or anything into drugs or such. You -could- turn creatures into dragons, or anything else living that produce something valuable.

Also, Iriana didn't live with you. You were never close with her.))

You sigh and toss Xura a curtain.

"Do I have to think of everything? We'll get you some clothes on the way."

The dwarfgoyle stirs.

"What's happening then boss, do ye need me for anything?"

You're ready to head into town with your erinyes-in-a-drape minion. Which of the many ideas given so far will you pursue? Oh, and you are bringing lots of gold with you, naturally.

>>14788566
We don't really need to bring him along. But since he's being such a loyal minion, ask him if there's anything we should buy him.

Fine bone china statuettes.

Could we hypothetically create a creature that grows a narcotic substance on it's skin?

>>14788528
So we basically just create the world in Dollhouse. Lol.

We need clothes, a few heads of cattle for initial experimentation,and possibly charter a ship to leave in a week towards where the underdark colony is. In that order.

>>14788566
>but you can't make drapes into clothes or anything into drugs or such
We could fashion a creature which produces insane amounts of drugs and just harvest the organs and extract them.

>>14788674
Now you're thinking with organs!

Damn, gotta go for a few hours. Stay alive quest thread!

>>14788566
Have our duergar-gargoyle give us the list of supplies and everything else required for this trip that he should have been writing up.
Then it's time get this shopping trip underway.

>>14788674

A beast of resplendent liquid! Yes!

The dwarfgoyle shrugs.

"Not really boss. Jes' working on planning yer underdark trip and all. Oh, maybe some clothes."

You nod and head towards the stairs, Xura trailing after you. The two of you head out into the early morning of the city, watching merchants set up their booths and workers heading to their labors. Xura gets some stares, and some droolings, and seems horribly embarrased about the whole thing. You sigh, and give her some gold to purchase some clothes, knowing that the psychic link you have with her spine will let you know if she does anything wrong.

Since you have been saving up gold for some time, you are able to afford buying a few cows easily. You and Xura end up purchasing four healthy-looking specimens, and for a few silvers extra have them delivered back to your tower. You do get some odd looks and whispers, but "Al" has a reputation of being somewhat odd already.

Alright. You're back at the tower, four cows are tied up in the shed outside, Xura is dressed up (you insisted she get some 'alluring' clothes to further humiliate her) and you're awaiting your next move. It's approaching mid-day, and the sun is basking from a blue sky.

What do you wish to do?

Experiment with fashioning the cows into creatures that could serve as body guards

>>14788793

I like the idea of turning them into drug-producing factories and making money off of that.

Look around, see what real estate is available. Possible business opportunities are abundant, and it wouldn't hurt to have more disposable income streaming in.

Alter the cows so that instead of milk, they produce a sweet-smelling clear liquid. This liquid induces a state of bliss and concentration for about half a day, and has a highly addictive quality. Withdrawel is nigh-unbearable.

>>14788832
Additional bonus - if you have a creature producing buckets of serotonin, then the creature will be constantly happy. Everybody wins.

>>14788825
What for?

>>14788793
Experiment with turning a cow into a dragon of young age, and remove one of its scales to test for quality.
Experiment further with the cow, see if we could fashion it into an umber-hulk like meat shield, or a suit of organic armor.

((If you want to take an action please post a clear, concise description of what you want Al to do. For transforming things with the Despoiler I need to know at least what species and for sentient species sex of what you're changing them into, and any "extra" effects.

Thank you!))

Turn the cows into hydras
Chop the hydra heads off
Turn the hydra heads into hydras
INFINITE BIOMASS

>>14788832
>>14788845
>>14788868
>>14788871
As much as I agree with creating a mercantile empire, I think we should concentrate on our immediate goal of attacking and enslaving the Elder Brain that rejected our superiority and taking over our former illithid hive to turn it into our base of operations.

Unless, you're suggesting these revenue streams to fund the acquisition of magical items to help us towards this goal.

>>14788877
They're currently in a small shed. I don't think we have room for infinite hydra yet.

>>14788868
This. To clarify, don't piss around with gender or appearance just yet- just get the narcotic right.

We can bring some guy in off the street to test it for us. If it works, he's our first customer. If it doesn't, biomass.

Probably best to hide the fact it's from a magically altered cow, of course.

>>14788873
Transform a cow into a young silver dragon, male. This is to see if the cow's mind will, essentially, get smarter by being in a dragon's body. Also to determine the quality of magical reagents we can acquire via this process by testing some of its scales and blood for potency.

Then attempt to turn it into a suit of organic, non-sentient armor. Similar to full-plate, but flows over the wearer. It uses bone and toughened skin to deflect blows. Do you require more details for this?

You make a few tests on the captive cows with the Despoiler. While you can turn the cows into drug-cows, you seem to be inable to tailor the specific drug that closely. You assume it may require knowledge you don't have, or that the Despoiler simply does not have that kind of control. Turning one cow into a small dragon works perfectly, and you easily extract some scales from the creaturer before turning it back, none the worse for wear. You examine the scales, and hmm.

"It appears some aspects of this work at least" you muse.

Xura nods.

"Yes... master"

There's no immediately empty estate around your tower. While located just outside the city wall, the city long since crept out to surround the edifice. However, there is farmland to the north along the coastline, or warehouses down by the docks in the city proper.

How do you proceed?

>>14788901
>Unless, you're suggesting these revenue streams to fund the acquisition of magical items to help us towards this goal.
Of course i am. We could acquire adventurers/meatshields to help up.

Hmm.

How useful is the despoiler for straight-up brainwashing? Most of our revenue ideas require labour or face-men.

Also, we need to find a new technique for portals.

>>14788963
But is the dragon an actual intelligent dragon, or does it have the intelligence and mind of a cow?

>>14788963
Acquire some farmland where we can begin our cattle/biomass operation. Also hire some peasant farmers or experts to start up the operation and keep it running.
Anyone asks, just say we're a wizard, we ain't gotta explain shit.

>>14788946

Transmuting a cow into a dragon does not automatically make it intelligent, nor does it seem transmogrifying a creature into a lesser one makes it automatically dumber. Presumably you have to focus on making such alterations. You transmute the hapless cow into a living suit of armor. It feels warm and alive, which is kind of disgusting to you as you are used to cold, moist things. But it does seem to work decently, even if anyone could tell that something was off about it should you sell it.

>>14789061
Turn the armor back into a cow, but try to make it as intelligent as we can, so we know our limits.

>>14789087
Seconded. It'll also serve to help in our experiments towards creating artificial personalities.

Okay, I say we go find some homeless drifter and test the mental manipulation powers of the despoiler before we run off to take control of the Elder Brain.

Because it wouldn't behoove us to show up at the Elder Brain, try to Despoiler him and fail miserably.

You believe you can alter intelligence fairly easily with the Despoiler. You return the set of armor to the shape of a small silver dragon, and focus on making it more intelligent. Tapping the dragon on the head, you can see its eyes become focused and clearer. It opens its mouth and speaks.

"This is odd. What just happened?"

You're fairly sure you could control the minds of workers using your magical and psionic talents, should you so wish.

>>14789164
Great success!

Let's see if we can give a hobo a sheep's brain.

>>14789142
This.

I also elect that, if possible, we restore Iriana's mind and transform her into a budgy or something.

>>14789164
Attempt to instill into the newly intelligent dragon the personality of a consummate soldier; only utterly and completely loyal to us and to the precepts of duty and that service guarantees citizenship.

Let's see if we can create custom loyal minions.

>>14789188

We may want to try and see if we can restore her to a useful state.

Basically I want her making portals again so we don't have to go find a a new teleport slave.

You tap the cow-made-dragon again, and it tilts its head, looking at you.

"Ah yes boss, I didn't recognize you at first. What do you need?"

Do you wish to continue experimenting with the cows, experiment on Iriana, or something else?

>>14789303
Let's test how easy it is to alter a mind so it picks up arcane/psionic/martial etc skill.

See if you can make the dragon know portal magic.

>>14789350
If Iriana's mind was still intact, we probably could have imported the knowledge from her.

Or is that still possible?

>>14789350
Agreed. The body should be capable of magic; let's see if we can make the mind capable of it as well.
Also see if our new servant can use any of the dragon body's racial abilities or not. If not, it might be because we need to know about them in intimate detail in order to impart knowledge of how to use them to our servant's mind.
Important thing to know, then.

>>14789374

Let's find out.

>>14789394
We made a firebreathing gargoyle. I think the dragon's good.

You fiddle with the confused dragon a bit. It appears that you can activate innate magical abilities easily enough. However, adding character level-based abilities doesn't seem to be working at all. You could make a creature capable of using portals naturally, or try to restore Iriana. Meanwhile you have a very confused small silver dragon and four cows.

Return Iriana's intelligence. Make her a cow.

It's worth testing if we can transplant knowledge from one being to another. If the Despoiler is incapable, will our psionics be able to?

>>14789494
By 'one creature' I mean Iriana. By 'knowledge' I mean portal rituals. By 'another' I mean dragon.

>>14789473
Let's try restoring Iriana's abilities, with perhaps a personality that is more willing to serve us.
I don't want a sycophant, but a cool, competent lieutenant.

>>14789494
>>14789515
This, essentially.

If it's not possible to transplant knowledge, then this >>14789535

You are fairly sure that transplating a person or creature's character levels and abilities to another is not going to work either by despoiler or your own abilities. Instead you take out the small figure of Iriana, beginning to slowly rework it and essentially healing it of the damage you did earlier. You feel fairly certain that when awakened, she will now have a more servile personality.

A few specific questions:

Do you alter Iriana's personality any further except for greater loyalty?

What shape do you choose for her? A cow was suggested, is this it?

>>14789693
Turn her into a crustacean! A talking Crustacean!

Restore Iri's brain

Turn her into a statue of a lemure.
Put her into your bedroom, overlooking the bed. Whenever you have sex in that room, transform one of the participants into her old form.
And put a large mirror on the opposite wall, so she can always see her current body as well.

>>14789693
If she's now essentially a thrall to our will, there is no fun in making her a thrall.

Just give her the Illithid form she once hated so. Now, she'll find it a blessing.

As for personality quirks, why not plant the idea in her head that we're a deity. That could be fun.

>>14789693
I'd suggest some form of pet.
what would Illithids keep as pets?
they're slavers, yes? so just about anything but we'd like it to be slightly humiliating.

>>14789723
That is... Devious. Exceptionally so.

However, we need her conscious and, you know, mobile. For her portal talents.

>>14789725
>there is no fun in making her a thrall.
I meant
>there is no fun in making her a cow.

>>14789725
>If she's now essentially a thrall to our will, there is no fun in making her a thrall.
this, we need her to still feel animosity towards us
just be unable to disobey or plot against us
think 3 laws of Iriana only with hatred

>>14789693

A cow is too great of an insult to pass up. Plus, it fits with the more servile attitude we're giving her.

Iriana should be kept as near as the original form as possible, and to keep mental degredation to a minimum.

>>14789777
>mental degradation
We've already repeatedly devoured her mind while raping her until she became brain dead. I'm pretty sure it's a bit late to be worrying about that.

>>14789693
No cow. Transform into a female drow.

I agree with this guy
>>14789725
Give her the Illithid form, but make her see it as a thing of beauty. Make anything else seem alien and vile. If we have to punish her, we make her closer to her original form.

Transform her into a lady cow.

This quest is madness.

If we simply made her into a loyal servant, then there's no need to make her into anything except her original form.
After all, the old Iriana is essentially dead with the amount of personality modification we've done.

>>14789802
>Give her the Illithid form, but make her see it as a thing of beauty.
Oh yes.
>Make anything else seem alien and vile. If we have to punish her, we make her closer to her original form.
PFFHHAAHAHA

>>14789822

Yeah, I think we're overcomplicating this a bit. Just go with this.

>>14789751
Yeah, make her a talking cow mage.

>>14789749
>>14789749

it'd be funny to see her grumble and groan and yet be incapable of doing anything

I find it funny how the description for the Despoiler mentions that demons have twisted imaginations and are able to come up with very twisted uses for it... and that's exactly what we're doing now.

No, /tg/, you are the demons.

Cow with Iriana's original face. See how long it takes her to realise.

>>14789802

I love this plan. This is my new favorite plan.

Why not transform her into a minotaur?
That's essentially a cow, walking on two legs.

((I need a few. Feel free to continue discussing))

>>14789802
I say do this, and tone down the servial nature. Not too far, of course.

Make sure she understands what you've done to her perceptions. In time, she'll have to accept it.

>>14789802
Hah, that's actually better than the cow thing.

>>14789887

Just be glad this thing never falls into /d/'s hands.

God help us all if that happens.

>>14789944

God help us indeed. We need to prevent this.

>>14789944
>Then mankind would have become as the Great Old Ones; free and wild and beyond good and evil, with laws and morals thrown aside and all men shouting and killing and revelling in joy. Then the liberated Old Ones would teach them new ways to shout and kill and revel and enjoy themselves, and all the earth would flame with a holocaust of ecstasy and freedom.

>>14789944
For you, the day the despoiler graced your board was the most important day of your life. But for /d/, it was Tuesday.

>>14789996
Well, there would be plenty of tentacles, certainly.

>>14789908

Keep her biology mostly the same, but make her a grotesque sexualized parody of her former self. Exaggerated curves, hips, and breasts.

Oh, and leave out the reproductive potential.

DERAILMENT DETECTED!
DERAILMENT DETECTED!

So, we have:
>Iriana cow

>Iriana normal

>Iriana Illithid, with a psyche change so it's the only thing she finds attractive

>>14789944
/d/ isn't actually that creative.

Turn the balor into a blazing evil sword.

+1 for '3 laws of Iriana'

>>14790028

I vote for illithid!

>>14790028
Iriana normal. No way to know what kind of side-effects that an illithid biology might have on her spellcasting ability, or her psionic vulnerability, especially to an Elder Brain's will.

>>14790028
The Illithid thing is hilarious. Slightly more hilarious than the cow, and slightly more practical.

Plus, it's still fuckable. Moreso.

Vote for normal.

>>14790107

We can cut her off from the Elder Brain.

Also soon the Elder Brain will be us.

Make executive /d/ecision already, op.

>>14790122
Fuckable how? Illithids are genderless.

>>14790107
We actually already made her an illithid-thing without such problems.

I vote Illithid, anyway.

>>14790146
>Illithid are genderless
You haven't been following this quest very long. We can and have rectified this as needed.

>>14790154
>>14790130
The Elder Brain vulnerability is when we will be fighting the Brain for control. Or are you suggesting that we leave her behind?
The possibility of psionic vulnerability never came up because we weren't in a situation where it could be tested.

>>14790187
How about the collars?
We could mod them so that if influence from the Elder Brain is detected, they collapse.

>>14790187
We can make her something else while we fight the Elder Brain.

Speaking of fighting the Elder Brain, we should start moving on that.

>>14790174
No, I've been here since the beginning, and I know our experiments with gendering.
It didn't turn out too well, if you'll recall.

>>14790216
If by 'didn't turn out too well' you mean the Anti Fap Federation stopped us, then yes.

If you're referring to the attempted usurption from Iriana, that can be rectified with mind alteration.

>>14790243
Both, plus the addition of one more vice, one more weakness to our glorious illithid self.
Why is the ability to fuck so important for you?

Okay, list guy is back with suggestions:

-Illithid psionics are a product of an illithid brain. Irian's illithid/elf hybrid form does not possess one... at least not yet. Collars are also a failsafe.
-We have cows for some biomass, we should fashion them into some muscle to follow Gar (my new name for the DureGARgoyle) as a fighting force. My personal favorite is Farspawned Umber Hulks/Grey Renders since they have an illithid appeal. But for now we can transport them as cows.
-Change the dragon servant into a tiny beholder to serve as our messenger and minion. Also magical protection and lazers.
-We need to get a ship or a portal to get to the mind flayer colony in the underdark. Expect a lot of drow servants. We need back up to aide us until we can reach the elder brain. It's psionic. It will know we are coming.
-Are WE still vulnerable to it's mind altering affects? We really should fix that.
-Bioarmor everywhere for everyone when we leave the town. For now put everyone in human form. We're chartering a ship to deliver our "cows". Or just portal there if we have the ability.

((Alright, back))

It's getting awfully crowded in the shed with three cows, a dragon, Xura and yourself, and now Iriana too. You have restored the former elf into a mind flayer sorceress, distinctly more feminine than your own original form, even having small breasts. It amuses you greatly to make her think this is her "true" form and the best form to remain in. Other than that you choose not to make her utterly subservient, however, prefering a minion who can think for herself. Her large, dark eyes focus on you.

"Al? What happened? Something went wrong in the Abyss?"

Xura looks over at you meaningfully, but seems faintly amused.

What next?

>>14790305
>Are WE still vulnerable to it's mind altering affects? We really should fix that.
I kind of went with the assumption that when we were exiled, the Elder Brain relinquished control. You're right, of course, we need to think of some modification that can protect us without spoiling our Illithid purity.

>>14790321

Quick, let's...let's...hehehehe...k-kill SOMETHING! :D

>>14790321
Tell her that there were some complications.
Right now we need to prepare for the attack on the Elder Brain and the illithid colony. Have Iriana, disguised as her original elf form, begin the acquisition of protective magic items to defend against psionic and magical mental attacks.

>>14790321
>"Al? What happened? Something went wrong in the Abyss?"
Have I missed something?

>>14790389

Seconding.

She obviously thinks we just revived her after she fell unconcious in the abyss. We should tell her what happened, leaving out the details of what's happened to her. Presumably she thinks we were always an illithid now and that she always was fond of us so we don't need to mention anything to that effect. She probably thinks she's from the same illithid colony as us.

Anyways, we should consult the gargoyle and Xura on our plans for attack.

Stupid sexy Illithid Iriana...

"Yes, I'm sorry Iriana, you were badly hurt and I only managed to restore you with my artifact. Regardless, the balor is defeated and his hoard is ours. Now we are planning to defeat the Elder Brain our home colony."

Iriana nods, her black eyes displaying little emotion.

"Excellent. Thank you."

All three of you head up the tower to convene with the duergargoyle in your study. He's put up quite a lot of notes and a few detailed maps in your absence.

What now?

>>14790491
Oh.

FUCK YEAH.

Anyway, go over the plans with Gar and go buy anti magic/psionic charms.

>>14790524

Plan more.

Obtain additional biomass.

Obtain protection.

BEGIN THE MARCH TO ENTRAP THE WORLD IN OUR BRAIN

>>14790522
Go over what plans Gar has come up with. See if our current funds are adequate to acquire the supplies that he has outlined, and discuss with them appropriate magical and psionic defenses we will need to construct or purchase to fight against the Elder Brain and a colony full of illithid.

Ask him what he has determined and to give us a brief summary of the situation. He's a duregar so he'll know the underdark better than anyone.

>>14790609
Apart from possibly us. Possibly.

Anyways, we should compare what Gar says we'll need to what our funds are. We have plenty of brilliant money making ideas so far, but let's see if we need them immediately.

Guys.

Guys.
Hey Guys, listen.

Hey Guys.

...

Brain Golems.

>>14790609

"Right boss. I figure there's two basic ways we can take to attack yer old stomping ground. Either we go in by stealth or by force. Stealth, I reckon we use yer fancy mind-tricks to shield ourselves from the flayers' telepathy, and try and make our way to the Elder Brain as quickly as possible. S'gonna be tricky, cuz every illithid we kill will probably be felt winking out by the big brain, so we'd have to move fast.

Second option is force. Ye use yer doodad to make the biggest, nastiest things possible and assault the front gates. Make em carve a path of destruction through the city an' hope they kill as many flayers as possible before dying, an' then taking the last ones down on our own.

What do ye think?"

Iriana trails behind you, still appearing somewhat confused. Xura slumps down on the couch, picking at her nails.

>>14790681
Stealth is clearly the best option here. The more surviving Illithid, the more biomass/trophies/minions.

>>14790681
Both!

Whip up a batch of the biggest nastiest monsters we can make and set them to assault the front gates while we slip in the back way through stealth to kill the Elder Brain. The slaughter at the gates will disguise any flayers we have to kill on our way in.

Have Gar and the Erinyes handle the assault while you and Iriana (and maybe some brain golems you bring along in the form of tiny bone dolls) assassinate the Master Brain.

>>14790670
>mfw I thought that was a chrysalis from the thumbnail
>also mfw I can't find my chrysalis reaction image

>>14790681
Every illithid killed would be a potential servant wasted, especially since we learned that we can't confer PC levels to our minions.

I suggest a combination: we have a frontal assault by psionically shielded big bruisers, and a strike team sneaks in during the chaos to take out the Elder Brain.

>>14790715
And the Elder Brain's attention is focussed on the assault.

Where have I heard this plan before?

Stealth. I say we transform ourselves into something invisible and undetectable by psionics. 'Cerebral Blind' will make us able to be undetected unless they actually see us and invisibility can cover that. Does an invisible stalker have flesh? Or would a shadow beast be a better choice? Then again we need to be able to carry the stafff...

>>14790727
If our distraction-creatures are heavily geared toward defence over offence, then they won't do too much damage to our new minions and fortress.

I LOVE THIS PLAN!

>>14790712
>>14790715
>>14790727
>>14790729

Gar nods.

"Right boss. How are you making those monsters?"

Time to formulate a more precise plan, folks. Gar shows you a map of the illithid city (which obviously Al remembers well anyway). It's a large circular structure with tunnels radiating out from the large, subterranean vault under the central tower where the Elder Brain dwells. The front gate is mostly used for slave transport and the like, while there are smaller gateways to the east and west. The wall around the city is smooth and polished, to discourage races that -can't- levitate at will. Of course, a psionic watchgrid monitors the entire city constantly.

>>14790760
Is it possible to make Insult Golems? They aren't really very threatening but they are impossible to kill and all they do is stand outside the gates yelling insulting things at the Illithids. Completely Psionically immune, made from Adamantine, but shaped like Brain Golems.

>>14790766
Where is the nearest bar? Disguise ourselves as an ancient wizard again and go gather up a group of dupes- I mean heroes to go on an important quest.

And by Quest I mean be turned into horrible abominations that are slave to our will.

>>14790729
...Ha.

>>14790773
...I kind of like the idea of a bunch of illithids trying to attack giant brains who just stand there going "Fuck off, squidface!"

>>14790782

Sounds like a plan to me.

>>14790766
>The wall around the city is smooth and polished, to discourage races that -can't- levitate at will.
Now that I think of it, each of our minions is capable of levitation. This shouldn't be a problem for the stealth incursion.
>Of course, a psionic watchgrid monitors the entire city constantly.
Could be an issue. Will anti-scrying charms cover us? Or would that only work against arcane viewing?

>>14790782
Playing the Evil Quest Giver would work for gathering some biomass. We could even send them in with the assault party, but they might kill an unnecessary amount of our kin.

For purposes of gathering biomass, however, I'm all for it. Noone will be too suprised when an adventurer doesn't return from his 'quest'.

>>14790809
Turn our minions into mindless bone dolls
Carry them across the watchgrid (we are an illithid, why should it alert them to us?)
Turn them back into minions

>>14790773


Since your artifact turns living things into other living things (not unliving ones like golems), you could at best make some golem-like creatures that distract the illithids and are resistant to harm. You are fairly sure "invulnerability" is not a trait you can bestow with the Despoiler.

>>14790809

You believe that, since you are an epic level character yourself, you could shield yourself and one or two minions from detection long enough to complete the job. Not a whole invading force, though.

So, do you wish to pursue the "recruit adventurers" plan, or another permutation?

>>14790846
This is a good point. At a glance, an Illithid will think nothing of us. How soon will the Elder Brain realise we're meant to be exiled?

>>14790809
We are a particularly strong psion. Hell, we defeated a balor. We should be able to mind blank ourselves. Using ANY psionics will alert the elder brain to our presence though. So magic and the artifact will be key.

I say we use psionically immune brain golems to assault the front. The elder brain will interpret it as an attack from another elder brain (since brain golems are naturally created by elder brains) and rally the defenses.

Gar can handle himself leading the forces, though an illithid disguise (or Ularithid for effect) might do the trick too. Xura with her vorpal blade can cut down anything that gets in the way. She'll need some bio armor and mind blank as well of course.

As for us, we can levitate with Irana into the town, popping anything we encounter into more subservient brain golems along the way. Magical and not psionic Teleportation will help too.

>>14790856
Let's recruit some adventurers. Disguise ourselves as an old man. Not Al, just in case people know Al by now. Go to a random tavern and find some party of walking clichés.

>>14790875
Keep in mind that Elder Brains are very intelligent, being, y'know, brains. If we make even the slightest mistake, they'll know it's a trap.

>>14790878
Seconding this

I suggest a Shoggoth for the invading force. Won't be easily dispatched and most of it's through consuming or driving insane. Easily reversible effects wit complete control over the flesh.

>>14790891
Which is why we need to maintain the mind blank and possibly invisibility right up until the point when we attack the brain. The distraction assault should help our chances a bit.

>>14790878
Thirding this. Have the sexy elf give them a portal to the underdark to help on their way.

I think we should go with this guy's idea, too >>14790846

Carrying them in as bone dolls is genius.

>>14790924
Since the DM says we can't make them completely unliving just give them the most blank personality you possibly can. Completely brain dead.

>>14790875
>>14790903

((A couple of quick notes. As noted, the Despoiler cannot change an unliving being or something into an unliving being. You can make things that LOOK like brain golems, however.

Second, your Despoiler cannot affect oozes. While I will say for this game that you can turn something INTO an ooze, once it becomes an ooze it is totally beyond your control. This may or may not affect future plans.))

>>14790903
I just had a thought. Do Illithid need to breath much?

If we made some kind of flesh-shoggoth, then it can appear to be engulfing Mind Flayers, but we can actually make it preserve them.

I was kind of suggesting Brain golems just because I like the idea of assaulting the illithinds with something made entirely out of brains.

>>14790944
>>14790949
Disregard my previous statement. Flesh-Preservative-Shoggoth is technically ooze.

>>14790957
Also, Elder Brains are the ones who use Brain Golems. The Elder Brain is more likely to think this is a genuine attack if it thinks another Elder Brain is trying to take over.

You reach a decision and an idea on how to recruit some more "helpers".

"Iriana, if you could assume your illusionary guise, please?"

The other mind flayer nods, and her form shimmers as she becomes an image of her former elven self. She looks down at herself and grimaces.

"Ugh. I loathe this mammal form, even when it is merely an illusion..."

You smile, and assume the form of an unassuming older man, dressed in a ragged robe with a hood, and carrying a walking staff. You give Gar and Xura some orders to prepare for your return, and depart into the city. It is afternoon, and the taverns and bars are filling up with people. You carefully pick one well-known for harboring adventurers looking for employment (the ironically titled "The Lucky Fool" inn) and enter.

Inside the music is already loud, and drinks and food are passed out to many tables. You and Iriana attract little attention, and offhand you can see at least three probable adventurer groups just lounging around at tables, waiting for opportunity to knock. Meanwhile, a huge muscular bald man you vaguely remember as "Mart" is serving enormous amounts of alcohol, and other refreshments behind the bar.

The groups you can see from here are:

* A very clean-shaven group with freshly washed and carefully maintained armor.

* A group of dingy-looking people nursing the cheapest drinks possible, all with poorly maintained and cheap gear.

* A group of apparently fresh-faced younger people, looking a little nervous and excited. They have average-looking gear.

What now?

Big worms? Giant worms that swallow people whole but don't start eating people.

Current Battleplan:

- Recruit Adventurers - Harvest their Biomass
- Make Brain-Golemnish creatures designed to be super resistant and not really do too much damage
- Set these creatures on the front gates
- IT'S A DISTARCTION
- Levitate in with Iriana
- Carry other minions as bone dolls until needed
- Proceed to Elder Brain while bulk of security is distracted
- ?
- Alter Elder Brain brain chemistry- ASSUME CONTROL

Did I miss anything?

>>14791000
I vote for the new kids. Give them one hell of a first adventure.

>>14791000
We're epic-level psionic god-material. Get the group with the best equipment- we can find a use for it.

We could probably use a way to kill them quickly, and with little fuss. Ideas?

>>14791000
Grab the young boys, they are not likely to be missed and one warm body is as good as another if we are just going to turn them into monsters.

Mind read the poor ones to see if they would be open to long term employment. They seem more likely to be loyal without the need for mind rape.

Have Iriana approach the cleaner group separately so we can mind rape them into servility and turn them into bone dolls. They will probably be useful in the final assault.

I vote dirty bastards or young people
we don't need them to be good, just distracting and having the others go missing will attract more attention

>>14791037
Don't forget we're looking for biomass. We should use the poor ones to construct our Not-Brain-Golems and brainwash the skilled ones.

Approaching them seperately would be best.

>>14791051
This makes sense.

>>14791045
Do we want adventurers in the assault party? They might unnecessarily harm Illithids we can use, or make it look less like an enemy Elder Brain assault.

I vote the people who are good just so we can make sure that we know where they are.

((Gah. I'm being called away. If someone archives this I'll read up on the general consensus. Anyone feel like continuing tomorrow or wednesday? I may not have as long, but I can probably squeeze a few hours of Quest in if there's interest.

Also, how did this round go, you guys think? Too slow? Anything I should be mindful of? Still a total rookie to doing this...))

>>14791051
Well we can take several disguises right?

Approach fresh faces with some bullshit about giant rats, turn them into bone dolls once we get them in a basement somewhere and carry them home.

Tell the dirty bastards we are an archaeologist or some shit and there is a tomb full of treasure we want them to go plunder, bring us back one thing and they can keep all the other treasure. Possibly give them directions that have them walk right into our base. Where we then turn them into bone dolls to be used later.

Clean shave... An evil wizard has just found an ancient and powerful artifact. We need their help. Technically it's not lying.

This quest is getting good. Real good.

Agreed with the general consensus. Transform the dirty poor ones that no one will miss. Mind-rape/control the more powerful group is optional. We could always use them later.

>>14791075
>Do we want adventurers in the assault party? They might unnecessarily harm Illithids we can use, or make it look less like an enemy Elder Brain assault.
that was my point, sorry for making it in such a bad way. I meant that we don't need good adventurers, just biomass
hell, we could just capture rats and make them into Not-Brain-Golems

why are we getting adventurers again?

>>14791080
Single black tear of liquid sorrow.

Anyway, OP, this session was a bit slow to start but I loved the tactical shit. Nice work glossing over the bedroom stuff, too.

By all means, continue this as soon as you can. I'll check if it's archived.

We have 3 cows, a dragon, and how ever many adventurers we recruit for making minions. I think we can make a considerable distraction.

This quest has gotten quite exciting. Can't wait until next time.

>>14791106
>why are we getting adventurers again?
They're more common than rats, they're fatter than rats, and nobody will be surprised if they go missing.

The skilled ones could make good servants later.

>>14791106
I really don't feel okay with abusing the despoiler to that level. If we can just turn any old lump of flesh into anything we want then there is no real challenge. Anyway we are EEEEeeeeviiiiiiiiiiiil. So why waste such an opportunity on rats when we could ruin the lives of some poor saps at the same time?

Also if we don't rape them too hard they keep their PC levels, and we are dealing with a pretty high level threat here. A handful of 2 HD fleshwarps are going to get stomped, we need something a bit meatier.

Even though the OP hasn't called us out on it yet, too much mutation at once with the defiler to a single thing will cause it to dissolve into protoplasmic goop. So we should think about what we're converting. There's no concrete rules to it though, just DM fiat.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/14787679/

Bravo, OP. Magnificent thread.

((Hey, thanks for liking it so far. Started off slow because not many people were on when I started this one up. I kinda only have a limited time each day, unfortunately. Sorry about that.

As for the decay thing. Yeah, in the original fluff it says that too many mutations will dissolve creatures into goop. I won't really worry too much about that unless Al enforces dozens and dozens of changes on the same critter. May want to be careful with your more useful minions, however!))

Given the protoplasmic decay thing, maybe after we finish with the elder brain we should go ahead and modify ourselves into an "ultimate" form? Since "Al" is an outcast, and we already suspect he hates his own kind.

Make ourselves into a less hated humanoid, and more likely to be accepted. Dunno exactly what.

For future questions, here' the item info on the artifact itself.

>>14791241
Okay, here goes. The pinnacle of beauty and purity of form and function as seen by Al.

-A mane of beholder eye stalks and tentacles around the face. No facial features to speak of except for a large black central eye as a beholder.
-Two sets of arms, powerful and functional with three fingers and a thumb. Retractable bone blades in each forearm to be used when needed.
-A pair of prehensile tentacles trailing behind each shoulder, they have a venemous sting lethal to anything they touch and also capable of delivering negative energy touch attacks or draining life vampirically via modified suction cups.
-A sturdy but moble lower torso. Double jointed legs for extra propulsion and height (intimidation is important) although natural levitation will be the primary means of transport anyways.
-Most primary life organs removed, able to leach nourishing psionic energy and life force from anything nearby as well as a small amount from any servant with a spinal implant. This should negate the effects of crits mechanically.
-Modified adrenal glands allowing

Also optional:
-Keep the Illithid head as a reminder of his true superiority and to encourage the loyalty of his kin
-Give him wings just for the badassery
-God damned Cthulhu
-just a featureless lifeform
-God

>>14791351
Inconspicuous.

OP's already said he's not going to force the protoplasmic goop thing on us, so I don't think we have to worry about determining an ultimate form yet.

When we do get down to actually making a permanent army out of our biomass harvests my vot is on these guys.

>>14791351
let's also add some fucked up nightmare tier IRL stuff
Like irukanji venom

falcon eyes and echolocation to (I'm guessing) psionic detection system


Also, I propose that we give ourselves some limits on the item, so as to not turn this into youhavealreadywon-quest. Such as it can't create mass, only minor (limited to biological chemistry (yes I know that the term is organic chemistry but that is carbon based chemistry not life based chemistry)) transmutation, so we couldn't grow a rat into a dragon, we'd need to use a whole heap of rats and we couldn't create metal or rock (dwargoyle can be allowed due to fucked up physics in the abyss, but no more from now on)

>>14791546
Why make a puny half-farspawn grey render when we could just make a farspawn tyrant tarrasque army. Oh god... That's horrifying.

>>14791618
Yeah, I agree with what you said. But gargoyles are actually natural animals (admittedly with the earth descriptor). They are monstrous humanoids. But we can add some mass. After all, it's magic and all and we are, in fact, a wizard... psion... squid thing.

And Biochemistry is a term also and it does describe what you're looking for. And (almost) all lifeforms are comprised of plenty of metal anyways. Just not in the same allotropic forms as pure metal or rock.

>>14791676
thank you for the clarifications

Still somewhat against the idea of being able to add mass... not only due to REALISM HUUURRRRR, I also find the idea of transmuting flesh to be cooler

you want an extra arm? add a dog to that shoulder and transmute it into a arm and connect the arm into your newly transmuted shoulder.

And while yes, there are a lot of metals in biochemistry (given a human of 75kg, ~20kg is calcium) having the ability to give things refined metal exoskeletons just feels like cheating

I doubt we can actually define rules on what we can do and what we can't do and people will take advantage of the artifact, though. so it's something of a moot point...

Another potential minion to consider: Cerebriliths. Useful psionic demons. Xura could be made to command them.

>>14791618
The Despoiler's own description mentions a limitation that we haven't been paying attention too. If a life form is changed too many times, or into a custom form that's too elaborate, it collapses into a puddle of inert goo and can't be played with anymore.

>>14792620
A rule that our loveable DM basically told us we didn't need to consider overly much.
So as long as he's cool with the shit we do it's alright.

>>14792620
It's been addressed by the OP himself. He won't pull this card unless it's really plot relevant. He's pretty much giving us a blank check within the other limitations.

This has actually really gone quite well for a purely player driven quest. The DM hasn't really created any plot motivations or otherwise beyond the inclusion of the staff itself. Even our 'hero' was player created. This is quite remarkable for a result if you ask me.