Intrusive taste link was a rare psionic devotion of the telepathy discipline. Developed by illithids, it allowed a manifester to create a sensory bond between them and another creature, making the target taste whatever the psionic user tasted.[2]
Effects[]
This power operated similarly to the more common taste link, though linked its manifester's taste buds to the target instead of the other way around and had a limited range of 30 yards (27 meters).[1]
Significance[]
This power was usually used between illithids themselves as part of "performance eating",[1] a psionic pastime in illithid culture wherein an audience sensory bonded to the performer through intrusive taste link shared in their artistic consumption of a thrall's brain.[4] But some, often those of the Abysmal Creed, were found to use the power on their human and humanoid rivals when gorging upon the brain of one of their compatriots, a traumatizing act that shocked and induced nausea on the victims. And others, taken to a twisted sense of humor, would set up intrusive taste links with the humanoids they were eating the brain of.[1]
Users[]
This power was not uncommon among moderately powerful illithids,[5][6][note 1] as well as ulitharids and elder brains. The psionic masters of the race entrusted guardianship over knowledge of intrusive taste link to elder brains, who then passed it down to future generations.[6]
Known/Notable Users[]
- Lugribossk, a proxy of the illithid god Ilsensine.[7][note 2]
- The members of the Tamer Capture Squad, a Tamer Creed group in the illithid city of Nar'Vheen that captured creatures of other races, typically knew this power.[8]
- Yahol, one of the leaders of Nar'Vheen.[9]
History[]
In the late 14th century DR, a group of Ravenian adventurers were unknowingly manipulated by the illithids of Nar'Vheen into heading to their city, being either taken as prisoners or brought as honored guests for helping to fight against a drow assault on Nar'Vheen, in order to forge a mutual alliance treaty with the Underdark community of Ravens Deep.[10] After a successful negotiation, the Elder Concord member Yagol, offered the adventurers the chance to experience their unusual dietary habits through the use of intrusive taste link, reasoning that "It is only fair that you know how we eat, for we would not want to enter into this agreement with misconceptions."[9]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
- Intrusive sense link, a psionic power that could forge a sensory link with unwilling creatures.
Notes[]
- ↑ While page 86 of The Illithiad lists intrusive taste link as one of the psionic disciplines for the "Standard Illithid", page 28 stated that "...it is rare for a common illithid to know even one unique psionic power" and that "Common illithids have [only] a 10% to roll once on the [unique psionic power] table..."
- ↑ The stat-block for Lugribossk says only "taste link", but includes an asterisk next to the term, indicating that it's referring to the intrusive taste link introduced in the same book.
Appearances[]
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Bruce R. Cordell (April 1998). The Illithiad. Edited by Keith Francis Strohm. (TSR, Inc.), p. 31. ISBN 0-7869-1206-5.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell (April 1998). The Illithiad. Edited by Keith Francis Strohm. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 28, 31. ISBN 0-7869-1206-5.
- ↑ Jeffrey J. Morrison (July 1999). The Mines of Sarbreen. Living City (RPGA), p. 13.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell (April 1998). The Illithiad. Edited by Keith Francis Strohm. (TSR, Inc.), p. 54. ISBN 0-7869-1206-5.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell (April 1998). The Illithiad. Edited by Keith Francis Strohm. (TSR, Inc.), p. 86. ISBN 0-7869-1206-5.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Bruce R. Cordell (April 1998). The Illithiad. Edited by Keith Francis Strohm. (TSR, Inc.), p. 28. ISBN 0-7869-1206-5.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell (April 1998). The Illithiad. Edited by Keith Francis Strohm. (TSR, Inc.), p. 89. ISBN 0-7869-1206-5.
- ↑ Jeffrey J. Morrison (July 1999). The Mines of Sarbreen. Living City (RPGA), pp. 9–10.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Jeffrey J. Morrison (July 1999). The Mines of Sarbreen. Living City (RPGA), pp. 12–13.
- ↑ Jeffrey J. Morrison (July 1999). The Mines of Sarbreen. Living City (RPGA), p. 3.