-While far more limited in spelljamming scope directly, the "Mind Flayers" present an even more horrific danger to the world of Boot Hill. This intrepid group of would-be tyrants followed one of the Neogi Mindspiders from the Triad, and then slipped undetected into the seas where they have flourished unopposed. Their influence has grown by the most subtle means into the populations of the sea-faring civilizations, a world-wide cult of adherents bent on global domination. Their resources are focused on the infiltration and subversion of all organizations of influence and power on the planet, so that some day the inhabitants will willingly submit to their new masters.
-Oard-Hybrid (Chief Engineer): a bizarre mesh of archanology & mutation, this creature runs the more complex systems on the Octopus for Ilsensine. Resides in Room 2 on the Lower Deck, "Master Mechanic's Quarters".
-One male High Half-Elf-Hybrid Mage: capable of mating with humanoid females to produce more hybrids. His "broodlings" are kept in the "Private Quarters" on the Crow's Deck, while he generally keeps quarters in the "Private Mess" on the Crow's Deck.
-OgreMage-Hybrid (First Mate): a purple mountain of physical power, he runs the Octopus' crew with an iron fist. He particluarly likes to Enlarge and beat victims senseless, then chain them up. The Hybrid Lizarmen particularly respect and fear him. He alone possess the keys to the "Lesser Cargo" holds (Room 4 on the Cargo Deck), typically holding high value items, and a Cloak of the Bat taken from an old victim. His secret with Ilsensine is that he too can breed new hybrids. Resides in Room 7 on the Cargo Deck, "Cargo Master's Quarters".
-Sterile Drow-Hybrid (Mage): acting as the secondary helmsman, he is often in direct telepathic contact with the Brain Pool. Stays in Room 6 on the Main Deck, "Ship's Mage" Quarters.
-Illithid "Archmagess"(Ship's Archmange): often dressed in long gowns, but never without its signature Staff of Power, this Illithid's spawning is a secret from all except the Elder Brain. It prefers to be addressed simply as "Archmagess", also for reasons it declines to explain. Its loyalty to Ilsensine is beyond question, as is its tendancy to incinerate those who dare defy the Elder Brain in any way. It serves as Black Octopus Ship's Archmage & Confidant to Ilsensine. Resides in Room 5 on the Main Deck, "Captain's Quarters".
-Hybrid Sea-Elves: far more in self-control, they generally function as officers. They are given quarters on the Main Deck (Room 7, "Officer's Quarters").
-Hybrid Lizardmen: slightly smarter but no less savage, they occupy the "Crew Quarters" (Room 5) on the Lower Deck as well as the Steerage Deck. The strongest occupy the Officer's Quarters (room 6) on the Lower Deck, while their leader is given Room 3 ("Weapons Master").
-Ulithid Nautiloid Captain "Ehyea-Forsee": Haunty & stern even by Illitid Standards, but chaffes under the rule of the Elder Brain, disgusted by the Hybrids -but unable to outwit its better. Ehyea has managed to decline the presence of the hated half-breeds on its ship, keeping only a crew of "pure-bloods" on its vessel. Forsee's thirst for conquest of the world knows little restraint, and it was the one who came up with the idea of getting some of the weaker-minded humans to begin worshiping the Illithid. Pawns to achive the goal only, of course, food for when the time comes of course. Unknown to everyone else, Ehyea has a cache of Giant Octopus eggs, Giant Squid eggs, & even a Kraken egg to unleash as super-weapons when the time comes. The "Long Tentcles" are its secret squad of agents who act out Forsee's will outside the knowledge of the Brain Pool.
-"Lyesixx": A very old Archmage Illithid possesed of an unhealthy fascination with Necromancy, its skills are beyond question, but it knows much of what the Ulithid is up to. It holds the post of Ship's Doctor on under the Ulithid's command aboard one of the Nautiloids. While it may not entirely agree with the Hybrid program, betrayal of an Elder Brain is simply not an option. It feigns the part of the crochity old coger, and keeps a watchful eye on the Ulithid Captain's activities.
-"WookWidge": Illithid Mage loyal to the Ulithid, while smart enough not to defy the Elder Brain openly, it much more prefers taking orders from its captain. It carries a crystal-tipped Enchantment/Charm Wand of it's own design. When the chips are down, Wookwidge can be counted upon to betray the Elder Brain for Forsee.
-"Sark": An Illithid Sorcerer loyal to Captain Forsee, it is focused on the use of Evocation battle-magic, and the course of swift ascenion through the ranks. It often competes with WookWidge for favor in the captain's eyes.
-"Excerps": A young Illithid Mage hungry for conquest, weilding a powerful magical staff and an ego to match. Its cruelty is reachng new heights every day, and it very much enjoys inflicting it upon all lesser beings. Excerps follows the Ulithid's orders more out of duty than actual loytalty, a fact this creature makes no secret of.
-Nautiloid Captain "Nival": Fond of magical rings, this Illithid Sorcerer revels in the power of the oceans as a brilliant tactical move. It's rings grant it Spell-Storing, Mind-Shielding, Waterbreathing, Regeneration, Swimming, & Freedom, and its favorite Water & Ice based magic is very useful underwater. However, the use of hybrids bothers it, and Nival is torn between loyalty to the Elder Brain, and the traditions of its kind. Nival's crew consists of most of the younger Illithid of the organization, full of new ideas and hungry for that succulant final victory. It has recently accepted the use of some of the Hybrid Lizardmen as they are well suited to underwater operations of all kinds.
-One Octopus ship (fully crewed & operational, with steel metal hull & doors, glassteel windows, Non-Detection, Blending/Chameleon Power, Airy water interior, all windows on the Steerage Deck can be unlocked & opened from within, some air-only spaces (Cargo Deck=Room 5[used as an archive of records & library dating back centuries], Lower Deck=Rooms 4, 7, & 8), & Animated tentcles) that is the hidden Lair of these evil beings. From here, the Elder Brain in it's huge brain pool (in the Day Room 4 on the Main Deck with Adamantine Walls, Floor, Roof, & Door) masterminds the diabolical plans of the Mind Flayers and directly controls the ship's Major Helm when needed. This craft rarely even comes to the surface at all, only briefly at night, and always far from land.
-Two Nautiloids (fully crewed & operational, with iron metal hulls, glassteel windows, Airy Water on the Battle Decks Rooms 6 & 7, Chain/Series Helms [4], Blending ability, Non-Detection, and Large Spyglasses of Eagle Eye for observation at range) which roam the seas of the world, spreading the cult and acting as though there is only one Nautiloid which appears to be the base of operations for the Illithids on this world.
-The "Masters of the Ocean" Cult: A rag-tag collection of functional misfits, psychopaths, snitches, sociopaths, & maniacs. Advancement through duels or major advances of the Cult's goals is the general operating proceedure;
-This Elder Brain "Ilsensine" has survived eons of history by remaining a power behind many thrones, as mobile and elusive at all times as possible. This being's power is such that it can project an avatar of sorts at great distances at will.
It has no problem experimenting with new hybrids and absorbing more effective methods to further it's goals. The more successful experiments include a small number of water-breathing hybrids bred from Sea-Elves and Lizardmen. It keeps a stable of "Grick" pets as a personal guard, vile and savage creatures, but loyal unto death.
No non-Illithid has ever seen it and lived, as its spawn are always hungry. Ilsenine sees the Cult as a useful tool in many ways, but knows the Ulithid cannot be fully trusted to take those reigns of power alone. To this end, it has placed the Sorcerer Nival as Captain of the other Nautiloid, both to test Nival's loyalty, and as a lure for the Ulithid.
Next the rest of the crew...
Here listed are the Ullithid's Officers.
-Lyesixx has a young apprentice who is often very enthusiastic about learning more about Necromancy, and weilds a cruel hooked Shortsword as a "Tool of the Trade".
Running the other Nautiloid:
They rarely meet as their operations are often in very distant parts of the Boot Hill world, and all events are scheduled for night time. The Nautiloids hide whenever and wherever possible, using their color-shifting and submersible abilities to great effect.
-Low ranking members are marked with a single stylized tentcle tattoo, and generally get the most demeaning and dirty jobs for the Cult. They know little of the true aims of the Cult, but the charisma of their leaders is never in question to these little minds. To them, their tattoos are badges of honor, and cheaters/tunrcoats are always killed.
-The next rank up get another tenticle added, and generally oversee the operations of a given area and/or base of operations. These lackeys are aware their leaders are extremely dangerous and shadowy figures, and generally can control their worst urges in the name of control of the Cult's operations.
-The third tentcle grants access to and the run of the Cult's sea-faring assets as sailors and region-spanning henchmen. These men have often seen one of the Nautiloids with their own eyes, and develop a special Brotherhood of Silence regarding any information on their myterious masters. At this rank, the pyschologial influence of the Illithid is strong indeed, these dark servants are fanatically loyal, highly skilled, and very dangerous.
-The Fourth Tentcle is granted only to the most successful & ruthless members, for they alone have actually come face-to-face with the horrors of the Mind Flayer's activities. They've seen Hybrids in action, the Interiors of the Nautiloids, the undead, they know what the Illithid eat, and that all of them have supernatural powers beyond human comprehension. Most of these Lieutenants are exceptionally dangerous in more than a few ways, most of them run large neferious businesses of some kind as fronts for the Cult. Their influence reaches around the planet, and is growing every day, steadily infiltrating every hall of power, every government, every military, every criminal syndicate.
-The "Long Tentcles"; An elite cadre of humans created by the Ulithoid as his personal minions among the humans. Their existance is kept secret from the rest of the organization, and even the Elder Brain. Among the Illithid, only Wookwidge & Sark know about them. They can earn symbiotes, and vye for the chance to be implanted with an Illithid tadpole for "Immortality and even greater power".
