████████████████████████████████ #DCCB5B
━━ ━━ ━━ ━━ ᴀ ʜᴏʀʀɪғʏɪɴɢ ᴠɪᴏʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴀ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ғᴏʀᴍ
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RHIS SZWEDKO
NEUTRAL GOOD ////
- ⯀ GENDER / Hermaphrodite [they/she]
⯀ AGE / 30s
⯀ RACE / Illithid
⯀ SEXUALITY / Asexual panromantic
PATIENT / ASTUTE / INSECURE / NERVOUS
Quote:
Rhis can easily be observed as having a nervous demeanor—and how could they not? Being an illithid living on the surface world without a hive isn't exactly the easiest on the nerves, and Rhis could attest to that. Introverted and guarded, Rhis often comes off as standoffish, sparing few words to those they're unfamiliar with. Though appearing stoic, likely in part due to their alien visage, Rhis is simply shy and fears coming off as hostile or frightening to what little company they find themselves with. Though it may not appear so, Rhis loves the company of others, but they find difficultly in opening up and connecting with other people.
- ₁.BACKGROUND
- ██████ ////
⯀ OCCUPATION / x
⯀ FACTION / x
⯀ CLASS / Wizard [School of Conjuration]
⯀ LINEAGE
tab ⯀ x
Quote:
Rhis believes themself only to be an illithid in appearance, as they maintain some of the thoughts, personality, and memories of a human woman. Before they "became" an illithid, Rhis remembered being captured by mind flayers along with their lover, a halfling named Faye. While searching for alchemical ingredients, they had ventured too close into mind flayer territory, to which they were taken rather than eaten on the spot. Faye was likely taken as a thrall, while Rhis was reserved to become the host to an illithid tadpole.
A few days after the insertion, Rhis managed to escape and immediately began to concoct a potion that would kill the tadpole eating away at her brain. This potion was either made incorrectly, as Rhis was not a seasoned alchemist, or it was too late for it to stop the ceremorphosis process entirely. Rhis’ body still underwent physical metamorphosis into an adult illithid, though some of her personality, adult memories, and a vague sense of self remained. Long-term memories were entirely absent, such as childhood memories, but memories from the past few years remained clear. Even with the odds against them, with a portion of their self lost and their appearance twisted into that of a monstrous illithid, Rhis was still determined to piece their life back together and find Faye.
In the meantime, however, Rhis would have to focus on surviving and navigating their new life, which at first, was not so great. Either having to disguise themself or face fear and hatred everywhere they went, simply existing became exhausting. However, there was someone who took interest in the poor, lonely creature Rhis had become. An eladrin physiologist by the name of Vicaris became fascinated with Rhis, and better yet, the idea of being able to study a living mind flayer up close. He offered Rhis a place to stay and a means of sustenance while he studied them, to which Rhis obliged, having no better options. Though Vicaris was respectable as a scholar, he had a reputation for shady dealings and connections, especially when it came to acquiring specimens. His means of supplying Rhis with brains was among one of these shady dealings, but if it kept his mind flayer alive and fed, then it was no issue for him. While being studied, Rhis slowly by surely became acquainted with the town. As to be expected, the people were fearful at first, but as the years went by, warmed up to their resident illithid.
With a little help from Vicaris, Rhis became involved with a nearby magic school. Already having a concept of conjuration magic from their host, Rhis had no problem building upon this knowledge. As the fear of their alien visage melted away from locals, Rhis became somewhat of a spectical, and though they appreciated the friendlier attitude towards them, being seen as a curiosity began to wear on them and they grew standoffish.
Every day since the incident, Rhis had thought about Faye. It's been at least five years, but they've continued to hold out hope that she may be alive. The feat was not only incredibly dangerous, but could possibly be all for nothing if she had been eaten or escaped. Rhis wouldn't be able to take on an entire illithid hive on their own, but endangering an entire group of people to save someone who might not even be there didn't seem like a good idea either.
Even with the many risks, Rhis was willing to take that chance if it meant knowing what became of Faye.
A few days after the insertion, Rhis managed to escape and immediately began to concoct a potion that would kill the tadpole eating away at her brain. This potion was either made incorrectly, as Rhis was not a seasoned alchemist, or it was too late for it to stop the ceremorphosis process entirely. Rhis’ body still underwent physical metamorphosis into an adult illithid, though some of her personality, adult memories, and a vague sense of self remained. Long-term memories were entirely absent, such as childhood memories, but memories from the past few years remained clear. Even with the odds against them, with a portion of their self lost and their appearance twisted into that of a monstrous illithid, Rhis was still determined to piece their life back together and find Faye.
In the meantime, however, Rhis would have to focus on surviving and navigating their new life, which at first, was not so great. Either having to disguise themself or face fear and hatred everywhere they went, simply existing became exhausting. However, there was someone who took interest in the poor, lonely creature Rhis had become. An eladrin physiologist by the name of Vicaris became fascinated with Rhis, and better yet, the idea of being able to study a living mind flayer up close. He offered Rhis a place to stay and a means of sustenance while he studied them, to which Rhis obliged, having no better options. Though Vicaris was respectable as a scholar, he had a reputation for shady dealings and connections, especially when it came to acquiring specimens. His means of supplying Rhis with brains was among one of these shady dealings, but if it kept his mind flayer alive and fed, then it was no issue for him. While being studied, Rhis slowly by surely became acquainted with the town. As to be expected, the people were fearful at first, but as the years went by, warmed up to their resident illithid.
With a little help from Vicaris, Rhis became involved with a nearby magic school. Already having a concept of conjuration magic from their host, Rhis had no problem building upon this knowledge. As the fear of their alien visage melted away from locals, Rhis became somewhat of a spectical, and though they appreciated the friendlier attitude towards them, being seen as a curiosity began to wear on them and they grew standoffish.
Every day since the incident, Rhis had thought about Faye. It's been at least five years, but they've continued to hold out hope that she may be alive. The feat was not only incredibly dangerous, but could possibly be all for nothing if she had been eaten or escaped. Rhis wouldn't be able to take on an entire illithid hive on their own, but endangering an entire group of people to save someone who might not even be there didn't seem like a good idea either.
Even with the many risks, Rhis was willing to take that chance if it meant knowing what became of Faye.
₂.DESCRIPTION
- ██████ ////
⯀ HAIR / None
⯀ SKIN / Sallow; pale
⯀ EYES / White
⯀ HEIGHT / 6’1”
⯀ PHYSIQUE / Willowy
⯀ MISC / x
Quote:
Rhis is a willowy, unusually colored illithid, with sallowy skin as apposed to the usual purple. However, down along their spine, there are splotches of mauve. They have large, protuberant white eyes, and a dry, rubbery complexion as a result of a malnourished diet. On each side of their head are two small ear-like fins that can be moved at will. As with most illithids, Rhis possesses four tentacles which can be controlled independently and used to grapple objects.
- ██████ ////
1. INTELLIGENCE
2. WISDOM
3. CONSTITUTION
4. DEXTERITY
5. STRENGTH
6. CHARISMA
⯀ SKILLS
tab ■ Arcana
tab ■ Investigation
tab ■ Perception
tab ■ x
⯀ WEAPONS
tab ■ x
⯀ SPELLS
tab tab CANTRIPS
tab ■ [LV 1] Acid Splash
tab ■ [LV 1] Mage Hand
tab ■ [LV 1] True Strike
tab tab CONJURATION
tab ■ [LV 1] Ice Knife
tab ■ [LV 1] Grease
tab ■ [LV 1] Fog Cloud
tab ■ [LV 2] Cloud of Daggers
tab ■ [LV 2] Flaming Sphere
tab ■ [LV 3] Sleet Storm
tab ■ [LV 4] Black Tentacles
tab ■ [LV 4] Dimension Door
tab ■ [LV 5] Conjure Elemental
tab ■ [LV 5] Cloudkill
tab ■ [LV 5] Teleportation Circle
tab tab EVOCATION
tab ■ [LV 1] Magic Missile
tab ■ [LV 3] Lightning Bolt
tab tab ILLUSION
tab ■ [LV 1] Disguise Self
tab tab ABJURATION
tab ■ [LV 3] Dispel Magic
tab ■ [LV 4] Stoneskin
tab tab NECROMANCY
tab ■ [LV 2] Ray of Enfeeblement
⯀ POWERS
tab ■ Mind Blast: Rhis emits a psionic blast in a 60 foot radius that deals psychic damage to affected targets.
tab ■ Darkvision: As an illithid, Rhis can see in the dark.
Quote:
Tactical, mid to long-range. Squishy defenses. Fights when provoked, but usually flees.
- ₄.EXTRA
- ██████ ////
⯀ BIRTHDAY / Unknown
⯀ MBTI / INTP
⯀ FAITH / Undecided
⯀ VOICE / Androgynous, slightly feminine
⯀ THEME / A Cell Divides - Haken
⯀ PLOTS
tab ■ Half a Mind: Rhis is determined to find the missing pieces of their host's memory, which they believe are their own. With very few leads, Rhis has been struggling with piecing their past together and finding where Faye was and what became of her. They may need some help investigating and gathering information on the subject.
tab ■ The Thing That Should Not Be:
1. Recently, attacks by strange, aberrant creatures have been reported around the town of Spalding. These creatures are described as ceremorphic in nature, meaning they were a part of the illithid family. Along with some of these creatures being entirely undocumented, they didn't appear to be coming from the Underdark.
2. Sighting of a "purple worm" have been reported around the town of Spalding. The creature is said to live in burrows underground/in the sewer system, and pop out at night to feed on unsuspecting passersby. However, its behavior and feeding habits are unusual for a purple worm, leading others to believe it may be something else.
⯀ BONDS
tab ■ x
⯀ IDEALS
tab ■ People. I'm committed to the people I care about, not to ideals. (Neutral)
tab ■ Free Thinking. Inquiry and curiosity are the pillars of progress. (Chaotic)
tab ■ Knowledge. The path to power and self-improvement is through knowledge. (Neutral)
⯀ TRAITS
tab ■ I often get lost in my own thoughts and contemplations, becoming oblivious to my surroundings.
tab ■ I'm always picking things up, absently fiddling with them, and sometimes accidentally breaking them.
tab ■ I'm used to helping out those who aren't as smart as I am, and I patiently explain anything and everything to others.
⯀ FLAWS
tab ■ I have a 'tell' that reveals when I'm lying.
tab ■ No matter where I go, I never feel like I belong, and I fear I never will.
tab ■ I am desperate for companionship and will sometimes become too trusting too quickly.
tab ■ I am cowardly and may abandon others to preserve myself when the going gets tough.
tab ■ I fear the true nature of my identity.
Quote:
■ Rhis has reoccurring dreams about Faye. Though they each differ, most of them end up with Rhis just missing Faye somewhere, or being told she was seen somewhere, only to be unable to find her. In all of these dreams, they never have a concept of who they are, whether they're their host or as they are now.
■ The further back Rhis' host memories go, the vaguer and more nonexistent they becomes. Only the last few years are clear, like their own, while ones beyond that are more just a sense of knowing, like it was read from a book. Childhood memories are entirely absent. Rhis does not know the names of their host's parents, their hometown, or of any family.
■ The type of mixture created by human Rhis is also a little difficult to recall. The memories from near the final moment, when their host's brain was being slowly eaten, is spotty. Since Rhis was not an alchemist, there wasn't too much know-how going into the mixture, though she did have Faye's notes on her. It's possible that she attempted to either create a potion that would kill an illithid tadpole; a weaker poison she thought would kill it, but not her; or a poison that would kill her as to take the parasite down with her. It's also possible that she wasn't lucid enough to really be creating something properly at all, and created something with unpredictable effects, which happened to stunt the illithid tadpole in a particular way. By that point, it would be unclear if the unknown mixture is what killed her first, or the tadpole.
■ The further back Rhis' host memories go, the vaguer and more nonexistent they becomes. Only the last few years are clear, like their own, while ones beyond that are more just a sense of knowing, like it was read from a book. Childhood memories are entirely absent. Rhis does not know the names of their host's parents, their hometown, or of any family.
■ The type of mixture created by human Rhis is also a little difficult to recall. The memories from near the final moment, when their host's brain was being slowly eaten, is spotty. Since Rhis was not an alchemist, there wasn't too much know-how going into the mixture, though she did have Faye's notes on her. It's possible that she attempted to either create a potion that would kill an illithid tadpole; a weaker poison she thought would kill it, but not her; or a poison that would kill her as to take the parasite down with her. It's also possible that she wasn't lucid enough to really be creating something properly at all, and created something with unpredictable effects, which happened to stunt the illithid tadpole in a particular way. By that point, it would be unclear if the unknown mixture is what killed her first, or the tadpole.
