| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Kiaransalyn |
Posted - 17 Nov 2004 : 20:57:31
A friend recently asked me "Do mind-flayer tentacles even have suction cups?"
In order to answer his question I looked through various source-books (mostly the various edition Monster/Monstrous Manuals) and Underdark seemed to provide the most information. On page 77 there are descriptions of the various types of Illithid Graft a character may acquire. Of pertinence were the descriptions of the Grabbing Tentacle and the Extracting Tentacle. The grabbing tentacle was described as "a long, flexible tentacle coated with suckerlike spots" whereas the extracting tentacle was described as having the ability "to pierce flesh and bone as though they were butter." However, it was not clear from any of the books that I looked at what type of tentacle the illithid actually has.
Any information or oppinion on this matter will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| The Sage |
Posted - 29 Nov 2004 : 15:19:47
quote:
Originally posted by Dracandos the Spellsage
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Kiaransalyn
A friend recently asked me "Do mind-flayer tentacles even have suction cups?"
No.
According to The Illithiad, the tentacles of a mind-flayer are primarily for brain extraction and to read their special qualith (engraved writing readable by touch). The presence of a thin duct that connects to a gland near the base of the tentacle, and runs down its entire length to the tip, is the only internal aspect to the biology of an illithid's tentacle cluster. Nowhere is there a mention of "suction cups". Even the anatomical diagrams, and cutaways of the internal make-up of an illithid does not illustrate any basis for the notion that these tentacles have suction cups.
The fault I believe, lies in assuming that the standard illithid tentacle cluster is like that of an octopus. It is not. The primary functions of the tentacles have been mentioned above.
leave it to The Sage...any info on the existance of those fireseeds in the realms my friend, or any lore on the Untherian cast making?
Yes. I've been meaning to get that information out to you, Dracandos. I have been increasingly occupied over the past few days with a little thing called "real-life"... You have heard of it, yes...?   . Anyways, I'm slowly working my way through my internet backlog. I'll get that information sent off to you in a few days.
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| Dracandos the Spellsage |
Posted - 18 Nov 2004 : 16:37:44
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Kiaransalyn
A friend recently asked me "Do mind-flayer tentacles even have suction cups?"
No.
According to The Illithiad, the tentacles of a mind-flayer are primarily for brain extraction and to read their special qualith (engraved writing readable by touch). The presence of a thin duct that connects to a gland near the base of the tentacle, and runs down its entire length to the tip, is the only internal aspect to the biology of an illithid's tentacle cluster. Nowhere is there a mention of "suction cups". Even the anatomical diagrams, and cutaways of the internal make-up of an illithid does not illustrate any basis for the notion that these tentacles have suction cups.
The fault I believe, lies in assuming that the standard illithid tentacle cluster is like that of an octopus. It is not. The primary functions of the tentacles have been mentioned above.
leave it to The Sage...any info on the existance of those fireseeds in the realms my friend, or any lore on the Untherian cast making? |
| Alaundo |
Posted - 18 Nov 2004 : 16:16:42
quote:
Originally posted by Kiaransalyn
quote:
Nowhere is there a mention of "suction cups".
 Thank you for your answer.
I suspected that the main function of the illithid's tentacles was for feeding and not manipulation as, in the Monster Manual, it says that when all four of a mind-flayer's tentacles are attached the victim's brain is extracted.
You mention The Illithiad could you provide me with a little more information about that tome? (Obviously I'm going to perform a web-search on that title as soon as I may.)
Well met
If I may...
The Illithiad is a wonderful tome of old and was part of the old AD&D Monstrous Arcana series, along with The Sea Devils (detailing Sahuaghin) and I, Tyrant (detailing Beholders). Each tome (of 128 pages, I believe), was then followed up with a trilogy of adventures |
| Kiaransalyn |
Posted - 18 Nov 2004 : 16:14:13
quote:
Nowhere is there a mention of "suction cups".
Thank you for your answer.
I suspected that the main function of the illithid's tentacles was for feeding and not manipulation as, in the Monster Manual, it says that when all four of a mind-flayer's tentacles are attached the victim's brain is extracted. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 18 Nov 2004 : 15:59:42
quote:
Originally posted by Kiaransalyn
A friend recently asked me "Do mind-flayer tentacles even have suction cups?"
No.
According to The Illithiad, the tentacles of a mind-flayer are primarily for brain extraction and to read their special qualith (engraved writing readable by touch). The presence of a thin duct that connects to a gland near the base of the tentacle, and runs down its entire length to the tip, is the only internal aspect to the biology of an illithid's tentacle cluster. Nowhere is there a mention of "suction cups". Even the anatomical diagrams, and cutaways of the internal make-up of an illithid does not illustrate any basis for the notion that these tentacles have suction cups.
The fault I believe, lies in assuming that the standard illithid tentacle cluster is like that of an octopus. It is not. The primary functions of the tentacles have been mentioned above.
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| Dracandos the Spellsage |
Posted - 17 Nov 2004 : 23:52:31
to my knowledge they do not have suction cups on their tentacles, however i could be wrong. welcome to the halls of knowledge |
| Gellion |
Posted - 17 Nov 2004 : 23:06:02
Hmm, I really do not know. All I know is that pickled Mind Flayer tentacles sound really good. Fried Mind Flayer brain sounds pretty good too. |
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