Elder brain
| U elder brain File:Elder brain.png | |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 36 |
| Attacks |
Reach 1d4 int drain, Reach 1d4 int drain, Cast 0d6 mage spell, Cast 2d8 clerical spell |
| Base level | 30 |
| Base experience | 1284 |
| Speed | 12 |
| Base AC | 0 |
| Base MR | 60 |
| Alignment | 0 (neutral) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 0 (Not randomly generated) |
| Genocidable | No |
| Weight | 2250 |
| Nutritional value | 2250 |
| Size | gigantic |
| Resistances | sleep, poison, petrification |
| Resistances conveyed | |
|
An elder brain:
| |
| Reference | dNetHack src/monst.c, line 8174 |
An elder brain, U, is a monster that appears in dNetHack. They are sessile, telepathic aberrations that 'rule' over mind flayer colonies and possesses intelligence-draining tentacle attacks much like them, alongside various spellcasting abilities.
Generation
One elder brain serves as the quest nemesis for the Drow Noble, waiting at the center of the Drow Noble Quest's goal level. It is one of few monsters, if not the only one, to serve as a non-unique quest nemesis.
In the Anachrononaut quest, an elder brain is generated in the center of the lower filler level(s) on level creation; three more are placed around the goal level, serving as "nemeses" for Anachrononauts in lieu of a formal quest nemesis. Androids will encounter an additional elder brain on their home level.
Strategy
The elder brain that serves as a quest nemesis will discourage you with various telepathic messages via a special mind blast as you venture deeper into the colony; for each mind blast your insight is increased, and all telepathic enemies on the level are alerted of your position and given an accuracy & damage boost.
Origin
In most works featuring illithids (or mind flayers), an "elder brain" is the core of illithid society on a local scale. The elder brain lives in a pool of cerebral fluid in the center of a city, acting as its "ruler"; dead illithids have their brain extracted and taken to the pool - illithids believe themselves to become immortal through incorporating their personality into the Elder Brain this way. In reality, their memories, thoughts and experiences are consumed and added to the collective, while all else is lost; this is a secret that Elder Brains guard closely.
As the Elder Brain contains the essence of every illithid that died in its community, it functions in part as a vast library of knowledge that can be called upon with a simple telepathic call; the Elder Brain in turn can communicate telepathically with anyone in its community, issuing orders and ensuring everyone conforms. An extremely ancient Elder Brain is called a God-Brain because its psionic powers are almost limitless. Psionic potential is thus an integral part of the illithid identity, and the Elder Brain cannot absorb magical powers.
