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 type of monster that appears in dNetHack. They are sessile, telepathic aberrations that 'rule' over mind flayer colonies and possess intelligence-draining tentacle attacks much like them, alongside various spellcasting abilities.
The elder brain is one of the few monsters, if not the only one, to serve as a non-unique quest nemesis.
Generation
Elder brains are not randomly generated. An elder brain serves as the quest "nemesis" for the Drow Noble, waiting at the center of the Drow Noble Quest's goal level. This elder brain only guards the Bell of Opening: the quest artifact, the Web of the Chosen, is instead in the possession of the now-mindless A'gone, who is imprisoned in her cell on the level's edge.
In the Anachrononaut quest, an elder brain is generated in the center of each lower filler level upon level creation; three more are placed around the goal level, serving as "nemeses" for Anachrononauts in lieu of a formal quest nemesis. Androids ('clockwork' Anachrononauts) will encounter an additional elder brain on their home level.
Strategy
On the Drow Noble quest, the elder brain 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, which illithids commonly believe to be a path to immortality through incorporating their personality into the Elder Brain - 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. Psionic potential is thus an integral part of the illithid identity.
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. The Elder Brain cannot absorb magical powers, however: illithids who delve into wizardry beyond acceptable bounds are often cast out, and such illithids seek immortality through undeath instead.
Encyclopedia entry
The elder brain is a huge, fibrous mass of cognizant brain
tissue covered with writhing feelers. A single elder brain
floats within the depths of a briny pool found at the center
of its illithid community.
The elder brain is the center of its illithid community,
serving as an advisor and, most importantly, the living
repository of the community's technology, history, and psionic
expertise. It is the right and obligation of every illithid to
merge with the elder brain after death � living in exalted
mentality while guiding and shepherding its erstwhile
community. While most illithids believe that their personality
will survive the transition, individual egos are suborned to
the gestalt consciousness suffusing the tissue mass.
[ Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Edition
Complete Monstrous Manual, TSR ]
