Chapter 14 What She Is Not

One might want to research illithids at the WOTC/FR websites to gain some understanding on how they spawn, what the stages of larvae developement are, and what happens to a host in the various forms of ceremorphosis. It may do some good to read up on Yharaskirk (from Servant of the Shard) who was presumed dead, and it will do some good if you understand what outcast illithids are and why they are allied with undead lich illithids sometimes refered to as alhoons.
The drow lifted his slender finger to the air in front of the cold bluish slab wall of the cave. The air tingled with a gentle energy and a faint reverberation sounded as a low dull drone within the rocks surrounding the area. The energy the psion felt told him it was frequently used as a spot for teleportation and he also knew where it led, though it had been years since his last visit. He had not been the least bit surprised when he found the image of this place within his scout's head.

He made a slight motion with his left hand to activate his own teleportation hole within the slate wall and stepped through. The room was musty and dimly lit by the glowing phosphorescence of a collection of Underdark fungi. A figure stood at a research table, it's back towards Kimmuriel, but well aware of the psion's presence. It had been expecting its "friend" of old to make an appearance.

"Ah Kimmuriel, I have been wondering when you would show up. My apologies for speeding along the process by allowing your scout to catch a rare glimpse of me. You are still deserving many accolades for the coup you were able to pull off with the shard. You being the cleverest triumvir in that chaotic triumvirate. I cannot thank you enough for my new life," the illithid's gurgled voice sounded through the room as it motioned for Kimmuriel to take a seat.

"I thought Yharaskrik would be content with his new existence within the astral plane, but I see he has mastered the ability move through both worlds."

There was a long drawn out pause before Kimmuriel continued, his all-knowing eyes fixed intently on his former ally before switching the conversation to telepathic means.

But I know Yharaskrik cannot master such abilities on his own, which brings me to ask, who is helping you?

Yharaskrik's strangely horrific eyes reflected the same cold hard stare that Kimmuriel's eyes held.

We are in the astral plane now, surely you can take on any look you so desire but here I find you wearing the grotesquely hideous appearance that troubled you so in your material life. In the memories of my scout I saw you allied with an alhoon. I find it strange a powerful illithid lich is unable to detect who you really are. It appears you are in the midst of a clever ruse outfitted in the most becoming of disguises-a young illithid whose ceremorphosis went horribly wrong. I commend you on your abilities to deceive a very powerful foe. It hasn't the slightest idea what you are truly capable of.

Just as you have those around you convinced you are nowhere near as powerful as you truly are. Yharaskrik challenged. Even Jarlaxle doesn't have a true understanding of what you are. It goes without challenge that you are able to subdue powerful liches with a mere thought. Look what you have done to control Valindra Shadowmantle, and yet no one seems to question how this is possible for you? We both have our fair share of secrets, but unlike yours, not all of my secrets are not meant to be kept entirely to myself. No Kimmuriel, now I need you yet again, which is why you now find yourself here. I have secrets to share in regards to the one reason you have come to me in the first place.

"What reason is that?" the psion asked in drow language.

"The little Laenaia Mannallin of course," the illithid answered in a hard to decipher bubbly tone.

Kimmuriel jolted up slightly at the mention of the young girl's same. The reaction did not go unnoticed by the illithid. Yharaskirk knew Kimmuriel wasn't expecting him to mention the girl's name, in fact he was counting on that.

"Relax, my friend, I have known the child well before she ever came into your care and I have known a piece of her for a count greater than her life. I have taken great pride and care in the development of that child, but she does not belong to me. Nor does she belong to you. She is first and foremost a very powerful tool and great care must be taken in her training."

Kimmuriel sat back more at ease but somehow managing to look both disdainful and indulgent at the same time.

"A tool? Or a weapon? I have already taken an initiative in studying her. I know what she is.I know what she is capable of doing."

"Do you now?" Yharaskrik asked with a noticeable hesitation as he took a seat across from Kimmuriel.

"Do you really know what she is?" the illithid challenged, wanting Kimmuriel to play into his hand. Hoping the psion would spill the knowledge he had of Laenaia, afterall she was a rare gem, the only of her kind, and it would be a true testament to Kimmuriel's ability if he truly had an understanding of what she was.

"I had surmised she was created by a group of outcast illithids as an Adversary of sorts. She was the result of an experiment that had gone successfully wrong- she exceeded their expectations. During much of my research over the last century I have discovered selective groups of illithid outcasts trying to evolve themselves, they are seeking to live independent lives and recruiting other illthids to see how life could be for them beyond the confinements of their elder brains. Many of them desire a life not so different from the one you now live. Many are hungry for power and their own unique identities."

Kimmuriel paused, studying his ally carefully, though he knew it was useless, as its bulbous disfigured face was not able to show any form of emotion.

"You said you had surmised?" it gurgled with intrigued.

A wicked smile broke the psion's usual stony face.

"I've been scouring her mind since the moment I met her. I have encountered many mental blocks that I could not break. I figured those blocks had been put there by her creators, but now I am I aware she herself has put them into place. Some she has conscious control over but some she does not. I have seen fragments of her past but I am unable to piece together the full picture. There are illithids in her memories and there is a female presence there, I cannot get to this female and can only sense she is older and not an illithid. Whatever the reason is, the child is extremely guarded over the identity of that female." Kimmuriel explained.

"But that femail and those mental blocks she has constructed are of little significance to me at this time..and why?" the Kimmuriel asked with a deliberately exagggerated monotone voice.

Kimmuriel paused, tapping his fingers to his chin and letting his wicked smile widen, "Because Yharaskrik, I know what she is not. Tell me about the larva you used to create her, I sense that its biology isn't entirely illthid in origin. And I know you are working for someone other than the illithids my scout saw you with. I wonder if the illithids you have aligned yourself with are aware of your dealings?"

The illithid snapped his head upright tensing suddenly, but Yharaskrik was quick to regain his composure realizing his sudden emotional reaction had just given Kimmurial an advantage.

"Emotions are irksome encumbrances aren't they, always tripping you up. I am ever thankful to be a creature of logic. Now tell me, about the larva used in her creation. The child has already alluded to me that it was special and that she was special. You and whoever you are working with specifically sought her out for what gain? What is her purpose?"

A deep bellied laughter burst from the illithid. "You, Master Kimmurial Oblodra, never cease to amaze me. Your intelligence and your all-knowing mind, and your abilities, do you ever find your scared flesh to be an encumbrance for you? Do you ever consider what you could be without the limits of a material existence?"

Yharaskrik noted the psion's fists tightening and his sharp jaw clenched so severely there was a pulsing in his upper cheeks, "No, I suppose wearing one's emotions on their sleeves can be irksome, but emotions are far more destructive when suppressed. All someone has to do is find the right trigger to set them off. I am sure I don't have to remind you of that, you still remember nothing of your mental break when your mother and oldest sister found your trigger."

Kimmuriel's face remained emotionless but Yharaskrik knew he had hit a nerve and there was a long awkward moment of silence between them. Kimmuriel laced his fingers together and placed his elbows on the table resting his chin on his fingers.

Tell me about the larva used in Laenaia's ceremorphosis came the psion's demanding telepathic voice.

The illthid sat back bridging his long fingers together, leaving his pinkies free to twitch in an odd nervous mannerism. Two of his tentacles stoked the area on his face where there should have been a chin.

You are correct in your deductions; I am not working for the Illithids. I am in disguise, a mole of sorts. I have been trained in managing my existence outside this astral plane by those I work for. The larva, I harvested in secret from an elder brain that was quickly destroyed along with all the illithids attached to it by my employers. That larva you are so curious about was enhanced by my employers prior to its insertion in the young Laenaia Manaallin. She was not lying when she told you she was special.

The illithid shifted his weight and continued his story out loud in near perfect drow language, "She is very special and you will take good care of her, I have no doubt, you were selected for the purpose of training her."

"I was selected?" Kimmuriel asked with disbelief.

"She was selected because of her inherent abilities, because they needed a being that was not corrupted already by life's ill moments, that is why they needed a young child. Certain aspects of her life have been predetermined, like you for instance, we knew you would the most logical choice in her training. Even Jarlaxle and your scout Valas all have a place and purpose in her life and there will be more along the way, but you Kimmuriel, will always have a purpose in her life, while she still has it to live. We have no control over how she lives and most of the events in her life. That is up to you and your friends. She is still very vulnerable and we are counting on you to keep her safe.

The illithid's hard stare did not leave Kimmuriel as he continued speaking.

"Both of you, with your abilities have roles yet to play. There are those not happy with the uprising of the outcast illithids and their alhoon allies. The elder brains are preparing their faithful followers for something terrible, a war like no one has seen. They are seeking powerful alliances to help with their cause. Alliances that do not want the outcast illthids to be successful and as you and I both understand all too well, no good can come from a war where weapons and magic have little power."

Kimmuriel clicked his tongue in disgust and gently tapped his thumb against his forehead. The illithid understood the nature of the psion and knew he was contemplating deeply. Kimmuriel stood up walking closer to the seated Yharaskrik, tilting his head in an odd bird-like fashion, one of his many strange nuances.

He flicked his wrists and his fingers twitched. Yharaskirk was unsure of what the psion was about to do or say. Kimmuriel's odd display had him on unedge and unsure of what to expect, Yharaskirk knew he did not want to challenge the psion, even on the astral plane he wasn't strong enough to defeat the great Kimmuriel Oblodra.

"Tell me Yharaskrik, what did the aboleths promised you for your allegiance?"

"Aboleths? What brought you to this conclusion?" Chortled Yharaskrik.

"Logics." Kimmuriel sharply retorted.

The illithid stood up and graciously bowed in front of Kimmuriel and upon rising, began clapping.

"Kimmuriel you are an outstanding specimen." He stopped briefly before continuing, if you must know about the female that Laenaia keeps so guarded in her memory, you will find the answer on Laenaia herself."

Kimmuriel cocked his head in a clearly nonverbal questioning manner just as Yharaskrik projected a final thought on that matter into the psion's mind.


It will be painfully obvious but rest assured, all you need to know will be made known to you in due time. But no need to worry about that now. I have more important matters to discuss with you. Matters that need the master of Bregan D'aerthe's full attention.