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Elder Brain

Adversaries Designed by Simen

Adversary overview

The core of a mind-flayer hivemind, the ultimate expression of their psychic dominance.

This is a very crude attempt at converting the Elder Brain from D&D to Daggerheart.

Stat block

Tier
4
Type
Leader
Difficulty
19
HP
9
Stress
10
Attack mod
+5
Damage thresholds
Minor Damage — Mark 1 HP Minor
Mark 1 HP
32
Major Damage — Mark 2 HP Major
Mark 2 HP
65
Severe Damage — Mark 3 HP Severe
Mark 3 HP

Standard attack

Tentacles
Range: Close
Damage: 4d8+10
Attack Mod: +5
Damage Type: Physical

Features

Passives

  • Relentless (3)

    This adversary can be spotlighted up to 3 times per GM turn. Spend Fear as usual to spotlight them.

  • Creature Sense

    The Elder Brain is aware of any sentient creatures within 1 mile of it. It knows the distance and direction to each creature, but cannot sense anything about its identity.

Actions

  • Mind Blast
    fear 1

    Spend a fear to have the Elder Brain deliver a massive psychic blast to each target of the Elder Brain's choice within far range. Each of those target must make an Instinct or Knowledge reaction roll (18). Targets who succeed take 2d10+5 direct magic damage, while targets who fail take 4d10+10 direct magic damage and is temporarily vulnerable until they spend 2 Hope to clear the condition. NPCs who are affected by this are not killed, but turned into temporary minions of the Elder Brain, and uses the Rotted Zombie statblock until the Elder Brain is defeated.

  • Activate Minions
    stress 1

    When the Elder Brain is highlighted, mark a stress to activate up to 5 minions affected by the Elder Brain's Mind Blast, or up to 1 Cephilith Priest, either within far range.

  • Psychic Link
    stress 1

    Mark a stress to have the Elder Brain target one vulnerable creature that it senses with it's Creature Sense and establishes a psychic link with the target. Until the link is severed, the Elder Brain can perceive everything the target senses. The target knows something is linked to its mind once it is no longer vulnerable, and the Elder Brain can sever the link at any time. The target can attempt to sever the connection by succeeding on an Instinct or Knowledge reaction roll (18). On a success, the target marks a stress.

  • Psychic Pulse
    stress 1

    Mark a stress to have the Elder Brain sends a pulse to one target it is Psychically Linked to, forcing it and each enemy of the elder brain within close range of the target to mark 1 stress.

Reactions

  • Grapple

    Whenever the Elder Brain attacks with its tentacles, spend a fear to have it temporarily grapple the target. A target grappled by the Elder Brain must mark a stress each time it is spotlighted, and the Elder Brain clears one stress for each creature that has to mark a stress this way. The Elder Brain can have up to 4 creatures grappled at the same time.

  • Psychic Terror

    Whenever the Elder Brain succeeds on an attack against a PC, you gain a Fear.

Motives & tactics

Dominate Spread Control

Experiences

  • Tactics +5
  • Manipulation +5

Elder Brain

Tier 4 leader

The core of a mind-flayer hivemind, the ultimate expression of their psychic dominance.

Motives & Tactics: Dominate, Spread, Control

Difficulty: 19 | Thresholds: 32/65 | HP: 9 | Stress: 10

ATK: +5 | Tentacles: Close | 4d8+10 Physical

Experience: Tactics +5, Manipulation +5

HP:

STRESS:

Features

Relentless (3) - Passive: This adversary can be spotlighted up to 3 times per GM turn. Spend Fear as usual to spotlight them.
Creature Sense - Passive: The Elder Brain is aware of any sentient creatures within 1 mile of it. It knows the distance and direction to each creature, but cannot sense anything about its identity.
Mind Blast - Action: Spend a fear to have the Elder Brain deliver a massive psychic blast to each target of the Elder Brain's choice within far range. Each of those target must make an Instinct or Knowledge reaction roll (18). Targets who succeed take 2d10+5 direct magic damage, while targets who fail take 4d10+10 direct magic damage and is temporarily vulnerable until they spend 2 Hope to clear the condition. NPCs who are affected by this are not killed, but turned into temporary minions of the Elder Brain, and uses the Rotted Zombie statblock until the Elder Brain is defeated.
Activate Minions - Action: When the Elder Brain is highlighted, mark a stress to activate up to 5 minions affected by the Elder Brain's Mind Blast, or up to 1 Cephilith Priest, either within far range.
Psychic Link - Action: Mark a stress to have the Elder Brain target one vulnerable creature that it senses with it's Creature Sense and establishes a psychic link with the target. Until the link is severed, the Elder Brain can perceive everything the target senses. The target knows something is linked to its mind once it is no longer vulnerable, and the Elder Brain can sever the link at any time. The target can attempt to sever the connection by succeeding on an Instinct or Knowledge reaction roll (18). On a success, the target marks a stress.
Psychic Pulse - Action: Mark a stress to have the Elder Brain sends a pulse to one target it is Psychically Linked to, forcing it and each enemy of the elder brain within close range of the target to mark 1 stress.
Grapple - Reaction: Whenever the Elder Brain attacks with its tentacles, spend a fear to have it temporarily grapple the target. A target grappled by the Elder Brain must mark a stress each time it is spotlighted, and the Elder Brain clears one stress for each creature that has to mark a stress this way. The Elder Brain can have up to 4 creatures grappled at the same time.
Psychic Terror - Reaction: Whenever the Elder Brain succeeds on an attack against a PC, you gain a Fear.

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