It’s very rare for mind flayers to capture a doppelganger, as it’s almost always unintentional. However, if a mind flayer colony does convert a doppelganger, it could mean the end of several civilizations.
The Skimlexis is a monster found in our D&D supplement Masters of the Mind: The Book of Illithid. Below is an excerpt from Masters of the Mind:
Master Infiltrators. Doppelgangers are remarkable infiltrators. However, if compared to a skimlexis, the doppelganger can seem almost harmless. When trying to overthrow a civilization, mind flayers have several tactics at their disposal. For example, they may try to manipulate a leader from afar with psionics by manipulating their thoughts, posing suggestions as thoughts they came up with on their own. Or they may start a cult by posing telepathic communication as premonitions that the mind flayers personally ensure come true. One common method is to abduct and enthral a political leader to use them as a political puppet.
The greatest advantage of skimlexis is that these methods are no longer necessary. Instead, the mind flayers can now send one of their own into the home of their prey with no one being the wiser. Furthermore, the skimlexis have an arsenal of psionic abilities at their disposal. Imagine being in a courtroom and suddenly witnessing the duke attacking the king. Surely this would mean the duke had gone mad. But you wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that the duke was dominated and now acting out the commands of a skimlexis sitting beside you. A mind flayer colony with a skimlexis can accomplish levels of subterfuge that were previously unachievable.
Sculpted by Marco R. Sassi
