Tzakandi are fearsome protectors of their illithid masters. Within the illithid social hierarchy, tzakandi are not considered equal to “true illithid.” However, they hold a higher position in the status quo than mozgriken, urophion, uchuulon, and mind witnesses. Nonetheless, illithids consider the tzakandi to be nothing more than guards and front-line warriors.
The tzakandi are valued for their strength and willingness to take orders. Physical superiority is the only trait lacking in mind flayers, so having tzakandi in the colony is an asset. From a distance, some tzakandi may be mistaken for lizardfolk. Tzakandi can most easily be identified by their long tentacles that grow out of the back of their heads and their hands only having four fingers.
When lizardfolk undergo ceremorphosis, the mind flayers will pick what they deem to be the smallest and weakest looking tadpoles. It’s uncertain if they do this because the smaller tadpoles have a better success rate or if this is another form of discrimination within illithid colonies.
This model is based on a monster found in our D&D supplement Masters of the Mind: The Book of Illithid.
