Description
Mind flayers, which are described in the Monster Manual, are created through ceremorphosis, a process that begins with the implantation of an illithid tadpole in the brain of a Humanoid host. Mind flayers have subjected giants to this process in an effort to create larger, stronger mind flayers, but those experiments all ended in failure: a giant's body is simply too large for a single tadpole to take over. Ettins, however, proved to be perfect subjects. An ettin's two brains provide sufficient food for two tadpoles, and the two tadpoles are able to transform the entirety of the ettin's body, creating an ettin ceremorph. As part of the transformation process, one of the ettin's heads sinks into the body, with that brain focused on controlling the body. The other head focuses on cogitation and psionic power, though its power is not as great as a mind flayer's.
Ettin ceremorphs serve mind flayer colonies, protecting the elder brains that rule the communities and guarding their treasures. They retain no memory of their previous existence as ettins.
Traits
Magic Resistance
The ceremorph has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Actions
Multiattack
The ceremorph makes one Slam attack and one Tentacles attack. The ceremorph can replace one of the attacks with a Mind Bolt attack, if available.
Slam
Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 22 (4d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
Tentacles
Extract Brain
Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one incapacitated Humanoid grappled by the ceremorph. Hit: 55 (10d10) piercing damage. If this damage reduces the target to 0 hit points, the ceremorph kills the target by extracting and devouring its brain.
Mind Bolt (3/Day)
Ranged Spell Attack: +7 to hit, range 120 ft., one creature. Hit: 17 (2d12 + 4) psychic damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 15 Intelligence saving throw or have the stunned condition until the end of its next turn.