Synaptic Consumption

Synaptic Consumption is an action and Illithid Power available to Full-Illithids. This ability allows a character to lower all of an enemies ability scores by 5, then 1 per turn, and heal themselves for 5 turns.

Description

Devour your foe, lowering all of their Ability Scores initially by 5, and by 1 each subsequent turn. Additionally, you regain 2~20hit points per turn. This lasts for 5 turns, after which the target is left  Prone

Properties

Cost:

 Action

Healing:

2d10 (2~20) hit points

Details:

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

Duration: 5 turns

INT Save (Spell save DC)

Condition: Absolute Consumption

 Absolute Consumption

Duration: 5 turns

Spell save DC  Intelligence saving throw

• All of the creature's abilities are reduced by 5. When this effect ends, it drops  Prone

How to learn

Used by creatures: Full-Illithid

Notes

• Obtained automatically after becoming a Full-Illithid.

Bugs

• It is dangerous for a creature to fail a save against this ability: if failing the first saving throw against this and starting with an ability score of 11 or below, the affected entity is inflicted with  Atrophy at the start of its turn and dies instantly, without another saving throw. This happens whenever any remaining ability score is the same as or lower than the penalty that would be applied at the start of its turn. Consider the following two examples:

Example one: during combat, a full-illithid creature uses this ability on an entity whose lowest ability score is 13. A save is rolled immediately and, if failed, the target's abilities are reduced by 5, where the lowest is reduced to 8 (13-5).

• At the start of the afflicted creature's turn (in the same round) another save is rolled: if failed, that ability is reduced to a 7 (13-6).
• At the start of the entity's next turn, no save is rolled because, at the start of its turn, its lowest ability score (now a 7) is the same as the penalty that would be applied (-7); it dies instantly from  Atrophy.

Example two: during combat, a full-illithid creature uses this ability on an entity whose lowest ability score is 11. A save is rolled immediately and, if failed, the target's abilities are reduced by 5, where the lowest is reduced to 6 (11-5).

• At the start of the entity's turn (in the same round), no save is rolled because, at the start of its turn, its lowest ability score (now a 6) is the same as the penalty that would be applied (-6); it dies instantly from  Atrophy.