Vampiric Illithid

The Vampiric Illithid is a creature encountered in the Watcher's Keep Illithid Encampment during Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition or the Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal games.
==Gameplay==
To encounter this creature, the party must have the restored Illithid Rod in their possession, which serves as a key to open a door and enter a specific room in the Illithid Encampment.
Within the room are two alien looking stone-like "pods" with sealed slab doors.
There are also three circular stone fonts with odd decor, that are seemingly partially filled with some kind of deep crimson gelatinous ichor.
Within one of the fonts is found a Red Oil bottle. When a party member removes it (this item is needed in order to progress in Watcher's Keep), the two stone pods release a pair of these Vampiric Illithids, who are hostile and attack.
Expect an initial Psionic Blast attempt at the nearest detectable party member/enemy they can observe.
The creatures then will engage in attacks at close range to any detected intruder, using their tentacle attacks.
Rather than the feared Mind Flayer Devour Brain attack, their tentacles pierce and stab the flesh, tearing sinew and skin with each hit, and drawing out the life energy of the victim with a Level drain effect. Simultaneously, the illithid is healed of up to 2d8 current hit point damage (with each successful hit).
These illithids have no elemental resistance, but they regenerate and have immunities typically afforded to the Vampire (Ancient).
If the party is able to destroy these monstrosities, the creatures morph into a gas cloud and flee the dungeon area. Perhaps to reform elsewhere.
==Lore==
An Illithid vampire is regarded as insane even in the Mind Flayer society. This explains why the game has these creatures with a sub optimal intelligence attribute. See the external link below for more Dungeons and Dragons info about these horrors.
==Gallery==
OG MF EC 17.png|After removing the Red Oil, two illithid vampires astrally appear - hostile and about to attack.
OG MF EC 18.png|Both illithids fire their Psionic Blast attacks, but the PC's Greenstone Amulet has granted temporary protection.
OG Vampiric Illithid Hit 2.png|The illithid lands a hit on the PC, who is currently not protected from Level drain. A costly mistake!
==Mod content==
The Sword Coast Stratagems mod makes a few revisions to this creature.
It's Hit Dice are raised to level 12, and 50% Cold damage and Electricity damage resistance is added.
Saving throws are changed to 5/6/6/5/5.
The illithid has scripted use of several Psionic Ability powers, including Planar Travel, Improved Invisibility, and the usual Psionic Blast.
The attack weapon utilized by this creature is the same as the unmodded version, except a hit also inflicts the "Devour Brain" effect as well as the level draining and healing, in accordance with the 2nd edition D&D ruleset.
And finally, a smarter AI is furnished to look for vulnerabilities and to select targets. The creature won't waste time trying an attack that won't work or can't hit and look for another target. The creature may even Planar Travel across several rooms to attack party members hidden away.
===External links===
*Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition Wiki - Illithid Vampire