#ulitharid AU

[unaarista]

Ulitharid!Omeluum AU again! Boy, do i love AUs. Lemme put my favourite NPCs with barely a few spoken lines in a different world and give them full fledged lives.

Plus a little accompanying story under cut:

…First, they shoved them into the cleaning chamber – a tiny, dark room, with cold water constantly spraying from the ceiling. Then, the culling – an angry looking mind flayer (though to Blurg they all looked angry) made the prisoners line up and passed along the line, occasionally pointing the long clawed finger, and obedient thralls in the same black coveralls pulled people – usually sickly or old – from the line and dragged them away with surprisingly little resistance – seems like Blurg wasn’t the only one who accepted his fate. When Y was taken, Blurg briefly closed his eyes and did a small prayer in his heart, with words half-forgotten, to no one in particular – neither of his people’s gods cared for him, nor he cared for them.

Those who remained were dressed appropriately to their new illithid masters’ tastes – in an unknown rubbery material that wrapped itself over the body as if alive, obeying the mind flayer jailers’ mental commands, flowing like a quicksilver, sticking to the skin like a slime, wet and disgusting. As if the look of anything that is not gray and moist was offensive to their captors’ eyes.

He expected to be placed with those who can do the heavy work and sent to be enthralled, but instead was separated from the group. Many, many narrow and dark passages later, so many that his head was spinning, he felt a distinct foul and salty smell in the air. More passages – and, flanked by two thralls he did not dare to look at, he entered a vast chamber with a dimly glowing lake of pungent smelling liquid – an illithid brine pool, his memory prompted. A creature so tall it towered over its brethren stood near the edge of it. It turned, as if sensing a presence of a mind not yet broken, and approached them, flowing gracefully, its six tentacles snaking in excitement. Oh, so his brain was deemed worthy to become a snack for an ulitharid master of this colony. What an honor.

An inaudible conversation was clearly happening between the ulitharid and his mind flayer escort. Blurg’s internal debate whether having your skull dissolved would feel just painful or debilitatingly painful was interrupted by a mental command to look up. He obeyed – not that he could do otherwise - and creature’s burning gaze pinned him down. A voice, calm and devoid of emotion, yet almost kind in comparison to others, rustled in his head: “I am informed that a group of scientists is present among the new arrivals in our colony today. Fascinating to meet fellow researchers in a place such as this. My name is Omeluum. Let us share in each other’s knowledge”.

Without waiting for an answer, it turned and left through one of the many passages. A painful jab from another thrall pulled Blurg from his stupor and he hurried after.

[tidesfate]

“&– - They flee. It is temporary. The mountain is worn away and the tides rise and fall with the same inevitability.” // @redemnation liked for a dialogue starter

[mindfoster]

Omg I love my sweet squid (proceeds to doodle its evil au where its an even worse version of the very thing it hates)

[edda-grenade]

squid au squid au squid au

the illithid!tav model in-game is so. skinny. and small. but ulitharid tadpoles are literally indistinguishable from normal tadpoles so not even canon lore is stopping me from turning saar into a horrific eldritch nightmare even by mindflayer standards :D

[eldritchborn]

It throughout the timeline of this verse does change its name, deciding Om.eluum no longer fits it and instead changing it to Aphrungolt- meaning loosely "The Barbed Tendril", "The Thorned Tongue", "The Spiked Limb"- any of those or various alts of those fit.

Using a hc I talked about that Absolute born illithids are hybrids between ulitharid and normal illithids, and the ulitharid genes can be triggered under certain conditions, Aphruns condition was eating the brain of a ulitharid that caused its ire. This caused unexpected metamorphosis, and the colony as desperate as it was and just by the nature of having no other head latched consciousness to the newly changed Ome.

It tried to resist but due to coercing and overstimulation its brain eventually shut down, making it more malleable and giving in

It became hateful and resentful, proving to be a cruel leader to the colony.

Initially it is Lawful Evil with an interest in twisting illithid agendas- one major way is its Grand Design being a "peace by force" plan. Though it can later become Chaotic Evil, it's interests purely on its own desires and actions born out of resentment becoming those eliciting sadistic pleasure.

Even after resentment becomes enjoyment most of its victims are other illithids. It also only eats illithid brains

Experimentation and self experimentation are not uncommon, and one resulted in its partial elder brain-ification where it keeps most of its ulitharid body but still has mental and physical properties of an elder brain

It is unstable and by all accounts mad

Also sketch I never finished of it

[haresvoid]

Unfun fact: I've stated my hc that the reason the absolute / bg3 illithids are so weird is cause they actually a cross breed between normal illithids and ulitharids.

Additional hc is that one of these illithids for whatever reason eating a ulitharid brain would trigger the ulitharid genes within them, causing late stage metamorphosis into a ulitharid themselves.

Ome would eat illithid brains, they fit within its moral code. All that being said, if the cards were played wrong this metamorphosis could happen to Ome and it would have no idea what or why it happened.

Ulitharids are the ones that can become Elder Brains- there is a good reason why ome would freak the hell out if this unlikely event ever happened to it (unlikely aka I wanna cook up an au oop)

[unaarista]

a fun little idea

[tidesfate]

“&– - You are before that which goes far beyond current comprehension. Settle, and let us talk civil... for your sake.” // open False Ulitharid Mora starter

[tidesfate]

“&– - Your mind must remain intact for you to be of use to fate.” // @mournstar liked for a dialogue starter

[tidesfate]

“&– - Of the mortal species, I find myself... quite favorable of them. However, their goals remain limited and narrow sighted. Guidance is required and the echo-chamber limited.” // RAMBLINGS ON THE WALL

[tidesfate]

Verse starter call- send me a symbol or comment / inbox the name of the verse from the list. This will likely become a permanent starter call that I will reblog and change as verses muse changes or more are added. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO SEND MULTIPLE. Those with plotting preferred I will likely hop into your dms unless I can come up with an idea without such.

TES VERSES

👁 MAIN VERSE- mid muse, plotting heavily preferred

👤 VESSELED VERSE- high muse, plotting encouraged

🦀 VERUM LEVIATHAN AU- mid to high muse, plotting heavily preferred

🪼 DIVINE AU- heavy desire to test this au. Plotting heavily preferred

BG3 VERSES

🔮THE OLD ONE VERSE- mid to high muse, plotting may occur if ideas come to mind but otherwise not required

🦑 FALSE ULITHARID AU- high muse, plotting not required but welcomed

OTHER VERSES

🐙 OUTER GOD OF KNOWLEDGE VERSE- high muse, plotting not required but welcomed

🖥 MODERN VERSE- high muse, plotting not required but welcomed

📖 GRAVITY FALLS AU- high muse, plotting not required but welcomed

🌊 THE SHIFTING TIDE "VERSE"- very high desire for, plotting heavily preferred

ALTERNATIVELY, you can send ❓️ or like this if you are unsure and I'll come into your dms for plotting

[tidesfate]

Here is a very quick run down of the verses. More are subject to come. All verses can easily be adjusted for general fantasy or any alternate, and I'm always down for more

THE ELDER SCROLLS BASED VERSES

MAIN VERSE: This verse follows the canon of TES, in which Hermaeus Mora is the Daedric Prince of Knowledge. Most interactions take place around Skyrim or later, but interactions with earlier instances in other games or outside of what is directly seen can be done upon request!

VESSELED VERSE: This verse sees Mora punished for various crimes and or worries of its power and overstepping by the other Princes. The intent was to make it a "silent anchor", disconnected from its realm but keeping it alive more akin to an organ than an individual-- - even forcing it to erase the memories of itself as an individual from reality. Mora, foreseeing this event, took to putting a chunk of itself within an Orc vessel and fleeing onto Nirn. In most instances, it seeks the aid of others to return to former power.

VERUM LEVIATHAN: Seeing potential within its Champion after he proves capable and willing, while also finding loyalty that gives it reason to loosen restriction upon Miraak. Through this freedom and joint cooperation, Moras influence spreads more greatly upon Nirn in various cults orchestrated by the First Dragonborn. It is a more active presence upon the plane, and more interested in increasing this fact. ft. @bendwill

DIVINE / AEDRA AU: In which instead of Mora being pigeonholed into being Daedra simply due to the fact it could not aid in creation due to it being born from what was denied from it, it was allotted the opportunity to take place besides the Aedra and perhaps even the Divines. It is not limited like most Aedra, for it is likely it was still not allowed to aid in creation due to its "birth". However, it enacts as something of a messenger and also a protector of forbidden knowledge so it does not end up within wrong hands. Though it will still toy with mortals that try too hard to get that, to either teach them or see undone a potential danger.

BALDURS GATE BASED VERSES

THE OLD ONE: Hermaeus Mora is an ancient God of Knowledge with very little known about its origins or nature other than it being a capricious entity of whom should be dealt with with heightened caution. It has many a warlock under its tentacles, and welcomes more who wish to devote themselves to it and prove useful. It also finds fondness in getting in the affairs of other Gods it considers "lesser".

FALSE ULITHARID: After the fall of the Absolute, Mora vesseled a ulitharid (or forced an illithid into some metamorphosis) and started to collect the few surviving neophytes now absent of an Elder Brain. It has taken residence within the old colony under Moonrise and amasses power quietly. Its interests lay not within furthering the Grand Design, but instead upon implementing itself in the place of the dead illithid God. After that, however, its goals are unknown.

OTHER VERSES

OUTER GOD OF KNOWLEDGE (AKA MAIN NON-TES / NON-BG3 VERSE): Mora is a general Eldritch God and potentially an embodiment of Knowledge, interacting with different species, planets, and the general widescale universe. Much like other verses, it is the original draft of creation and left not but a sentient version of all the ideas that were tossed away. That being said, it is very ancient and primordial. This can be any timeline of reality, and in general is the main verse for any non tes / bg3 muses.

MODERN: A forgotten God whose worship is near dead or completely absent, Mora has to be more direct about gaining knowledge than it was prior. It does have vast connection to the internet and technology, as they are modern vessels of knowledge, but it also manifests upon reality; sometimes in the forms of animals, or people, or horrific abominations. It may also be trying to garner back its worship.

THE SHIFTING TIDE: This verse is one that can truly be in connection to any of the verses above, or separate of them. Hermaeus Mora discovers it is not merely a collection of tossed out ideas of creation, but was the original draft; and that it was pulled apart before birth to remove from it that which would be of use in the final design. Feeling it is rightfully owed what was stolen from it, and to be given recompense for the endless inability for lasting satisfaction and endless hunger that is its existence, it is attempting to gain back or gain control over creation for it 'only exists because of it'. This potential verse sees Mora at its most malleable, potentially able to be "guided" to a better or worse version of itself, but changed none the less.

[tidesfate]

Concept for the illithid!Mora BG3 AU: Post the fall of the Absolute, while most of the newborn illithids are killed some do manage to flee and survive. Mora sees the shattered state of this once colony as a benefit to it.

It vessels an ulitharid, or perhaps forces a ulitharid-esque change of its host body, and collects these malleable neophytes while they are at their most vulnerable state; freshly ripped from an Elder Brain, desperate for the connection of a colony and central mind. A seasoned illithid would likely be able to tell Mora is not a true / pure illithid even prior to mutations beginning upon its host, but such a thing is not a concern to it.

Mora's goal is to solidify itself eventually as part of the illithid 'pantheon' and a replacement to the dead god Maanzecorian.

[eldritchborn]

Unserious mora au ideas

Subnautica au where it's just an extra terrifying leviathan

More thread / au, someone bringing in a weird substance / animal except it's mora and as one feeds / gives to it they realize the horror they have (little shop of horror vibes)

Aedra / Divine Mora au

Actual illithid au not just takes illithid form. Ulitharid probably (this might be the most mortal au besides ones like vessel / stripped of power)

Au based on the scrapped Nordic myth from Oblivion where Akatosh and Mora were one being that split when the groups of Aedra and Daedra formed. (I feel this especially could be fun with dragonborns)

[eldritchborn]

Also Ome verse dump:

Main verse: follows the canon of Baldurs Gate

Colony verse: a verse where after Ome is enthralled by The Absolute during the final fight and flees after it breaks free once it is killed, it joins @empcrer colony due to seeing itself unable to return to its norm for the horrors it committed while enthralled

Rogue Minds verse: following the discovery of the cruel experiments that the society was willing to participate in especially regarding the gith egg, Ome and @illithilit Blurg left to become independent researchers while taking care of the egg which they stole from them (which eventually hatches into twins we've decided cause we can)

Companion au: post its run in with tav and crew and studying the tadpole, it requests to join the campsite in order to study the tadpoles and cult more directly. Still does not prefer fighting and rather stay at the "camp". Probably offers to turn alchemical ingredients into potions

Modern au: Living centuries as an illithilich, it has seen the rise of new technology and the extinction of its own kind. It hides as a humanoid professor teaching science while providing "black market" cures and medicine for those that cannot afford it.

"Aphrungolt" / evil au: Following an unexpected metamorphosis to ulitharid due to the odd genetics of absolute illithids, it is mentally broken into the position of colony leader by the colony absent of one. It's gentle nature turns into a cruel and sadistic one with a mind considered mad by most, especially twisted and cruel to other illithids.

[mindfoster]

I know I said I'd wait till I finished the drawing but I wanna talk about evil!ome au before my mind hyperfixates elsewhere:

It throughout the timeline of this verse does change its name, deciding Om.eluum no longer fits it and instead changing it to Aphrungolt- meaning loosely "The Barbed Tendril", "The Thorned Tongue", "The Spiked Limb"- any of those or various alts of those fit.

Using a hc I talked about that Absolute born illithids are hybrids between ulitharid and normal illithids, and the ulitharid genes can be triggered under certain conditions, Aphruns condition was eating the brain of a ulitharid that caused its ire. This caused unexpected metamorphosis, and the colony as desperate as it was and just by the nature of having no other head latched consciousness to the newly changed Ome.

It tried to resist but due to coercing and overstimulation its brain eventually shut down, making it more malleable and giving in

It became hateful and resentful, proving to be a cruel leader to the colony.

Initially it is Lawful Evil with an interest in twisting illithid agendas- one major way is its Grand Design being a "peace by force" plan. Though it can later become Chaotic Evil, it's interests purely on its own desires and actions born out of resentment becoming those eliciting sadistic pleasure.

Even after resentment becomes enjoyment most of its victims are other illithids. It also only eats illithid brains

Experimentation and self experimentation are not uncommon, and one resulted in its partial elder brain-ification where it keeps most of its ulitharid body but still has mental and physical properties of an elder brain

It is unstable and by all accounts mad

In iteration with @illithilit Blurg they are an awful power couple (I can talk more about them in a different post hehe)

....may be pursuing godhood