7 Alturiak 1458

There are height, weight, and species criteria for a reason. Let me repeat that: for a reason. Some in the Creed believe that these rules are mere suggestions, to be ignored at a whim. Others believe we should be doing more to expand the boundaries of the possible, allying themselves with the Creative Creed to modify and pervert the process of ceremorphosis. But I have seen far too many useless gnome squidlings and other half-formed abominations to condone this. In my opinion, it's best to avoid playing with our food.

In my early years with the Nourisher Creed, we were directly tasked with selecting the strongest tadpoles and the most appropriate hosts to undergo ceremorphosis. These days, tadpole and host selection is handled by different departments, and our main task on the first day of each new cohort is to bring them together. However, quality control is important at every step in the process, so do not hesitate to reject delivery of a thrall or prisoner that does not fit these criteria.

Causes for host rejection:

1. Improper species

The ideal species for ceremorphosis are humanoids such as elves, humans, drow, and Gith. Other acceptable candidates include tieflings, grimlocks, half-orcs, and some types of larger goblinoids such as hobgoblins. Many smaller humanoids such as halflings, goblins, dwarves, and duergar, are unacceptable for ceremorphosis and will cause the process to fail entirely. Others - most notably, gnomes or their svirfneblin cousins - will alternate between failure (as defined by death or creation of a nonsentient squidling) and creation of aberrant gnome ceremorphs with high rates of partialism. Lizardfolk are often used to create tzakandi, which are sentient but not as intelligent as true illithids. Dragonborn are controversial - they have an average success rate, but the resulting illithids often retain some draconic features. Our unit focuses primarily on traditional ceremorphosis. Therefore, no gnomes, svirfneblin, lizardfolk, or dragonborn should be accepted for delivery.

2. Host is too tall/large

If the host is too tall (over 6'2") or heavy (over approximately 270 lbs) the brain will be somewhat larger and the body will require higher levels of hormones secreted by the tadpole in order to undergo physical transformation. Therefore, the process will be significantly delayed, and has been reported to last for as long as double the usual time in larger creatures. The failure rate increases dramatically for every additional day required due to increased physiological stress on the body as well as the host's inability to eat or drink during much of the process.

3. Host is too small/thin

The recommended minimum size for ceremorphosis is 130 lbs and at least 5'4" in height. If the host lacks sufficient body mass, the hormones secreted by the tadpole as it consumes the brain may change the body too rapidly before the brain is fully consumed. This may lead to the host remaining conscious for longer than is normal and injuring themselves due to too much movement or struggling. Additionally, ceremorphosis is a taxing process for both the host and the tadpole, and if the host is too thin or malnourished, the morphological changes required may cause the body to catabolize essential systems such as the musculature of the heart and other vital organs rather than the body's fat stores as it normally would. In mild cases, this may lead to the birth of an unusually small or emaciated illithid, and more severe cases may result in fatal cardiac arrhythmia midway through ceremorphosis.

4. Host is injured during transit

Sometimes the host is injured before, during, or shortly after implantation of the tadpole. Hosts should be briefly examined for any visible damage before use, and anyone who wastes a viable tadpole on an injured host is a fool who deserves to be sacked. But if this situation somehow occurs, ceremorphosis may be compromised depending on the severity of the damage. Minor injuries such as shallow cuts or bruises should not have any adverse effects, but broken bones may lead to limb deformities that persist in the resulting illithid, and deep lacerations cause blood loss that weakens the host too much to survive the process. If injuries occur during ceremorphosis due to improper restraint, healing potions from the stockroom may be used.

A note on healing potions: As a rule, potions are not effective at treating or reducing severity of the symptoms of ceremorphosis itself. However, they will still improve the host's general constitution in cases such as severe blood loss, and heal injuries unrelated to the process.