Zaith'isk

The Zaith'isk in Crèche Y'llek

A zaith'isk is a partly organic, partly mechanical Githyanki device that purportedly purifies a Mind Flayer Tadpole from an infected victim. One can be found in the Infirmary of Crèche Y'llek.

Involvement

When encountered, the party can talk to Ghustil Stornugoss, the resident doctor, to ask that the zaith'isk be used to remove the tadpole from the party member's head. Once the party lies down in the machine, they must pass three saving throws in order to successfully complete the procedure:

Stage one

• [INTELLIGENCE] Follow the doctor's instruction. Seek the tadpole. (DC 12)
• [GITHYANKI] [INTELLIGENCE] Follow the ghustil's instruction. Seek the tadpole. (DC 12)
• [INTELLIGENCE] Focus the device on your tadpole. (DC 12) (if using it without Stornugoss)

Stage two

• [WISDOM] Stay calm. Guide the device closer. (DC 15)
• [GITHYANKI] [WISDOM] Remember your orders. Bring the device closer. (DC 15)

Stage three

• [CONSTITUTION] Keep going. Complete the extraction. (DC 18)
• [LAE'ZEL] [CONSTITUTION] Pursue the visions you saw. See where they lead. (DC 18)
• [GITHYANKI] [CONSTITUTION] Complete your purification. Surrender to Vlaakith's will. (DC 18)
• [MONK] [WISDOM] Channel your ki. Flood the creature with your essence. (DC 18)
• [DRUID] [WISDOM] Seek the tadpole's essence. Flood it with power. (DC 18)
• [CLERIC] [WISDOM] Pray for deliverance. Flood the creature with divine power. (DC 18)
• [INTELLIGENCE] Focus on this ancient magic. Feed it with your own. (DC 18)
• [WIZARD] [INTELLIGENCE] Study the ancient magic. Trace its forms. Align yourself with them. (DC 18)
• [ARCHFEY] [CHARISMA] Beseech your patron to lend the tadpole a mote of faerie arcana. (DC 18)
• [FIEND] [CHARISMA] Ask your patron to lend the tadpole some diabolic might. (DC 18)
• [GREAT OLD ONE] [CHARISMA] Entreat your patron - ask it to lend the tadpole eldritch power. (DC 18)
• [BARD] [CHARISMA] Harmonise with the tadpole's magic. Amplify it. (DC 18)
• [PALADIN] [CHARISMA] Share your oathbound magics with the tadpole. (DC 18)
• [SORCERER] [CHARISMA] Follow the strange magic to its source. (DC 18)
• [BARBARIAN] [CONSTITUTION] LET THE TADPOLE FEED ON YOUR RAGE. MAKE IT STRONG. (DC 18 )

Warning: If speaking to Ghustil Stornugoss and then killing her, then the party will be unable to interact with the zaith'isk. To use the machine the party must either interact with it before speaking with her or leave her alive until after using it, if speaking with her.

Outcome

The failed saving throws will, respectively, give -2 to  Intelligence,  Wisdom, and  Constitution. Consuming a Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen with the affected character, either through the inventory or by unlocking an Illithid Power, will get rid of these debuffs. One specimen will get rid of all three debuffs; multiple are not needed.

If succeeding the DC 30 Arcana check in stage three, or succeeding all three saving throws, the parasite will strengthen and give the  Awakened buff, which allows using all Illithid powers as a bonus action instead of a regular action.

Regardless of whether succeeding or failing, the zaith'isk will be destroyed by the Dream Visitor, who may exclaim, "Enough!".

If passing a DC 15 Deception check (or a DC 15 Performance check if the player character was in the machine) Ghustil Stornugoss will let the party leave. Otherwise, she will fetch assistants, locking the door ( DC 10 Sleight of Hand check) behind her. After some time passes, some Githyanki will barge in and try to kill the party. This will not cause the other characters in the creche to turn hostile, and it's possible to safely teleport to the nearby Sigil to avoid the fight.

Special interactions with Lae'zel

The Zaith'isk in use.

If Lae'zel is an active party member, the player character will gain  +5 and she will insist on using the machine first. The party can opt to demand to go first by selecting Stand back. I'm going first, but Lae'zel will object. The party can convince her using an ability check:

• [GITHYANKI] [PERSUASION] I have ably commanded this party. I will be cleansed first. (DC 10) (roll removed if high enough approval)
• [PERSUASION] You would still be hunting for this place without my guidance. I will be cured first. (DC 10) (roll removed if high enough approval)
• [BARBARIAN] [INVESTIGATION] ROAR! (DC 10 )

Selecting the following option and sticking to it results in Lae'zel turning hostile against the party along with the Ghustil:

• Make way, Lae'zel. I am purging myself of this damned parasite.

If Lae'zel is the one in the machine, the party will gain  +10 and the saving throws happen automatically without player input. Lae'zel will often fail some of them due to usually having relatively low Intelligence and Wisdom scores, and there being no way to add bonuses. Regardless, the player character will gain  +1.

If Lae'zel is convinced to leave the machine at any stage, be it by trickery or persuasion, the player character will gain  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1.

Stage one

If the party member passes a passive DC 14 Perception check check, they will realize the machine will not survive the procedure unscathed. The party member will feel Lae'zel's mind ripping and rupturing and can persuade Lae'zel to jump out of the machine as soon as the procedure starts with a persuasion check:

• [PERSUASION] Get out of there, Lae'zel. You won't survive this anguish. (DC 30)
• [WISDOM] Call on your parasite. Show Lae'zel what she stands to lose. (DC 30) (if passive DC 14 Perception check passed)
• [GITHYANKI] [HISTORY] Extract yourself. Mother Gith would not wish you to suffer. (DC 30)

Alternatively, the party member can let the procedure continue, however this will give her the passive  Weakened Intelligence:

• Endure Lae'zel. The cure is worth the torment.  +1
• [GITHYANKI] Brace your mind, Lae'zel.Vlaakith tavki na'zin. Vlaakith tavki na'zin...  +1
• Wait and watch.

Stage two

The party member will see a vision of past deceased githyanki and can try to convince Lae'zel to stop:

• [WISDOM] Seek answers within the zaith'isk. What is this vision? (DC 21)
  • [PERSUASION] I've seen the truth Lae'zel. This device doesn't cure - it kills. (DC 21)
• [GITHYANKI] [DECEPTION] Listen to me. I see your flesh pulsing. The zaith'isk will make you ghaik! (DC 30)
• [DECEPTION] You must listen! The device is changing you. You are becoming illithid. (DC 30)

Otherwise, they can do nothing or urge her to continue which will give her the passive  Weakened Wisdom:

• Keep focused, Lae'zel. The cure is close.  +1
• [GITHYANKI] Cry our queen's command. Lash'a'kla!  +1
• Wait and watch.

Stage three

If Lae'zel is still in the machine, it's possible to persuade her to leave again.. This difficulty will either be 21 or 30, depending on the previous choices. Attempting to deceive her remains a DC 30 Deception check.

• [CONSTITUTION] Pursue the visions you saw. See where they lead. (DC 21) (if visions weren't pursued in stage two)
• [PERSUASION] I have seen the truth, Lae'zel. You will be killed, not cured! (DC 21) (if Perception check passed in stage two or the Constitution check)
• [DECEPTION] Your tadpole is changing, growing. You have to resist the machine! (DC 30) (if Deception not tried yet)
• [WISDOM] Focus your mind. Try to overload the device. (DC 30)

Failing the check, or allowing her to continue will give Lae'zel the passive  Weakened Constitution:

• [GITHYANKI] Abide the pain, Lae'zel. It is Vlaakith's will!  +1
• Embrace the pain, Lae'zel. Be pure.  +1
• Wait and watch.

Alternatively, the party member can try to take control of the zaith'isk and absorb its power to gain the  Awakened passive themselves:

• [ARCANA] Draw on the zaith'isk's power, take it as your own. (DC 30)

External links

• Zaith'isk on the Forgotten Realms Wiki