Who knew Psionic Animal Companions were illegal?
Its not every day I get to link together Dungeons and Dragons and a Platypus, but according to THIS ARTICLE in the BBC, an Australian man has been charged with stealing a platypus from the wild and taking it on a train to show it off at local shops. The 26-year-old man and a woman were caught on surveillance cameras holding the animal wrapped in a towel and allowing people to pat it. The platypus, which is at risk of sickness or death outside its habitat, was released into a nearby river, but its condition remains unknown. The man could face a fine of up to A$430,000 (approx $288,500) and has been charged with taking a protected animal from the wild and keeping it captive. Platypuses are famously shy and elusive and are one of only two types of monotremes (mammals that lay eggs) in the world.
Well, I for one did not realize that a messing with a platypus carried such a hefty fine. I wonder if that is why WotC (who has been a plethora of bad decisions lately) has not included the Thought Eater in 5e? The closest we get is in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, one of the options for acquiring Sorcerer's Aberrant Mind powers involves claiming that they were obtained from a childhood imaginary friend resembling a platypus.
In the world of Dungeons & Dragons, the Thought Eater is a fearsome creature that preys on the mental energies of its victims. This aberration resembles an emaciated, sickly gray skeletal pltypus with over-sized heads. webbed paws. Its most terrifying ability, however, is its ability to devour psionic energy, draining the thoughts and memories of anyone within its range. The mere presence of a Thought Eater can cause confusion and disorientation, making it a dangerous foe for even the most experienced adventurers. If you encounter one of these creatures in your D&D campaign, be prepared for a challenging and potentially deadly encounter.
