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Can a Changeling (Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron, p. 61) shapeshifted into a Mindflayer read the Qualith language?

The ability to read Deep Speech is dependent on tentacles, so could a Changeling use the tentacles from turning into a Mind Flayer to learn to read Qualith? Or is it just too alien regardless of tentacles?

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    \$\begingroup\$ Does the character in question already know Deep Speech? \$\endgroup\$
    – NautArch
    Jan 18, 2019 at 19:05
  • \$\begingroup\$ Note: the name of the relevant changeling racial trait was changed to "Shapechanger" in Eberron: Rising from the Last War and in the updated version of Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron, but the relevant section of the trait was otherwise unchanged. \$\endgroup\$
    – V2Blast ♦
    Nov 23, 2019 at 0:38

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No, this won't work for several reasons

There are several problems here...

Qualith is not the written form of Deep Speech. Deep Speech does not have a written form. It is the only language listed in the PHB that lacks a script used to write it down (see PHB/Basic Rules Chapter 4). Qualith is a unique, written-only language only used or understood by Mind Flayers. (MM, p. 221) There is nothing in any book that I can find that links it to Deep Speech.

Qualith

On the rare occasion that mind flayers need to write something down, they do so in Qualith. This system of tactile writing (similar to braille) is read by an illithid’s tentacles. Qualith is written in four-line stanzas and is so alien in construction that non-illithids must resort to magic to discern its meaning. Though Qualith can be used to keep records, illithids most often use it to mark portals or other surfaces with warnings or instructions.

Secondly, while a Changeling can take an Illithid's form, they do not acquire the mind of an Illithid. As stated in the above linked text:

non-illithids must resort to magic to discern its meaning.

A Changeling's Change Form states...

none of your game statistics change.

(Changelings, WGtE, p. 61)

The languages you speak is a 'game statistic.' Thus, shapeshifting does not grant you new languages. You can't shapeshift to look like a dragonborn and auto-magically learn Draconic.

So, you don't get an Illithid's brain out of the deal, and Qualith is a unique written language only understood by Illithids because its construction is so alien that it makes no sense to anyone else. You could, theoretically, use your face tentacles to touch the tactile bits that make up Qualith, but you won't understand it any more than if you did the same thing with your fingers.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ May be helpful to increase the scope of the answer in that looking like another race also doesn't give you the ability to speak that race's language. \$\endgroup\$
    – NautArch
    Jan 18, 2019 at 19:00
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    \$\begingroup\$ @NautArch I was operating under the assumption that the Changeling already spoke Deep Speech, and just wanted to see if turning into an Illithid would let them read Qualith (assuming it was the written form, which it isn't) \$\endgroup\$
    – guildsbounty
    Jan 18, 2019 at 19:04
  • \$\begingroup\$ Oh, that's an interesting assumption I hadn't considered. \$\endgroup\$
    – NautArch
    Jan 18, 2019 at 19:05
  • \$\begingroup\$ Yeah that was the basic assumption. Thanks for clarifying that. The concept the player had was a Changeling Old Ones warlock with Deep Speech and was wondering about Qualith. \$\endgroup\$
    – user47897
    Jan 18, 2019 at 20:24
  • \$\begingroup\$ Note: the name of this changeling racial trait was changed to "Shapechanger" in Eberron: Rising from the Last War and in the updated version of Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron, but the quoted section of the trait was otherwise unchanged. \$\endgroup\$
    – V2Blast ♦
    Nov 23, 2019 at 0:38

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