The Illithid Dominion (typically referred to simply as “the mind flayers”) are a spacefaring organization of illithids. As opposed to their Underdark brethren, the illithids of the Dominion are somewhat more open to engaging in trade and diplomacy with other races, and they consider the mind flayers of the Underdark to be somewhat “backward” and “provincial” in comparison.
That being said, the Dominion is far from peaceful, engages openly in slavery of other races, and their ultimate goal seems to be illithid conquest of all known worlds. Among the “tradegoods” they deal in are the brains of other species.
The Dominion is perhaps the only spacefaring faction that willingly deals with the Neogi. The Dominion has been known to act as an intermediary for business between the Arcane and the Neogi.
Mind Flayer ships are typically built in the “Nautiloid” style, with a shadowed, windowless compartment that resembles a nautilus shell and a sort of living “ram” composed of coiling tentacles that extends from the bow. They employ two types of unique helm: the series helms and the pool helm. Series helms can be linked together, allowing multiple helmsmen to contribute their psychic motive force to driving the same ship. A pool helm consists of the pool of an elder brain, and it is powered by the brain itself.