It's a fantasy role-playing game.

DM: You are Tiberius Stormwind, a dragonborn sorcerer . You are the member of the famous group of adventurers. Previously, K'Varn falls, but is immediately brought back to undeath by the Horn of Orcus. A ray from his eyestalk turns Kima to stone.
DM: All right, you're now in the form of a mind flayer. Covered in rags, with a big old metallic head piece.
Player: Do I-- actually, sans head piece. Clarota without the head piece. And what do I see when I get down there?
DM: As you coast down you can see a group of what looks like three mind flayers with about seven slaves swarming in towards the front of the temple. They haven't quite noticed you yet.
Player: How far away are they?
DM: About 30 feet from you.
Player: Great. You, over there! Quickly! And I get their attention.
DM: They all stop and look up at you. A look of confusion, as mind flayers both do not speak through language, let alone speak Common out loud.
Player: Look, I took the form of one of your own. Pretty much to get your attention. We need your help. We want to defeat the one who's taken control over your mind. We are the ones who disabled the crystal to begin with. Please come on this-- With me. We can go much faster. Up here, please!
DM: You make a persuasion roll.
Player: Damn right. Six plus ten. That's 16, plus nine is-- My persuasion's nine. Plus 16.
DM: Wait, what'd you say? 20?
Player: Six.
DM: Plus ten?
Player: Plus nine.
DM: Plus nine.
Player: That's 25.
DM: Okay.
