Skum

The skum are a race of creatures that were once humanoids, beasts, and giants. They were captured and transformed by an aboleth and now serve their masters as slaves and guards.

Variants

Skum Minion

Loathsome and disgusting, skum minions are weaker and more common versions of skum (from Ghosts of Saltmarsh). They look like feral amphibious humanoids with limbs ending in webbed claws and feet and a long spiny frill running down its hunched back.

Skum Beast

These are the poor animals and beasts that have been transformed by the aboleth's disease and now serve as guardians and scouts. 

Skum Hulk

On very rare occasions, the aboleth might be able to capture and enslave an ogre or even a young giant, transforming it into one of its mutated slaves, making it one of its personal bodyguards.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Aboleth

Ghosts of Saltmarsh

Skum CR: 5

Medium aberration, unaligned

Armor Class: 14 (natural armor)

Hit Points: 93 (11d8 + 44) [roll:11d8+44)

Speed: 20 ft , swim: 40 ft

STR

19 +4

DEX

11 +0

CON

18 +4

INT

7 -2

WIS

12 +1

CHA

9 -1

Skills: Perception +4

Damage Resistances: psychic

Senses: darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 1

Languages: Common, Deep Speech, telepathy 60 ft.

Challenge Rating: 5

Skum by WotC

Abolethic Vassal. The skum is permanently charmed by its aboleth master.
Amphibious. The skum can breathe air and water.
Psychic Conditioning. The skum is immune to the frightened and charmed conditions unless they are from effects created by an aboleth.
Water Dependency. The skum takes 6 (1d12) 1d12 acid damage every 10 minutes it goes without exposure to water.

Actions

Multiattack. The skum makes three attacks: two with its trident and one with its Mind-Breaking Touch.
Trident. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 1d20+7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) 1d6+4 piercing damage.
Mind-Breaking Touch. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 1d20+7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (4d8) 4d8 psychic damage, and the target has disadvantage on Wisdom saving throws until the end of the skum's next turn.

These poor souls are the fate of those that have succumbed to an aboleth's magic through its disease-bearing touch. Transformed into creatures called skum, they barely resemble their past forms, their skin turning slimy and translucent while their limbs warp to resemble those of deep-sea oddities. The change makes them dependent on water, which they must immerse themselves in regularly lest they experience painful-and potentially lethal-skin eruptions. Skum are bound to their aboleth master not just by their cursed state, but by a psychic bond that compels them to serve its every sinister whim.

Suggested Environments

Environment: Coastal, Ocean, Sea, Swamp, Underwater