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Aboleth

Long ago it is said that the world was shrouded in darkness. Beneath this darkness was a sickly mud that bubbled and boiled with the unnatural life beneath it. The aboleth is more ancient than these bubbles, for it is said they are the creators of what even demons fear to tread upon.
Aboleth can be found in three places throughout the cosmos. In the depths of the ocean, in the waters of Grott, and in The Farlands.It is believed that Aboleth have persisted throughout all time, even before the gods or demons existed.
These creatures are nearly always different, as their aberration nature prescribes. All of them have similar features however. They have tentacles that jut out from thir body, nearly 20ft in length. Three slits in the front of their bodies give rise to eyes of various types, from puiline to compound, yet these eyes are always a shade of red. Beyond their huge size, each aboleth line has a different appearance, and with 15 confirmed lines of Aboleth, this appearance is proudly diplayed upon them.
Mechanics

Aboleth

Creature Basics: Huge Aberration (Aquatic)
HP: 64 (+8/HD)
Initiative: 1
Speed: 10ft, Swim 60ft.
Defences: AC 16, Touch 9, FF 15
BAB/Grapple/Reach: 6/2/ 10ft
Attacks: 4 Tentacles +12melee, Enslave, Psionics, Slime
Special Abilities: Darkvision 60ft, Mucus Cloud
Saves: Fort: 7. Ref: 3. Will: 9
Abilities: Str 26 (8) , Dex 12 (1) , Con 20 (5) , Int 15 (2) , Wis 17 (3) , Cha 17 (3)
Skills: Athletics (Str) +8, Concentration (Con) +16, Knowledge (Int) (Any 1) +13, Perception (Wis) +16
Feats: Alertness, Combat Casting, Iron Will
Equipment: Double Standard
Advancement: Up to 16HD (Huge Up to 24 HD (Gargantuan)
Combat
Prefering to fight from a distance, an Aboleth will always attempt to use creatures under its command to defend itself first, or its illusion psionics to ensure it stays safe.
Once a creature gets within 30ft, it will try and enslave them using the enslave ability. Even if this should fail, an Aboleth will always try to anihilate an enemy before retreating, unless there is no hope for the aboleth, which will always keep one illusion spell handy to try and run away.
Enslave (Su): 3/day, will attempt to dominate a creature as if by the dominate person spell (CL 16). Will save DC 17, obeys the aboleths telepathic commands until freed by remove curse, and can attempt a new will save every 24 hours to break free. The control is also broken if the aboleth dies or travels more than 1 mile from its slave. The save DC is Charisma based.
Psionics (Sp): At will, Hypnotic Pattern (DC 15), Illusiory Wall (DC 17), Mirage Arcana (DC 18), Persistent Image (DC 18), Programmed Image (DC 19), Project Image (DC 20), Veil (DC 19). CL=16 for all abilities. Save DCs are Charisma based.
Slime (Ex):A creature hit by a tentacle must succeed on a DC 19 Fort save or begin to transform over the next 1d4+1 minutes. Afflicted creatures must remained moistened with cool, fresh water or take 5 damage every 10 minutes. The slime reduces the creatures nat AC by 1 (but never less than 0). Save DC is Constitution based.
A spell that removes diease can be cast on the afflicted before the transformation is complete to restore them to normal. Afterwards, only a heal or mass heal spell can reverse the affliction.
Mucus Cloud (Ex): Any creature coming within 1ft of the aboleth, contacts the aboleths mucus cloud. Contacting or inhaling this substance provokes a DC 19 Fort save, or lose the ability to breathe air for the next 3 hours. An affected creature suffocates in 2d6 minutes if removed from the water. Renewed contact with the mucus cloud and failing anorther fort save continues this effect for another 3 hours. The save DC is Constitution based.
Skills: +8 racial bonus to Athletics for the purpose of swimming. May always take 10 on an athletics check regarding swimming, even if distracted or endangered. Can use the run action while swiming provided it runs in a straight line.

Basic Information

Anatomy

A fish like amphibian, this speecies more closely resemble large eels with tube like bodies and tentacles of various sizes spattered at certain points. Some retain fin like structures while others use these tentacles to maneuver. The most defining feature of the Aboleth are their three slitted red eyes.

Genetics and Reproduction

An aboleth is Asexual, and maintains both male and female genetalia. Once every 5 years, an aboleth will lay a cluster of 3 eggs, which will hatch after 6 months should they survive. After hatching, an aboleth will have the full memories and capabilities of its parent, other than its psionic powers.

Growth Rate & Stages

Aboleths are considered to be fully formed at the time of their birth, however, they have no proper way to defend themselves other than their tentacles until they reach 10 years old, where their powers come to fruition. Over the next 100 years, they grow until they reach gargantuan size, which unlocks even greater power within them. During this time, they maintain their own memories and the memories of every aboleth before them.

Ecology and Habitats

Though Aboleth live primarily underwater, there are certain subspecies of land dwelling and aerial aboleths. The environment that they take up, no matter the local is ruined outside of The Farlands, which is perfect for their own habitation. Aboleth are known as a highly invasive species, and one can always find a bounty to kill one.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Aboleths are pure carnavore, but maintain no mouth. They absorb nutrients through their mucus membranes and can eat any smaller animals without issue. Intelligent creatures are their preferred food supply however, as they grant the emotions and memories of creatures they are digesting.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Though most aboleths are solitary creatures, in many cases, they will form together into broods or even entire societies, though the latter is extremely rare.   As asexual reproducers, and aberrations, an aboleth will usually find themselves taking over large bodies of water on their own. However, in larger areas where their will is unable to be easilly thrust upon the natives, Aboleths will maintain a brood of 2-4 aboleths. Alternatively, they will have a slaver brood of up to 4 aboleths, with between 7-12 slaves. In these broods, the oldest is always the leader, especially if the oldest was the parent of the others.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Aboleth have few properties for the right minded. Their meat is practically toxic to citizens of Pondera, but not to Aberrations. Instead, their main appeal is to spellcasters. The eyes of an aboleth are used in divination magic, their slime in transmutation, and their extremely large brains, when dried, are used as components for Psionic spellcasters.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The aboleths three eyes can see well in normal light or darkness without issue. Additionally, their ability to use psionics helps to project what they see and force creatures into their will, so long as they are within 30ft.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Considered a parasitic species to all normal life, Aboleth will attempt to keep creatures under their fold for nourishment and safety. Any intelligent creature has the potential to be under the thumb of an Aboleth, yet they find particular companionship in the form of Skum, who can live under the hostile conditions surrounding an Aboleth.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

With the 15 different types of aboleth, each of them share the same name, but will call others of their own kind as ancestor or child.
  • Shigaluk
  • Yigig
  • Raqinila
  • Thywilogup
  • Bolothamogg
  • Hlashner
  • Shotog
  • Ryleth
  • Zlorthishen
  • Legion
  • Jugemu
  • Aoyaii
  • Polodoho
  • Cularnaoth
  • Great Eye

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Aboleths have two different ways of communication. Either through their own complex language of undercommon, or via transmitting thoughts directly into the minds of intelligent creatures using psionics, should they have the capability.

History

All Aboleth date their ancestry back to The Farlands. Each of the 15 types of aboleths within Pondera date their history back to a different starting point, from the moment their ancestors left the farlands. The only overarching theme for all of these Aboleth, and the reason for their place in the world, is to own all life on the surface. Currently, it is unknown how they plan to do so. The most prevalent theory is that they are trying to infiltrate Rynasen, to force open a portal to a larger source of water and flood the earth. The leaders of Rynasen are aware of this, and have taken great pains to ensure no waterbound intrusion of the Aboleth, and maintain close eyes on the populace to prevent any enchanted incursions.
Beyond this history and potential for the future goals of the Aboleth, a strange pattern emerges when one listens to their stories. it seems that each type of aboleth claims to be more ancient than the others, yet they all appeared in their own histories at different, and potentially impossible timelines.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

In the life of an aboleth, there are three types of creatures that are not an aboleth themself. Those who will be controlled, those who are to be fed upon, and those to be feared. It is unusual for any creature to be in this 3rd category, outside of other aberrations or aboleth.
Lifespan
Immortal
Geographic Distribution

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