Page 11 - Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations

Aberrations spawned by alien deities might or might not be ABERRATION
aware of their origin. Some worship their progenitors, divine
beings shunned by all other gods and races. Others despise CHARACTERISTICS

the callous divinities that birthed and then abandoned them Whatever their specific origin, the great aberration races share
to existence in an inimical universe. Aberrations born of a several common characteristics, even if they are unrelated
deity’s power or interest seek to appease or serve the divinity physically. While there exist other creatures that are evil mas-
in question through fervid worship and the sacrifice of beings terminds, or that are hateful to nature, or that are unspeakably

they deem enemies of their alien god. By founding widespread unhuman, few combine these traits in the same way that the
cults and destroying the worshipers of conventional gods, they dangerous aberrations of the world do.
Not all aberrations possess all of the following characteris-
hope to weaken the humanoid pantheons and make possible
CHAPTER 1 WHAT IS AN ABERRATION? the ascendancy of their own deities. tics, but most possess these traits to at least some degree.
Beholders are the best known of the godspawned aberrations.
The cryptic being known as the Great Mother has no place in SINISTER MASTERMINDS
The master aberration races—aboleths, beholders, and mind
any other pantheon, but from the moment it first entered the

flayers, specifically—are all extraordinarily intelligent, per-

multiverse, it began to seed its progeny, the multifarious race
of beholders, throughout the world. Every beholder that exists ceptive, and strong willed. While individual humans might

is merely a reflection of the Great Mother’s will and instinct match a particular aberration in intellect, wisdom, or force
to replicate itself. of personality, only a handful of humans possess the overall
Destrachans likewise arise from the dark dreams of a name- mental strength of the typical aboleth or mind flayer. Only the

less god, but they revile their creator (and all gods, for that most powerful of human wizards come close to the vast lore
matter). No nondestrachan knows the purpose or identity of and incisive logical capability of an exceptional aberration,

the sinister being that created these monsters. such as an aboleth savant or mind flayer mage.
Not only do aberrations possess the natural gift of mental
MAGICAL MUTATION strength, they have also amassed tremendous amounts of
Some aberrations are created through the actions of other lore and learning. The great aberration races understand that
mortals. With powerful enough magic, the laws of nature can knowledge is power. For generation after generation they have
be perverted to manufacture mockeries of other creatures. devoted themselves to the pursuit of knowledge in any form,

Sometimes this magical mutation is purely accidental, the confident that their efforts will be rewarded with unmatched
unintended result of some terrible cataclysm or curse. All too magical or psionic power.
often it is a deliberate act. Twisting life itself into pleasing or This frightful intelligence means that aberrations are
convenient forms is evil and reckless, a blasphemous deed that masterful schemers, patient and subtle. They routinely
frequently leads to unforeseen consequences—but the desire contemplate complex and subtle plans requiring lifetimes to
to create the perfect warrior, or the most fearsome servant, has unfold. Their plans have few weaknesses, and they anticipate
led more than one archmage into folly. the exact moment at which an enemy is likely to become
Aberrations created through magical mutation tend to be aware of their plots—and what course of action the enemy
few in number and rarely have much of a racial history, since is likely to take in response. Master aberrations are far more

they originated in a specific program or event that might only likely to ambush or trap a would-be attacker than to be
be a few decades or centuries old. They are solitary brutes as surprised by their foes.
opposed to evil masterminds. Wizards who are interested in As masterminds with the natural ability to dominate or
creating slave-soldiers or useful servants don’t go out of their enslave their minions, aberrations surround themselves with
way to breed highly intelligent creations for fear of creating a cadre of the most useful guards, slaves, and agents they can

things with the ruthlessness and genius to supplant their find. Brutes such as minotaurs, trolls, ogres, or even giants
masters. guard the outposts and lairs of master aberrations. Human
The chuul and the umber hulk provide examples of aber- adventurers are captured, turned into spies and assassins,
rations created through magical mutation. Strong, hardy, and and sent back into the lands above to gather information for
armed with powerful natural weaponry, both races were bred their sinister masters and to strike against those who would

as slave-soldiers. The creators of the umber hulks are lost in the oppose the dark influence of the aberrations below. Better
deeps of time; umber hulks have been extant for thousands yet, a few whispered rumors or carefully planned “leaks” of
of years now. Chuuls, on the other hand, were created several fabricated evidence might turn a company of adventurers into
hundred years ago by an evil mage-king who dreamed of the unwitting servants of the unseen masters without a single
conquering vast territory with an army of his own creation. confrontation.
Although the mage-king was defeated by an alliance of the Countering a plot of a master aberration is rarely as simple
neighboring realms, and his keep was destroyed, his army of as finding a lair and attacking. First, the heroes must somehow

chuuls escaped to plague the world thereafter. discern the presence of a faceless enemy that moves in the

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