Page 177 - Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations

CHAPTER 9 THE ABERRATION HUNTER

Illus. by W. England Symbols of (1) the Great Mother, (2) Ilsennsine, (3) Ghaunadaur, (4) Tharizdun, (5) the Patient One, and (6) Mak Thuum Ngatha

Minions and allies offer clever aberrations the opportunity
ingly treat with monsters that regard humanoids as prey or
to overcome their innate vulnerabilities or weaknesses by Unlike thralls, who rarely choose their fate, cultists will-
capturing creatures whose strengths complement their vermin. Even the most avaricious or cruel humans value
own. For example, landgoing slaves of the aboleths allow their own humanity to some extent, but aberrant cultists and
the deep masters to strike at enemies far from the under- fanatics embrace nihilism, madness, and self-obliteration.
ground seas where the aboleths lurk, while neogi enslave Even by the standards of truly evil people, cultists of this
umber hulks to make up for their own small stature and sort are abhorrent.

weak fighting ability. Horrific deities such as Ghaunadaur or Tharizdun offer
The majority of aberration minions are thralls, humanoid power to humans or humanoids willing to ignore the risks
slaves who serve as forced labor, guards, and occasionally inherent in dealing with such divinities. The most depraved
meals for their masters. In any normal setting, the thralls of cults include both aberration and humanoid followers. The

the aboleths or mind flayers would rebel or flee rather than humanoids serve as spies, guards, and assassins, while the

continue in perpetual servitude, but the master aberrations aberrations provide frightening magical and physical power
have millennia of experience in managing their captive to back up their humanoid comrades. A coven of beholder
populations. They learned long ago that slaves can be divided cultists that worships a living beholder extends the monster’s
against each other by creating a class of overseers that stand reach into the heart of any human community nearby, making

above the rest. It is not even necessary to keep all the slaves it difficult for adventurers opposing the monster to surprise
or overseers charmed or dominated all the time. A few powerful it in its lair.
individuals under mental control can go a long way toward It is a bitter truth that aberration hunters must begin their
keeping the rank-and-file under the lash, and truly intractable quests by fighting and killing otherwise blameless creatures

slaves are simply consumed at the earliest opportunity. compelled to serve evil masters. Unfortunately, it is often
Whenever possible, aberrations with the innate ability to impossible to tell whether a particular minion or guardian
charm or dominate others enslave powerful monsters as well serves because it is rewarded by its masters with power over
as humanoids. These creatures are rarely left uncontrolled, other thralls, because it regards its situation as hopeless and
since they might possess the strength to escape or turn on is only trying to survive, or because it is magically compelled
their masters if freed of their mental shackles. to its duty.
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