Page 21 - Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations

ABOLETH VARIANTS in the high clouds alone with their unknowable thoughts, and
Although the aboleths have existed for untold eons, the shape they seldom take slaves. The creatures dwell miles above the
and function of their bodies has not evolved as much as one ground, rarely at an altitude of less than 3 miles and usually
would suspect over time. This might be due to the fact that at a height of 3 to 6 miles. They make their homes inside vast,

their racial memories somehow serve to stagnate their develop- perpetual clouds filled with dense moisture and maintained
ment by encouraging them to conform to the past. Or it might by their ancient magic. How the uobilyths came to dwell in
be simply that their current form represents the pinnacle of the distant reaches of the skies is unknown, but it likely has
perfection for their kind, and that any further adaptation or something to do with their intrinsic rejection of the traditions
evolution would be nothing more than regression. of aboleth history and society.
Yet a few alternative forms of aboleths exist, having arisen
Stygian Aboleth: Eons ago, a large city of exceptionally
CHAPTER 2 THE DEEP MASTERS as the creatures expanded into new terrains and were forced gargantuan aboleths managed an amazing feat of magic and
transported an entire world of slaves and minions from the
to change as a result. For the most part, these variant aboleths
Material Plane to the Nine Hells; they arrived on the layer
are statistically quite similar to the standard aboleth presented

known as Stygia and flourished. Since that time, the influ-
in the Monster Manual; changes are indicated in the paragraphs

that follow.
Amphibious Aboleth: Aboleths spend ence of the Nine Hells has changed these aboleths, infusing
them with the frozen evil magic of Stygia and creating
their entire lives underwater. They have little an entirely new species. These Stygian aboleths rule
interest in exploring the nations of aquatic baatezu and slaves culled from
surface world to any great countless worlds and planes. In time, these
extent; that’s what slaves aboleths might transform fully into a
are for. Yet some aboleths, new kind of devil, but until then

Illus. by C. Fix particularly those that a stygian aboleth the average Stygian

become stranded after
Orluthian,
caverns collapse be-
aboleth is similar to an
hind them or that are

forced to flee their home advanced fiendish aboleth in capabilities and statistics. A

city for some reason, must sample Stygian aboleth is described below.
dwell in areas that aren’t ideal
for their physiology. Aboleths Orluthian, Stygian Aboleth

trapped in dry areas quickly succumb Orluthian rules a small city of fiendish skum built into the
to the long dreaming, but those stuck in areas with at least underside of an iceberg located in a remote corner of Stygia.
some water, such as in a large swamp or fen, can adapt over There, it plots the construction of specialized vortex portals
time. These amphibious aboleths are identical to their aquatic that can reach across the dimensions to manifest in Material
kin, except that their land speed increases to 20 feet, their Plane oceans. It is from the ships and victims pulled through
swim speed decreases to 40 feet, and they gain the amphib- these vortices that Orluthian gathers the raw materials it
ious special quality (meaning they can breathe air as well needs to further its experiments to learn why humanoids are

as water). They can survive indefinitely on land, and they suddenly so common among the worlds.
dry out and succumb to the long dreaming only if they take Orluthian: Stygian aboleth; CR 15; Gargantuan aberration
enough nonlethal damage from thirst or starvation to be (aquatic, cold); HD 24d8+168; hp 276; Init +1; Spd 10 ft., swim
rendered unconscious. 60 ft.; AC 18, touch 7, flat-footed 17; Base Atk +18; Grp +42; Atk

Uobilyth (Aerial Aboleth): The most exotic and unusual +26 melee (3d6+12 plus slime, tentacle); Full Atk +26 melee
aboleth variant is the reclusive uobilyth or “aerial aboleth,” (3d6+12 plus slime, 4 tentacles) and +22 melee (2d8+6, bite);
as they are known to the few who have encountered them. Space/Reach 20 ft./15 ft. (20 ft. with bite); SA enslave, psionics,
An uobilyth looks similar to an aboleth in shape except that slime, smite good 1/day; SQ damage reduction 10/magic, dark-

its tail has no flukes and its coloration is a deeper green-blue. vision 60 ft., immunity to cold, mucus cloud, spell resistance

Uobilyths do not have the aquatic subtype or a swim speed. 25, vulnerability to fire; AL LE; SV Fort +15, Ref +11, Will +19;
They gain the air subtype and a fly speed of 60 feet (good). An Str 34, Dex 12, Con 24, Int 15, Wis 17, Cha 17.

uobilyth’s ability to fly is a supernatural ability. Skills and Feats: Concentration +34, Knowledge (the planes)

Uobilyths are never lawfully aligned; most are neutral evil or +29, Listen +30, Spot +30, Swim +20; Ability Focus (enslave),
even chaotic evil. Solitary creatures, they are content to dwell Ability Focus (slime), Combat Casting, Improved Natural
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