Page 32 - Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations

ABOLETH MINIONS regions around their city, either as scavengers to help dispose
With their ability to enslave other creatures, aboleths are never of waste or as guardians around the periphery. The only ooze
without minions to guard their lairs, provide entertainment, that aboleths avoid completely is the teratomorph (Monster

or otherwise serve their needs. The variety and nature of an Manual II, page 194); they find these creatures to be far too
aboleth’s minions depend primarily on what kind of creatures unstable and unpredictable to be anything but a menace. The
are native to its lair. An aboleth dwelling near a svirfneblin city arrival of a teratomorph in the vicinity of an aboleth city is
has numerous svirfneblin minions (as well as earth elementals one of the few events that can prompt a total evacuation or
the svirfneblin clerics might have called up). An aboleth lurk- relocation.
ing in a pool below a hidden ledge that provides access to a Skum: The most iconic aboleth minions are the skum. Cre-
ruined city might have a large number of bullywug (Monsters ated from human stock, these amphibious humanoids are bred
of Faerûn), tasloi (Oriental Adventures), or yuan-ti minions. An for their strength and combat skills. The number of skum an
aboleth dwelling at the bottom of a lake in the middle of a aboleth commands is an excellent indication of that aboleth’s MASTERS CHAPTER 2

human nation might keep any number of humans, halflings, standing in its society. The closest analogy in human society THE DEEP
dwarves, elves, and gnomes to serve its needs. An aboleth is the collection and breeding of warhorses.
divides the duties of its available minions between assassins,
entertainers, procurers, and guardians as befits each minion’s ABOLETH CITIES

strengths and weaknesses. Aboleth cities are truly alien and terrifying places, wholly
In addition, a few specific kinds of creatures often work primeval in feeling and offensive to those used to structures

alongside the aboleths regardless of the nature of the region’s with hard edges, straight lines, and subdued colors. Aboleth
indigenous life. cities are built completely underwater, and because the waters
Adventurers: Adventurers come already equipped with help support the buildings, the towers and spires can be of
powerful weapons and magic gear, and an enslaved group can a much greater magnitude than anything on the surface.
put its potent tactics to good use. These towers feature numerous tunnels and openings to

Baatezu: Aboleths with the capability to summon aid from allow water currents to flow around and through them to
the Outer Planes particularly enjoy calling upon the baatezu prevent collapse. Aboleth cities can be raised from the sea

for assistance. They find that the infernal mind offers riveting floor by the will of the city’s rulers, either through the use
conversation, and baatezu, highly capable combatants them- of powerful spells or a magic device. The cities then drift
selves, add immeasurably to an aboleth’s defenses. Aboleths through the depths of the sea or rise to the surface and float

send other minions out to purchase or steal magic scrolls or like horrific islands.
items that can be used to summon such devils and bind them The buildings of an aboleth city are made of stone, built with
to servitude. the aid of magic like stone shape but sometimes constructed
Constructs: Aboleths are fond of constructs as minions with talented and well-directed slave labor. Aboleth build-
because they are completely obedient and impossible for an ings might be composed of brooding, drooping shapes that
enemy to charm or control. The aboleths of the grand city of look melted or cancerous, or they might be towering, thin
Shaboath even developed a highly specialized form of golem spires with multiple twisted crenellations and jagged spikes.
constructed from aboleth mucus; these golems have become All together, an aboleth city looks like discarded shells from

popular additions to cities with denizens powerful enough massive prehistoric shellfish scattered upon the ocean floor.
to construct them. However, the constructs most coveted As mentioned above, aboleths decorate their buildings with
by the aboleths are those that have survived the passage of flourishes intended to honor or evoke the memories of the

innumerable eons. These elder eidolons are leftovers from Elder Evils. Needless to say, these embellishments further
the primal empire, and aboleths devote hundreds of years create a sense of wrongness about an aboleth city.
to exploring remote corners of the world where ruins of The disturbing and alien architectural styles found in an
primal cities still stand in hopes of capturing a surviving aboleth city are typically direct influences copied from their

elder eidolon or two. memories of the primal empire, but in the case of the largest
Derro: The derro are one of the few races that seem to under- and most secluded cities, these buildings might incorporate
stand and accept the alien nature of the aboleths. Entire groups actual structures that have survived from the primal empire
of derro offer themselves as servants to aboleths of their own to the modern age. These buildings seethe with a sense of
free will. The aboleths appreciate their willingness to admit brooding history, and damaging them is viewed as the greatest
inferiority but rarely trust these creatures with important offense possible to the aboleth race.
tasks. Derro are used as shock troops along the periphery of Each aboleth typically lives in a building far larger than it
an aboleth’s territory. needs, because the lower reaches are reserved for its slaves.
Oozes: Aboleths have a particular fondness for the various The leaders of an aboleth city are always savant aboleths; small
forms of ooze. Although they cannot directly control oozes cities have only one leader, while in larger cities, several savant
with their enslavement powers, they gather the creatures in aboleths might work together as a council.

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