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Aboleth

Aboleths are ancient, powerful aberrations that lurk in the darkest depths of the Dungeons & Dragons universe, particularly known for residing in the Underdark and other remote, submerged environments. These creatures are among the oldest beings in existence, with a lore that suggests they once ruled the world before the advent of gods and the rise of mortal civilizations. The Monster Manual reveals that aboleths were the undisputed rulers until their empire was usurped by the gods, leading them to retreat into seclusion, biding their time and nursing their grudges against the deities and their followers [[1](https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/flsm4n/lairs_of_legend_the_aboleth/)].


Aboleths possess a unique set of abilities that make them formidable opponents. Their telepathic powers enable them to probe the desires of any creature they can see, using this knowledge to manipulate or control their victims. This probing telepathy is a testament to their intelligence and predatory acumen, making them not just physical but also psychological threats [[2](https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Aboleth)][[3](https://www.themonstersknow.com/aboleth-tactics/)].


One intriguing aspect of aboleth biology is their immortality. When slain, an aboleth's body dissolves into a cloud of slime, and it is reborn in the Elemental Plane of Water. This rebirth process ensures that an aboleth is never truly killed, merely inconvenienced, as it must find its way back to the Material Plane to continue its schemes [[6](https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/154342/what-happens-after-an-aboleths-body-is-remade-in-the-elemental-plane-of-water-f)].


Despite their might and ancient wisdom, aboleths are enigmatic creatures that prefer the shadows to the spotlight of world events. Their deep-seated hatred for the gods and their long-term planning make them insidious threats that could emerge from the depths at any moment, plotting the downfall of the surface world and the divine pantheon that robbed them of their ancient dominion.


## 🌐 Sources

- [Reddit - r/DnDBehindTheScreen](https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/flsm4n/lairs_of_legend_the_aboleth/)

- [Roll20 Compendium](https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Aboleth)

- [The Monsters Know What They’re Doing](https://www.themonstersknow.com/aboleth-tactics/)

- [D&D Beyond Forums](https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/story-lore/165362-aboleths-where-do-they-go)

- [Critical Role Wiki - Fandom](https://criticalrole.fandom.com/wiki/Aboleth)

- [RPG Stack Exchange](https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/154342/what-happens-after-an-aboleths-body-is-remade-in-the-elemental-plane-of-water-f)

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The Awakening Beneath the Waves


Overview: The party is summoned to the bustling coastal city of Saltmyre, where they find the populace in a state of growing unease. Strange reports have emerged of fishermen and sailors vanishing without a trace, their boats found drifting aimlessly in the waves, and whispers speak of a dark, otherworldly presence lurking in the depths of the surrounding Misty Isles. Concerned that a great calamity may be on the horizon, the city's leaders plead with the adventurers to investigate these unsettling occurrences and uncover the truth behind the growing threat.


The Plot Twist: As the party delves deeper into the mystery, they discover that the sinister force behind the disappearances is not some natural or mundane threat, but rather an ancient Aboleth - a primordial, psionic horror from the darkest reaches of the ocean. This ancient, malevolent creature has been slowly awakening from its millennia-long slumber, and now seeks to reclaim the surface world for its kind, using its mind-controlling powers to subvert the local populace and pave the way for a cataclysmic invasion.


Additional Monsters:

- Hordes of Deep Scions - humanoid thralls under the Aboleth's psionic domination, serving as its eyes, ears, and enforcers

- Packs of Chuul - fearsome, lobster-like predators that the Aboleth has summoned and empowered to guard its territory

- A nightmarish Aboleth Savant - a powerful spellcasting variant of the Aboleth, wielding devastating psychic abilities

- A towering, multi-tentacled Kraken - a massive sea monster that the Aboleth has subjugated and commands as a living siege weapon


These diverse monstrous threats are all connected to the Aboleth's grand scheme. The Deep Scions serve as the Aboleth's eyes and ears, infiltrating the coastal communities and subtly undermining the populace's resolve, while the Chuul act as fearsome guardians, protecting the Aboleth's hidden lair and eliminating any who dare to venture too close.


The Aboleth Savant, in turn, is a powerful spellcasting variant of the Aboleth, wielding devastating psychic abilities to bolster its control over the minds of the surface dwellers. And the towering Kraken is a monstrous sea creature that the Aboleth has completely subjugated, using it as a living siege engine to terrorize the coastal cities and shipping lanes.


The Location: The party's journey will take them from the bustling docks of Saltmyre, out into the treacherous waters of the Misty Isles, where they must navigate treacherous currents, evade the Aboleth's aquatic minions, and ultimately uncover the location of the ancient creature's hidden lair.


This underwater lair will be a sprawling, alien complex, filled with mind-bending architecture, psionic traps, and the Aboleth's monstrous guardians. Here, the party must confront the Aboleth itself, as well as its Savant variant and the subjugated Kraken, in a desperate bid to break the creature's grip on the coastal region and prevent the cataclysmic invasion it has set in motion.


If the party can defeat the Aboleth and disrupt its plans, they not only save the city of Saltmyre, but also uncover a deeper conspiracy that may lead them to confront the Aboleth's shadowy masters in the darkest depths of the ocean.



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