Aboleth Sidekicks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Aboleth Sidekicks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
GoriceXII
06-10-07, 04:06 AM I'd like some ideas for sidekicks for an aboleth. The adventure I am plotting from has chuuls but I would rather not use them. I thought of weirdly altered aquatic humanoid slaves--would that work?
Borris
06-10-07, 04:27 AM If by weirdly altered aquatic humanoid slaves, you mean Skum (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/skum.htm), then you win. Skums (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/skum.htm)are humanoids or monstrous humanoids turned into aquatic aberrations by a long exposition to an aboleth's toxic mucus. They're usually used as slaves and minions by said aboleth. Under the aboleth's organization, it even lists "slaver brood (1d3+1 aboleth plus 7-12 skum)"

There are plenty of other choices, but skums are the classical aboleth henchmen.
cog_n_taz
06-10-07, 05:24 AM Check out my fantastic beasts thread (page 1, currently) for general aboleth stuff. As for henchmen in particular, I suggest (if they fit your party's level) some weird, fish-like.....bodaks:D
GoriceXII
06-10-07, 06:53 AM _There's some good advice there on using them, cog-n_taz, thank you. My players have no idea I think that they even exist, though they have had inklings that strange disturbing creatures dwell in the deeper waters. I also forgot all about skum, but I far prefer them to the chuuls the adventure had in it.

Any other suggestions? Bodaks...hm...have to think about that one.
runestar
06-10-07, 07:05 AM They have enslave, so pretty much anything should be good game. Don't hesitate to mix and match critters to fit your needs....:D
Dead_Weasel
06-10-07, 10:24 PM Also, a creature that has been afflicted by an aboleth's Slime could be dependent upon the aboleth's Mucus to make its life tolerable, and (although not enslaved) would thus be dependent on the aboleth. A PC that could provide a heal spell or magical item that permits water breathing would be that creature's new best friend, as well as giving it the opportunity to take revenge on its erstwhile master.

Since Enslave is a dominate person effect, only humanoids are vulnerable.
Doom_Linnorm
06-11-07, 03:38 PM They have enslave, so pretty much anything should be good game. Don't hesitate to mix and match critters to fit your needs....:D

And then maybe slap on a slightly modified Reptilian template on it but accentuate fishyness and slimyness rather then scalyness.
GoriceXII
06-11-07, 07:13 PM Sort of like amphibianfolk rather than lizardfolk...
yuck.

I like the idea of a heal or something similar being required, since that would mean that a cure minor wounds or moderate wounds would only stave off the inevitable. I believe the mucus itself is easy to get rid of.
Dead_Weasel
06-12-07, 01:35 AM The mucus is not the problem for the creature - it is an asset. A creature that is affected by the slime has to remain moist. The mucus makes it breathe water. If I had to stay moist to stay alive, I would probably be a lot more comfortable breathing water - then I could wander around underwater freely, instead of being stuck at the surface. If I were underground (as aboleth often are) it is possible that I would not be able to get to another source of water before I succumbed to the Slime.
GoriceXII
06-12-07, 11:44 AM Some caves are 'wet' caves though...it is in the case of this adventure. Nevertheless I take your point.

Any other creatures that have been used as sidekicks?
Orchomenos
06-15-07, 11:56 AM Skums fill in the henchmen/minions role. I consider a sidekick to be more like a cohort.
What about Merrows (aquatic ogres) or Scrags (aquatic trolls)? Or perhaps Lacedons (aquatic ghouls)? An advanced lacedon (aquatic ghast?) could have a complex relationship with the aboleth: he is immuned to the enslave ability, but could easily be bullied by the larger fishy aberation. The aboleth could use him as first line of defense, and feeding him drowned humanoid slaves. The aboleth could even give him living humanoid slaves to turn into additional lacedons...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
GoriceXII 06-10-07, 04:06 AM	I'd like some ideas for sidekicks for an aboleth. The adventure I am plotting from has chuuls but I would rather not use them. I thought of weirdly altered aquatic humanoid slaves--would that work?
Borris 06-10-07, 04:27 AM	If by weirdly altered aquatic humanoid slaves, you mean Skum (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/skum.htm), then you win. Skums (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/skum.htm)are humanoids or monstrous humanoids turned into aquatic aberrations by a long exposition to an aboleth's toxic mucus. They're usually used as slaves and minions by said aboleth. Under the aboleth's organization, it even lists "slaver brood (1d3+1 aboleth plus 7-12 skum)" There are plenty of other choices, but skums are the classical aboleth henchmen.
cog_n_taz 06-10-07, 05:24 AM	Check out my fantastic beasts thread (page 1, currently) for general aboleth stuff. As for henchmen in particular, I suggest (if they fit your party's level) some weird, fish-like.....bodaks:D
GoriceXII 06-10-07, 06:53 AM	_There's some good advice there on using them, cog-n_taz, thank you. My players have no idea I think that they even exist, though they have had inklings that strange disturbing creatures dwell in the deeper waters. I also forgot all about skum, but I far prefer them to the chuuls the adventure had in it. Any other suggestions? Bodaks...hm...have to think about that one.
runestar 06-10-07, 07:05 AM	They have enslave, so pretty much anything should be good game. Don't hesitate to mix and match critters to fit your needs....:D
Dead_Weasel 06-10-07, 10:24 PM	Also, a creature that has been afflicted by an aboleth's Slime could be dependent upon the aboleth's Mucus to make its life tolerable, and (although not enslaved) would thus be dependent on the aboleth. A PC that could provide a heal spell or magical item that permits water breathing would be that creature's new best friend, as well as giving it the opportunity to take revenge on its erstwhile master. Since Enslave is a dominate person effect, only humanoids are vulnerable.
Doom_Linnorm 06-11-07, 03:38 PM	They have enslave, so pretty much anything should be good game. Don't hesitate to mix and match critters to fit your needs....:D And then maybe slap on a slightly modified Reptilian template on it but accentuate fishyness and slimyness rather then scalyness.
GoriceXII 06-11-07, 07:13 PM	Sort of like amphibianfolk rather than lizardfolk... yuck. I like the idea of a heal or something similar being required, since that would mean that a cure minor wounds or moderate wounds would only stave off the inevitable. I believe the mucus itself is easy to get rid of.
Dead_Weasel 06-12-07, 01:35 AM	The mucus is not the problem for the creature - it is an asset. A creature that is affected by the slime has to remain moist. The mucus makes it breathe water. If I had to stay moist to stay alive, I would probably be a lot more comfortable breathing water - then I could wander around underwater freely, instead of being stuck at the surface. If I were underground (as aboleth often are) it is possible that I would not be able to get to another source of water before I succumbed to the Slime.
GoriceXII 06-12-07, 11:44 AM	Some caves are 'wet' caves though...it is in the case of this adventure. Nevertheless I take your point. Any other creatures that have been used as sidekicks?
Orchomenos 06-15-07, 11:56 AM	Skums fill in the henchmen/minions role. I consider a sidekick to be more like a cohort. What about Merrows (aquatic ogres) or Scrags (aquatic trolls)? Or perhaps Lacedons (aquatic ghouls)? An advanced lacedon (aquatic ghast?) could have a complex relationship with the aboleth: he is immuned to the enslave ability, but could easily be bullied by the larger fishy aberation. The aboleth could use him as first line of defense, and feeding him drowned humanoid slaves. The aboleth could even give him living humanoid slaves to turn into additional lacedons...