Dungeons and Dragons Lore: Aboleth

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ค. 2019
  • The Aboleth, masters of the Deep Underdark and true transdimensional threat to the Multiverse.
    Nates 5th edition spells as Psionic Powers: nerdarchy.com/guide-psionics-...
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ความคิดเห็น • 457

  • @volstadgermaine2510
    @volstadgermaine2510 4 ปีที่แล้ว +237

    Ahhh. The greatest Monster in D&D. I am so glad you regognise the puny nature of the 5e Monster Manual version. It hurt my heart so. The great Aboleth Empire shall rise again! Hahahahahaha!

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  4 ปีที่แล้ว +43

      *BWUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA*

    • @darthchocolate7911
      @darthchocolate7911 4 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      @ Volstad-Germaine-Death to the Aboleths. They're all psionic fish punks!

    • @volstadgermaine2510
      @volstadgermaine2510 4 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @@darthchocolate7911 Bring it homonid!

    • @Thkaal
      @Thkaal 4 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      It's just a fish with tentacles...always has been, always will be.

    • @draxthemsklonst
      @draxthemsklonst 4 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@Thkaal
      Convergent evolution. It's not really a fish.

  • @ethanotoroculus1060
    @ethanotoroculus1060 4 ปีที่แล้ว +174

    _"Before there was time, before there was anything... There was nothing. And before there was nothing... There were monsters."_

    • @rejvaik00
      @rejvaik00 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      "I stole that dialogue" - Rune smith

    • @ethanotoroculus1060
      @ethanotoroculus1060 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@rejvaik00 I made this comment before he uploaded that actually if I remember right?

    • @midnightmoon3084
      @midnightmoon3084 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      The time might be over but the adventure never ends.

    • @derekphelps138
      @derekphelps138 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      That is a bad-ass quote from Adventure Time (which was obviously deeply influenced by D&D) which is one of my all time fav shows

    • @ethanotoroculus1060
      @ethanotoroculus1060 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@derekphelps138 Absolutely. The Lich is just one of those series antagonists that just _cannot_ be forgotten.

  • @Im-Not-a-Dog
    @Im-Not-a-Dog 4 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    Aboleth: Senses party of adventurers entering its lair.
    Lower ranking Aboleth: Should we attack them?”
    Aboleth: Looks 10 minutes into the future and laughs. “Naw, they don’t make it past the first set of traps...”

  • @johntheherbalistg8756
    @johntheherbalistg8756 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    I just love the whole idea of telling the PCs, through an aboleth, something like "your gods are nothing but stories, told by beings you couldn't begin to imagine"
    I am an eldritch overgod: confirmed

  • @purplehaze2358
    @purplehaze2358 4 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    *When you’re 90% sure aboleths are the most lovecraft thing to ever lovecraft, but only 10% sure that this is a reupload.*

    • @spm3591
      @spm3591 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      I was thinking the same thing

  • @Im-Not-a-Dog
    @Im-Not-a-Dog 4 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    I like the idea of Aboleth being the stock that the Gods bred the Kraken from. As though a god saw an Aboleth and said “Well that’s fucking scary...we should weaponize that.”

  • @HumbleMemeFarmer
    @HumbleMemeFarmer 4 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    >be me, manlet paladin of Moradin
    >craft crappy hammers and pray to god every week, but dream every night of big-tiddy goth GF to call my own
    >Stupid inquisition find out, slap me and send me on spirit quest to "correct my allignment"
    >FFS
    >Out exploring dank af cave or whatever, feel a coldness wash over me
    >"Hippity Hoppity, you are now my property!"
    >Fucking Abboleth
    >slaps skin off me, turns me into frog-manlet. Hurts to move, and can only breathe underwater.
    >Still got big-tiddy frog GF despite short and grossness
    >thanks creepy squid fish
    >fuck you, Moradin

  • @rhapsody5645
    @rhapsody5645 3 ปีที่แล้ว +39

    My mind was blown a long time ago by "More than one multiverse."

    • @johntheherbalistg8756
      @johntheherbalistg8756 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Multiple multiversi

    • @razzelmire2008
      @razzelmire2008 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      It’s how WotC explains how MtG worlds and Eberron have their own cosmology yet also are now part of the D&D Multiverse. Each Crystal Sphere and it’s universe/world will either share some, all, or none of the core D&D Great Wheel planar structure and have its own multiverse. So far, Sigil the City of Doors and the Infinite Staircase, as well as the deep Shadow Plane, are the only “bridges” to these other multiverses. Maybe even Yggdrasil’s branches too, but only to worlds where a Norse deity is worshipped in some form.

  • @JoseMolina-ij3xx
    @JoseMolina-ij3xx 4 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    I remember there is a serious rivalry between the Aboleth, Beholders and the Illithid and this rivalry mimics the minions of the Star Spawn of Chtulhu, The Polyps The Elder Things and The Ancient race of Yith in the Lovecraftian mythos.

  • @dirtywhitellama
    @dirtywhitellama ปีที่แล้ว +15

    I have a player who told me her character would sell her soul for knowledge. She has a sailor background, and we're going in space (spelljammer). I think an astral aboleth in a subconscious reverie would be a great patron for her upcoming levels of warlock.....

  • @wisesavvy3065
    @wisesavvy3065 4 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Never touched anything remotely related to dnd but I religiously watch every video.

    • @GregtheGrey6969
      @GregtheGrey6969 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Interesting... Wonder why?

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  4 ปีที่แล้ว

      I appreciate it 😊

    • @wisesavvy3065
      @wisesavvy3065 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      loki Griffith i played diablo 3. In Texas there isn’t really anyone I know to play it with.

  • @DkKombo
    @DkKombo 4 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    You forgot the fact that the slaves are made to have endless dreams of their ultimate fantasy, which is why you see these things are never in pain.
    It can even be argued at some points they are just misunderstood if they weren't so pessimistic in their own views on the fleeting creatures.
    I can see one being empathetic to a small creature and raising it as a pet.
    I mean really, how cruel are we to animals to never let them have the free will to do what they want?
    "Oh they'll have a better life this way!"
    Interesting choices for players, I can even see an aboleth merely contesting this idea with good aligned characters, or using this on a grander scale to convince entire civilizations to be subservient to or not bother them.

  • @suruxstrawde8322
    @suruxstrawde8322 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +12

    I just like the fact mind flayers are afraid of them.

  • @Huggamugger1
    @Huggamugger1 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Whimsy is my favorite Aboleth. 8) "He's precious!" -- See Puffin Forest

    • @joewhite6844
      @joewhite6844 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      The one with duel persona?

    • @Huggamugger1
      @Huggamugger1 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@joewhite6844 Yes! Every time I watch Whimsy's story, which must be around 30 times, I LMAO!

  • @StarboyXL9
    @StarboyXL9 4 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Plot twist: Aboleths are just what we as players and DMs manifest as when not possessing characters to go on adventures for our own amusement: Horrifying, monstrous abominations that can induce madness by merely speaking or communicating with characters.
    But srsly tho these guys are just plot devices

  • @DCdabest
    @DCdabest 3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    Out of the 3; Aboleth are far worse in my mind than Beholders or Illithids.
    Illithids have almost human motivations and almost co-operative at times when it comes to overlapping goals with others (like killing aboleths lol). When they aren't trying to eat your brain, enslave you or take over the world you can do business with them.
    Beholders are scary individually but are hopelessly narcissistic and treacherous to each other.
    But Aboleth are so thoroughly alien and so thoroughly evil and inimical to every other form of life they demand to be destroyed without prejudice.

    • @GoGoOnGordon
      @GoGoOnGordon 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      As a Humanoid Creature I strongly disagree, Aboleth are Lawful Evil so they aren't going to really attack you without a reason. Aboleth don't go looking for trouble like the Illithids, you would have to cross their territory to get their attention. Not only that you have a better chance of making deals with the Aboleth than the other 2 so as long as you're not a Cleric or any type of person who worships the Gods since the Gods are their True Enemies. Aboleth are also a great source of knowledge since they have perfect memory... Aboleth are the most dangerous compare to the Beholders and the Illithids, but just because they are the most dangerous doesn't make them the biggest threat. Beholders will kill anything or anyone who isn't them individually, Illithids/Mind Flayers if you ain't them then prepare to get a tadpole put into your brain and lose yourself completely, or eaten as food, or worse watch your brain walk out on you literally.
      However being killed on sight and likely to die quick from 10 different rays is probably the best thing you can asked for compare to being a puppet for 7 days or less and go through a painfully transformation and no longer exist while a creature takes your body as its own, or dependent on water the rest of your life and hope that your master might find you essentially useful so he doesn't decide to eat you when he's hungry or punish you.

  • @shamusfarmer
    @shamusfarmer 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    That psychic drug stuff was FASCINATING. Could you please, maybe, someday do a video on all the different drugs in DnD? Like lower plane drugs, feywild drugs, underdark drugs, stuff like that?

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Hey Shamus. Hmmm it is a subject I do really enjoy.. the whole idea of magical potions is awesome.

    • @shamusfarmer
      @shamusfarmer 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@AJPickett Yeah, how do those work by the way..? Is it just a normal liquid infused with a heal spell (for example) or is it more of an alchemical thing? A video on various potions would be awesome too!

  • @antwan1357
    @antwan1357 4 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    i would love to have an Aboleth that is aware that it is in a game... aware of previous versions of the game , and is even aware that Gary Gygax created the game it exists in. If the Aboleth is able to read the minds of the player characters it becomes aware of the players and the DM currently playing , or has enough awareness that when a certain character in its domain seems a little too powerful to define as for normal as to what should have happened that it could be dealing with players. Knowing players are mostly murder hobos , the Aboleth would seek to direct the Aboleth away from itself giving them something worthwhile to target very far away from itself. Potentially creating a scenario where an npc that will never ever meet you under any conditions pulls the strings to keep you occupied with it's enemies , or merely just to keep you as far away from itself as possible , and direct your destructive potential away from its influence area.

    • @JoseMolina-ij3xx
      @JoseMolina-ij3xx 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The Aboleth knows that it is a creation of another author that supercedes Gary Gygax. That is not dead which can eternal lie, And with strange aeons even death may die.

    • @krispalermo8133
      @krispalermo8133 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Aboleth traveled around the astral seas, came by Earth, looked through multiple realities, it inspire Lovecraft and dream plague/ inspire Gygax into creating D&D so nerds will dream up stories about them and feed them our collective physic energies.

  • @robertwilson2516
    @robertwilson2516 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Nothing brings people together better than an evil psychic Squid/Catfish trying to take over the world.

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Just one world?

    • @robertwilson2516
      @robertwilson2516 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@AJPickett Good point it should be Worlds.

  • @antwan1357
    @antwan1357 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Supposedly Aboleths created all sorcerers from experimenting on humans. The very first sorcerers where so powerful they was godlike. This was back when Aboleths where curious about magic , and humans , and experimenting on humans. Which they no longer do for obvious reasons.

    • @Gabranicus
      @Gabranicus 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      In my world, the 'disease' that turns you into an aboleth servitor or 'skum' is actually just the aboleth 'de-evolving' you back to your original state, since the aboleths of my world are responsible for accidentally creating all other life on the planet.

    • @antwan1357
      @antwan1357 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Gabranicus makes sense and sounds like the same lore. The Aboleths simply do it out of curiosity and disregard it once it becomes uninteresting.

    • @ShaneCopen
      @ShaneCopen 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      The aboleth under the Isle of Dread still use glyphs. Of course this means - all aboleths can use glyphs.

  • @psyberklown3434
    @psyberklown3434 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Aboleth so smart they know they are D&D monsters.

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      They know that some planes of existence are so weird, the barrier between them takes on the form of pure thought and myth... stories.

    • @StarboyXL9
      @StarboyXL9 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@AJPickett So Aboleths would find our universe, with its structured order, clockwork systems, and slow ineluctable slide towards total and complete entropy alien and wierd?

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@StarboyXL9 I think they would love it here.

  • @eldarhighelfhealermiriella7653
    @eldarhighelfhealermiriella7653 4 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    Once My friends run a campaing where a powerfull fiend was released into the mortal plane. I just grab a ship, lift a stone and jump into the water with a scroll of breath underwater. I saw an Aboleth Noble a four other aboleths looking at me curious as I reach the deep of their home. They read my mind and saw visions of the world of the future beeing consumed by flames and then the water drain and themself beeing killed. They let me go (for a while) with an item that can surpass that evil in land. And after the massive figth I return to the abbys. Now beeing a slave for the Aboleths forever. As a gift just to protect the entire of their home. ;(

    • @maximdrager3639
      @maximdrager3639 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Eh, being a slave to them wouldn't be bad?
      Like what would I be doing?

    • @Dontreallycare5
      @Dontreallycare5 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@maximdrager3639Not being eaten when your work efficiency drops off?

    • @maximdrager3639
      @maximdrager3639 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @Dontreallycare5 but what's the work?
      That's what I mean, like, would they make me complete essays or smth??

    • @Dontreallycare5
      @Dontreallycare5 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@maximdrager3639 depends on what your good at. If nothing, you’ll probably just end up at an underwater quarry digging materials to build cities with maddening geometries and runes that gradually drive you insane. Or a disposal scout sent onto land to find better skilled slaves.
      If your lucky and combat effective, maybe they will set you up with a chuul garrison and send you off to fight their enemies.

  • @nullvoid4063
    @nullvoid4063 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Knocked it out of the park AJ!
    On a side note, I know I've made a lot of requests (Silthilar, Neogi, Fleshwarping, etc.), but thanks for taking it in stride. I know you're doing your best to keep up with viewer requests. So while I'm not able to contribute monthly (U.S.A. college tuition does that), I can still enjoy your videos, subscribe, and show your content to other fans of D&D.
    Thanks AJ!

  • @thewerdna
    @thewerdna 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Aboleths are indeed terrifying...
    ...unless they happen to be named Whimsy.

    • @tidetight
      @tidetight 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Splish, splish, splish…"he's precious."

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @Jujubear's Adventures Puffin Forest :)

  • @skyshatter7
    @skyshatter7 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    So awesome that you redo your old videos... I love that

  • @flibbernodgets7018
    @flibbernodgets7018 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Despite the fact that they're supposed to inevitably rule the whole multiverse, I feel like the Illithids don't hold a candle to the Aboleth in power and potential. Maybe they're more driven, in the way that humans are naturally weak but ambitious.

  • @rayanderson5797
    @rayanderson5797 4 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Aboleths: They're old, they're evil, and they're smarter than you.

    • @DCdabest
      @DCdabest 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Aboleths are a LE retirement home.

    • @GoGoOnGordon
      @GoGoOnGordon 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      You forgot to add 'extremely' in front of 'smarter than you part' lol!

  • @epiccthulu
    @epiccthulu 3 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    Here’s the real question: Can you salt an aboleth like you can a slug, given that they are both mucus based? If so... there is an elemental plan of salt where Water touches the negative plane.

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      No. :)

    • @Taricus
      @Taricus 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The paraelemental plane of salt sucks for anyone. It's touching the water and ooze elemental planes though :P Negative elemental plane is 3 removed from salt. Water>>Salt>>Ooze>>Dust>>Negative. It only touches negative when you view it from the poles of air and earth, not the prime.

  • @DavidChachere
    @DavidChachere 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    "Mind-bending stuff. And even more amazing that you understood exactly what I'm talking about. Well done! I think you're ready to do these horrible creatures justice."

  • @TerrariaGolem
    @TerrariaGolem 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Yaaas! Mindflayers be packin. Yer boi the Aboleth has arrived.

  • @ChuckKingofChairs
    @ChuckKingofChairs 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Do you ever think you might make a vid on the gods themselves along with their heralds?
    Love the vids either way, you make my daily work schedule much more bearable.

  • @onlycorndog6322
    @onlycorndog6322 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    I think the really interesting thing about Aboleths is that they apparently don't remember where Mind Flayers came from in their racial memory, which supports the theory that Mind Flayers came from the distant future.

  • @zacharyhawley1693
    @zacharyhawley1693 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Everyone should play an Aboleth campaign at least once.
    I personally don't use them as the gods made damn sure they had no hold on the material world.

  • @garagestudios01
    @garagestudios01 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Thanks for taking this on and a super generous review.

  • @Oooze3424
    @Oooze3424 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    I haven't had aboleths appear in a campaign yet but my plan for 'em is that they'll all look wildly different with the sole similarity of resembling some kind of aberrant paleozoic sea beast, like a dunkleosteus or jaekelopterus.

  • @IndigoJulze
    @IndigoJulze 4 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Now I want to run a Aboleth noble that has a cache of multiverse artefacts. Iron helmet from skyrim with preserved vocal cords next to it. Mjalnir armour from halo, Godzilla's scales, a com badge and red star trek uniform, a light saber with a pile of sand, a glinting metal skeleton with three claws extending from the knuckles. And on a pedestal at the center of the room, every D&D game book ever published complete with print outs of the player character's character sheets.

    • @matthewbennett1972
      @matthewbennett1972 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Indigo Julze lets get meta. And the caretaker could be Ambrose Bierce

    • @krispalermo8133
      @krispalermo8133 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      WotC 3.5e system for both D&D and Star Wars, my game shop drop Vader and a few dozen storm troopers into Castle Ravenloft, we even had a Gith spelljammer fleet attack a star destroyer and faced of against the Emperor and Vader.

  • @andyh2783
    @andyh2783 4 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    AJ were you aware of the Abolethic Sovereignty books set in the Forgotten Realms.....it suggests that the aboleths of the sovereignty were different from the normal aboleths of toril. They were unfettered meaning they could swim through the air and were from the far realm.....the oldest of them being huge beyond ancient creatures

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      I have not read the books yet, but I am aware of the story line, it appears in the lore here and there.

  • @crankysmurf
    @crankysmurf 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    I played an after work homebrew adventure where my coworkers and I were stuck on a magical cursed island (think Lost) after our ship was encased in ice. We wandered to a nearby ancient temple where there were talking twin baboons who had been stuck on the island for centuries and they suggested that we disable six shrines scattered around the island. After doing so our party went back to the temple and found the baboons had magically merged into a giant two-headed baboon. After we killed it, we moved to a demonic catacomb dedicated to Demogorgon below the temple and eventually found our way down to an underground lake cavern where the final boss, an aboleth, was.
    Luckily my Protector Aasimar Paladin of Devotion ignored the aboleth's watery lair powers by flying over the water and was immune to its enslave charm power and diseased touch. As the party treaded water and fought the aboleth my paladin faced Demogorgon slowly emerging from the portal. An enslaved party member had the crown used as a key to fully unlock the portal but my paladin wrestled it out of his hands and closed the portal.

  • @Silversmith70
    @Silversmith70 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Nothing scares me as much as listening to you tell me stories, geezus, its like I am there. I don't want to be an Aboleths thrall! But then again.... what choice do I have, its too late!

  • @That80sGuy1972
    @That80sGuy1972 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I've used these monsters in a lot of my campaigns. I think I played them too well. The Aboleths were smart enough to dodge my veteran players so they never were quite sure it was an Aboleth encounter... they mostly blamed Illithids that were miles away.

    • @jasoncrowell8863
      @jasoncrowell8863 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      You can never play Aboleth TOO well. Heck, I think that if their empire even slightly resembled what they were actually capable of, we'd all be speaking Aboleth right now.

  • @kordelshorgar122
    @kordelshorgar122 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    i known aboleths since early pathfinder but i have loved them ever since

  • @michaelmoes6378
    @michaelmoes6378 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Hey, good timing! I was going to watched your old Aboleth video yesterday and thought it was one in need of an update. Thanks, AJ!

  • @Baalslegion07
    @Baalslegion07 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Imagine a great aboleth being fused with an elder-brain... good bye Toril

  • @tatsusama3192
    @tatsusama3192 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    2:10 Knowing what these things are, this is technically an insult, but this photo made me think of extraterrestrial koi. Such a cool picture

  • @Mr_Maiq_The_Liar
    @Mr_Maiq_The_Liar 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    They reproduce but they never die? This has some very bad implications for the future of the multiverse.

    • @krispalermo8133
      @krispalermo8133 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Alignment lawful evil.
      AD&D2ndE Planescape campaign setting, and 5e Descent into Avernus, ..
      Aboleths make some nice and tasty Soul Stones.
      Humans used to hunt bears with spears for sport, and hunt sharks with spear guns and fishing lines.
      What do fiends of the lower planes go fishing for ?

  • @LordSignur
    @LordSignur 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    You just casually forecasted BG3's scenario 4 years in advance...

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  9 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      I mean... yeah.

  • @twink-182
    @twink-182 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    As a newer D&D player, I bought a mini monster manual to be a bit more knowledgeable, and when i saw these guys I fell in love with their eeriness. They’re probably my favorite underwater monster

  • @angrygardengnome8383
    @angrygardengnome8383 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Their lore explores that Lovecraftian theme of human cosmic insignificance in a really novel way. It answers questions that cosmic horror usually leaves open, but does so in a way that keeps you unsettled. Good stuff.

  • @mjp152
    @mjp152 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The image at 7:10 is probably one of my favorite D&D illustrations - so evocative.

  • @daltonwilliams8541
    @daltonwilliams8541 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I actually just watched your old aboleth video yesterday in prep for a session in a few days from now. Looks like chance is on my side.

  • @ThisNameIsBanned
    @ThisNameIsBanned 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Monsters like this are the reason that Aquatic campaigns are complete nightmares , not just for the intimidate death of drowning all the time and what not.

  • @eros5420
    @eros5420 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    I would like to imagine the party exploring the underdark and coming across an aboleth who has gotten stuck in an underground lake for an unknown amount of time. He introduces himself and the party explains their races and classes.... and the aboleth mumbles about the gods and their "power creep" and all the new books ruining everything and wishing it was still first edition or whatever. Leaving the characters in game really confused... but the players laughing.

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Haha! Sort of so crazy he is sane.

    • @Thkaal
      @Thkaal ปีที่แล้ว +6

      So...what you're saying is.....
      I'm an aboleth.

    • @eros5420
      @eros5420 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @@Thkaal Do you have whiskers? Are you a good swimmer? Do you have three eyes? If you answered yes to any of these you may be an Aboleth and not realize it.

    • @Thkaal
      @Thkaal ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@eros5420 whiskers....check. good swimmer.....check. three eyes......check

  • @matthewhartshorn5204
    @matthewhartshorn5204 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    So glad to see these older ones being redone! The quality has improved a LOT in 3 years!

  • @lunarwombat99
    @lunarwombat99 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    running an aberration filled campaign w an aboleth bbeg and this was so helpful, thank you!

  • @GrandMoffJake
    @GrandMoffJake 4 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    "Aboleths have as much knowledge of the D and D universe as you or I do"
    Lumping me and you is like saying the halfling is about as strong as the storm giant. Lol

  • @wellsb973
    @wellsb973 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Love the modern update. Nice work.

  • @uncleben726
    @uncleben726 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Aboleths are undoubtably the first to call god cringe

  • @jakecrichton562
    @jakecrichton562 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Good update! I was hesitant to ever use these things, now I'm bloody terrified! Thanks AJ!

  • @rickeymariu1
    @rickeymariu1 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    One of your best videos by far. Thanks A.J.

  • @cypher4783
    @cypher4783 4 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    My rageaholich axe murderer, I mean my bezerker barbarian would think of how tasty they would be.
    My John wick rip off rouge assassin would find a hole in the ground and drink himself to Oblivion
    My warlock would be like, "high boss."

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Lol! "Hi boss"

  • @darthchocolate7911
    @darthchocolate7911 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Hey AJ, if the Mind Flayers attempted to re-establish their vanquished empire would the Aboleths ally themselves with the Githyanki or Githzerai in order to defeat them?

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      The Aboleth might appear to do so on a small scale, but their grand objective is always total domination, including any lesser beings they "soften" with offers of allegiance.

    • @markusnavergard2387
      @markusnavergard2387 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@AJPickett what if a illithid and Aboleth combined?

  • @Greenscyth22
    @Greenscyth22 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Regular Aboleth are pretty damn scary...but I love love LOVE the Stygian Aboleth. You'd think that something couldn't be affected by other planar environments, but even the 9 Hells can "corrupt" something as alien as an Aboleth.

  • @nobodyspecial9097
    @nobodyspecial9097 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Just a thought how does the creature supernaturally foul the water if it doesn’t have any magical abilities?

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      It projects psychic presence and energy through the water, one byproduct of that is that it manifests ectoplasm, which is fairly nasty stuff (though not poisonous per se).

    • @nobodyspecial9097
      @nobodyspecial9097 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      AJ Pickett if they can summon biological material in the form of ectoplasm, could they not then construct a familiar made of pure psychic energy, or reconstruct and reshape other lifeforms at a whim? It basically seems like they have the stone ship ability but with flesh. Which honestly makes them even more terrifying, instead of poly morphing you into another shape, they telekinetically reassemble you into another life form entirely.

  • @richardneri9759
    @richardneri9759 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Lol. Dragon magazines ecology “video.” I like it. Excellent video as always sir. This one flows a lot better than the original. Two storm giant sized thumbs up.

  • @cb2291
    @cb2291 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    My favourite lore source

  • @Giles29
    @Giles29 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    "I'm gonna get my butt kicked by a giant psychic catfish..."

  • @StrattCaster
    @StrattCaster 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    fascniating content! Growing up I always had the most fun with Dee and D by reading the dungeon master books and learning all the lore, they kept me busy for many hours

  • @willmendoza8498
    @willmendoza8498 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    Best horror monster in D&D, hands down.

  • @spedwyrm7427
    @spedwyrm7427 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    These creatures and their potions of domination are why I love the "Night Below" campaign

  • @michaelkelley2727
    @michaelkelley2727 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    aboleths, along with phaerimm, are basically the ogdru jahad from hellboy

  • @shakescan
    @shakescan 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I had the "Dwellers of the Forbidden City" module (may still have) when it came out. Great encounters in that module!

  • @joshuazane3210
    @joshuazane3210 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Huge improvement from the original video. This was really excellent!

  • @Ibird92
    @Ibird92 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This rehash on the Aboleth video is excellent! Please redo some of your early videos on the monsters you have already done, the encounter scenarios that you have been adding to this and previous videos would be great addition to the re-uploads if you choose to do them.

  • @cowdogg3085
    @cowdogg3085 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    All I can think of is the show SLIDERS . A group of adventurers manipulated by an elder aboleth with a device that sends them into parallel worlds. Just so they can observe the world's and scout new species to enslave. Also to see how the adventures adapt to all manner of struggle and stress. Only to try and destroy them when it finally tires of the game and has collected enough information. Oh and did I mention that the device is a permanent mark on the adventures skin that looks like a common mole.

  • @iksarguards
    @iksarguards 4 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Could an aboleth be a warlock’s patron?
    I’m thinking pact of The Great Old Ones. Kind of going for an arcane researcher that investigated too deeply into forgotten lore and came under the sway of a Lovecraftian existential-horror-monster.
    An Aboleth would nicely fit this role, offering the warlock access to the secrets of time and space and untold eldrich powers in return for submission.

    • @Edgar_A_Bro
      @Edgar_A_Bro 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      There are great old ones included in the mythos well Cthulhu is and possibly Nyalarthotep.

    • @TerrariaGolem
      @TerrariaGolem 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Lurker Warlock in a newer unearthed arcana seems better than GOOlock.

    • @JoseMolina-ij3xx
      @JoseMolina-ij3xx 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The Aboleth remind me strongly of the Great Race of Yith, with their alien minds and incredible psychic abilities. The alien scientific inventions and their ability to traverse time and space like we would move from one room to the next. Perhaps, a splinter group of Yith decided to project their minds into the Aboleth and created this fantastic race?

  • @scottmcley5111
    @scottmcley5111 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    So would the Aboleth collective remember the secret of smokepowder after it was forgotten during the spellplague? 🤔

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I suppose so.

  • @kendrickrochelanzot2053
    @kendrickrochelanzot2053 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Aboleth: WHO DARES ENTER MY-
    the party: *confused screaming*
    Seriously tho, aboleths are easily a awsome monster to make into a main villain.

  • @HiopX
    @HiopX ปีที่แล้ว +7

    So Aboleth are Lantean, Illithids are Goa'uld and Clockwork Horrors are Replikators
    Then Gith are Jaffar and Thor is still Thor
    Any ideas for Wraith, Tollans and Nox?

  • @davidfletcher6703
    @davidfletcher6703 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Psychic manipulation of water is called Hydrokinesis, magic manipulation of water is Hydromancy

  • @briciusd.8478
    @briciusd.8478 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    His note to the Wizards of the Coast... It would seem you have shown your hand AJ. You are indeed from a realm where D&D is reality, and players are the gods of you! And through some luck, you as one of their run away characters at the end of a campaign have used plane shift to come here and write your own story! Conspiracy confirmed folks.

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Elminster owes me $20

  • @jkl1110
    @jkl1110 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    favorite creature in dnd cuz of it's lore. If i am ever in a game where we make a setting i always try to add a aboleth plot

  • @Turenkoren
    @Turenkoren 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Yoooo AJ keep up the good work bud

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Roger roger :)

  • @leekyb3837
    @leekyb3837 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    my first homebrew's BBEG was an Aboleth based off the pokemon Primal Kyogre with a Mega swampert as its lieutenant. I loved learning and writing about this thing. Shale will absolutely be brought back in other homebrews.

  • @caseyspark2019
    @caseyspark2019 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    God I love these guys.

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      GODS!? *three eyes glow with evil in the eternal darkness*

    • @caseyspark2019
      @caseyspark2019 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@AJPickett haha that made me smile thanks.

  • @DkKombo
    @DkKombo 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Well, this sounds like a good excuse to have some weird ass builds a la aboleth fuckery.

  • @wayfarerzen3393
    @wayfarerzen3393 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I think Baldur's Gate 3 might have taken their main plot point from this video lmao, that brain parasite thing is a sick idea.

  • @cernunnos_lives
    @cernunnos_lives 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    I never liked how short the history of Toril was.
    Our own Earth is 4.7 Billion years old. Considering throughout most of this time, it was uninhabitable. I'm wondering why (officially) Toril is a fraction of this? And if it has undergone the same environmental pathway that our own planet does, it seems to me that this is an oversight of the creation of the world. And I'm a huge fan of Ed Greenwood too. Consider how long it took for plants to change the atmosphere of our own planet. How long it took for the development of multicellular life.
    Humans were here for about 300k years (while Toril is only 30k old?). Weird. I've always expanded the Toril timeline to fit that of our own planet.
    And Aboleths should technically reproduce once every 50K years instead of 5 centuries. Perhaps once in a million years.😮 And going into a torpor for many centuries.
    I think this should work out better for what we know about our own universe.

    • @AJPickett
      @AJPickett  8 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      Yeah, but the Prime Material plane where D&D goes on is not very much like our universe at all, so, it doesn't really matter aside from your own personal bias... if you want the planet to have formed the usual way, gone through all the slow steps of evolution, and have had no gods, primordials and magic involved, that's entirely under your control :)

  • @GhoulSlayer_
    @GhoulSlayer_ 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    “Fluff no crunch” is a weird way to say “all sizzle no steak.”

  • @misterjoshua5720
    @misterjoshua5720 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Love the update! Great graphics and sound quality is top shelf.

  • @jima6545
    @jima6545 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    If it wasn't mentioned below, in The Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, by Monte Cook, one of the leaders of Tharizdun's high priests. Known simply as The Second

  • @alanschaub147
    @alanschaub147 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Nate the Nerdarch is the man! Thanks for the great video, AJ!

    • @dragonballtalk8527
      @dragonballtalk8527 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I dislike nerdarchy cause of cool thumbnails then when I click its giggling bearded old dudes I need images and info on a subject not what they got

  • @jgr7487
    @jgr7487 4 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    MM's Aboleth is only CR10. VGM's Elder Brain is only CR 14.
    what if the OG Elder Brains were actually CR 24 Aboleths?
    one really old and really screwed-up Aboleth discovers the larvae of Neolithids & decides to feed their slaves to the weird worms. one day the 1st Ulitharid is born, thus starting the cycle of hive mitosis. after thousands of years of this Aboleth-Ilithid multiversal empire, the Gith raise against their overlords killing all of the Aboleths, making it impossible for them to return to the Material Plane in any point thereafter. Now the Ilithids exist as an independent species, albeit one, which lost their great might.
    aaand that's why Aboleths only exist in the past, while Ilithids only exist in the future.

    • @cameronscott9399
      @cameronscott9399 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Im stealing this for my campaigns

    • @christophermzdenek
      @christophermzdenek 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      This is pretty close to word for word how it is in my campaign.

  • @thedm8873
    @thedm8873 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Yet another great video!

  • @charleshartley9597
    @charleshartley9597 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Awesome video AJ!
    In my current campaign I have substituted the illithid elder brain for aboleths, all agents of the greatest "dreamer" of all… Cthulhu. They seek the knowledge and "keys" to awaken their master and return him to his rightful place as master of the prime material… all iterations of it. The collective dream-telepathy of aboleths is known elsewhere as "the dreaming dark" (a la Eberron). In short, I know I've somewhat simplistically gathered the "tentacle" monsters together, but their collective use of psionics seemed too good to pass up.

    • @ThisNameIsBanned
      @ThisNameIsBanned 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      A player with a anti-psyconic helmet is going to demolish them all.
      Just like in Baldurs Gate 2 , when you get one to slaughter the Mindflayers.

    • @possiblyfatal
      @possiblyfatal 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Writing a new campaign and i’m stealing this - awesome idea!

  • @louiesatterwhite3885
    @louiesatterwhite3885 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Aboleths are my favorite monster with everything they are capable of

    • @johntheherbalistg8756
      @johntheherbalistg8756 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      For me, the attraction to aboleths is more about the mind bending reality of these creatures. I like alternate reality theory stuff, and as a reasonably new DM, I'm still looking for an interesting way to break the fourth wall without breaking immersion.
      My campaign already has a far realm arc, so I'll probably use one if these buggers in it.

  • @erichz628
    @erichz628 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    New favorite creature! Thank you great vid!

  • @johntheherbalistg8756
    @johntheherbalistg8756 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Ok, you got me there, AJ. I saw the video and thought to myself "22 minutes ago? You mean like two years... oh, wait! That thumbnail is different!"
    🤣🤣🤣 Touche, sir!
    So, you already covered illithids, and that was an awesome video, but do you think you could do a video dedicated to the elder brain? None of the D&D geniuses on TH-cam have done a comprehensive treatment on it yet, and you're my favorite among them, so it would be awesome if you could.

  • @Norwyn
    @Norwyn 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    This is so fascinating! Aboleths are one of my favourites!
    I am very interested in hearing more about all those different aboleth types. Could you tell us more about them?
    Also I soon will be able to fulfill a dream of mine and play as an aboleth in my own homebrew world. I am so excited!

    • @krispalermo8133
      @krispalermo8133 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Roll the dice monster battle, two players, two monsters ..
      Such as from back in the days of AD&D2ndE thirty years ago for my group. Have your PC party fight any monster in the monster manual by .. randomly .. opening the book to any given page.
      So one player rolls the dice for an Aboleth and another player rolls the dice for a black dragon.

    • @Norwyn
      @Norwyn 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@krispalermo8133 I think I prefer the roleplaying aspect of being an ancient, immortal fishlike entity, that conducts experiments and uses its powers to create new life and fix the damage that mortals do to the ecosystems of many worlds.

    • @krispalermo8133
      @krispalermo8133 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Norwyn Less lawful evil, more Druid ..
      cool.
      I'm a big fan of 3.5e Psionic hand book. The mechanics can be worked out. Fill a note book with ideals around the concept. Even if it will not be a publish work. Your grand children or other young family members could read through it one day ten or thirty years down the road.
      I am having a rough enough time just trying to draw out my own chess board to get 3D printed.

  • @kevinchristiansen4348
    @kevinchristiansen4348 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    What happened to the cheese talk aj? I loved that you are so awesome when you do that!

  • @1337karm
    @1337karm 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I love this remake! Great work sir!