Homebrew Aboleth Species Details

Aboleths were fish-like amphibians of immense size, often reaching 20 feet (6.1 meters) in length and weighing up to 6,500 pounds (2,900 kilograms), though they continued to grow as they aged and some fantastically ancient specimens might reach 40 feet (12 meters) in length. They resembled a bizarre eel, with long, tubular bodies, as well as a tail at one end and two fins near the head and another along the back. Aboleths' mouths were lamprey-like, filled with serrated, jawless teeth. To be playable, your aboleth has to be a maximum of ~10 feet (~3 meters) in length.

Aboleth underbellies were often orange-pink, while their topsides were typically sea-green. A little bit back from the head were four long tentacles, two sprouting from across each other on the top, and two more of the same on the underbelly. Their heads were roughly triangular-shaped, with a spherical, somewhat beak-like nose. Above the nose were their three eyes, each one set atop the other. Tendrils and a few shorter tentacles dangled from the bottom of the head. Four blue-black slime-secreting orifices lined the bottom of their bodies. Aboleth blood was green and thick, oozing like sap.

Aboleths breathed through a thick gray mucus-like substance, which covered their body and which they exuded from four pulsating organs along their body as they moved. If robbed of the ability to exude this slime, an aboleth would suffocate in water or on land alike. As such, an aboleth had to take care of its mucus. Out of the water, an aboleth's membrane-like skin dried out quickly, but this did not prove fatal in and of itself. Instead, the aboleth would eventually enter a state of suspended animation, called long dreaming, a fate considered far worse than simply dying amongst aboleths. During this process, the so-hampered aboleth formed a tough, waterproof membrane. However, if this membrane was pierced, liquid flooded out and death was usually not far off for the aboleth.

Aboleths did not die of old age and so lived on indefinitely, barring violence or disease.

Aboleth Traits

Your aboleth character has the following racial traits.

Tentacles and Natural Armor

You are proficient with unarmed strikes, which deal 1d6 Bludgeoning damage. You also have thick, slimy skin. When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 12 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength, Constitution, and Charisma scores each increase by 1.

Age

Aboleths did not die of old age and so lived on indefinitely, barring violence or disease.

Alignment

Horrifying creatures known to mentally enslave people, most aboleths are Lawful Evil.

Size

Aboleths were fish-like amphibians of immense size, often reaching 20 feet (6.1 meters) in length and weighing up to 6,500 pounds (2,900 kilograms), though they continued to grow as they aged and some fantastically ancient specimens might reach 40 feet (12 meters) in length. For game balance reasons, however, you can't be larger than a Medium creature (~10 feet in length).

Speed

Your base walking speed is 10 feet, and you have a swimming speed of 40 feet.

Amphibious

You can breathe air and water.

Charm Person

Starting at 3rd level, you can cast charm person Once you cast this spell with this trait, you can’t cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Superior Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Telepathy

Aboleth are known for being powerful psychics. You can have full conversations with single targets inside your minds so long as they remain within 30ft of you.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Deep Speech.