Aboleth Lasher (Basic Lore)

Aboleth Lasher (Heavy; CR 17)
Pure Evil - Large - Aberration (Aboleth, Aquatic)
This creature possesses the Heavy role, and therefore counts as 2 monsters for purposes of encounter size, XP award, and treasure. This monster frequently has the Heavy role, but may be set to other roles if desired. Aboleths look like the result of the unholy union of a giant carp and a giant squid, that also fell into a vat of demonic slime sometime after their bizarre birth. They are 12-foot long fish, with features of a catfish, modified with numerous flowing tentacles emerging from their upper torso. They are prodigiously slimy, often covered so thickly with effluvium that they are difficult to make out. They inhabit any aquatic environment, whether fresh water, brackish, or salt water. Some variants have even been known to survive (and thrive) in other liquid environments, such as the lava of active volcanoes, or within caustic pools of boiling acid. Aboleths require frequent exposure to water to survive, but can flop about on land if necessary, though they are ungainly when doing so and lose a great deal of their agility. They prefer instead to lure their prey into the water with them, using trickery, traps, or other subterfuge to make diving into that pool of water seem like a good idea. No one can say what the origin of the aboleth species is, but it is clearly documented that they have existed for a very long time. Even the most ancient writings of the fey indicate that aboleths are an ancient species. While their origins are unknown, their predilection for conquest is widely reported. Aboleths are powerfully psychic, and dominate any creatures who stray into their domains. They are also highly intelligent, and carefully plan and plot how best to expand their domains into all the lands surrounding their lair. They will use their dominated thralls to lure more people to them, dominating them and expanding their influence even further. They have been known to tamper with the politics of the civilized races, subverting towns and cities with their enslaved thralls, and manipulating the populace to their own ends. Indeed, as threats to the world go, aboleths share the same kind of infamy as liches and mummies, whose plots span centuries, and whose corruption and influence can sometimes be felt continents away from their actual lairs. Aboleths are known to associate with sahaugin and locathah, but nearly any creature could be enthralled to an aboleth, or coerced to follow its will. Aboleth lashers are unusual for aboleths in that they thrive in melee combat. Where most aboleths will serve a supporting or artillery role in a combat, throwing thralls in the way to avoid direct engagement, lashers can scrap with the best of them. Of course, they also host a battery of powerful psychic abilities, making them terrible threats, but they will fearlessly wade into battle all the same.