Aboleth Ruler — Sovereign of the Drowned City

Aboleth Ruler

Gargantuan Aberration, typically Lawful Evil

AC 20; Initiative +2 (12)
HP 420 (24d20 + 168)
Speed 10 ft., Swim 70 ft.

Saving Throws Str +16, Con +14, Int +16, Wis +13, Cha +15
Skills Arcana +16, Deception +15, History +16, Insight +13, Intimidation +15, Perception +13
Resistances Cold, Lightning, Psychic
Immunities Charmed, Frightened
Senses Blindsight 120 ft., Darkvision 120 ft.; Passive Perception 23
Languages Deep Speech, Undercommon; telepathy 5 miles with subjects and thralls
CR 21 (33,000 XP); PB +7

Traits

Amphibious. The ruler can breathe air and water.

Legendary Resistance (4/Day). If the ruler fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Telepathic Overmind. The ruler knows the location and emotional state of every willing subject or Charmed thrall within 5 miles. It can issue telepathic commands to any number of them simultaneously.

Mucus Cloud. While underwater, the ruler creates a 20-foot Emanation of transformative mucus. A creature ending its turn there must succeed on a DC 22 Constitution saving throw or become water-dependent until cured by greater restoration, heal or comparable magic.

Frightful Presence. A creature of the ruler’s choice that starts its turn within 60 feet and can perceive it must succeed on a DC 23 Wisdom saving throw or have the Frightened condition until the end of its next turn. On a success, it is immune to this ruler’s Frightful Presence for 24 hours.

Actions

Multiattack. The ruler makes four Tentacle attacks, or three Tentacle attacks and uses Enslave.

Tentacle. Melee Attack Roll: +16, reach 25 ft. Hit: 25 (3d10 + 9) Bludgeoning damage, and a Huge or smaller target is Grappled (escape DC 22).

Tail. Melee Attack Roll: +16, reach 20 ft. Hit: 31 (4d10 + 9) Bludgeoning damage, and a Huge or smaller target must succeed on a DC 22 Strength saving throw or be pushed 20 feet.

Enslave. One creature the ruler can see within 90 feet makes a DC 23 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, it has the Charmed condition for 24 hours and obeys the ruler’s telepathic commands. It repeats the save whenever it takes damage and every 24 hours while more than 5 miles from the ruler.

Overmind Pulse (Recharge 5–6). Each enemy of the ruler’s choice within 120 feet makes a DC 23 Intelligence saving throw. On a failure, it takes 45 (10d8) Psychic damage and is Stunned until the end of its next turn. On a success, it takes half damage only.

Command the City (1/Day). The ruler chooses up to five Charmed allies or aboleth subjects it can sense within 1 mile. Each can immediately use its Reaction to move up to its Speed and take one action.

Legendary Actions

The ruler can take four Legendary Actions, one at a time at the end of another creature’s turn.

Detect. The ruler makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.

Tail. The ruler makes one Tail attack.

Psychic Command. One Charmed creature within 120 feet can use its Reaction to move up to half its Speed.

Drain Thrall (Costs 2 Actions). One creature Charmed by the ruler within 120 feet takes 21 (6d6) Psychic damage, and the ruler regains the same number of Hit Points.

Aboleth Ruler

Gargantuan aberration, lawful evil

Armor Class 20 (natural armor)
Hit Points 420 (24d20 + 168)
Speed 10 ft., swim 70 ft.

Saving Throws Str +16, Con +14, Int +16, Wis +13, Cha +15
Skills Arcana +16, Deception +15, History +16, Insight +13, Intimidation +15, Perception +13
Damage Resistances cold, lightning, psychic
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened
Senses blindsight 120 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 23
Languages Deep Speech, Undercommon, telepathy 5 miles with subjects and thralls
Challenge 21 (33,000 XP)

Traits

Amphibious. The ruler can breathe air and water.

Legendary Resistance (4/Day). If the ruler fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Telepathic Overmind. The ruler can communicate simultaneously with any number of willing subjects or charmed thralls within 5 miles.

Mucus Cloud. Underwater, creatures ending their turns within 20 feet must succeed on a DC 22 Constitution saving throw or lose the ability to breathe air until cured by greater restoration, heal or similar magic.

Frightful Presence. Creatures of the ruler’s choice within 60 feet that can perceive it must succeed on a DC 23 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened until the end of their next turn.

Actions

Multiattack. The ruler makes four tentacle attacks, or three tentacle attacks and uses Enslave.

Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 25 ft., one target. Hit: 25 (3d10 + 9) bludgeoning damage, and a Huge or smaller target is grappled (escape DC 22).

Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 31 (4d10 + 9) bludgeoning damage.

Enslave. One creature within 90 feet must succeed on a DC 23 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 24 hours and obey telepathic commands.

Overmind Pulse (Recharge 5–6). Each chosen enemy within 120 feet must make a DC 23 Intelligence saving throw, taking 45 (10d8) psychic damage and becoming stunned until the end of its next turn on a failure, or half damage on a success.

Legendary Actions

Detect. The ruler makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.

Tail. The ruler makes one Tail attack.

Command Thrall. One charmed creature within 120 feet can use its reaction to move up to half its speed.

Drain Thrall (Costs 2 Actions). One charmed creature within 120 feet takes 21 (6d6) psychic damage, and the ruler regains the same number of hit points.

Aboleth Ruler CR 21

XP 409,600
LE Gargantuan aberration (aquatic)
Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +34

Defense

AC 35, touch 7, flat-footed 34 (+1 Dex, +28 natural, −4 size)
hp 315 (21d8+210)
Fort +17, Ref +10, Will +22
DR 10/—; SR 32

Offense

Speed 10 ft., swim 70 ft.
Melee 4 tentacles +29 (3d8+14 plus slime)
Space 20 ft.; Reach 20 ft.
Special Attacks enslave, frightful presence, slime, spells, telepathic overmind

Statistics

Str 38, Dex 12, Con 30, Int 29, Wis 27, Cha 27
Base Atk +15; CMB +33; CMD 44 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Ability Focus (enslave), Alertness, Combat Casting, Extend Spell, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Quicken Spell-Like Ability (telekinesis), Spell Penetration, Toughness, Weapon Focus (tentacle)
Skills Bluff +32, Diplomacy +36, Intimidate +34, Knowledge (arcana) +35, Knowledge (history) +35, Knowledge (planes) +35, Perception +34, Sense Motive +32, Spellcraft +35, Swim +48
Languages Aboleth, Aklo, Aquan, Common, Undercommon; telepathy 5 miles with subjects

Special Abilities

Enslave (Su). At will, one living creature within 60 feet must succeed on a DC 31 Will save or fall under a domination effect. A victim gains another save every 24 hours and when more than 5 miles from the ruler.

Frightful Presence (Su). When the ruler attacks or charges, creatures within 60 feet must succeed on a DC 28 Will save or become shaken.

Knowledgeable (Ex). Treat the ruler as having at least 10 ranks in every Knowledge skill and give it a +10 racial bonus on Knowledge checks.

Mucus Cloud (Ex). Underwater, contact with the ruler’s mucus requires a DC 28 Fortitude save or removes the ability to breathe air for 3 hours.

Slime (Ex). A tentacle hit forces a DC 28 Fortitude save or begins a 1d4+1 minute transformation into a water-dependent membrane.

Telepathic Overmind (Su). The ruler’s telepathy extends to 5 miles when communicating with subject aboleths and enslaved creatures.

Spellcasting. The ruler casts arcane spells as a 20th-level sorcerer. Its preferred spells emphasise illusion, enchantment, water control and battlefield manipulation, including mirror image, dispel magic, black tentacles, feeblemind, control water, greater teleport, mind blank and time stop.

Ecology

Environment central chamber of an aboleth city
Organization unique city ruler with subordinate castes and thralls
Treasure double

Aboleth Ruler

Gargantuan Aberration (Aquatic)

Hit Dice 21d8+168 (262 hp)
Initiative +5
Speed 10 ft. (2 squares), swim 60 ft.
Armor Class 20 (−4 size, +1 Dex, +13 natural), touch 7, flat-footed 19
Base Attack/Grapple +15/+41
Attack tentacle +25 melee (3d8+14 plus slime)
Full Attack 4 tentacles +25 melee (3d8+14 plus slime)
Space/Reach 20 ft./15 ft.
Special Attacks bite, enslave, frightful presence, psionics, slime, spells
Special Qualities amphibious, darkvision 60 ft., knowledgeable, mucus cloud, telepathy 60 ft., telepathic overmind
Saves Fort +15, Ref +8, Will +22
Abilities Str 38, Dex 12, Con 26, Int 29, Wis 27, Cha 27
Skills Bluff +32, Concentration +32, Diplomacy +36, Intimidate +34, Knowledge (any three) +33, Listen +34, Sense Motive +32, Spellcraft +33, Spot +34, Swim +22
Feats Ability Focus (enslave), Alertness, Combat Casting, Extend Spell, Iron Will, Improved Initiative, Quicken Spell-Like Ability (telekinesis), Spell Stowaway (time stop)
Environment underground aboleth city
Organization solitary city ruler
Challenge Rating 21
Treasure double standard
Alignment usually lawful evil

Enslave (Su)

At will, one living creature within 60 feet must succeed on a DC 33 Will save or be dominated as though by dominate person at caster level 20th. The victim gains a new save every 24 hours, and control breaks if the ruler dies or travels more than 5 miles from the slave.

Frightful Presence (Su)

When the ruler charges or attacks, creatures within 60 feet must succeed on a DC 28 Will save or become shaken while they remain in range.

Mucus Cloud and Slime (Ex)

Underwater mucus requires a DC 28 Fortitude save or removes the ability to breathe air for 3 hours. A tentacle hit can also trigger a DC 28 Fortitude save against the slower slime transformation; remove disease works before transformation completes, while heal or mass heal is required afterward.

Telepathic Overmind (Su)

The ruler’s telepathy extends to 5 miles when it communicates with enslaved creatures and subject aboleths.

Spells

The ruler casts spells as a 20th-level sorcerer. Preserve the legacy emphasis on illusion, enchantment, divination and control rather than treating it as a direct-damage caster.

Legacy Option: Oversized Maw

A sufficiently large aboleth with the appropriate bite-focused prerequisites can take the old Oversized Maw option to swallow smaller creatures whole. It remains an optional 3.5e feat rather than part of the default ruler stat block.