Dungeons and Dragons Lore: Aboleths Revealed

[@nintendocaprimoon63]

Mr: "sorry for the nerdiness at the end" Everyone: that's... Why we're here

[@nelldanger]

omg literally almost commented this exact thing

[@snowflake5793]

Aboleth: "I fear no god or man, but that thing..." Illithid: Aboleth: "That thing scares me"

[@markhackett2302]

Wouldn't this mean that the Aboleths die out in the future, otherwise the Illithids would have had to have enslaved the Aboleths when they conquered all.

[@00784865]

@@markhackett2302 some say the illithids are the genetic future of the aboleths.

[@samuelrodriguez9801]

But even though Illithids are too arrogant for their own good. If they did conquer everything in a distant possible time-line, they must have come from a bleak future.

[@Sophia-vk5bq]

@@00784865 And the Gith owned the Illithids. XD

[@00784865]

@@Sophia-vk5bq yup. Soo the Gith are the reall threat here.

[@RyllenKriel]

Aboleths: "You are our slaves." Illithids: "No, you are our slaves!" Aboleths: "No! You...Wait, at least we agree on some things." Illithids: "Minds are a terrible thing to waste?" Aboleths: "Memories are tasty!"

[@camramaster]

Aboleth: "Now pass the brain old chap." Illithid: "We're from the end of time." Aboleth:"And that is the scariest thing ever."

[@gabrielecalabrese2906]

Before i watch the video i want to say: "Thank you". Then, when i'll finish watching it i'll say again because you're a wonderful narrator man, i mean it.

[@burakc9673]

Too true! Here here!!

[@kyleweir689]

Say it again

[@giuliopoletti9843]

our master put against us an aboleth during an underwater adventure like it was a common fish just chilling on the seabed and at the time i didn't knew their lore, just wait until i show him this video he's gonna facepalm so hard!

[@TheThaiBuddy]

Did you show him yet?

[@FeliceJaganshi]

Yes, curious as to what their reaction was

[@cyborglion4179]

Oof what did they say.

[@Rin-qj7zt]

@@cyborglion4179 the world may never know. buried under the horrible KZbin notifications system. lol

[@DndBirb8659]

Wulframm Rolf NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[@LifeLikeSage]

I have a newfound respect for these two races..... and the seagulls that were flying by the aboleth in that picture, they truly have massive balls...

[@kozie9935]

or they were also mind controlled.

[@Vaguely.Concerned]

Or tiny brains

[@barbatosmcmurderton4209]

@@Vaguely.Concerned one need not exclude the other.

[@loganquinn1772]

Nah they are just like a fly on a wall to the aboleth. He couldn't care less.

[@singingcrow439]

That's par per the course when it comes to seagulls, honestly. They simply don't give a damn.

[@gavinsaylor7347]

Boi, I know that these episodes take a lot more to script, but I think it's well worth it. Your tone and atmosphere truly fits this idea of forgotten or hidden lore, and being a DM, makes my brain chug along. Thankyou for making this and please continue

[@XX-sp3tt]

"Hey Illithids, it's time for the universe to be reborn into a new one." "New things scare us! Let's live in the past!"

[@maximumeffort7096]

This brings up an interesting scenerio. Every Aboleth has their parents memories, that means that parents are basically giving birth to their own grandparents, themselves, and their great grandparents all at once.

[@kenhuff404]

This ties into where my mind went when he mentioned the Illithid creation. What if The Aboleth that Created the Illithid was then Destroyed / Imprisoned in some way that its memories were never passed on. Then suddenly out of nowhere the Illithid show up. edit: I had a similar thought about the Illithid tadpoles turning into Aboleth after watching the Illithid vid. I hadnt seen this one yet.

[@mrknarf4438]

That's... not how it works. Having the same memories as someone else doesn't make you the same entity. But yes, they are giving birth to a creature that has the memories of the whole lineage before itself.

[@maximumeffort7096]

@@mrknarf4438 Yes, but memories are what define the personalities and mental state of people/creatures, so it would be likely that the child has the same personality atleast.

[@chrisrankin6796]

@@mrknarf4438 That's.... Just your opinion.

[@MortalReaver]

@@maximumeffort7096 but Aboleths childs brain can be different(even could be damaged) from/after birth, + they make their own memories after their birth that can be raddicaly different from their ancestors.

[@faddishbigfoot4914]

Its a shame this series doesn't get as much views as your other ones because I love your D&D videos and was sad to see them gone.

[@leregon2601]

Finally more DND lores.I've missed them dammit. Continue making em

[@burakc9673]

I second that motion!!!

[@patrickstar686]

I third that motion!!!

[@leregon2601]

Omg I can't believe Patrick star actually noticed me. Namaste senpai!!

[@dominikpacholek1403]

S A M E I really love them too

[@supergoodname778]

I 2.5K that motion!

[@CaIIumscorner]

Not even into dnd but I find this stuff fascinating

[@johntheherbalistg8756]

You ever read Lovecraft? If you like aboleths and illithids, you will probably like his stuff.

[@docop8926]

Me to

[@danielvicentecarvalho3687]

I dont play dnd, but considering the world building, descriptions, rules and details. It can be a serie or movies, if done properly..

[@asabothseraph9374]

@@danielvicentecarvalho3687 critical role

[@kaiiand_5424]

@@danielvicentecarvalho3687 I believe it has already been made into a legitimate movie. Also there are several games based off dnd

[@sarcasticsloth7214]

Pretty sure this was in my recommended feed because I watched Puffin Forest.

[@OverLordRyan]

"They call me Wimzie."

[@lechevalier-ns2pt]

"INSIGHT CHECK"

[@khole5809]

SAME.

[@w1lDstYLe]

I'm still relatively new to all this but a while back his videos got me into it. The aboleth voice is one of his more recent things that always makes me laugh.

[@Prince_Smugarina]

Jimmy Hank LMFAO, Puffin Forest's Aboleth story is just.... hilarious when you actually learn the nature of THAT beast in particular, and how it ironically concluded.

[@lucianocastrogiovanni2879]

The relationship of the illithid and the aboleth, I did not know, just makes me love them even more.

[@ZrinNZ]

ANOTHER Aboleth video? Thank you so much! I am using one as the BBEG for my current campaign and your videos have been extremely useful in setting the tone!

[@ginnywillows6558]

National Geographic got wierd.

[@piffhebert1919]

I love this series. Especially how it's not what I would expect - ex. lore on Sphinxes, the Modron... I cannot wait to see what you speak on next, love your intonation. Don't change :)

[@HavikXIII]

My dad played DND when I was a kid, I still have his big brown player handbook. I always thought it was interested, so Im really happy Ive stumbled acorss your videos. Not only do I love lore, but its on a subject pretty much completely new to me

[@elredfox9151]

Don't get me wrong, I like your Fallout and Skyrim. But your DND videos are just great I don't know what they have but I feel they have more passion. Anyhow thank you very much for the video and keep up with he good work!

[@brnt9901]

I realize that you primarily made Elder Scrolls Lore videos, but man, you make AMAZING D&D Lore videos. I was always watching them when you were making them earlier on in the year and was so sad when you stopped. I am so glad you have started again. You got yourself a subscriber. You are an excellent narrator.

[@javierpatag3609]

14:20: "... the Aboleths and the Illithids are like cosmic bookends. Two similar races with similar goals, one from the the ancient past, one from the doomed future." Just got to quote that 'coz that is some serious poetry there. Terrific writing.

[@SonySteals]

Awesome. I love your videos, mate. I have never played dnd, never had friends who would play so I’m just listenning to your lore content as if these were tales from an unknown world that existed somewhere else some other time.

[@micravinxenos3047]

Don't ever apologize for delving into detail, thats what makes it fun. Thank you for making these.

[@lahnhedberg3403]

I wonder what would happen if an Aboleth was born without the memories it is meant to get.

[@wjefoiafjalfkjadfjk7045]

It would probably just get killed.

[@nathananderson1550]

there is a campaign with an aboleth with a split personality disorder, and one half had no memories nor understanding of what it was. he just lived alone

[@Prince_Smugarina]

Nathan Anderson LMAO. Oh yes.... I know that one quite well. Puffin Forest even has a video where they did that narrative, and it was absolutely hilarious. Mostly because of the unbelievable chances that lead to the eventual meeting of Aboleth and adventures.

[@xavmanisdabestest]

Watching your lore videos not only reintroduces me to fantastic monsters but also allow me to figure out a lore friendly way to work these monsters into some of my lower tier campaigns. Thinking of having the party fight a young aboleth that gets separated from it's parent so these lower level characters have a chance against a top monster in the verse before it becomes the massive threat that it can but don't want to shoe horn it in there aha.

[@chaoticcramer9877]

This is perfect! Preacher music and thorough lore telling! Thank you so much Rhex! I look forward to more of these!

[@captainobvious9566]

I'm glad you brought this series back

[@douglaspatrick868]

Ah, my all time favorite D&D big bad guys. I have been DMing for a lot of years and every so often I'll do a campaign where these guys are the main adversary and the players are never disappointed!

[@bookwyrmbaneoftheplothole8500]

Doesn’t one continuity claim that Mind Flayers are mutated humans from the future? What if Illithids were actually created by cults experimenting with Aboleth genes and mucus years in the future? (Also, still waiting on that vid talking about the Elder Brains, now that you’re doing D&D videos again I’d love to see that...)

[@ZrinNZ]

My headcanon is that the Illithid are what the Aboleths evolved into out of necessity. They have really pathetic land movement, and are at their best in the water. I think they evolved into a humanoid form to better traverse the land and skies (although I love the idea of Aboleths basically becoming space-whales) after civilizations wrecked the planet and left it devoid of the water that the Aboleths need. This to me explains the slimy film that covers every mind flayer, which is a kind of capacitor for their psionic abilities, as well as serving as magical resistance.

[@KelltheTitan]

Wait. What if the Illithids are the result of a Slaad Tadpole overtaking an Aboleth?

[@lilmichaeltaylor546]

@@KelltheTitan But don't the Aboleths predate the slaad?

[@KelltheTitan]

Yes, but the Illithids are creatures that have yet to exist.

[@ShneekeyTheLost]

Slaad are the essence of chaos, Illithids are always Lawful, so I don't think the Illithids are what happens when a Slaad Tadpole takes over an Aboleth. I would be more favorable of the theory that an Illithid is the ultimate evolution of the Aboleth, or perhaps human, or perhaps some Aboleth/Human arcane hybrid. I mean, some drunk mage came up with Owlbears, right? Why not? Aboleth + Human = Illithid. Then, of course, their creations ran amok, as they always and invariably do, and proceed to consume the galaxy until it died out.

[@mariopham2404]

This channel gives me a huge respect for most of these creatures. I wish the Monster Manual had more details in them

[@jimmys.2231]

I'm currently playing a Warforged Warlock with an Aboleth patron. Your info gives me so much knowledge for background story. Thanks and keep nerding out.

[@Marscandy1]

Dude! The way you wrapped that up… Chills! So good!

[@vanforwar]

Good writing, fine research, minimal but colorful personal opinion, A+ dude. This is the first time I've seen one by you, good job.

[@illerhumpy3867]

You always give me such good ideas with the depth of information you cram into these videos, that I can't even use all of it for my campaigns because I watch a few videos, get millions of ideas and then have to choose what I end up using and having to leave a bunch out haha thank you for all of your videos and all that you do my friend!

[@mkol1998]

This is exactly what I needed to further my campaign, which has a very special Aboleth in it, driving the entire plot!

[@Thekushkraken]

Super happy you returned to the dnd lores! I love hearing about the monsters of collective fiction far more than "watchmojo top 10 things you didn't know about (skyrim region)"

[@troyskeete8372]

Could the Illithid (Apologies if I spelt that wrong) Mind Flayers be the final evolutionary point of the Aboleth? I mean I can't have genetic memory of what my race is to become in the future right?

[@shawnredmon6542]

A lot of old school D&D forums speculate that Mind Flayers are the creation of humanoids trying to become immortal so they experimented with Abaleths inside of Dark rituals and forbidden sciences.

[@Vernoan3]

The Aboleth wouldn’t be the Illithid but the Elder Brains, which control the Illithid.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

But do mindflayers have perfect memories of their race’s past?

[@ranmoran9606]

I love to listen to this as I go to bed.. it's like an audio book or soothing pod. Queuing some vids on a list... Thanks for reading to me while I sleep (dnd style)

[@Swordsmage]

Your videos on Beholders inspired me to write my first successful campaign that survived more than one session, with the mind flayers video giving some inspiration for the sequel. This one is really inspiring me to make something new, something like Mass Effect of a looming primordial threat nobody has much knowledge about.

[@loganquinn1772]

That was great. I loved the inclusion of the Illithid in the lore. I hope we get Dark Sun or Spelljammer setting someday. Both are way overdue for a comeback.

[@caseywilson6893]

You covered so much, but there is SO much more! Types of Aboleth and their personality differences, the return of Xxiphu, Aboleth gods that they dont really worship, their creation and the Blood Queen, how they claim to have created the Astral, their empires and downfall, that gods hunt them but they still persist.

[@Siegmernes]

I love you man. You are a great narrator. Only because of you have I started getting into DND and I must say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

[@HexxikVSDJCalx]

Every campaign needs more aboleths. I am impressed with your knowledge of the lore.

[@gaminggambeson6553]

I love that extra lore at the end. And don't be sorry for being nerdy, we all are and all want to hear it.

[@laffuntilucry]

Yes! Yes! Yes! I've waited for more d&d content for a while. This always makes my DMing better especially since I'm newer to the hobby than many of those around me! Always love your work, hope to see more.

[@Bhunt9394]

Maybe... the Aboleth evolve into the Mind Flayers? It's a long shot, but we're talking about possibly billions, if not trillions, of years of evolution.

[@SubduedRadical]

I thought that same thing. But if the Aboleths are born with the memories of all their generations, and the Mind Flayers are basically their distant grandchildren, what if the Mind Flayers remember being Aboleths, even remember the specific LINEAGE of Aboleth they come from, and they know all this, which is why they are willing to ally with, basically, their ancestors? So while the Aboleths don't know what the Mind Flayers are or where they come from, the Mind Flayers DO know the Aboleths, and even know the Aboleths don't know, because they remember from when they were Aboleths. This would also mean that the Mind Flayers have a vested interest in the Aboleths surviving, as they know they must survive in order for the Mind Flayers to eventually come to be, such that if the Aboleths were somehow destroyed entirely, the Mind Flayers would cease to exist in a paradox.

[@jordanholt5433]

@@SubduedRadical While most science fiction uses a time paradox in this way. If you were to acount for two timelines, no one could even cease to exist. As in timeline 1 mind flayers would survive and live until they would have gone back in time (we know this because they exist in timeline 2). Even if they were to die in our timeline (timeline 2) they have already been to the end of time and already survived in their timeline. (All theoretical nothing comfirmed just my view of it.)

[@gregavant1992]

I'm starting to fall more into this theory. Maybe sometime down the evolutionary line, the aboleth start to lose the the ability to be sustained by the slime, and they begin to experiment on how to survive without it. Becoming bipedal, brain-eating creatures could be what the best option is.

[@ethanotoroculus1060]

@Regular Slime Well, I mean it's not like we could prevent major human deaths without compromising our own cultural integrity, could we? Certain things have to take place in order for the Mind Flayers to be born, and in the case of evolution, that entails that a lot of specific aboleths have to die.

[@steirqwe7956]

More like somebody messed up genetic experementation with annelids and aboleth genome really hard.

[@memecat57]

sickness? NURGLE BE PRAISED.

[@agingerbeard]

Nerd out man it's awesome hearing you talk about lore etc!

[@Khorrin]

I LOVED these informational videos! They have given me SO MUCH MORE to work with, in campaigns and scenarios.

[@hellospaghetti5754]

The way you tell these lore videos makes me so emersed.

[@KyleJordanGaming]

*’Shadow Over Innsmouth’ intensifies*

[@InnerArtworkStudio]

Your lore helps me a lot. I’m a DM. Your lore helps me explain what the creature is doing or what the character could do.

[@moogleplay9131]

Rhexx, ya got me back into D&D again! I love your videos, so informative!

[@randigitymarcum8728]

THERE IS NEVER TOO MUCH INFORMATION AND THAT SHIT WAS AMAZING

[@iowyyn]

So good that you've been doing this, I'll certainly be going through previous videos. Very insightful and I love having background as a DM to give subtle details about to enhance the sensation of scenarios.

[@notzweig5062]

Just wanna tell how amazing your knowledge and therefore your videos are. they teach me lot about dungeons and dragons and also inspire and help me creating content for my players. big ups dude!

[@mattijsbuys9846]

Thanks man. Planning on rerunning my "nighth Below" campaign adveture again. This is very subsequently and usfull information!

[@jchagasla]

"Babies stay with their parents until 10yo, when they develop the ability to enslave others..." Is Ash Ketchum an Aboleth then?

[@DirtyPoul]

My favourite KZbin series of all time finally continues! Great to see you back on the DnD videos. If this keeps up, I might become a patron if my financial situation allows it in a few months. Would be well worth it! One question at 10:20 Wouldn't this simply mean that as the species itself grows older, the longer the memory tentacles? Or are personal memories less dense or more nuanced requiring more space? Or does it lack an explanation because it wasn't though of?

[@MrRhexx]

Personal memories require more space, hence the older they get and the more life experience they accrue; the longer the brain stem gets. The reason racial (parent) memories are not as big, is because they are very compressed. In fact the aboleth needs to search within his memories and almost "relive" those memories in order to unlock them. It takes a while for an aboleth to recall specific old memories from his ancestors.

[@DirtyPoul]

Ahh, that makes sense. Thanks a lot for the reply. Great to hear that there is an explanation. Looking forward to the next video :)

[@utes5532]

Oh goodness, I didn't know time travel was canon in D&D. I suppose that either means that the Illithid will eventually win no matter what or that the canonical world of D&D is a parallel dimension to the one where they do win.

[@penaxor]

You can travel in time D&D, but the Gods usually prevent it from happening when it's attempted. So Illithid time travel might only be possible when the Gods are gone in the future.

[@utes5532]

Well yes. But the fact that the Illithid canonically exist in D&D means that the gods are gone in the future and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it. Either that or time travel creates parallel universes.

[@barbecuedkoala1420]

A ninth level spells stops time in a radius why wouldn’t a tenth level spell travel through it. That was my idea of time travel

[@utes5532]

@@barbecuedkoala1420 I'm not saying time travel is implausible in a world such as DnD. I'm saying that time travel carries with it a lot of implications, such as paradoxes and alternate timelines.

[@utes5532]

Nathan Anderson That's another paradox that I can't remember the proper name of. Imagine that you're walking around and an older version of you walks up to you and hands you a pot. You keep this pot for years and then travel back in time to give yourself the pot. Where did the pot come from?

[@oysterstu4822]

This video was so packed with information! Didn't even realize there was so much to know, excellent research. May I say though that for the subject matter I felt like the music choice was a bit... spa-like, less "incredibly powerful and extremely dangerous Eldritch monster"

[@Kawalajin]

An extremely powerful Aboleth, enhanced by a deity, was the main antagonist of one of our campaigns. The Far Realm will get a lot of love soon as our campaigns are about to make way for even more cosmic horrors. I find your lore videos extremely useful for getting both the inspiration and information to make these events more interesting.

[@Cybrwulf1201]

This was such a neat and nerdy overview! Very insightful, cant wait to use it

[@scottV8]

Wow these are good videos. Great voice for dredging up lost lore. And top notch material, lots of food for thought and stories. Thanks.

[@tobiacancelliere6972]

I don't know how I didn't see any of these videos before. I'm going to watch ALL of the lore ones again and again, they already gave me so many ideas for campaigns, encounters, adventures... If you are still accepting suggestions, I would love to see an episode about the Shadow Dragons and Shadowfell in general

[@marcogiorgetti4571]

i'm so glad that the D&D videos are back

[@thomast5874]

Wow, this was an amazing video and as someone who’s been playing D&D for over 6 years I still learned things I didn’t know. It was very organized and easy to follow and another amazing video

[@herpderp9774]

absolutely fascinating stuff, please do more videos like these ones that really go in to the very obscure lore of lesser used monsters :)

[@BrunoFox1234]

All of these make the creature in the video seems like the most incredible monster in D&D, fantastic job

[@AxilDragon]

Thank you so much... Your videos, everything about them is just so amazing.. Inspiring. The music, your choice of wording.. I feel entranced whenever I watch them. You are a genius.

[@Lightwish01]

Well done! A fantastic, informative and interesting video!

[@trenchcoatbandit]

im planning to dm my first game next year and your vids are a massive help. im going to throw things at the players that they have never thought of

[@B00re]

best series make a return ! Thanks Rhexx !

[@CaspienC]

This made me remember "a night below" an old 2nd edition campaign...... so many memories

[@jujujohnson01]

I loved this. Great detailed lore. Let other pages rinse and repeat short reading the monster manual.

[@mircobraams8752]

What nerdy stuff, this was pure amazing content, keep up the good work!

[@dragsvart]

so, what you are saying is that the most optimal humanoid translator for aboleth would be a barbershop quartet?

[@davidshaffer7665]

As a nerd I appreciate this video. as I have been missing gaps of knowledge in Aboleths and this helped to fill some of those in. Thank you.

[@Harrowed2TheMind]

How I longed for your D&D lore videos! As a fellow DM, thanks yet again for the great inspiration!

[@crisoliveira2644]

What! Already!? I thought I was gonna wait for a week! 👍

[@severdislike4222]

Do believe that adventure time has perhaps the greatest line you could ever tie to eldritch abominations and one that fits the Aboleth's to an eerie degree. The Lich's Speech - Gold Star "Before there was time, before there was anything, there was nothing, and before there was nothing there were monsters. "

[@peribabbles8603]

EXCELLENT presentation! Very helpful. Thanks for creating and sharing.

[@LucasPitcher13]

Excellent overview and narration - awesome villains!

[@redfogwhitefrost2583]

I'm reading The Abolethic Sovereignty series right now. I already know I'm going to appreciate this video.

[@kmoustakas]

3,5 had such a wealth of lore books. Lords of madness if one of my favourites

[@carloss3499]

Hmm you forgot that aboleth when killed reincarnate in the water plane. So aboleth has the ability to reproduce, so then they will endlessly continue to grow in, now that scary

[@thedarkmaster4747]

exactly 😵🦑🐟 "they"(aboleth's) are innevitable...

[@Frostedlyre]

Ok let get rid of the water plane

[@carloss3499]

@@Frostedlyre yeah good luck with that ☺

[@supercool1312]

carlos salazar can someone explain this in proper english please

[@MadManMatrix]

Upon an aboleths death in the material plane their soul is transported to the plane of water where a new body is created and their soul placed inside they then can eventually find a way back to the material plane. So for all intents and purposes they are immortal and they can reproduce so eventually they will be the only thing left on the material plane.

[@battlepans1927]

Woah, this was highly entertaining and I learned quite a bit about aboleths. Maybe I’ll make a campaign based off of them, thx a lot for the lore and keep it coming ^^

[@expertionis794]

*rubbing hands together* "Yyyes, my players will have much trouble with this creature."

[@bromossunstarranger8706]

loved it keep doing these LORE VIDEOS, best Aboleth Lore on youtube

[@AutomaticOps]

I'm glad these are back

[@BaneRain]

I've just been binge watching your videos for 2 days

[@maturinthedm3730]

I am so happy right now!!! I have been building a campaign based on a theory I had for stranger things. It was originally going to be 11 sisters kingdoms that must stop the expansion of the illithids with the help of the PCs and an Aboleth. With these vids, the story is writing itself perfectly!!!

[@neflesward2727]

There is no such thing as too much information. Amazing video

[@LazyManFantastico]

I'm currently working some homebrew that leverages the abilities of the Aboleth Disciple prestige class into a regular class. You have a d8, go all in for select list of psionic spells and slowly turn into an Aboleth.

[@2712animefreak]

6:52 Mass is a different from weight, yes. But unless the aboleth's body contains some sort of gravitational anomaly inside, they are equivalent. When people colloquially talk about weight, they almost always either mean "mass" or "mass that the weight would correspond to in average Earth surface gravity".

[@thefinalfrontear]

i love the idea that aboleths eventually evolve into mindflayers, and that’s part of the reason why they don’t remember them, but also why mindflayers won’t attack or enslave them. the mindflayers remember where they came from, and killing their ancestors would just end them as well

[@sherifmehdi2730]

thank you for that lesson! I learned something new today about some awesome raises!

[@BBMorti]

Amazing episode man, Very well tailored

[@tiosulfate6492]

That was awesome and well written, thanks for sharing this !

[@XxEmortalWarriorxX]

Thanks a lot my friend i was thinking on adding these to my great lore in my campaign, cheers