Lore question- gillman and aboleths

[Undel]

I have a few lore related questions about gillmen and I was wondering if there was an established answer.

So gillmen are Azlanti descendants warped by aboleths to be emissaries and servants.

How directly do they work with the aboleths? Is it likely that most gillmen would never have met them, or are all of the race in constant contact?

Would a gillmen ever invoke their ties to the aboleths as a threat, or is this a guarded secret among their race?

[Major_Blackhart]

Answer to question 1
Yes

Answer to question 2
Not sure, they're technically slaves still I think, but the Aboleth like to stay behind the scenes as always, so I don't think they are a constant presence, just one that's known about in Gillman society.

Answer 3
I'd say it's probably a secret. I haven't read anything that says it's generally known. I doubt they'd invoke their connections as a threat unless they were particularly high level or important to the Aboleths. The Aboleth don't come off as the type that will give a damn either way.

[Mikaze]

I believe most gillmen don't even know about the aboleth connection, which makes what the aboleth can do to them that much more terrifying and tragic.

considers a "free the gillmen" campaign...

[Undel]

I had a scenario pop up where there is a captive gillmen. Was wondering if he'd make threats to try and scare his captors off holding him. The disposable slave bit does make sense. Thank you for the info!

[Yakman]

He can make threats... just it's more likely that they would involve gillmen coming in with the night's tide with murder on their mind rather than the aboleth...

But vague threats of the wrath of the nether gods wouldn't be out of place either.

[Roger Corbera]

Probably gillmen are more vulnerable to abboleths mind-controling powers, due to generations of slavery.

[Generic Villain]

Undel wrote:

How directly do they work with the aboleths? Is it likely that most gillmen would never have met them, or are all of the race in constant contact?

Would a gillmen ever invoke their ties to the aboleths as a threat, or is this a guarded secret among their race?

As far as I've read, aboleths have largely allowed gillmen to "go native." The gillmen of Absalom, for example, likely have no direct link with their erstwhile masters. So to answer your question: based on available information, no, the races are not in constant or even frequent contact. In fact, some gillmen have evolved specifically to resist aboleth's mental domination and magic.

To your second question: it is not a guarded secret among gillmen that they are tied to aboleths. It is noted that conspiracy theorists still believe Absalom's gillmen to be in league with the aboleths, functioning as their "eyes and ears," though most others accept the gillmen as just another branch of humanity. Still, there you have it - pretty common knowledge. At least on Absalom, where gillmen are comparatively common.

[Cranky Dog]

I see gillmen as unwitting sleeper agents to the aboleth. The aboleth know what the gillmen are doing at all times, but normally do not care.

Most can go a lifetime of normal behavior, then one day the dark masters suddenly choose you for their nefarious agenda and have to do one specific deed. You have no idea why you do it, but you *have* to do it. Or else...

Then just as suddenly as it came, it's gone and the rest of your life is back to normal save for the memories.

Considering that PCs have a knack to eventually stumble somewhere important, a gillman PC would arise the curiosity of the distant masters.

[David knott 242]

Then again, by the time gillmen run into aboleths, they will be of sufficiently high level that that -2 penalty to saves against their powers will easily be overwhelmed by other Will save adjustments.