Monstrous Lair #13: Aboleth’s Sunken Lair by Steve Hood is a role playing game supplement published by Raging Swan Press. The supplement is stated to be system neutral, but also compatible with any version of Dungeons & Dragons, and is therefore covered by the Open Game License with some parts considered to be Open Game Content as a result.
The supplement is available for $1.45 from DriveThruRPG but was purchased at a reduced price thanks to a special offer. The supplement comes in two versions, a plaintext file and an eight-page PDF. Two pages of the PDF are the front and rear covers, two pages are ads, about half a page is the front matter and Contents and one page is the Open Game License.
Using this Monstrous Lair is a standard piece of text and explains what the tables are and that the supplement makes two assumptions; the GM has a map of the lair and stats for monsters and details of any treasure.
After an introductory paragraph on aboleths, the d10 tables follow.
1: Outside the Lair is what characters can see on the way in, ranging from the odd to the worrying.
2: What’s Going On? is what the aboleth might be doing when found; given aboleths’ alien nature, these actions do not necessarily make sense.
3: Major Lair Feature has one larger item for decorating the lair.
4: Minor Lair Feature is similar but a smaller item.
5: Aboleth’s Appearance has ways of making the aboleth distinctive. Though the missing or damaged eyes would likely have a game effect.
6: Treasure has some items of, possibly odd, treasure.
7: Trinkets & Trash has some random, but often still odd, junk.
Monstrous Lair #13: Aboleth’s Sunken Lair in Review
The PDF is bookmarked, with major and minor sections linked. The Contents is to a similar level of depth and is hyperlinked. Navigation is good. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of errors. There’s a single stock black and white illustration. Presentation is okay.
The Monstrous Lair series essentially has two pages of content with seven d10 tables. This is a decent one; many of the entries manage to capture the alien and definitely odd nature of the aboleth, as well as various things that might link to something larger. It may be aimed at D&D-derived games, but it should work for any; admittedly, aboleths are a D&D monster. Monstrous Lair #13: Aboleth’s Sunken Lair is a nice entry in the series and can be found by clicking here.
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