Race: Aboleth
Class: Racial HD 9
Gender: N/A - aboleths reproduce by self-fertilisation
Alignment: Lawful Evil

A relatively young aboleth out of Xxicxli, Urlaghast is a surprisingly small specimen not even 6000lbs in weight and with a significantly less prominent skull than many of its kind, marking it out clearly from other aboleths when in groups. Somewhat unusually for an aboleth that has devoted itself to the study of the arcane arts, it has taken particular care to feed itself with nutrients that will strengthen its latent psionic capability and make its natural secretions significantly more potent than they otherwise would be, ensuring that even when magical prowess is of little avail, Urlaghast is more than capable of defending itself at closer and more brutal quarters.

This, in part, is why it is known as 'the Unclean' in Xxicxli, for a considerable portion of these nutrients stem from carefully decayed portions of other aboleths, of which those that have succumbed to the long dreaming are particularly choice providers. In other words, Urlaghast makes it a point to seek out any exiled aboleth it catches wind of and end their lives, managing to serve both the aboleth civilisation as a whole and its own needs. Although even others of its kind find this cannibalistic dedication unnerving, the benefits of it cannot be denied and Urlaghast ensures that the deserved respect for its power is shown to it by those of lesser standing in Xxicxli, knowing full well of the growing influence it is wielding there.

A little under eight thousand years ago, Urlaghast was spawned in the lower reaches of the growing city of Xxicxli, one of two eggs laid there, and proved to be a very slow learner of the ways of its kind, having surprisingly difficulty in sifting through its racial memories and showing few signs of being of any significant value to the community in later centuries. However, this creature had not been created with a propensity for speed, instead exemplifying the aboleth perspective of the long-term.

It would not be until its third millennium that Urlaghast actually left Xxicxli, feeling that it could only achieve any measure of power if it was no longer in contention with other aboleths, most of which were stronger and more experienced than it; and it would not be until its seventh that Urlaghast had the epiphany which would lead to its current state of being, when it barely survived an ambush by a troupe of abolishers intent on purging the Underdark of aboleths. Having escaped beyond their reach on the very brink of death, Urlaghast nurtured the memory of this event and studied it well over the next century.

Finally, about two decades ago, the self-exiled aboleth came to the conclusion that the reason the humanoid races showed such remarkable diversity, despite their fundamental homogeneity, was that they deliberately pushed themselves to master their potential at any cost, knowing that they had only a short while in which to do this - a stark contrast to the immortal aboleths, who grew only slowly in both body and mind. Thusly did Urlaghast decide to focus its future efforts upon discovering how humanoids did this and make use of the technique itself if possible.

For if it was successful, Urlaghast would not only continue to grow stronger physically as did all aboleths, but would become the mightiest of them all in comparatively little time. The potential to rise to the very top of aboleth society, starting with the creation of a new city dedicated to the techniques previously discovered, was more than enough lure to the foul creature, knowing that from there, the aboleth race would be able to conquer the world and this time, to hold it in their grasp forever.

However, Urlaghast is still a relatively small and weak member of its species, perfectly aware of its vulnerabilities and extremely concerned with the potential for a repeat ambush by aboleth hunters or even just ordinary adventurers stumbling around in search of treasure. The only way to overcome this challenge, obviously, is to find somewhere selcuded and safe to rest up and grow bigger in both body and mind, never overextending in reach and curbing ambition until the perfect moment.

Act 1 - Aboleth 9: Having made up its mind on what it is going to do, Urlaghast now aims to locate a suitable spot to begin its endeavours. Having barely survived an abolisher attack, it wants to find somewhere fairly quiet and out-of-the-way to conduct its research, but still fairly close to a source of arcane magic.

Act 2 - Aboleth 12/Wizard 1: It has been a few hundred years since Urlaghast settled in its new lair and begun its research into wizardry, but things are not progressing as rapidly as it had hoped. To rectify the situation, Urlaghast intends to enslave an adventuring wizard or two and interrogate them for as long as their minds are able to hold out.

Act 3 - Aboleth 13/Wizard 3: Perhaps predictably, a spate of missing wizards lead to adventurers being called upon to find them. If Urlaghast cannot deflect their attentions in some way, or otherwise prove itself beyond the scope of humanoid revenge, it will need to relocate elsewhere in a great hurry, before it is literally smoked out and destroyed.

Act 4 - Aboleth 14/Wizard 5: Urlaghast is beginning to make a name for itself in the upper levels of the Underdark and, conscious of its growing exposure, decides to cement its political position with a few actual alliances. Both drow and duergar present themselves as choice targets, but there may be other entities willing to negotiate a mutual advantage treaty.

Act 5 - Aboleth 16/Wizard 7: A variety of experiements has resulted in Urlaghast's arcane abilities growing more swiftly than previously, leading it to suspect that it is onto something at last. However, its ever-growing bulk means that its old lair is no longer as useful as before, necessitating a new search for a suitable home, preferably one closer to the surface this time.

Act 6 - Aboleth 17/Wizard 10: It has taken nearly five millennia, but at long last Urlaghast is on the very cusp of unlocking the secrets of humanoid ability. Unfortunately, this time span has led to it becoming infamous by those students of history with a hatred of aberrations, meaning that the time has come to put its new power to the test in battle.

Act 7 - Aboleth 19/Wizard 15: There is not much now that Urlaghast is unaware of, seeking out new sources of arcane magic and devouring it greedily, growing ever stronger as the centuries pass and eliminating its surface competitors readily. It is now working out the best way to claim the secrets of a particularly famous arcane library on the surface.

Act 8 - Aboleth 22/Wizard 18: As Urlaghast nears its twentieth millennium of life, a master of arcane magic and grown almost as large as an aboleth is able in such a time, it knows its time is about to come. But in order to claim its position, it must return to the bowels of the Underdark, where its fellow aboleths unknowingly await its return.

Act 9 - Aboleth 24/Wizard 20: Whilst its power has been accepted by its kindred, Urlaghast must now challenge the profoundly ingrained tendencies of its species to convince them of the worth of its plan, which shall be no easy task. A number of options present themselves, but the obliteration of one or more long-standing enemies of Xxicxli seems the most apt.

Act 10 - Aboleth 24/Wizard 20/Aboleth Savant 5: With considerable arcane power backing its words, Urlaghast begins its mission to found a new city dedicated to the techniques it has learned. In order to accomplish this, it must overcome both the difficulties of locating a suitable site and ensuring its protection until it is sufficiently large to defend itself.

Act 11 - Aboleth 24/Wizard 20/Aboleth Savant 5/???: Any subsequent Acts will be dependant on how the previous ones have gone and what other adversaries, whether from heroes or villains or conglomerations of both, remain to be challenged and defeated.