Abaia

Lore

A magical eel that controls the weather and can become extremely vengeful if disturbed. Abaia is a freshwater eel, described as a gigantic magical creature whose power manifests through raging currents, deadly whirlpools, and sudden floods. In folklore, it stands as a mighty guardian and protector, portrayed as an enormous eel with a body covered in shimmering scales. Some tales say that bright markings run along its skin, their intricate patterns slowly changing with time. But its most striking feature is its massive body—especially the tail, with which the creature can raise colossal waves and whirlpools in a single sweep.

All of this comes out of the legends of New Guinea, the monster’s homeland. One story tells how villagers were once netting fish from the lake beside their settlement with great enthusiasm. At some point they caught Abaia’s favored little fish and angered him deeply. The answer came quickly: that night he stirred up a storm, the water climbed out of its banks, and the lake wiped the village away as though it had never existed. They say only one young woman survived—she hadn’t eaten any of the fish and, by some miracle, scrambled up a tree in time. Maybe she liked reading late at night; no one kept exact records.

The lesson is clear: the lake’s resources are plentiful, but not limitless. Of course we can use what nature offers, yet we must act thoughtfully, without breaking the rhythm of life around us. When people over-exploit and exhaust resources, they violate not just the physical order but the spiritual one as well. Greed and disrespect for nature—symbolized by the villagers’ mass fishing and attempt to seize Abaia himself—bring instant retribution. Abaia will respond without delay, whipping up whirlpools to sink the fishers’ canoes or, as in the legend, creating a wave so huge there is nowhere to hide. Strong he is indeed, and the urge to cast a line melts away.

Another unique trait of Abaia is his extraordinarily sensitive eyes, able to pierce the murkiest depths. Magic enhances that vision, perfect for a guardian’s role—someone has to keep an eye on what goes on down in the muddy realm. Enter his watery world with evil intent and you won’t escape, even if you cloak yourself or your party in spells of concealment.