Pathfinder pulls from a wide array of real-world mythologies, for better or worse. In some cases, that means I have to read about the Akashic Record for some fucking reason (I will be a hater across this project). In other cases, it means exposure to lesser known mythological systems and figures, such as the Abaia of Melanesian mythology.

The Abaia of Pathfinder, like those in real life mythology, are defenders of freshwater lakes, preventing exploitation and desecration of their homes. However, there's a small, interesting snag, for the former are also known to consume magical items for later use. The bestiary, notably, does not put a limit on this ability :)

The good news is that the Darvan Whitner has been repaired, and the party can finally ride the boat off of this blasted island. The bad news is that the new engine is loud, slow, and patched together with enough magic that the arcane sighted Abaia can see exactly what's scaring and annoying its neighbors, even from the bottom of the lake.

With the Prince of Cups deposed, the newly-elected governor of Taruri has ordered the draining of the Prince's Iron Dam in order to provide drought relief to the Southern reaches. The drainage process reveals a network of quarry lakes, waterlogged mining tunnels, and an Abaia, whose every interaction with a humanoid over the past fifty years has consisted of being attacked and harassed by the Prince's forces.

For the past few thousand years, a kind man with red hair has visited an Abaia at her lonely inland lake, offering staves and waterproofed scrolls for the Abaia's collection. Flowing from the lake is a river that divides two rival nations - and as their tenuous peace begins to fracture, a mysterious illness has the Abaia coughing up her collection, leaving dangerous spells washing up on their shores.

Abaia

In Melanesian mythology, the Abaia is a gigantic magical eel found at the bottom of freshwater lakes in Vanuatu, Fiji, and Solomon Islands.

The Abaia considers all the creatures living in the lake its children. Any fisherman risking a catch in the Abaia’s lake will be lucky to escape with his life, let alone his haul, as the Abaia retaliates with a great thrashing of his tail to whip up a great wave to sink or wreck his boat. If anyone were able to harm one of the Abaia’s children, they would be met with greater retribution still. If sufficiently angered, the Abaia would call down a great rainstorm to flood the land and drown the perpetrators.