In the deepest of oceans lives the strange fishlike race called the Aboleths. These beings are highly intelligent and the older Aboleths called Mind Lords can enslave lesser beings by force of mind alone. Having this power means they have enslaved mermen and Deep Ones to do the daily work and to fill up the ranks of their armies. In a deep gorge the enslaved workers have built a score of small but magnificent cities for their rulers. In this gorge live the greatest of the Aboleths.

"[R'lyeh and Atlantis] are heavily influenced by H.P. Lovecraft. While R'lyeh is closer to the Cthulhu mythos with Starspawns and strange beings from the stellar void, Atlantis is a nation of deep ones native to the depths. The early era is more heavily Lovecraftian, while the middle era is more influenced by fantasy concepts and ideas. Atlantis is another nation devastated at the end of the second era. Late Atlantis incorporates Inuit concepts apart from the earlier Lovecraftian elements.

R'lyeh is the other nation heavily influenced by the fiction of H.P. Lovecraft. While Atlantis represents the more tellurian aspects of the Cthulhu mythos, R'lyeh represents the stranger aspects and beings of the Lovecraftian universe. Starspawns, strange openings and beings of the Void are mixed with a bit of fantasy role-playing game clichés." - Illwinter

If you are considering picking this nation to play, what should you know?

AQUATIC

Magic Access	Alt. Access	Unit Summary	Core Abilities	Buildings
4 (rare 5) 4 (rare 5) 2 1 (rare 2) 1 1 (rare 2) 3		Atlantian and Oceanian Slaves Aboleths	Aquatic Amphibious Slave Taskmaster Darkvision Void Sanity Magic Being Mind Vessel	Standard Forts

Capitol Gems: 213

Magic Limit + 1

: Eyes (4), Void Sanity (5), Magic Being, Aquatic, Spirit Sight, Aboleth, Twiceborn (Necrodai)

• Mind Vessel (Thaumaturgy 3)
  3 and 15 by Aboleth to Mind Vessel, 2-province range
  Transplants the caster's Astral level into the selected target in the target province (replacing the Mind Vessel's existing Astral level). The caster keeps their Astral level, too. The Mind Vessel will not outlive the Aboleth. Note that for levels over 5, only every other level is transplanted; a 7 Aboleth will only bestow 6 to a Mind Vessel, a 9 Aboleth will only bestow 7, and so on.

See Magic Access. These guides supplement the summaries at the top.

The difficult thing about EA Rlyeh's mages are the strongest mages do not have a full set of item slots. The Mind Lord, Abodai, and Aboleth, only have two Misc. slots.

No native access. No simple summons.

No native access. 53 can cast Ghost Ship Armada for 2.

41 can cast Ether Gate for 1 in 4 1.

4 Mind Lord (1 in 4) is high up in an easily climbable path. 1 Mind Lord (1 in 4), with a Water booster can forge the unique Orb of Atlantis.

1 is common but none of the mages have helpful crosspaths. Also, only the Slave Mage (on land) and the Androdai have feet to wear Earth Boots.

4 Mind Lord (1 in 4) is the highest available, but it can only wear Misc. items, so it cannot wear a Starshine Skullcap. But, an Androleth can. So, If the Mind Lord casts Mind Vessel on the Androleth, setting it to 4, it can wear the Starshine Skullcap and get to 5.

The next booster to get to 6 is tricky though. Although EA R'lyeh has access to Earth and Glamour, which are potentially useful crosspaths, both are only level one. Empowerment is necessary. The easiest seems to be empowering a Slave Mage or an Androdai with 11 and a Starshine Skullcap to 2, allowing it to make a Coin of Meteoritic Iron.

Although a 2 Abodai (1 in 4), can make a Skull Staff, it can't hold it. No other EA R'lyeh mage has Death, so the path is a difficult climb.

1 Slave Mage (1 in 4) is the only option. If it can get to 3, (employment + Thistle Mace), it can forge a Moonvine Bracelet.

1 is the highest natively available. Earth is a potentially useful crosspath, but none of the mages can get both Earth and Glamour. Astral is also a potentially useful crosspath, but getting to 44 for the unique The Trapped Dreams of Hruvur is difficult. Mind Lord's and the other aboleths only have two item slots. Androdai's can be made Mind Vessels to increase Astral, but getting the Glamour is very difficult.

No native access. 41 can cast Ether Gate for 1 in 4 1.

How to win as the nation. Feel free to use the following sections, or delete them, or change them.

Different expansion options.

Early game options.

Mid game options.

Late game options.

What are the nation's weaknesses?

Add links to guides or other overviews for this nation here.

Nations
Early Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Ulm • Pyrène, • Marverni • Sauromatia • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Mictlan • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Agartha • Tir na n'Og • Fomoria • Vanheim • Helheim • Niefelheim • Muspelheim • Rus • Kailasa • Lanka • Yomi • Hinnom • Ur • Berytos • Xibalba • Mekone • Ubar • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Therodos
Middle Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Sceleria • Pythium • Man • Eriu • Ulm • Pyrène • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Asphodel • Vanheim • Jotunheim • Nidavangr • Vanarus • Bandar Log • Shinuyama • Ashdod • Uruk • Nazca • Xibalba • Phlegra • Phaeacia • Ind • Na'ba • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Ys
Late Ages	Arcoscephale • Pythium • Lemuria • Man • Ulm • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Jomon • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Midgård • Utgård • Bogarus • Patala • Gath • Ragha • Xibalba • Phlegra • Vaettiheim • Feminie • Piconye • Andramania • Pyrène • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Erytheia