Cleon
Hero
ok - int 0-3 and CR up to 4 total sounds fine. I initially looked at an elephant (CR 4) but am happy to keep to 3 but as I was typing saw last post
The original doesn't have a bite either FWIW...but looks like it should I concede/ CR 5 for critters might be on the high side
Okay, so we're going for the above with Intelligence 0 to 3 and a normal retinue of CR 4?
Do you favour Note #1 or #2?
I'm in favour of allowing Challenge 4 entries to the retinue if only so the chthon can have an elephant enforcer. I can visualize it now…
Chthon grins evilly, then chuckles "say hello to my little friend"…
…clump Clump CLUMP angry trumpeting TRAMPLE!!
We could place a max CR on the individual creatures and forget about the maximum or drop it entirely, in which case we'd have to use Note #2 or a variant, since the CR will vary enormously. The original entry placed no limit on the nastiness of the Chthon's controlled creatures.
i.e.:
Control Animals and Plants. The chthon can telepathically control nonsapient flora and fauna. A single chthon can control up to twenty beasts and plants of Intelligence 0 to 3.
Note (complex): The chthon's Challenge of # does not include its retinue of controlled beasts and plants. A typical chthon will be accompanied by up to a dozen creatures whose total Challenge Rating is 3, such as a single CR 3 ankylosaurus; one CR 2 giant constrictor snake plus eight CR 1/8 giant rats; or a dozen CR 1/4 wolves and boars. Some chthon's only have a few squirrels and foxes at their beck and call, a few have massive retinues such as a herd of elephants.