Swamp Encounter

[Nilbog]

Hi

My group will soon be venturing deep into a swamp, and I've an encounter planned where they find a outpost abandoned and all its inhabitants killed.

The reason they have all died is because it was built near a chuul nest and a horde of chuul fledglings have wiped them out, and the players now need to clear this horde.

However I was wondering what creatures would compliment the Chuul, as the fledgling are all Soldiers. The EL will be 6, as the group are all 4th level,but fairly optimised so i want it to be a fairly challenging encounter

 

[ForeverSlayer]

Hi

My group will soon be venturing deep into a swamp, and I've an encounter planned where they find a outpost abandoned and all its inhabitants killed.

The reason they have all died is because it was built near a chuul nest and a horde of chuul fledglings have wiped them out, and the players now need to clear this horde.

However I was wondering what creatures would compliment the Chuul, as the fledgling are all Soldiers. The EL will be 6, as the group are all 4th level,but fairly optimised so i want it to be a fairly challenging encounter

I would go with your standard swamp creatures because Chuuls are a lone race. You would need to mix it up with creatures who are out to kill the PC's while not having ties with the Chuul.

 

[Quickleaf]

I'm guessing some kind of scavenger, probably a skirmisher like a Swarmtongue Worm (skirmisher 6; Draconomicon), Centipede Scuttler (skirmisher 6; MM2), Craud Impaler (skirmisher 3; MM3), or Zairtail Swarm (skirmisher 3; FRCG).

A little outside the box, but the Fell Taints seem fun to me to get across the whole "not if this realm" vibe; the Fell Taint Wender looks nasty (controller 4; MM2).

Or, since we know chuuls hate brains.... Why not a creature that's all brain like an Ustilagor (lurker 7; MM3)?

 

[Nilbog]

oooh some awesome suggestions!

My campaign is heavily based around a far realm incursion, so a Fell Taint wender would be ideal

 

[JohnnyO]

I'd take it in another direction. Rather than adding creatures that don't necessarily pair well with the enemy, what about adding some serious terrain constraints to the encounter to make it more interesting. Some ideas

1) Large sections of deep water that you need to wade through (slow, or difficult terrain)
2) Swamp Gas that can explode if anyone uses a fire attack nearby (or is carrying a torch)
3) The potential to pick up a disease (say, for example, if someone falls prone in the water)

Those features, plus maybe some Chuul Nymphs (Lurker) in the water, could make for a solid encounter.

 

[ForeverSlayer]

I would also try fog to mess with perception. Difficult terrain would be a good idea. Ever try walking through an actual swamp? It's very hard to do.

Take advantage of a few natural creatures such as really big snakes and alligators.

 

[The Human Target]

Maybe mix a few Chuul nymphs in with a few fledglings.

Add in some stirge suckerlings for minions (they follow around the chuul horde like crows or buzzards)

Maybe a lone dimensional marauder stalks along with them in its phase form waiting to pick off weak prey.