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Message: <blockquote data-quote="J.Quondam" data-source="post: 8370973" data-attributes="member: 7030100">How low-level are you looking for? As "one of the first encounters" that seems pretty low, so like CR4 or 5?Are you looking for published monsters, or inspiration to homebrew?Anyway just spitballing with some brainstorms for inspiration i guess, without detail or balance or whatnot.A couple are a lone monster, with just one action per round, so minions would be necessary versus a party; and/or maybe even a legendary action or two, given their divine nature? (There's a free pdf on DMsGuild called "Not So Legendary Actions" that give a really quick rundown for low-level badguys.)Avatar as a little reflection of the god:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A literal giant beaver with flood-inspired divine powers?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Reskin an anklyosaurus (CR3) as a great big beaver, swim speed, etc</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Boost its INT to human level+, and maybe give it speech?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Add the innate ability to control water (per the spell) as an action</li> </ul>Avatar as a humanoid embodiment of the god:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A water/storm-based divine caster type?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Maybe start with kraken priest (CR5) in Volo's, reskinned to beaver/wilderness theme.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Reskin the thundertouch with a ghostly divine tail slap (same, but does bludgeoning, + maybe risk of knock prone?).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Change the Voice of the Kraken to... "Voice of the Flood" that causes nearby opponents to start coughing and drowning (like dust of sneezing and choking)? Or something?</li> </ul><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Or a more martial one?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Maybe start with a sahuagin baron (CR5), but reskin it on the god's theme</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Change Shark telepathy to Beaver telepathy (use badger stats for beavers, if needed)<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">(Actually, any of these avatars ought to have Beaver telepathy, right?)</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">change Trident to Battleaxe or Great axe?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">maybe add a power like tidal wave (as spell from xanathar's), maybe on a 5-6 recharge?</li> </ul>Avatar as an embodiment of the god's ideal, the flood:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A great, turbulent pool? <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">(so encounter presents more like a "genius loci" than a straightforward monster?)</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Maybe water elemental/s (CR5) or water weird/s (CR3) could be appropriate?<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Floating detritus might add slashing/piercing damage to attacks?</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Mud mephits on the shore and below water might acts as minions</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Defeat the main "brain" water elemental, and the whole pool goes quiescent (until next full moon or something)</li> </ul>For any of these, thematic encounter locales and hazards might include:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The fight happens beneath a collapsing dam, imposing a time limit.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">PCs getting swept off their feet in muddy surges</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">PCs dodging/getting clobbered by falling logs</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">If there's a storm about, lightning strikes could be a threat</li> </ul></blockquote>

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