And I’m not saying that if you did run into one of these you wouldn’t find them in pairs or even trios…

Or for the worst offenders, say perhaps a group that killed a high ranking hobgoblin officer that was out gathering toys for the grand hobgoblin marshall’s birthday present, you might run into a whole herd of the things.

You can get a PDF and the monster builder filer here [Download not found]

You can grab a copy of the monster builder files and a pdf here – [Download not found]

And here’s a basic screenshot of the creature you could print out but it doesn’t include the Animate Trees.  Just grab the download for the PDF.

The basic tactics would entail using the swamp spew on its enemies to weaken them by making them easier to hit, then typically it would summon two animate trees and use the surging wave ability to push creatures away that are trying to get flanking on it while just smashing the crap out of everything that approaches.  It does have a ranged attack as a minor action that it can use where plants near the target lash out at it.  If you use this then I’d recommend you add in some ‘high ground’ for one or two characters, a rock pile where a character can escape the minor attack, that kind of thing.  But its your encounter do with it as you will.

swampwalker

This is just an example of tweaking an existing creature.  I took the Hill Giant which is a level 12 brute, dropped his level in the character builder, reset the damages a bit to nudge him closer to a soldier while keeping the defenses and hit points etc of the brute, and added in a couple of powers as the default Hill Giant would be boring as a boss encounter.  With the other things I’ve got planned for this encounter I think it’ll be a good BBEG level encounter for the group.

You can grab the monster builder file here [Download not found] and an image of the creature below you could print out.

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Hill Giant Runt

You can get the Monster Builder files here – [Download not found]

And here’s images of the creature stats that you could print out if you like that kind of thing.

spearguardian

raider

ooze

lackey

gatherer

guard

doan

depthseeker

deadsailors

crabswarm

crab

bolter

bleeder

You can use the images below or you can down the pdf’s [Download not found], [Download not found], [Download not found], [Download not found].  I’m also using the new Export function of the Monster Builder and you can grab the .monster files – [Download not found] if you kinda like these but want to tweak them to your own needs.

It’s interesting but for any non-published stuff I find myself just making my own creatures.  That’s another subtle but very huge draw/benefit of 4th edition.  That you can make almost auto-balanced creatures without any issue that are actually interesting.

Got to take my boys to a birthday party so I can’t really expand on this but surely these can give you some ideas…

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Hanged One

Steel Thewed Zombie

Pyre Dead

Tortued Remains

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I’ve used Rat Swarms and Drake Swarms to good effect, the adjacent attack can be a constant brutality if you’re rolling well against the players.

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Swarm Template (Elite Soldier)

Vulnerability 10 close and area attacks.

Saving Throws +2

Action Point 1

Hit Points +8 per level + Constitution score

The creature gains the Swarm keyword.

Size increases by two steps (tiny > medium, small > large, medium > huge, large > gargantuan). Reach remains the same as that of the original creature.

Mounted creatures can be turned into swarms. Use the size of the mount (usually large) to determine the swarm’s new size. Use the mount’s speed to determine the swarm’s speed.

Powers

Swarm Attack
Aura; the swarm makes a basic melee attack as a free action against each enemy that begins its turn in the aura. The aura’s range equals the reach of the original creature.

Swarm Defenses
A swarm takes half damage from melee and ranged attacks. It is immune to forced movement (pull, push and slide) caused by such attacks.

Swarm Movement
The swarm can enter or move through an enemy’s space; this movement does not provoke opportunity attacks. An enemy can enter a space occupied by a swarm, but the space occupied by the swarm is considered difficult terrain, and doing so provokes an opportunity attack. A swarm can squeeze through any opening large enough to accomodate even one of its constituent creatures, i.e. it counts as two sizes smaller for the purpose of squeezing.

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People are scared, and now few people dare to sleep alone.  Even so people are still dying.  Tales spread of a large cat being seen prowling around or even leaping from the windows of those found dead, a great beast of a cat with green glittering eyes that glow from the shadows.   As the days go on, cats are hunted down and killed of all sizes and still the deaths continue.

A call has gone out for any brave adventurer’s that can help the imperiled village and their rewards will be great (well as great as a village of sheep farmers can offer).

I forsee a party passing through and hearing of the troubles or actively seeking it out.  They’ll investigaet the area and if they have good nature/perceptions they might find odd prints outside the house of the most recent dead.  An arcana, religion or history checks might give them clues as to the creature they’re looking for and this might lead them to search abandoned houses in the village since the Breathstealer is nocturnal.   The searching of the houses could have some non-related encounters.  Perhaps that run across a small chapter of thieves or thugs.   A house with a small crypt below it that has something dank and gross in it.

I think I’d lean toward them finding out a potential target of the creature, perhaps they’re smart enough to spread some gold among the beggars and orphans to keep an eye out, or maybe they get a report that a giant cat has been seen stalking around a particular house.  The breathstealer would stealth attack one of them leaving him dazed and bloodied on the ground perhaps and then retreat only to attack again from another direction much later on another solo target.

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Anyway here’s the [Download not found] in PDF or you can use the image below. -

breathstealer

Large brass knuckles adorn his hands, the left hand one enchanted in some fashion that generates a concussive boom when he lands a blow.

During a fight he’s constantly conversing with Tit at a battlefield level voice getting directions.  If on his own he’ll go after casters to the detriment of his own health who he has a savage hatred for as he believes it was only through magic that he was born.  A false belief but not one that is going to change for him.

He has lower than normal Hit Points and defenses for Brute but higher than typical damage output to make up for his shorter life span as a result.

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You can download him here – [Download not found]

Tat

Tit

So here he is, nothing special really but if you need a fire based elite in a hurry he might work.  And here’s a PDF if you like that kind of thing. [Download not found]

Edit: Added image for him.

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Tit

Anyway, this is Blacksnake, a wandering Bad Ass that is currently doing things that would eventually have him at odds with any PC’s of non-evil alignment.  Blacksnake is the master of the whip and can make it sit up and sing and dance and fetch him breakfast. He’s not a guy you want to screw with unless you really really have no option or you’re just one of those moral types that can’t leave well enough alone.

He travels with a retinue, on some occasions it’s a horde, of minions (not strictly in the 4th Edition definition of the word) and would rarely if ever be fought alone. Your needs may vary there of course, feel free to change that.

Here’s a crappy image of the character (click for a larger more legible one) and here’s a link to the pdf – [Download not found]

blacksnake

This creature should definitely be paired up with zombies of some sort.  Either zombie rotters as it’s current crop of ‘minions’ are decaying and falling apart or ‘healthier’ zombies that are still fresh and tough.  I’d even go so far as to reskin a Bonecrusher Skeleton as a zombie and add a couple of those to this encounter and have them be recent heroes that were slain and then whatever treasure you hand out for this encounter have it still hanging off them.

But then I’m mean like that.

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Zombee Level 6 Solo Skirmisher Small Natural Beast XP 1,250
Initiative +8 Senses Perception +6
Fuming Sores (disease) aura 1; Any creature not immune to disease that enters or starts its turn within the aura is dazed until the end of its next turn.
HP 288; Bloodied 144
AC 19; Fortitude 17, Reflex 20, Will 16
Immune disease, poison; Resist 10 necrotic; Vulnerable 5 radiant
Saving Throws +5
Speed 5; fly 8 (hover)
Action Points 2
Jagged Swipe (Standard; at-will)
+11 vs. AC; 1d8+6 damage.
Erratic Attack Path (Standard; at-will)
The zombee shifts up to half it’s movement and makes up to two Jagged Swipes at any point in its movement.
Dripping Stinger (Standard; at-will)
+11 vs. AC; 2d8+6. The zombee may shift 2 squares before making the attack. Secondary attack: +9 vs. Reflex and target is grabbed. See Necrotic Poison
Necrotic Poison (Standard; encounter)
+9 vs. Fortitude; 3d10+6 damage. Requires the target to be subject to Dripping Stinger. Any creature that dies after being subject to this attack immediately  rises as a Zombie under the zombee’s control.
Bloodied Fluids (Free when first bloodied; encounter)
Necrotic Poison recharges.
Chitinous Melodies (Minor; recharge ) ♦ Fear
Close Burst 3; +9 vs. Will; 3d6+4 psychic damage and target is pushed 4 squares. Miss: half damage and target is knocked prone. Aftereffect: Target takes -2 penalty to attack rolls against the zombee (save ends).
Fragile
When bloodied the zombee’s wings are destroyed and it loses the ability to fly.
Alignment Unaligned Languages
Skills Intimidate +11, Stealth +11
Str 16 (+6) Dex 16 (+6) Wis 16 (+6) Con 16 (+6) Int 16 (+6) Cha 16 (+6)

But in reading this it brings up just how flat out stupid the bad guys aka everyone not the players are.  As an example (duplicated partially here without permission) -

Writing Desk: This table contains paper, ink and several notes written to “L” from “RD”.  Also is a letter from “L” to “H” describing…

Okay A, why the HELL does Lareth sign his letters with an L and put Dear H on them?  He KNOWS who they’re from and he KNOWS who they’re going to.  The person who gets them?  They KNOW who they’re from.  I doubt if H gets a lot of letters from other people about the guard setup in the moathouse.  And I doubt, actually I know, that Lareth only gets reports from Hommlet from one person.

If this was a unique event it might just be a set of really stupid bad guys.  But it’s not.  Wizards especially loves the not so secret ‘note’ aka big flashing red arrow to tell the characters who the spies and secret traitors and such are.

I’d just like to call for a boycott on secret notes and journals that require a DC Easy to find to hand spoon information to the PC’s.  Make them work for it!  Have the notes be cryptic and not bluntly obvious.  I think in secret agent 101 one of the first things they tell you is “Don’t sign your notes.”.

Something a little more involved and that would give a valuable reason for a little roleplay is “As you read through the cryptic notes that seem to be describing recent events in a town, you assume Hommlet,  you see that whoever wrote it is concerned that ‘the baker’ seems suspicious and keeps nosing around.’ “.

Now you have a perfect opportunity for the players to go check out the baker and see who he’s been hanging around.  And what if it’s not the baker but actually one of the apprentices, the agent doesn’t really know the difference.  And what if the apprentice is actually just hanging out on his breaks near the agent’s place so he can watch a certain girl at the well?  Now you have a whole crazy mixup just waiting to happen.

Unless they’re just really low intelligence and wisdom and are young as in this is their first time bossing, most bosses are going to have at least some idea on an escape route.  They know they’re likely to get overthrown either by a younger, stronger, smarter creature in their ranks or by some do-gooder PC party.  As an example my Zizzor Hive Mother had a power “Preserve The Species” (see below) that allowed the Mother to move her full speed as a minor action, granting her 3 moves, 4 moves if she used an Action Point or 32 squares of movement as an Get Out of Jail Free card when combined with her Savage Cry.   The final Boss in that series of encounters had an extended Fade Away power, he was a Gnome, and as a standard encounter action he could sustain the invisibility (but it broke if he took damage) and would use that if things looked really badly. So some smart work on the player’s parts and they could stop both bosses from getting away but the bosses did have a chance to get away.

Using those kinds of options helps get your players in the mindset that the bad guys aren’t just meatbags of hit points and they’re destined to win.  After one or two bosses get away with smart tactics or preperation (or even better drive the players away with overwhelming force but that’s another article) then they might start thinking inside the box and planning on keeping the boss contained while they fight it.  Rather than just assuming it’s going to stand there and die for them.

As an aside, speaking of Hommlet, let’s try and avoid the Grab Bag Effect of monster placement too.  No goblins in a room next to Gnolls next to Orcs next to Undead.  4E gives us this HUGE ability, that no prior edition came close to, in having a themed set of encounters.  My Zizzor one off is an example, good I think but then I’m biased, of how you can have a series of encounters that are interesting by simply incorporating a different mix of subtypes.

I know that it large part the grab bag o’ monster encounters was forced on DM’s by the lack of variety.  No player wants to go through a dungeon and have 18 fights of the same Orc to face the Hill Giant that’s leading them.  So they added in a mish mash of encounters to make the encounter series interesting even if it made no realistic sense.  But we don’t have to do that now.  Have your first fights with goblin foragers with a goblin warrior or two, then some goblin archers or sneaks and a goblin shaman, the big fat goblin boss with the twin elite wargs as guardians.   It’s all goblin, it makes sense but each fight plays out different depending on the mix of controller, soldier, minion etc.

And remember to have that big fat goblin boss have a bolt hole in case things look really badly.  And honestly if the party has just ripped a new one through your entire crew, most bosses should be gone by the time they get there.  If they’re smart.

As a parting thought I give you the playbook for any boss – The top 100+ things I’d do if were an evil overlord.

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Zizzer Clutch Mother Level 3 Solo Controller (Leader) Medium Natural Humanoid XP 750
Initiative +3 Senses Perception +9
Incite Bloodlust aura 5; each Zizzer within the aura deals +2 damage, +4 damage when bloodied.
HP 176; Bloodied 88
AC 17; Fortitude 15, Reflex 16, Will 16
Saving Throws +5
Speed 6
Action Points 2
Claw Strike (Standard; at-will)
+9 vs. AC; 1d8+3 damage.
Frenzied Attack (Standard; at-will)
Close burst 1; the clutch mother makes a Claw Strike against all enemies in the burst.
Poison Spray (Standard; recharge )
Close burst 2; targets non-zizzor; +7 vs. Fortitude; 3d6+3 damage and target is dazed (save ends).
Yes Mother (Minor; at-will)
Close Burst 8; One zizzor in the area makes a basic attack.
Savage Cry (Minor; encounter)
Close burst 4; +8 vs. Willpower; Targets are dazed until the end of the Clutch Mother’s next turn.
Preserve the Species (Minor; encounter)
Until the end of the Clutch Mother’s next turn it may move its full speed as a Minor Action.
Bloodrush (Immediate Reaction (when adjacent enemy is bloodied))
The Zizzer makes a basic melee attack as an immediate reaction when an adjacent target is bloodied.
Alignment Evil Languages Common, Draconic
Skills Bluff +7, Insight +9, Nature +9
Str 13 (+2) Dex 17 (+4) Wis 16 (+4) Con 12 (+2) Int 16 (+4) Cha 12 (+2)

Shade Master

And my printer decides to go tits up. And my laser printer doesn’t print colored monster pages very well at all.

So one dissection later and several wooden matches (W.T.F?!) removed later and it’s working again.  Yay!

This is the Shade Master, he’s going to show up with 24 minions of Shadow…

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Shade Master Level 4 Brute Medium Natural Humanoid XP 175
Initiative +3 Senses
HP 66; Bloodied 33
AC 15; Fortitude 17, Reflex 13, Will 12
Speed 6
Slam (Standard; at-will)
+7 vs. AC; 1d10+4 damage.
Smashing Darkness (Standard; at-will)
+7 vs. AC; 2d6+4 damage.
Enveloping Shadows (Standard; encounter)
Close Burst 3; +6 vs. reflex; all enemies in the area take 1d12+4 damage. Sustain minor, the area persists as a zone that causes blindness in all enemies that enter or start their turn in the zone.
Cast Shadows (Minor; at-will)
The Shade Master can teleport one shade within 20 squares to an empty square adjacent to him, or teleport one adjacent shade up to 10 squares.
Consuming Darkness (Minor; at-will)
The Shade Master can consume one tattered shade within 3 squares and gain a +4 power bonus on attack and damage rolls and 4 temporary hit points until the end of its next turn.
Alignment Chaotic Evil Languages
Str 18 (+6) Dex 13 (+3) Wis 10 (+2) Con 14 (+4) Int 9 (+1) Cha 10 (+2)

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He has also added in a set of optional rules to go with some of the creatures that allow for Mental Disorders to really screw with your players.  Nothing like a jibbering phobic paranoic mass of huddle humanity trying to adventure together…

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While the creature doesn’t give much away, I can’t really go into details on the setting as that would empower the players with information that would change the way they’re going to tackle the encounter so for now it’s just the first rough draft of the creature that I’ll be using.

But now I need to create something else as well in an Artillery form factor to go with this guy or the whole encounter doesn’t make much sense.

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Black Slime Thug

Black Slime Thug Level 4 Soldier Medium Aberrant Animate XP 175
Initiative +5 Senses Perception +3
Acidic Fumes (Acid) aura 1; after the black slime thug is bloodied, any creature that enters or starts its turn in the aura takes 5 damage.
HP 56; Bloodied 28
AC 20; Fortitude 18, Reflex 14, Will 14
Resist 5 acid, 5 necrotic; Vulnerable 5 radiant
Speed 6
Slam (Standard; at-will)
+11 vs. AC; 1d10+4 damage.
Double Fist (Standard; encounter)
+11 vs. AC; 3d8+4 damage.
Flow Step (Move; at-will)
The slime thug can shift up to 3 squares.
Death Splash (Immediate Reaction, when taken to 0 hit points) ♦ Acid
Close burst 1;+9 vs. Reflex; 1d10+4 damage and the target is blinded (save ends).
Alignment Unaligned Languages
Skills Intimidate +7, Stealth +9
Str 18 (+6) Dex 14 (+4) Wis 8 (+1) Con 16 (+5) Int 8 (+1) Cha 10 (+2)

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This is my current “Read Aloud” text that I will be presenting the players with at the start of the adventure -

“You are all residents of a medium sized fishing village on the shores of the Timpani sea.  The climate is moderate with mild winters.  The fishing fleets go out every week and return loaded with fish.  These fish are preserved, some in heavy brine, others dried and the very best ones are subject to rituals by the village ritualist and his apprentice that slow their decay so they can arrive at the city markets as fresh as they were pulled from the waters.

The area has many dangers, bandits from the hills to the south like to prey on travelers, wild animals and worse wander the countryside’s thick forests and low hills making travel a very dangerous thing for the solitary or weak.  To the east lay the dense marshes of Fenglidden (Black Marsh) swamps.  Tribes of reptilian humanoids known as Zizzors live on the edges of these fetid waters and stories abound of the greater dangers that lay deeper inward.

It was a successful trip and you have good news to report to the village, disease has wiped out a good portion of the beef herds so meat is at a premium and your barrels of fish brought a good price. You’re in a hurry to get home and the three day trip seems to drag on forever but finally the trip is drawing to a close.

But what’s this? A sullen glow lines the night sky south.  And as morning breaks, you see billowing smoke columns are on the horizon from where you know your village lies although several hours distant at the speed of the wagons.  You draw straws to see who will take the few horses and hurry on ahead leaving the plodding oxen to continue pulling the wagons of empty barrels.

As you come over the last rise the village lays before you.  Several  houses on the east side are nothing but burning embers,  others further in are partially burned or scorched.   Two of the big warehouses and the docks are in ruins.

You hurry down, weapons drawn to find the a pile of zizzor bodies, easily 20 or 30 of them and many shroud covered forms you know to be the bodies of your friends and relatives.

Elders of the village fill you in and answer your questions, a large force of zizzors attacked in the middle of the night setting fire to buildings and destroying and killing.  The villagers fought back but took heavy losses much as the hated reptiles had.

The one thing that sticks out to you from the stories is that the Zizzors seemed to be raiding with a purpose other than just random pillaging.    A head count reveals that several children are missing and feared taken but the remaining villagers are too few and there are too many wounded and injured to go after them.

But now that you’re here perhaps that can change, perhaps a quick chase could recover the children… or their bodies if the worst has already happened.”

The party, in my case, will consist of villagers, the best of the best so to speak and as a result they’re the only ones on hand able and capable of going after the zizzors with any speed or hope of success. It could just as easily be a group that’s passing through the village in the time of it’s need by land or perhaps they pulled into dock after spotting the fires and smoke from the oceans, whatever the reason they’re here now and tasked with saving the children.  That’s the good thing about using children, everyone with an ounce of compassion is going to make the attempt.  If the zizzors had raided the Home for Criminally Insane then perhaps it might not be as critical to save them.

And here’s one of the many types of Zizzor’s that I’ve created, not sure why I felt the need to make unique monsters for everything for this module since the people playing aren’t familiar with all the 4E monsters anyway but what the hell right?

Zizzor Spinethrower

Zizzer Spinethrower Level 2 Artillery Medium Natural Humanoid XP 125
Initiative +1 Senses Perception +7
HP 38; Bloodied 19
AC 14; Fortitude 14, Reflex 13, Will 13
Speed 6
Claw Strike (Standard; at-will)
+9 vs. AC; 1d6+3 damage.
Spine (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
Ranged 10/20; +9 vs. AC; 1d10+3 damage.
Poisoned Spines (Standard; encounter) ♦ Poison
Ranged 10/20; 1d10+3 damage and target suffers 5 ongoing poison damage and is immobilized (save ends both).
Spine Volley (Standard; encounter)
Area burst 1 within 20; +9 vs. AC; 2d6+3 damage.
Bloodrush (Immediate Reaction (when adjacent enemy is bloodied))
The Zizzer makes a Claw Strike as an immediate action when an adjacent target is bloodied.
Alignment Evil Languages Common, Draconic
Skills Nature +7, Stealth +7
Str 13 (+2) Dex 14 (+3) Wis 12 (+2) Con 13 (+2) Int 10 (+1) Cha 12 (+2)

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It includes creatures out to level 18′ish or so and while some of the options to be included are perhaps rather “Why?” there is the fact that in my opinion going through other people’s monsters is a great way to come up with monsters of your own.

If nothing else, and I’ve said this before I know, 4th edition finally adds interesting creatures for the DM to use.

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Belcher

I need to work on the story line too but there’s a lot of folks who’ve already exhaustively gone through the thing and tweaked it to make it more memorable to newcomers to the sport.  I’d like to add some RP moments throughout it rather than a loosely connected series of combat encounters.

Lore

Goblin Belchers are a rare breed of the goblinoids. Grotesquely obese they possess a size and strength that surpasses the average goblin. Voracious eaters they consume everything being true omnivores. Slow goblins have been known to vanish down their gullets when there’s nothing else to eat.

Their stomach acids have evolved to deal with the wide range of ‘food’ the belchers partake on and they can under need or duress vomit this bile and acid back up in a huge spray of noxious fluids.

Belchers are always found with goblin minions in attendance to fetch the food they crave and typically a belcher will have 4-6 goblins in tow as harvesters or in a pinch as a food supply.

Goblin Belcher Level 2 Elite Brute Medium Natural Humanoid XP 250
Initiative +3 Senses Perception +3
HP 88; Bloodied 44
AC 14; Fortitude 14, Reflex 14, Will 14
Resist Acid 5
Saving Throws +2
Speed 6
Action Points 1
Spiked Club (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
+5 vs. AC; 2d6+3 damage.
Sweeping Smash (Immediate Reaction, when three or more enemies are in the burst.; at-will) ♦ Weapon
Close burst 1; +5 vs. AC; 1d6+3 damage and target is pushed 2.
Vomitus Mass (Standard; encounter) ♦ Acid
Close blast 3; +3 vs. Reflex; 2d10+3 damage and target is dazed and blinded (save ends both).
Backhand (Immediate Reaction, when a melee attack misses; at-will)
+5 vs. AC; 1d6+3 damage and target is pushed 1.
Alignment Evil Languages goblin
Skills Endurance +8, Intimidate +6, Stealth +5, Thievery +5
Str 17 (+4) Dex 9 (+0) Wis 12 (+2) Con 14 (+3) Int 8 (+0) Cha 10 (+1)
Equipment leather armour, goblin war club

Goblin Belcher Lore

A character knows the following information with a successful Nature check. DC 15: [Name, type and keywords] DC 20: [Powers] DC 25: [Resistances and vulnerabilities]

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While the image over there doesn’t completely match it isn’t too bad though, nice big arms and shoulders at least.

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Kobold Rock Chucker Level 2 Elite Artillery Medium Natural Humanoid XP 250
Initiative +3 Senses Perception +3
HP 64; Bloodied 32
AC 14; Fortitude 15, Reflex 13, Will 13
Saving Throws +2
Speed 6
Action Points 1
Tosser (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
Ranged 15/30; +9 vs. AC; 1d10+3 damage.
Smasher (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
+9 vs. AC; 2d6+3 damage
Head Shot (Standard; encounter) ♦ Weapon
Ranged 15/30; +9 vs. AC; 3d6+3 damage and make a secondary attack against the same target. Secondary Attack: +7 vs. Fortitude; target is dazed (save ends).
Forearm Smash (Standard; recharge
+9 vs. AC; 2d10+3 damage and target is pushed 3 squares.
Shifty (Minor; at-will)
The kobold shifts one square.
Alignment Unaligned Languages Draconic, Common
Skills Stealth +8, Thievery +8
Str 16 (+4) Dex 11 (+1) Wis 12 (+2) Con 12 (+2) Int 9 (+0) Cha 10 (+1)
Equipment leather armour

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Zombie Swarm Level 6 Brute
Huge Natural Animate (undead) XP 250

Initiative +6 Senses Perception +5
Punching Mass aura 1; At the start of its turn Zombie Swarm makes a free
Zombie Swipe attack against all enemies inside aura
HP 82; Bloodied 41
AC 18; Fortitude 19, Reflex 18, Will 17
Immune disease, poison;
Resist 10 necrotic; half damage from melee & ranged attacks;
Vulnerable 5 radiant, 10 close & area attacks
Saving Throws see Swarm Stability
Speed 4

m Zombie Swipe (Standard; at-will)
Attack +9 vs. AC; 1d10+4 damage

M Zombie Grab (Standard; at-will)
Attack +7 vs. Reflex; 2d6+4 damage; on hit target is grabbed (escape
ends)

M Swallowed By the Crowd (Standard; at-will) ♦ grabbed target only
Target must be grabbed at start of Zombie Swarms turn; attack +7 vs.
Fortitude; on hit target is pulled into the centre square of the Zombie
Swarm, is restrained and takes 10 ongoing damage (until escape, target
takes a -5 penalty to escape checks, on escape creature can emerge in
any square adjacent to swarm); Whilst Zombie Swarm has a target
restrained it cannot move or make attacks other than those granted by its
Punching Mass aura

Swarm Stability
Zombie Swarm reduces all push, pull and slide effects targeting it by 3
squares, and is only affected by ongoing status effects from area or burst
powers

Alignment Unaligned Languages groans and moans
Skills Endurance +9
Str 19 (+7) Dex 16 (+6) Wis 14 (+5)
Con 12 (+4) Int 3 (-1) Cha 3 (-1)

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Feaster of Shadows

Feaster of Shadows Level 6 Solo Soldier Medium Shadow Animate XP 1,250
Initiative +8 Senses Perception +11; darkvision
Frozen Shadows aura 1; Creatures that enter or start their turn in the aura take 5 necrotic damage.
HP 288; Bloodied 144
AC 22; Fortitude 18, Reflex 18, Will 18
Resist 10 necrotic; Vulnerable 5 radiant
Saving Throws +5
Speed 6, climb 6 (spider climb), fly 6 (hover)
Action Points 2
Choking Shadows (Standard; at-will) ♦ necrotic
Reach 1; +11 vs. Fortitude; 2d6+4 damage.
Shadow Tendril (Standard; at-will) ♦ necrotic
Range 12; +13 vs. AC; 2d6+4 damage
Hungry Shadows (Standard; at-will) ♦ necrotic
Close Burst 1; +13 vs. AC; 1d10+4 damage.
Dark Matter (Standard; encounter) ♦ force
Close burst 4; 3d6+4 damage and targets are pulled 3 squares.
Sacrificial Shadows (Immediate Interrupt, when the master of shadow is damaged by a ranged attack; at-will)
A surge of shadow intercepts incoming ranged attacks and reduces their damage by half.
Dark Resources (Free, when first bloodied; encounter)
The feaster of shadows Dark Matter power recharges and the feaster of shadows uses it immediately as a free action.
Alignment Chaotic Evil Languages Common
Skills Intimidate +11, Stealth +11, Thievery +11
Str 18 (+7) Dex 17 (+6) Wis 13 (+4) Con 14 (+5) Int 12 (+4) Cha 14 (+5)

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Typically his guardians, at least the outer ring were comprised of the below minions (not in the 4th Edition sense of the word though) he created known as Shadows of Kyrell.  Further in were typically stronger versions with more varied powers.

In this case the party will run into these guys in a room comprised of a series of pillars at floor level, i.e. it’s a jumping puzzle but the Shadows will be flowing along the walls sniping at the party if they try to cross the room.  The pillars will be a trap that will make an attack against reflex defenses and if the attack succeeds then the character will fall off the pillar.  [For those outraged that a pillar is 'attacking' a character this is really nothing more than the old saving throw versus reflex (dragon breath) etc. just the DM's is rolling it rather than the player and it's called an attack versus a save].   The traps will gain a +1 to hit for each successful attack from a Shadow that each player takes.   The fall which will be 20′ down will be to a spiked floor that will have another attack against AC to deal damage.

And that’s just the first guarded chamber of which there will be three and in the last chamber will be a solo level boss shadow guarding something which I won’t go into as people do read this…

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Shadows of Kyrell

Shadows of Kyrell Level 5 Lurker Medium Shadow Animate XP 200
Initiative +8 Senses Perception +4; darkvision
Shivering Darkness (necrotic) aura 1; any creature that enters or begins its turn in the aura takes 5 necrotic damage.
HP 51; Bloodied 25
AC 19; Fortitude 16, Reflex 19, Will 16
Vulnerable 5 radiant
Speed Speed 6, Climb 6 (spider climb)
Jagged Shadows (Standard; at-will) ♦ necrotic
+10 vs. AC; 1d10+4 necrotic damage.
Grasping Shadows (Standard; encounter)
Close Burst 2; +10 vs. Reflex; the target takes 5 necrotic damage and is immobilized (save ends). The creature is considered in shadows while immobilized. (See Affinity of Shadows)
Affinity of Shadows
The Shadow of Kyrell does an additional 1d6 damage with Jagged Shadows to creatures in shadow.
Shadow Stride (Move; recharge )
The Shadow of Kyrell can shift up to its movement speed to end its move in a shadowed location and can perform a stealth check to gain invisibility until the end of its next turn.
Alignment Chaotic Evil Languages Common
Skills Intimidate +8, Stealth +10, Thievery +10
Str 15 (+4) Dex 17 (+5) Wis 11 (+2) Con 14 (+4) Int 11 (+2) Cha 13 (+3)

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Scratch and his band, a mixed back of orcs and humans with the standard assortment of goblins as lackeys and chaff/fodder for the battle, live in a series of caves off the main trails.  A sequence of goblin watchers keep an eye out for possible victims on the trail although their reliability isn’t that great even with the circumstances of what happens to them when caught sleeping.  Scratch’s goblin forces have a lot of churn to put it mildly.

Barring an especially sweet plum of a caravan Scratch typically does not get far from the caves, electing instead to send one of his lieutenants with a force of berserkers with his human crossbowmen as ranged support to take the caravan.

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Scratch Level 4 Solo Soldier Large Natural Humanoid XP 875
Initiative +6 Senses Perception +9
HP 220; Bloodied 110
AC 20; Fortitude 16, Reflex 17, Will 15
Resist 5 Cold; Vulnerable 5 Force
Saving Throws +5
Speed 8
Action Points 2
Brass Knuckles (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
+11 vs. AC; 1d8+4 damage.
One Two (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
Scratch makes two Brass Knuckle attacks against one target or one attack against two targets no more than 1 square apart.
The Boot (Standard; encounter)
+11 vs. AC; 3d8+4 damage and target is pushed 3.
Lightning Reflexes (Immediate Reaction, when a melee attack misses Scratch; at-will)
+11 vs. AC; 1d6+4.
Roundhouse (Standard; at-will)
Close burst 1; +11 vs. AC; 1d6+4 damage to up to 3 targets in burst.
Enraged (Immediate Reaction, triggered when first bloodied; encounter)
Scratch deals an extra +6 damage per attack until the end of his next turn and can make an immediate Brass Knuckles attack as a free action. If he hits he regains health equal to the damage dealt.
Alignment Evil Languages Common, Giant
Skills Endurance +9, Intimidate +9
Str 20 (+7) Dex 19 (+6) Wis 12 (+3) Con 18 (+6) Int 8 (+1) Cha 18 (+6)
Equipment Leather armour, brass knuckles

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So without further ado here’s the new lurkers that I hope will cause no end of grief for my players in a old abandoned temple set in the side of a dormant volcano in 2 or 3 levels.

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Child of Stone Level 8 Lurker Medium Elemental Magical Beast (earth) XP 350
Initiative +11 Senses Perception +7, Tremorsense 10
HP 71; Bloodied 35
AC 22; Fortitude 20, Reflex 20, Will 20
Resist 5 Fire; Vulnerable 5 Cold
Speed 6
Smashing Blow (Standard; at-will)
+13 vs. AC; 2d6+5 and target is pushed 1 square. Special: This attack does an extra 1d6 damage when the Child of Stone has combat advantage.
A Stone’s Throw (Standard; at-will)
Ranged 10/20; +13 vs. AC;1d8+5.
Shifting Sands (Standard; encounter)
Area Burst 2 within 20; +11 vs. Reflex; 1d8+5 and target is immobilized (save ends).
Earth Travel (Move; recharge )
The Child of Stone can meld into the earth or stone in it’s square and move up to its movement through the earth, ignoring difficult terrain. It can reappear as a minor action in any square at the end of its movement or stay melded and continue to move through the earth and does not need to trigger Earth Travel again until it exits the earth.
Embrace of Stone (Minor; encounter)
Stone flows up and encases the Stone Child in shielding armour. The Stone Child gains Resist All 10 until the end of its next turn.
Alignment Unaligned Languages Primordial
Str 20 (+9) Dex 15 (+6) Wis 5 (+1) Con 15 (+6) Int 7 (+2) Cha 8 (+3)

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I think I’d like to see some kind of leader aura power on him and him bumped up 1 or 2 levels though but still well worth recording here for my future use in one form or another.

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Hobgoblin Slavemaster
Even more than other Hobgoblin’s, the Slavemasters are natural tyrants and seek to subjugate others. Any under them soon learns to fear the lash of their whips.

Hobgoblin Slavemaster Level 3 Elite Controller
Medium Natural Humanoid XP 300
Initiative +3 Senses Perception +8; low light vision
HP 92; Bloodied 46
AC 19; Fortitude 19, Reflex 15, Will 15
Saving Throws +2
Speed 6
Action Points: 1

Basic Melee

Melee

Melee

Close

Five

Six

Hobgoblin Resilience (immediate reaction, when the Slavemaster suffers an effect that save can end, encounter): The Slavemaster rolls a saving throw against the effect.

Tyrant’s Ire (free, when first bloodied, encounter) The Slavemaster’s Whip Fury recharges and the Slavemaster uses it immediately, even if Whip Choke would normally prevent it doing so. If the Slavemaster currently has a target grabbed due to Whip Choke, the target immediately and automatically escapes.

Alignment: Evil Languages: Common, Goblin
Skills: Athletics +10, Intimidate +8, Endurance +8
Str 19 (+5) Dex 15 (+3) Wis 12 (+2)
Con 14 (+3) Int 10 (+1) Cha 15 (+3)

Equipment: Battleaxe, whip, hide armour, keys

Hobgoblin Slavemaster Tactics
The Slavemaster is a bully, and will seek to isolate a single opponent. He will then use his whip against the opponent, using a shift action after his attack to help limit the targets actions. Should he be engaged by more than one opponent, he will use Whip Fury to reduce attacks against him, and call upon his allies for help. Should his enemies be getting the upper hand, he will use whatever trick he can to even the odds or, should he be bloodied, will not hesitate to flee.

Hobgoblin Slavemaster Lore
A character knows the following information with a successful Nature check.

DC 20: Just as hobgoblin’s live to make war, they also live to take the spoils of war, those spoils including slaves. Naturally, someone has to keep those slaves in line, which they do with the lash of their whip

DC: 25 Only the nastiest and most tyrannical hobgoblins become Slavemasters. Underhanded even by goblinoid standards, they will do whatever it takes to protect themselves and come out on top.

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This little guy is going to be in my next encounter, which as I mentioned I’m ‘professionalizing’ to something I’m comfortable at handing out to others.  It’s going to be a tough encounter, it’s aimed at a level 2 party of 4 and is a level 6 party with 1204 exp points worth of monsters.  But the mobs are very ‘wavy’, intentionally so and it’s really roughly two back to back encounters without a pause between them.

Anyway without further ado, the Orc Deadspeaker.

Orc Deadspeaker Level 4 Controller (Leader) Medium Natural Humanoid XP 175
Initiative +4 Senses Perception +4; low-light vision
Life Drain (Necrotic) aura 4; bloodied enemies that enter or start their turn in the aura take 3 necrotic damage.
HP 55; Bloodied 27
AC 18; Fortitude 16, Reflex 13, Will 18
Resist 5 necrotic
Speed 6 (8 while charging)
Greataxe (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
+1d12+4 (crit 1d12+16)
Warrior’s Surge (Standard, usable only when bloodied.; encounter) ♦ Healing, Weapon
The orc deadspeaker makes a melee basic attack and regains 13 hit points.
Death’s Kiss (Standard; at-will) ♦ Necrotic
+8 vs. Reflex; 1d6+4
Strike Fear (Standard; recharge ) ♦ Necrotic
Close burst 4; +8 vs. Will; 1d6+4 damage and target is weakened (save ends);
View of the Abyss (Standard; encounter) ♦ Fear
Close burst 4; +8 vs. Willpower; 2d6+4 damage and target is knocked prone. Miss: Half damage and target is pushed 3.
Death’s Burn (Standard; encounter) ♦ Necrotic, Fire
Area 2 within 15; +8 vs. Reflex; 3d8+4 damage and target suffers ongoing 5 damage (save ends).
Alignment Chaotic Evil Languages Common, Giant
Skills Intimidate +8, Endurance +6
Str 16 (+5) Dex 13 (+3) Wis 18 (+6) Con 15 (+4) Int 12 (+3) Cha 10 (+2)
Equipment hides, greataxe

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Chain deamons are very ‘hellraiser’ ish in how they deal with people. The larger or more powerful ones especially would give even Pinhead reason to walk lightly.

All their abilities have a reach of one but still I’d probably run them with some kind of archer and a brute or three just to keep things away from them.  Their ability to reach out and tag someone, knock them prone, take away their ability to use items momentarily should make for an interesting fight.

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Minor Chain Deamon Level 3 Controller (Leader) Medium Aberrant Humanoid XP 150
Initiative +3 Senses Perception +3
Flailing Chains (Weapon) aura 1; any creature that enters or starts its turn in the aura takes 3 damage.
HP 46; Bloodied 23
AC 19; Fortitude 14, Reflex 17, Will 15
Resist 5 fire; Vulnerable 5 cold
Speed 7
Chain Strike (Standard) ♦ Weapon
Reach 1; +8 vs AC; 1d6+3
Clinging Chains (Standard; encounter) ♦ Weapon
Close Burst 1; +7 vs Ref; 1d6+3, and on a successful attack the target is slowed (save ends).
Spiked Chain (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
Reach 1; 1d10+3
Binding Chains (Standard; recharge ) ♦ Weapon
Reach 1;+8 vs AC; 1d6+3, on a successful hit the weapon or implement that the target is holding is wrapped in chains and unusuable (save ends).
Cracking the Whip (Standard; recharge ) ♦ Weapon
Reach 1;+8 vs. AC; 2d10+3 and target is knocked prone.
Alignment Chaotic Evil Languages Abyssal, goblin
Skills Intimidate +8, Bluff +6
Str 14 (+3) Dex 12 (+2) Wis 11 (+1) Con 10 (+1) Int 6 (-1) Cha 9 (+0)

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Giant Bee Worker Level 6 Minion
Medium Natural Beast XP 62
Initiative +7 Senses Perception +4
HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion.
AC 20; Fortitude 18, Reflex 19, Will 16
Speed Fly 6 (hover)

Sting (Standard; at-will)
+ 11 vs AC; 5 damage, and makes a secondary attack Only Stings Once against the same target.

Defend the Hive! (Standard; encounter)
The bee shifts up to its movement, and makes a basic attack
with a +2 bonus.

Only Stings Once (encounter)
After a successful sting attack; +9 vs Fortitude, 5 poison damage, and
slowed and 5 ongoing poison damage (save ends). If successful, the
worker bee dies instantly.

Alignment Unaligned Languages
Skills Acrobatics +12, Endurance +10
Str 16 (+6) Dex 18 (+7) Wis 12 (+4)
Con 14 (+5) Int 10 (+3) Cha 8 (+2)

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As a result two low level goblin darkshrouds are being sent out on their bloodquest (yes goblins have quests) in an attempt to extract true goblinoid revenge. These creatures are outlined below.

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Goblin Darkshroud Level 2 Elite Lurker Medium Natural Humanoid XP 250
Initiative +7 Senses Perception +3
HP 64; Bloodied 32
AC 18; Fortitude 14, Reflex 16, Will 13
Saving Throws +2
Speed 6
Action Points 1
Shortsword (Standard) ♦ Weapon
+7 vs. AC; 1d10+3
Dual Slice (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
The goblin darkshroud makes two shortsword attacks against one target or one attack against two targets.
Leaping Attack (Standard; at-will)
Goblin darkshroud can shift up to 4 squares and makes a basic attack against a target at any point of the shift.
Deadly Rain (Standard; encounter; recharge when first bloodied) ♦ Weapon
Close Blast 3, +7 vs. AC; 2d10+3; the darkshroud flings a spray of needle tipped iron darts at the area in front of it.
Into the shadows (Minor; encounter)
Close burst 1; Creates a zone of darkness that blocks all vision until the end of the goblin shrouds next turn.
Alignment Chaotic Evil Languages Goblin, common
Skills Stealth +10, Thievery +8
Str 13 (+2) Dex 15 (+3) Wis 11 (+1) Con 14 (+3) Int 11 (+1) Cha 11 (+1)
Equipment Leather, Short sword, Darts

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By Mesh Hong -

Here are some plant monsters I used in my campaign a while back. You might find something here that you could use.

1: Rage Creeper – level 5 Brute
2: Drag Vine – level 5 lurker
3: White Orchid Painbloom – level 5 elite artillery
4: Fungal Grazer – level 6 soldier
5: Fungal Grazer Alpha Male – level 8 brute
6: Fungal Insect Swarm – level 3 skirmisher (swarm)

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1: Rage Creeper
Rage creepers look like dense patches of plant matter, they typically roll into a surprisingly heavy ball shape made up of vine like tendrils and writhe and slam opponents. They are particularly nasty when cornered.

Rage Creeper Level 5 Brute
Medium Fey beast (plant) XP 200

Initiative +4 Senses Perception +2; blindsight
HP 76; Bloodied 38 see Bloodied Rage
AC 17; Fortitude 19, Reflex 16, Will 15
Immune fear, poison;
Vulnerable 5 fire
Speed 5, Climb 5

MCreeper Slam (standard; at-will)
Attack +8 vs. AC; 1d10+5 damage

mHeavy Slam (standard; at-will)
Attack +8 vs. AC; 2d8+5 damage; on hit secondary attack +6 vs.
Fortitude; on hit the target is pushed 2 squares and knocked prone

Reactive to Danger (immediate reaction, When Creeper takes damage)
When Damaged Rage Creeper may shift 1 square; if it takes fire damage it
may shift 2 squares and make a free Creeper Slam attack if possible

Bloodied Rage
When bloodied Rage Creeper gains a +2 bonus to all attacks

Alignment Unaligned
Skills Endurance +10
Str 20 (+7) Dex 14 (+4) Wis 10 (+2)
Con 16 (+5) Int 8 (+1) Cha 3 (-2)

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2: Drag Vine
Drag vines lie in wait for their victims to get close to them, then attack with lashing vines hoping to grab as many targets as possible, when they have dragged a number of targets close enough they release spores to hopefully render their victims unconscious so that they can rake them to death.

Drag Vine Level 5 Lurker
Medium fey beast (plant) XP 200

Initiative +7 Senses Perception +15; blindsight
HP 46; Bloodied 23
AC 19; Fortitude 16, Reflex 18, Will 16
Immune fear, poison;
Vulnerable 5 cold
Speed 4, Climb 4

MThorn Rake (standard; at-will)
Attack +10 vs. AC; 1d6+5 damage; on hit target takes 2 ongoing Poison
damage (save ends)

mDrag them in (minor; at-will) (ONLY grabbed target)
Attack +8 vs. Fortitude; 1d4+2 damage; on hit target is pulled 4 squares;
on miss target is pulled 1 square

rLashing Vines (standard; recharge 456)
Ranged 6; attack +6 vs. Reflex; 1d8+5 damage; Drag Vine makes up to 4
attacks (each attack must be a different target); on hit target is grabbed
and takes 2 ongoing poison damage (whilst grabbed); escape Athletics DC
16, Acrobatics DC 18

cSpore Release (standard; encounter) ● Poison
Burst 2; attack +6 vs. Fortitude; 2d8+2 poison damage; on hit target is
weakened (save ends, +2 bonus to save); first failed save target falls
unconscious for 1d6 rounds (a heal check DC15 as a standard action will
bring an adjacent character round)

Alignment Unaligned
Skills Perception +15, Stealth +12
Str 14 (+4) Dex 20 (+7) Wis 16 (+5)
Con 10 (+2) Int 10 (+2) Cha 3 (-2)

NOTE:
My players had a couple of encounters that included pairs of these guys, I really liked them. My players hated them; mind you one of them did manage to make 3 PCs unconscious. The Spore Release one save and become unconscious may be a bit nasty but I still don’t think it is unbalanced, and there is a +2 bonus to the save which increases the odds of success.
They were designed to use Lashing Vines to drag people in then use Spore Release, however in practice they always seemed to just move up the PCs and then use Spore Release. This is probably just another example of practical implementation vs. design intent.

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3: White Orchid Painbloom
The White Orchid Painbloom is a large and beautiful flower on a single thick stem, sometimes reaching up to 10ft high. Its base is a mass of woody roots and thick greasy leaves. The Orchid will hold its action point in reserve for when it needs it, namely when enemies get too close, or if it can get 4 people with 2 jets of acid.

White Orchid Painbloom Level 5 Elite Artillery
Large fey beast (plant) XP 400

Initiative +7 Senses Perception +2; blindsight
Acidic Haze (Acid) aura 2; Enemies entering or starting their turn in the
aura take 3 acid damage; (When Bloodied aura increases to 5 size and 5
damage)
HP 100; Bloodied 50 (see Acidic Haze)
AC 19; Fortitude 18, Reflex 21, Will 15
Immune fear, poison;
Resist 10 radiant; 10 acid Vulnerable 5 necrotic
Saving Throws +2
Speed 4, Climb 2
Action Points 1

MLeaf Slap (standard; at-will)
Attack +10 vs. AC; 1d8 damage

RAcid Glob (standard; at-will) ● Acid
Range 10/20; attack +12 vs. AC; 1d10+5 acid damage

rJet of Acid (standard; at-will) ● Acid
Range 6/12; attack +12 vs. AC; 1d12+5 acid damage; 2 attacks different
targets, targets must be within 3 squares of each other

rStinging Acid Glob (standard; at-will) ● Acid
Ranged 10/20; attack +12 vs. AC; 1d10+5 acid damage; target takes 5
ongoing acid damage (save ends)

aBlinding Glob of Acid (standard; recharge 6) ● Acid
Area burst 2 within 8; attack +8 vs. Reflex; 2d6+5 acid damage; on hit
target is blinded (save ends)

aSticky Squirt (standard; encounter) (zone – lasts as long as encounter or 5 mins)
Area burst 2 within 15; covers an area with a sticky acidic gooey
compound; considered difficult terrain for non-plants; any enemy
attempting to leave a sticky square must make either a DC 10 athletics or
a DC 12 acrobatics check; failure negates movement and ends the action.

Alignment Unaligned
Str 10 (+2) Dex 20 (+7) Wis 10 (+2)
Con 14 (+4) Int 12 (+3) Cha 3 (-2)

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4: Fungal Grazer
Fungal Grazers are similar to bulbous white/grey cows with wide stubby legs. Their round head ends in a thick bunch of tentacles which it feeds through.

Fungal Grazer Level 6 Soldier
Large fey beast (plant) XP 250

Initiative +5 Senses Perception +10; darkvision
HP 70; Bloodied 35
AC 22; Fortitude 18, Reflex 15, Will 15
Immune poison, charm, disease, sleep
Speed 5

MHead Slam (standard; at-will)
Attack +13 vs. AC; 1d10+4 damage

mCharging Slam (standard; at-will) (ONLY as a charge attack)
Attack +14 vs. AC; 2d8+4 damage; on hit target is pushed 2 squares;
secondary attack +6 vs Reflex; on hit target is knocked prone

mFace Tentacles (standard; encounter) ● Acid
+10 vs. Fortitude; 3d6+4 acid damage; on hit target is stunned until the
end of the Grazers next turn and takes 3 ongoing acid damage (save ends)

Alignment Unaligned
Skills Endurance +10, Perception +10
Str 18 (+8) Dex 15 (+5) Wis 14 (+5)
Con 14 (+5) Int 8 (+2) Cha 5 (+0)

NOTE:
I have toned Face Tentacles down slightly from experience, this was originally a recharge 6 power. During play it became instantly apparent that it should be an encounter power.
I would also advise against using too many Grazers in the same encounter, or at least watching the Face Tentacles alpha strike. I had an encounter with 5 of these and 5 lots of 3d6+4 damage is maybe a bit harsh.

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5: Fungal Grazer Alpha Male
The Slightly larger herd leader of the Fungal Grazers, they have broader front feet and wider shoulders than the standard Grazer, though their face tentacles are shorter. Alphas are very aggressive.

Alpha Fungal Grazer Level 8 Brute
Large fey beast (plant) XP 350

Initiative +6 Senses Perception +11; darkvision
HP 106; Bloodied 53 (see Howl of Despair)
AC 20; Fortitude 21, Reflex 19, Will 18
Immune poison, charm, disease, sleep
Speed 5

MHead Slam (standard; at-will)
Attack +11 vs. AC; 2d6+5 damage

mCharging Head Slam (standard; at-will) (ONLY as a charge attack)
Attack +12 vs. AC; 2d10+5 damage; on hit target is pushed 2 squares;
secondary attack +8 vs. Reflex; on hit target is knocked prone

mStomping Feet (standard; at-will)
2 attacks; attack +10 vs. AC; 1d8+5 damage; Grazer rears up and attacks
with its front hooves

cGout of Acid (standard; recharge 6) ● Acid
Close blast 3; attack +8 vs. Reflex; 3d8 + 5 acid damage; on hit target
takes 3 ongoing acid damage (save ends)

cHowl of Despair (immediate reaction, When first bloodied; ) ● Fear
Burst 3; attack +7 vs. Will; on hit target is pushed 3 squares and
immobilised (save ends)

Alignment Unaligned
Skills Endurance +12, Perception +11
Str 20 (+9) Dex 15 (+6) Wis 14 (+6)
Con 16 (+7) Int 10 (+4) Cha 6 (+2)

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6: Fungal Insect Swarm
Fungal insect swarms live on and around other plant creatures, they are made up of thousands of tiny biting and stinging crawling and buzzing creatures. They have evolved to mimic the spore release of the plants they feed on.

Fungal Insect Swarm Level 3 Skirmisher
Medium fey beast (insect swarm) XP 150

Initiative +4 Senses Perception +0; darkvision
Swarm Attack aura 1; the swarm makes a basic attack as a free action
against each enemy that begins its turn in the aura.
HP 42; Bloodied 21 (Swarm takes half damage from melee & ranged attacks)
AC 17; Fortitude 15, Reflex 15, Will 15
Immune charm, sleep;
Vulnerable 5 fire, 10 Close and Area Attacks
Speed 6

MA Thousand Bites (standard; at-will)
Attack +8 vs. AC; 1d6+2 damage

cPoison Spore Cloud (standard; recharge 56) ● Poison
Burst 2; attack +5 vs. Fortitude; 1d10+3 poison damage; on hit target
takes a penalty of -1 to all defences (save ends)

Tide of Insects (move; at-will)
Fungal Insect Swarm can shift 3 squares as a move action

Alignment Unaligned
Skills Endurance +6, Stealth +9
Str 14 (+3) Dex 16 (+4) Wis 8 (+0)
Con 10 (+1) Int 6 (-1) Cha 3 (-3)

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The undead are just good targets and like any good targets, variety is always good to avoid stagnation.

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Guided and shaped by these forces of nature a clan of man grew strong as the weak were weeded from their midsts.  Fierce, protective of what’s theirs and rightfully proud of their ability to survive these people’s bow to now man or god.

Trained to survive their environment where the very forces of nature join with the fierce humanoid tribes and groupings to seek to shatter them, bone, mind and spirit, they emerge the tougher, the more resilient, the more alive in spite of it all. Here then is the weakest of the lot, the teen boys and girls, the Thunder Clan Warriors.

The Thunder Clan Archer, Master of Storms and Eyes to follow…

Thunder Clan Warrior

Thunder Clan Warrior Level 4 Soldier Medium Natural Humanoid XP 175
Initiative +6 Senses Perception +4
HP 55; Bloodied 27
AC 20; Fortitude 17, Reflex 14, Will 17
Speed 6
Warhammer (Standard) ♦ Weapon
+11 vs AC, 1d10+4 damage.
Throwing Hammer (Standard) ♦ Weapon
Ranged 5/10; +11 vs. AC; 1d6+4 damage.
Concussion
On any critical hit the target is dazed (save ends).
Anvil Toss (Immediate Interrupt, when an ally in an adjacent square is targeted by an melee attack)
Slide ally one square.
Alignment Unaligned Languages Common
Skills Endurance +9, Intimidate +7, Streetwise +7
Str 17 (+5) Dex 13 (+3) Wis 15 (+4) Con 14 (+4) Int 10 (+2) Cha 10 (+2)
Equipment chainmail, warhammers, 2 throwing hammers

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And then there’s one of the leader roles, the Slavemaster. A savagely barbed whip

Slavemaster

Without further ado, the Kartel Thug and Kartel Slavemaster.

Kartel Slavemaster Level 5 Elite Soldier (Leader) Medium XP 400
Initiative +4 Senses Perception +4
Fear of Failure aura 4; All Kartel followers gain +1 power bonus to attack rolls while near the Slavemaster.
HP 126; Bloodied 63
AC 21; Fortitude 17, Reflex 17, Will 17
Saving Throws +2
Speed 6
Action Points 1
Whip Handle (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
+12 vs. AC; 2d6+4
Cruel Lash (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
Reach 2; +12 vs. AC; 1d10+4 and target takes 4 ongoing damage (save ends).
Yoink! (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
Reach 3; +10 vs. Reflex; 1d8+4 and target is knocked prone and pulled up to 2 squares.
Back and Forth Flick (Standard; recharge ) ♦ Weapon
The Slavemaster makes two Cruel Lash attacks against a single target or against two targets within reach.
Alignment Unaligned Languages Common, Kant
Skills Intimidate +12
Str 14 (+4) Dex 17 (+5) Wis 15 (+4) Con 13 (+3) Int 14 (+4) Cha 13 (+3)
Equipment Whip

Kartel Thug Level 2 Minion Medium Natural Humanoid XP 31
Initiative +3 Senses Perception +3
HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion.
AC 16; Fortitude 14, Reflex 14, Will 14
Speed 6
Hammer (Standard) ♦ Weapon
+6 vs. AC; 4 damage.
Driven
Thugs gain +1 power bonus to attacks when within 6 squares of Kartel Slavemaster or Kartel Kaptain.
Alignment Unaligned Languages Common
Skills Intimidation +7
Str 15 (+3) Dex 12 (+2) Wis 9 (+0) Con 14 (+3) Int 9 (+0) Cha 10 (+1)
Equipment Kartel Warclub, Leather

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These are folks that have a relationship to the kidnappers of the first module and eventually characters will find themselves at odds with this amoral group.

Below find the upper echelon of the mass members of the Kartel, the Skirmisher and the Archer.

Skirmisher

A typical patrol will be ship based and include one or two Slavemasters, one senior to the other, one or two Hoods, a handful of Skirmishers and another handful of Archers, followed by roughly twice that number in Thugs.

The ship itself will have a separate crew, typically equal to thugs but that never leave the ship and a leader although all are subject to orders and whims of the Slavemasters and Hoods.

The ship will be a typical misery loves company cargo ship where the living cargo is packed into the hold with little space to do more than turn around and up to 20% losses between end points in the cargo are the norm.   More valuable cargo will have slightly better care and the highest priced cargo are held in special cabins near the leader’s quarters.

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Kartel Archer Level 3 Artillery Medium Natural Humanoid XP 150
Initiative +3 Senses Perception +3
HP 38; Bloodied 19
AC 15; Fortitude 15, Reflex 15, Will 15
Speed 6
Slash (Standard) ♦ Weapon
+9 vs. AC; 1d10+4.
Twang! (Standard) ♦ Weapon
+10 vs. AC; 1d8+2
Avoidance Shot (Standard) ♦ Weapon
+10 vs. AC; 1d8+3 and archer may shift one square prior or after attack.
Full Draw (Standard; recharge ) ♦ Weapon
+10 vs. AC; 2d10
Alignment Unaligned Languages Common, Kant
Skills Stealth 6
Str 12 (+2) Dex 16 (+4) Wis 10 (+1) Con 13 (+2) Int 13 (+2) Cha 11 (+1)
Equipment Chainmail, Longsword, Longbow, 20 arrows

Kartel Skirmisher Level 4 Skirmisher Medium Natural Humanoid XP 175
Initiative +4 Senses Perception +4
HP 55; Bloodied 27
AC 18; Fortitude 16, Reflex 16, Will 16
Speed 6
Slash (Standard) ♦ Weapon
+9 vs. AC; 1d10+4.
Step and Lunge (Standard) ♦ Weapon
+9 vs. AC; 1d10+4; Shift one square prior to attack.
Piercing Blow (Standard; recharge when first bloodied)
+9 vs. AC; 3d8+4 and target takes ongoing 5 damage (save ends).
Alignment Unaligned Languages Common, Kant
Skills Stealth 6
Str 16 (+5) Dex 15 (+4) Wis 12 (+3) Con 16 (+5) Int 11 (+2) Cha 10 (+2)
Equipment Chainmail, Longsword, Buckler

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In this particular case I’d make the young power a recharge to avoid bookkeeping and to keep the minion count down to a manageable level for the players.  As it stands, one minion a round is going to overwhelm a group that doesn’t take the mother out quickly I think given the typical hit ratio.  Making it a 4+ or 5+ recharge gives a group the ability to have one character designated a minion killer and that’s what they do while the rest tries to burn down the big one.

I was debating making the ghast a leader type but decided to make the aura a weaken instead.  Ghoul’s don’t really listen to leaders anyway but they do acknowledge that the ghast is a superior form of their peculiar undeadness.

Each ghast in an encounter will typically have 2 to 4 ghouls associated with it to fill out the ranks.  They’ll try to get in close to immobilize and poison targets as well as keep the bad guys weakened and doing little damage.  They’ll use their great speed and climbing abilities to get to ranged attackers or to get around defenders to the soft targets in the back.

Ghast Level 6 Skirmisher Medium Natural Humanoid (undead) XP 250
Initiative +6 Senses Perception +6
Charnel Stench aura 2; All living creatures that start or end their turn in the aura are weakened.
HP 72; Bloodied 36
AC 20; Fortitude 18, Reflex 19, Will 17
Immune disease, poison; Resist 10 necrotic; Vulnerable 5 radiant
Speed 8, climb 4
Claws (Standard; at-will)
+11 vs. AC; 1d6+4 damage, and the target is immobilized (save ends)
Poison Bite (Standard; at-will)
Target must be immobilized, stunned or unconcious; +9 vs. Fortitude; 3d6+4 damage, and ongoing 5 poison damage (save ends).
Massed Evil
The Ghast deals an extra 5 damage on melee attacks against an enemy with two or more ghouls or ghasts adjacent to it.
Alignment Chaotic Evil Languages Common
Skills Stealth +12
Str 16 (+6) Dex 18 (+7) Wis 14 (+5) Con 16 (+6) Int 11 (+3) Cha 10 (+3)

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Goblin Standard Bearer’s or Gesubs are selectively picked at during their formative years, only the biggest and strongest and most intimidating are taken and taught to plant a standard and hold it.  Armed with a goblin war club, a large wooden club spiked with shards of rusted metal, pieces of chipped rock and covered in the dried blood and gore of their training they defy anyone to take down their standard.

Once they plant a standard they will only leave the standard’s general area as long as they’re sure that no one can get close enough to take it down.  Typically they’ll also be assigned one or two archers or minions or even a Goblin Boomer to help protect the standard.

Those goblins within its affects are made more fearless and believe they’re better than they are to the goblin’s enemies.  One of the downsides of the Gesubs training though is if the battle shifts it can render them snarlling and snapping at nothing while the fight moves elsewhere.  Clear thinking is not the demense of the Gesub.

On a metagame note, I know these aren’t all that ‘awesome’ especially for an elite given their lack of damage output, they’re really buffers and not much else and hard to take down.  A smart party will simply back off at range and force the other goblins to react and shift out of the range.

Typically Gesubs will be deployed at chokepoints or around their big bosses.

Goblin Standard Bearer Level 2 Elite Brute (Leader) Medium Natural Humanoid XP 250
Initiative +3 Senses Perception +3
Goblin Standard aura 6; All goblins that start their turn inside area gain +1 power bonus to attack rolls and +1 Willpower till the end of their turn. (See Plant da Standard)
HP 88; Bloodied 44
AC 14; Fortitude 14, Reflex 15, Will 13
Saving Throws +2
Speed 5
Action Points 1
Goblin War Club (at-will) ♦ Weapon
+5 vs. AC; 2d6+3 damage.
Stay back! (Immediate Interrupt; recharge ) ♦ Weapon
Close Burst 1; 1d6+3 damage and all enemies in burst pushed back 2 squares and knocked prone.
Plant da Standard (Move; encounter)
Triggers Goblin Standard aura.
Alignment Evil Languages Common, Goblin
Skills Stealth +8
Str 16 (+4) Dex 13 (+2) Wis 9 (+1) Con 15 (+3) Int 6 (-1) Cha 6 (-1)
Equipment chain armour, goblin war club

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In a side note, my children have passed on some viral thing they had that took me out for the entire day yesterday and I’m not feeling all that great today.  Of course for them it lasted maybe 12-18 hours.  But then I’m old and my systems aren’t working as well as they used to across the board.

Not sure where the image came from the original posting doesn’t credit it.

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Not sure if it should spawn one skeleton per point taken under 0 though, with a big hit that could be really nasty. Of course that could be part of the fun.

You could actually use this in a lot of places I’d think.  An old battlefield, the burial mounds of King Agamon’s army, the pits where the victims of the grey death were dumped and burned in a futile effort to stem the plague.

Hi all,

I just had a wonderful game the other night, and thought I’d share the fun with you all.

The party ( Elf ranger lvl 3, Halfelf warlord lvl 1, Shadar Kai rogue lvl 2, Dwarf Pally lvl 3) were sent to investigate a strange happening in Tima’s( Tiefling warlock) Forest.
The swamp ruled by the evil Mae (undead person?) is using some sort of gem to turn the forest into swamp. Well, I set an encounter with this:

4 Decrepit Skeleton lvl 1 minion 100 exp
2 Gnome Skulk lvl2 lurker 250 exp
1 Gnome Arcanist lvl3 controller leader 150 exp
1 Bugbear Warrior lvl 5 brute 200 exp

well, the enemies all had( except of the 4 minions)
Mae’s Undying Seed: When an attack takes the creature below 0 hit points, the damage taken below 0 spawns that amount of Decrepit Skeletons.

It was a blast for me and the players whatching the Bugbear go down and 6 extra skeletons spawn( I use d6′d for minions and just roled them out on the battle map for a more random location, putting them to the closest square if the dice landed on a line). After that, when a enemy was close to death, the PC’s where on edge. The best was when the rogue got a crit + backstab for 22 damage. We all laughed when 12 more skellies spawned.

All in all, a total of 44 skellies were counted at the end of combat for a total of 1100 exp lol

total encounter exp was 1700exp

Now having a cleric for turn undead or a wizard would have made it a ton easier for them, but the fight was long and fun. All dailies, second winds, and action ponts were used. and most only had 1-3 healing surges left.

The party all had +1 weapons, two had +1 armor, and 5 healing potions( only 2 were used during the fight)

They noticed that the bones were pulling somewhere, but opted for a 10 min rest. Then a Huge skelly attacked the party( I used the Skeletal Tomb Guardian p235 as a template)

Scath of Bones solo

Int +8 senses Perception +12; darkvision
Aura of Mae 1 any that start thier turn in the aura take 5 necrotic damage
HP 126 Bloodied 63
AC 19 Fort 18 Reflex 20 Will 17
Immune poison, disease Resist 10 necrotic Vulnerable 5 radiant

Speed 8
Twin scimitar strike: ( standard at-will the scath of bones makes 2 attacks. +10 ac 1d8 +4 damage( crit 1d8 +12)
Cascade of Steel: (encounter) the scath of bones makes 2 twin scimitar strikes.( 4 total attacks)
Mae’s Curse: ( encounter) range 12 spawn 4 Dercpit Skelaton’s in flanking positions around any enemy in range

Action point: 1

Was a great battle! The whole night was so much fun, and smiles were every where. It’s been 15 days and at the last game they were still talking about it.

thanks for reading: )

Clay

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The goblin’s have been hard at work and have come up with a goblin boomer (no relation to the L4D boomer).  This little guy carries a variety of ingredients in packs and pouches and gourds and flasks that he mixes up as he needs to create bombs.  These bombs degrade very rapidly and have to be used within a few minutes of their being mixed up.

The boomer is always going to be a support class and accompanied by warriors and the like and will prefer to work from the fringes.  It’ll use the smoke to provide cover and stealth opportunities for its brethren, the bomb to reduce the actions of any party that runs into them and the goo to keep creatures away from itself and the other ranged attackers.

More advanced boomers are said to be working on additional chemical mixtures but their existences is still something only rarely rumoured over ale in the taverns.

And yes I know the picture kinda blows, if you know of a better image then please pass it on this way.

Goblin Boomer Level 2 Artillery Medium Natural Humanoid XP 125
Initiative +4 Senses Perception: +1; low-light vision
HP 32; Bloodied 16
AC 14; Fortitude 14, Reflex 15, Will 14
Speed 6; see also goblin tactics
Goblin Sticker (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
+8 vs. AC; 1d4+2 damage
Bomb Chucker (Standard) ♦ Weapon
Ranged 10/20; +6 vs. Reflex; damage see Bombs.
Bombs (Standard; recharge )
The goblin boomer carries a variety of ingredients that it uses to mix up rapidly degrading chemical bombs. The goblin can choose from one of the below bombs as needed. Explosion: Burst 1; 1d6+3 damage and targets stunned. Smoke: Burst 2; This bomb creates a cloud of dense foul smelling smoke that blocks line of sight for all creatures. The cloud remains till the end of the goblins next turn if there are winds of greater than 10 mph otherwise it remains till the end of the encounter. While any creature remains within the cloud they are considered blind. Goo: Burst 1; Targets hit by the burst are immobilized (save ends) and terrain in burst is considered difficult terrain. Bright Light: Burst 1; targets hit by the burst are blind (save ends).
Goblin Tactics (Immediate Reaction, when missed by a melee attack; at-will)
The goblin shifts 1 square
Alignment Evil Languages Common, Goblin
Skills Stealth +10, Thievery +10
Str 14 (+3) Dex 17 (+4) Wis 12 (+2) Con 13 (+2) Int 8 (+0) Cha 8 (+0)
Equipment leather armour, dagger

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With its power of blood wounded opponents especially need to be ware of it as it can call forth their own blood through any cut, scrape or rent in their skin, blood that flows forth across the ground toward the shaman.  It can fill the blood of orcs around it to stimulate their bodies natural healing to an unworldly speed and with a blood caller around the tides of battle can certainly turn on a moment’s notice.

The caller will tactically use Blood Rain followed by Call Forth The Blood to wound as many of the players as possible and then cause the relitively minor wounds from the rain to gape wide and let the blood flow.

Orc Blood Caller Level 5 Artillery (Leader) Medium XP 200
Initiative +4 Senses Perception +8
HP 51; Bloodied 25
AC 17; Fortitude 17, Reflex 17, Will 18
Resist Necrotic 5
Speed 6
Blood Spike (Standard; at-will)
Ranged 7/15; +12 vs. AC; 1d10+4;
Blood Rain (Standard; encounter)
Burst 2 within 10; +12 vs. AC; 1d4+3 damage to all enemies in the area. “With a throw the shaman fills an area with tiny razor sharp red crystals.”
Heart’s Blood (Standard; recharge when first bloodied)
Ranged 20; +10 vs. Fortitude; 3d8+4 damage. With a snarl and a clenching of its bloody fist the shaman convulses its target’s heart.
Call Forth The Blood (Standard; encounter)
Area burst 2 within 10; wounded enemies in the area take ongoing 10 damage (save ends). Blood streams forth through any opening at the power of the shaman’s call.
Enervate (Standard; encounter)
Close burst 4; all wounded allies in the burst recover 10 hitpoints. A mist of red settles around the targeted allies and their eyes glow with renewed life.
Alignment Chaotic Evil Languages
Skills Religion +8, Intimidate +7
Str 13 (+3) Dex 16 (+5) Wis 18 (+6) Con 15 (+4) Int 13 (+3) Cha 17 (+5)
Equipment Leather armour

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For lack of any other news here’s an monster excerpted from the little module I’m writing.  The environment is an active sewer that the party, a group of apprentices, malcontents, minor lawbreakers doing community service have been sent to clean up using a magical apparatus.

Anyway, one of the things that the party will encounter are these things.  These particular ones are roughly 6′ long and about a 1′ wide at the head.  Vestigal looking limbs, kind of like a mud skipper, propel the creatures through the sewers and let them launch at their targets bursting up out of the sewage. Their head end is mostly maw, a wide opening circled by row after row of inward pointing teeth. They don’t have eyes, swimming in raw sewage, a farily acidic environment kinda makes that an evolutionary dead end and instead their bodies are covered with very short tendrils that pick up vibrations from their surroundings and vi

Tactically they normally do not bother large mobile creatures but there are reasons that they don’t follow their normal behavior in this case.

As a Lurker they have a way to gain stealth once per encounter pretty much guaranteed.  They heave up and then splash back down in a swirling motion sending raw sewage sheeting out which grants them superior concealment and a decent chance to stealth.  And it blinds anyone in a 1 square blast with things better left unmentioned.

Sewer Crawler Level 1 Lurker Medium Natural Beast XP 100
Initiative +7 Senses Perception: +8; tremorsense
HP 25; Bloodied 12
AC 16; Fortitude 13, Reflex 12, Will 14
Resist Fire 5; Vulnerable Lightning 5
Speed 3; swim 6
Bite (Standard)
+6 vs AC; 1d8+3 damage.
Splashing Dive (Standard; encounter)
Close burst 1; +4 vs. Reflex; target is blind (save ends) and crawler gets to make stealth check as if he had superior concealment. Requires sewer environment.
Alignment Unaligned Languages
Skills Stealth +8
Str 13 (+1) Dex 16 (+3) Wis 9 (-1) Con 13 (+1) Int 2 (-4) Cha 4 (-3)

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The Guard dogs in particular would be useful for well guarding things, they have a bulldog feel with the latch on to me and I could easily see these as beng in use around certain farmers’ barns or even nobles’ gardens.

These could also make nice companions for a low level party that’s short a player or two, perhaps even level the pets once or twice but at some point they’d have to find them a nice home, one that doesn’t include savage dog eating beasts.  But typically unless they’re on a wild worlds hopping adventure I let players find a place to live and they could easily hire someone to take care of the dog(s) while they’re out adventuring.  And it gives them a cheerful friendly face complete with tail wagging goodness to come home to after a hard day harrying said savage dog eating beasts.

I would though probably make the dogs partially controlled by the DM or maybe some kind of skill check roll to command the pet during combat.

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These minions are designed to go first in a round and hence the +3 initiative over and above the typical +3 a 2nd minion would typically get. The reason I’m beefing their initiative is that they’re designed to work in ranks which makes them chopped liver for AOE powers.  They’ll mindlessly keep clumped up, advancing to fill the ranks of downed archers.

This is all of course so they can take advantage of Ripple Fire.  Once per round basically each one will be able to take a shot out of turn so to speak.

And that’s why they’re minions but ones with real powers other than a basic attack.

I’ll playtest them tonight if I get my latest order of minis (15 skeletons!). 

Dennis: Got around to playtesting them and reworded Ripple Fire to make it more mechanically sound and to avoid the possible infinite loop of damage dealing.

Skeletal Archer Level 2 Minion Medium Natural Animate XP 31
Initiative +6 Senses Perception: +2; darkvision
HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion.
AC 16; Fortitude 14, Reflex 16, Will 14
Immune disease, poison; Resist 5 necrotic; Vulnerable 5 radiant
Speed 5
Shortsword (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
+7 vs. AC; 4 damage
Longbow (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
+7 vs. AC; 4 damage;
Ripple fire (Immediate Reaction)
Trigger: Dealing damage from ranged attack to target on archer’s turn. Effect: Allow one adjacent skeletal archer to make an ranged attack against the same target.
Archer Sidestep (Immediate Reaction)
Skeletal archer can shift one square as an immediate reaction; trigger when an adjacent skeletal archer shifts or is destroyed.
Alignment Unaligned Languages
Str 16 (+4) Dex 14 (+3) Wis 14 (+3) Con 15 (+3) Int 3 (-3) Cha 3 (-3)
Equipment leather, longbow, shortsword, 20 arrows.

Image Credits – Image cleaned up a bit to get rid of text in original image.

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The Zomblins have changed as well.  They now get an ongoing death effect and must save every round to avoid Explosive Decomposition.  The fleshraiser will attempt to power up his Life for Unlife spell using the most damaged goblin in range.

I’m hoping the Explosive Decomposition works out interestingly…

Goblin Fleshraiser Level 3 Elite Controller (Leader) Small Natural Humanoid XP 300
Initiative +1 Senses Perception: +5; low-light vision
Scared To Fail aura 2; Goblin allies within the aura gain +1 to attack roll.
HP 92; Bloodied 46
AC 19; Fortitude 15, Reflex 16, Will 18
Speed 6
Action Points 1
Black Staff (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
+8 vs. AC; 1d8+1 damage.
Dark Blow (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
+7 vs. AC; 1d8+1 and target takes ongoing 3 necrotic damage.
Claws of the Dead (Standard; recharges when first bloodied)
Area burst 2 burst within 10; +7 vs. Reflex; 1d10+3 damage, target is immobilized, ongoing 5 damage (save ends both). The bones of the long dead forgotten burst forth from the ground grasping all enemies within the area.
Life for Unlife (Standard; recharge
requires living goblin within 4 squares that dies when this spell is used; Area burst 4 within 10; up to 4 goblin dead rise as Zomblins that act on the Fleshraisers next turn.
Alignment Evil Languages goblin, common
Skills Inimidate +5, Religion +5, Arcana +7
Str 9 (+0) Dex 11 (+1) Wis 17 (+4) Con 14 (+3) Int 9 (+0) Cha 6 (-1)
Equipment leather armour, staff, dagger

Zomblin Level 1 Minion Small Natural Animate XP 25
Initiative +1 Senses Perception -1; darkvision
HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion.
AC 15; Fortitude 14, Reflex 13, Will 13
Speed 5
Slam (Standard; at-will)
+6 vs. AC; 4 damage
Explosive Decomposition (Free) ♦ Force
At the end of its turn the Zomblin must make a save. On failure the internal gases caused by rapid decomposition cause the Zomblin to explode. Close burst 1; +7 vs. Reflex 1d8+4 damage.
Alignment Evil Languages
Str 16 (+3) Dex 6 (-2) Wis 8 (-1) Con 12 (+1) Int 1 (-5) Cha 3 (-4)

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And a Shocker which is getting a bit technological, for flavor sake I think I’d give it a backpack of electric eels or something.

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A terror in the goblin kitchens, she holds no less threat in even the staunchest of the war bands.  Typically she’ll have several lesser goblins, minions if you will, under her direct command and given her threat these minions fight harder while in her presence.  And her minions are much more scared of her than they are of any adventurer, (when was the last time an adventurer tossed a misbehaving goblin in the cookpot?) they tend to protect her as well.

Armed with a very large cleaver she excels in cutting the meat from the bone, whether it’s a adventurer intent on destroying a camp or a… deer unlucky enough to wander into a goblin trap.

Goblin Matron Level 2 Soldier Small Natural Humanoid XP 125
Initiative +4 Senses Perception: +4, low light vision
Cook faster! aura 2; All goblin minions in aura deal +1 damage.
HP 40; Bloodied 20
AC 18; Fortitude 16, Reflex 13, Will 14
Speed 5
Cleaver (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
+9 vs. AC; 1d10+3;
Bleed the Meat (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
+9 vs. AC; 1d10+3 and target takes 5 ongoing damage (save ends). With a wicked cackle the Matron nicks a vein to drain the carcass of blood.
Matron Devotion
Matron gains +1 to AC per adjacent goblin ally. “Me protect you, me no want go in pot!”
Kitchen Tactics (Immediate Reaction; when missed by a melee attack; at-will)
The Matron and up to 2 goblin minions within its line of sight shift 1 square.
Alignment Evil Languages goblin, common
Str 18 (+5) Dex 12 (+2) Wis 14 (+3) Con 16 (+4) Int 9 (+0) Cha 8 (+0)
Equipment Leather Armour, Cleaver

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In addition he can use his powers to weaken, slow and immoblize the enemy precisely so that his friends can kill them.

In practice a Fleshraiser should be accompanied by several minions and he’ll use his Life for Unlife to bring some of them back as Zomblins. Which actually makes them tougher for a brief stint but the Zomblin’s do not last past the encounter so for extended complex encounters they’re a one shot pony. Frankly given it’s Icy Claws and Life for Unlife the Fleshraiser should be a prime target on the battlefield by the players or they can swiftly be in a world of hurt.

Goblin Fleshraiser Level 3 Elite Controller Small Natural Humanoid XP 300
Initiative +3 Senses Perception: +7, low light vision
Death’s Embrace (Necrotic) aura 2; enemies that start their turn within the aura take 5 necrotic damage.
HP 92; Bloodied 46
AC 19; Fortitude 15, Reflex 17, Will 18
Resist 5 necrotic; Vulnerable 5 radiant
Speed 7
Action Points 1
Black Staff (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
+8 vs. AC; 1d10+3
Visions of Death (Standard; at-will) ♦ Psychic
+7 vs. Will; 1d10+4 damage and target is slowed (save ends).
Into the Light (Standard; at-will) ♦ Force
+7 vs. Will; 1d6+4 and target is slid up to 3 squares. A twisted tangle beam of black energy lances forth from the Fleshraiser’s staff and encircles the target to sweep it aside.
Life for Unlife (Standard; recharges when first bloodied)
Area burst 4 within 10; all goblin corpses in the area rise as zomblins and act on the Fleshraiser’s next turn. Fleshraiser loses 25% of its max health, this damage can only reduce the Fleshraiser to a minimum of 1 health.  Coils of reddish haze surround the bodies of the fallen goblin heroes and they slowly stand up, eyes blazing with an unnatural light. Special: Zomblins do not last beyond the length of the encounter, collapsing back into inert corpses once the battle is over.
Tired of Life (Standard; encounter)
Close burst 4; +7 vs. Fortitude; enemies are weakened till end of Fleshraiser’s next turn. Special: If target is within Death’s Embrace target takes 1d10+3 necrotic damage. A sickening green mist rises from the ground burning the eyes and throats of the Fleshraiser’s enemies leaving them lethargic and weak.
Icy Claws (Standard; recharge
Area burst 2 within 10; +7 vs. Reflex; 1d10+3 damage, target is immobilized, ongoing 5 damage (save ends both). The bones of the long dead and forgotten burst forth from the ground grasping all enemies within the area.
Alignment Evil Languages goblin, common
Skills Religion +10, Arcana +10
Str 14 (+3) Dex 14 (+3) Wis 17 (+4) Con 14 (+3) Int 14 (+3) Cha 17 (+4)
Equipment leather armour, quarterstaff

And the newly risen minions:

Zomblin Level 2 Minion Small Natural Animate XP 31
Initiative +1 Senses Perception: -1; darkvision
HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion.
AC 16; Fortitude 14, Reflex 12, Will 13
Immune disease, poison; Vulnerable Radiant 5
Speed 5
Deadly Claws (Standard; at-will)
+6 vs. AC; 4 damage.
A 1000 Bunnies Can Hurt
Zomblin gains +1 to attack rolls when adjacent to two other zomblin.
Alignment Unaligned Languages
Str 16 (+4) Dex 9 (+0) Wis 2 (-3) Con 16 (+4) Int 2 (-3) Cha 2 (-3)
Equipment-

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I have a bit of a soft heart for goblins, they’ve been the whipping boy for 1st level adventurers since forever.  Need to hit level 2?  Just go decimate the goblin tribes for l33t skillz.

But with 4th edition there is not such thing as Exp Pools really.  Even the lowly goblin and kobold, that other bastard child, can now seriously kick your ass for several levels.

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Logistics aside the Spiked Foots power isn’t honestly all that great IMO but is there for the laugh it’ll generate the first time a player is nailed to the floor.  It does set them up for the Big Spiky Shield though. In my mind I see the Shielder as a support class.  His aura benefits the goblins around him.  He’ll spike a player to the ground and then next turn bash them away through the air with a whirl and slam of his big spiky shield.

[Made a couple of edits, AC was 2 to low, changed immediate reaction from hit to miss and the name, added in missing equipment line]

Goblin Shielder Level 2 Elite Soldier Small Natural Humanoid XP 250
Initiative +5 Senses Perception +4, lowlight vision
Barking Orders aura 3; All goblin allies in aura gain +1 on their attack rolls.
HP 82; Bloodied 41
AC 20; Fortitude 17, Reflex 14, Will 16
Speed 5
Action Points 1
Head Chopper (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
+9 vs. AC; 1d6+5
Big Spiky Shield (Standard) ♦ Shield
Requires immobilized adjacent target; +9 vs. AC; 1d10+4 damage and target is pushed 3.
Spiked Foots (Standard; encounter recharges when first bloodied) ♦ Shield
+7 vs. Reflex; 3d6+3 damage and target is immobilized (save ends). With a smashing downward blow the goblin drives one of the spikes on the bottom of the its shield through the targets foot nailing it to the ground.
Chop Back (Immediate Reaction when missed with melee attack; at-will)
The Goblin Shieldbearer makes a melee basic attack against the enemy.
Him my friend! (Immediate Interrupt; at-will) ♦ Shield
The Shielder swaps places with an adjacent targeted ally and forces the attacker to roll a second attack roll taking the lowest of the two and applying the attack against the Shielder instead.
Alignment Evil Languages goblin, common
Str 18 (+5) Dex 14 (+3) Wis 8 (+0) Con 16 (+4) Int 8 (+0) Cha 10 (+1)
Equipment hand ax, leather armour, heavy shield

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And then there’s the Goblin Spiritcallers, these little guys are Level 2 Controllers.  They get their powers from the spirits that surround us, that bind us, yadda yadda.  They can use the spirits to immobilize or blast or slide their enemies and heal their allies.

Now these aren’t really all that cool or elite but they’re something I wanted to fit a need I had.  If you can find a usage for them, then all the better.

I’m going to make a few more as well.  I need a Goblin Matron, a Goblin Fleshraiser (one guess as to what he does and no it has nothing to do with Pr0n) and (big hint as to what the Fleshraiser does here), Goblin Zombies.

Goblin Spiritcaller Level 2 Controller (Leader) Small Natural Humanoid XP 125
Initiative +4 Senses Perception +2; low-light vision
HP 36; Bloodied 18
AC 16; Fortitude 14, Reflex 15, Will 14
Speed 6
Shamanic Staff (Standard) ♦ Weapon
+6 vs. AC; 1d8+2
Spirit of Earth (Standard; at-will)
Ranged 8; +6 vs. Reflex; the target is immobilized (save ends). Hands of earth fold up and envelop the target’s feet and calves.
Spirit of Air (Standard; at-will) ♦ Force
Ranged 10; +7 vs. AC; 1d10+3 and target can be slid 3.
Spirit of Sky (Standard; at-will) ♦ Lightning
Area Burst 1 within 10; +6 vs Reflex; 1d6+3; Lightning arcs down from the heavens with a rolling boom.
Spirit of Nature (Standard; recharge )
Close Burst 3; all goblin allies in burst heal 5 points.
Alignment Evil Languages Common, Goblin
Skills Arcana +6, Religion +8
Str 12 (+2) Dex 14 (+3) Wis 16 (+4) Con 12 (+2) Int 10 (+1) Cha 8 (+0)
Equipment leather armour, staff

Goblin Archer Level 1 Artillery Small Natural Humanoid XP 100
Initiative +4 Senses Perception +2; low-light vision
HP 25; Bloodied 12
AC 13; Fortitude 13, Reflex 14, Will 13
Speed 6
Short Sword (Standard; at-will) ♦ Weapon
+6 vs. AC; 1d6+1 damage.
Short Bow (Standard) ♦ Weapon
Ranged 15/30; +8 vs. AC; 1d8+1, and the goblin archer grants an ally within 3 squares of it +2 bonus on its next ranged attack roll against the same target. This power does not stack.
Backpeddle (Immediate Reaction when missed by a melee attack)
The goblin archer shifts 2 squares.
Alignment Evil Languages Common, Goblin
Str 13 (+1) Dex 16 (+3) Wis 11 (+0) Con 14 (+2) Int 9 (-1) Cha 8 (-1)
Equipment short sword, short bow, 20 arrows, leather armour

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Fireguy

Nailer

Chainsawer

Image Credits – Fireguy, Nailer, Chainsawer

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Pretty nice to see people responding to requests like that rather than RFTM or my favorite “See page 187 DMG” or whatever.  Of course that doesn’t really let someone off the hook for not trying to do it themselves but then everyone doesn’t have the free time you and I do or perhaps our mental facilities or just maybe our experience as of yet?

In other things along that vein we need some Gnoll misions.  *Mental note, make some*.

Goblin Zombie Level 2 Brute
Small natural animate (undead) XP 125
Inititative -1 Senses Perception -1, darkvision
HP 38; Bloodied 19; see also zombie weakness
AC 14, Fort 12, Ref 11, Will 10
Immune Disease, poison Resist necrotic 10, Vulnerable Radiance 5
Speed 4

Slam (Standard, at-will)
+6 vs. AC, 2d6+2 damage

Zombie Grab (Standard, at-will)
+4 vs. Ref, Target is grabbed (until escapes), Checks made to escape the goblin zombie´s grab take a -5 penalty

Goblin Tactics (Immediate Reaction, when the Goblin Zombie is missed by a melee attack, at-will)
The Goblin Zombie shifts 1 Square

Zombie weakness
any critical hit to the goblin zombie reduces it to 0 HP

Alignment unaligned Languages -
Str: 14 (+3) Dex 8 (+0) Wis 8 (+0)
Con 8 (+0) Int 1 (-4) Cha 5 (-2)

Rotten Goblin Zombie Level 3 Minion
Small natural animate (undead) XP 38
Inititative -1 Senses Perception -1, darkvision
HP 1, a missed attack never damages a minion
AC 14, Fort 12, Ref 11, Will 10
Immune Disease, poison
Speed 4

Slam (Standard, at-will)
+6 vs. AC, 5 damage

Goblin Tactics (Immediate Reaction, when the Rotten Goblin Zombie is missed by a melee attack, at-will)
The Rotten Goblin Zombie shifts 1 Square

Alignment unaligned Languages -
Str: 14 (+3) Dex 8 (+0) Wis 8 (+0)
Con 8 (+0) Int 1 (-4) Cha 5 (-2)

An my personal idea:

Goblin Ghoul Level 4 Soldier
Small natural humanoid (undead) XP 175
Inititative +9 Senses Perception +2, darkvision
HP 53; Bloodied 26
AC 20, Fort 17, Ref 20, Will 16
Immune Disease, poison Resist necrotic 10, Vulnerable Radiance 5
Speed 8, Climb 4

Claws (Standard, at-will)
+11 vs. AC, 1d6+4 damage, and the target is immobilized (save ends)

Ghoulisch Bite (Standard, at-will, Target must be immobilized, stunned or unconscious)
+9 vs. AC, 3d6+4 damage and the Target is stunned (save ends)

Goblin Tactics (Immediate Reaction, when the Goblin Ghoul is missed by a melee attack, at-will)
The Goblin Ghoul shifts 1 Square

Alignment Chaotic Evil Languages Common
Str 14 (+4) Dex 21 (+7) Wis 11 (+2)
Con 13 (+3) Int 10 (+2) Cha 14 (+4)

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I envisioned pretty much after coming across the image to the right and my comment that everyone seems to make Brutes. So I came up with this.

It’s surrounded by a field of energy that it uses as protection and offense and as an Elite it’s typically going to be working with others so it has the ability to contain creatures, daze them and push or slide them.  Because of the energies it’s body holds it’s not a great idea to weaken that body and thus let the energies out in an uncontrolled fashion.

Rather the ubiquitous double attack I gave it a minor basic melee attack power which I think might be okay.  Or it might not.  Anyway for better or worse here it is.

Arcanech Level 6 Elite Controller Large Natural Humanoid XP 500
Initiative +7 Senses Perception +7
Nether Field(Lightning) aura 2; any creature that enters or starts its turn in the aura takes 5 lightning damage.
HP 144; Bloodied 72
AC 22; Fortitude 17, Reflex 21, Will20
Saving Throws +5
Speed 6
Action Points 1
Nether Bolt (Standard; at-will) * Lightning
Range 10; +11 vs AC 1d10+4; The arcanech releases a stored up bolt of energy.
Nether Spark (Minor; at-will) * Lightning
+11 vs AC; 1d6+4; With a brush of its fingers the arcanech jolts any creature it touches.
Nether Discharge (Standard; recharge on use of Nether Leech)
Burst 3;+10 vs Reflex; 3d6+4 and target is pulled 2 and dazed till the end of the arcanech’s next turn)  The arcanech looses the power that’s drained from the creatures and area as a burst of arcing sparks.
Nether Cage (Standard; At-will)
Ranged 6; Medium or smaller target; +10 vs Reflex;Target is slid 2 and immobilized (save ends).  A crackling aura of pure energy enfolds a target preventing it from moving.
Containment Rupture! (Immediate Reaction, when bloodied the first time.) * Lightning
Burst 3; +10 vs Reflex; 3d8+4 and target is pushed 1 and dazed till the end of the arcanech’s next turn.  Breaking down the fields contained within the arcanech’s body causes a massive release of those energies.
Nether Leech (Standard;recharge ).
Burst 4; +10 vs Fortitude; 3d6+4 damage and target is weakened (save ends). A hazy mist of sparkling energy unfolds from the arcanech that drains the energies of any creatures in the field.
Alignment Evil Languages Common,
Skills
Str 16 (+6) Dex 19 (+8) Wis 8 (+3) Con 12 (+4) Int 19 (+8) Cha 6 (+0)
Equipment None

No one is really sure of the origin of the arcanech’s and their numbers are fairly low.  They tend to be found at higher elevations in sunny warm areas where they can be found standing enraptured by the sun. Their skin is continuously bubbling and moving, a sight that that has been known to turn even the staunchest adventurer’s stomach.

Seldom will they be found in multiples but often as the leader or subleader of a tribe where they routinely leech the energies from the weaker members of the tribe to bolster their own instatiable hungers.

Arcanech Tactics
Arcanech’s tend to try and keep opponents out of melee range but within range of their aura and bursts as necessary.  They’ll use their Nether Leech ability to power up their Nether Discharge at opportune times and Nether Cage melee classes within Aura range while Nether Bolting ranged attackers.  If they have time to prepare and the resources they will have ranged support and use their Nether Cage to lock down opponents while their ranged backup elminates them.

Arcanech Lore
A character will know the following information on a successful skill check.

Arcana DC 15: Arcanechs feed off the energies of others and rarely fight in groups.
Arcana DC 20: The energies that sustain the arcanech are stored in its body and sufficient damage can release that energy in a blast of crackling damage.

Encounter Group (Outdoors)
Level 6 Encounter (XP 1250)
1 Arcanech (level 6 Elite 500xp)
3 x Gnoll Huntmaster (Level 5 Artillery 600xp)
1 Gnoll Marauder (Level 6 Brute 250xp)

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Anyway the OP has a very good idea, but that version is a little overpowering IMO. Another poster has reworked it to be more in line with what I’d like to see and I’m posting that version below but you can of course go view the original.

The fluff:

Standing before you is an extremely bloated humanoid, standing nearly 12 feet tall. Its flesh is very pale and nearly translucent, with blood vessels, shifting and forming ominous looking patterns, clearly visible just beneath the surface. Between its fat shoulders sits a small head with an ever present grin of its toothy maw and unblinking solid red eyes. Its sausage-like fingers grip a very large mace in each hand.

The Blood Splinter ability is imho to much. Whenever this guy takes damage, he summons another guy. Thats probably 6 guys a round. Make that an immediate reaction, so it only can happen once per round, but make the summoned monster a bit tougher. May be a Level 4 Skirmisher. The knockback is also very strong, on a crit a character could suffer 28 damage, be knocked prone and pushed 6 squares. That takes can take some characters from just bloodied to dead in one hit. With an arcing Strike its even worse, up to 33 damage on one hit. Another point is the noxious stench. This Monster is a brute, brutes are bad at hitting, but the aura gives him practically +2 on all to hit rolls, bringing him up to Skirmisher level.
In the fluff you said, he is the leftover of a dead god. So why not making him undead, giving him a vulnerability to radiant? On a last note: his stats are to high. DMG suggests a maximum stat of 19 for his level. An average of 16.

My suggestion for this guy:

Corpulent Herald Level 6 Solo Brute
Large Immortal Humanoid (Undead) XP 1,250

Initiative: +4 Senses: perception +6; darkvision
Noxious Stench aura 2: all enemies in the aura suffer a Noxious Stench attack at the beginning of their turn.
HP: 296; Bloodied: 148
AC: 21; Fortitude: 22; Reflex: 19; Will: 21
Immune Disease, Poison Resist: 10 necrotic, 10 acid Vulnerable: 5 Radiant
Saving Throws: +5
Speed: 5
Action Points: 2

Mace Smash (standard; at-will; basic attack)
Reach 2; +9 vs. AC; 2d8+4 damage

Twin Smash (standard; at-will)
Corpulent Herald makes two Mace Smash attacks, if both attacks hit the same target it is knocked prone

Arcing Sweep (standard; recharge 5 6)
Close burst 2; +7 vs. Fort.; 3d8+4 and the target is pushed back 1 square.

Bloodied Rage (free; when first bloodied; encounter)
Arcing smash recharges and Corpulent Herald uses it immediately.

Blood Splinter (Immediate Reaction; whenever Corpulent Herald is damaged by an attack; Recharge 4,5,6)
Place a Blood Splinter within 4 squares of the Corpulent Herald. Blood Splinter acts on Corpulent Herald’s initiative.

Noxious Stench (free; when enemy starts turn in Noxious Stench aura)
+7 vs. Fort, the character is dazed until the end of his next turn.

Alignment: Chaotic Evil Languages: Abyssal, Common
Skills: Intimidate+9
Str: 20 (+10) Dex: 13 (+4) Wis: 17 (+6)
Con: 18 (+8) Int: 16 (+5) Cha: 10 (+4)
Equipment: 2 filthy maces

Corpulent Herald Lore
DC 25: Corpulent Herald is a remaining vestige of a long dead entity, possibly an evil god or a demon prince. Evil cults sometimes manage to summon one and release it upon the world to wreck havoc. It leaves only death and destruction in its path, its first victims being the cultists who summoned it, as Corpulent Herald is impossible to control.

Blood Splinter Level 4 Skirmisher
Medium Immortal Humanoid (Undead) XP 175
Initiative: +5 Senses: perception +8; darkvision
HP: 54 Bloodied 27
AC: 19; Fortitude: 17; Reflex: 17; Will: 15
Immune Disease, Poison Vulnerable: 5 Radiant
Speed: 6

Bloody Claw (standard; at-will)
+9 vs. AC; 1d10+4 damage and the Blood Splinter shifts 1 Square

Leap (Move; at-Will)
The Blood Claw shifts 3 Squares

Alignment: Chaotic Evil Languages: None
Skills: Athletics +12
Str: 16 (+7) Dex: 16 (+6) Wis: 12 (+4)
Con: 12 (+6) Int: 8 (+2) Cha: 10 (+3)

If you do not like the undead approach, throw out the immunities and vulnerabilities. But I think every solo monster should have a little weakness the player can find out and exploit. Maybe a weakness tied to the way the god died?
This version is quiet similar to the original, deals a bit more damage, but hits less often, as the characters have a chance to resist the aura. The Blood splinters got harder and more mobile, but less numerous. They can take care of mages and archers while their daddy keeps the front liners busy. The Herald can daze enemies with his aura and then knock him prone to keep him out of the fight, but then he ignores other enemies.

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But if you need some low level fire type monsters including solo’s and lower then this thread might useful for you.  Maybe you’ve got your players scheduled to go into a lava pit or investigate the rash of forest fires in the area.  Or perhaps these are the first wave an invasion from the Elemental Plane.

Or maybe you just want to char the face off a player and turn him into a briquette.  They’re yours to do with as you will.

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I’d go with Version 2 which is a few posts down as Version 1 is a bit ‘bookkeepy’ with the various status effects.

Interesting side note, my released module for Neverwinter Nights had a giant wasp in a bubbling jar in the magic shop in Greenwood, the starting city.  I also animated said wasp although I don’t believe I ever released it to the public. I can’t say it’s great module but it was playable from start to finish assuming you didn’t break something and it had a ton of interesting side quests and adventure areas compared to most modules created by players. I was really proud of the crypt sequence which I’ve also used in PnP.  The cut scenes took a metric day to get done and some of the effects I thought made for a pretty spooky atmosphere, at least until they broke a couple of things with updates to the engine.  To be honest at this point I’m not even sure if it’s still playble because of game updates.

But I digress.

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I wanted them to have big smashing fist attacks, (yes I know the picture shows a big ass club), and a a unique, as far as I know but then I’ve not really gone through Monster Manual, attack that entails them being able to grab a player and just hold him squishing him the whole time or to use that player as a ranged attack against another player.

As a Solo he should have the ability to deal damage to more than one target at a time, so a double strike ability and the ability to do a little crowd control so a close burst with a push.  And by the guidelines some kind of triggered attack when he gets bloodied.

With those parameters in hand the below is what I’ve come up.  The Fluff is fitting for my world.  The Lands of Kray is encircled by a massive mountain range.  The people living in Kray came there from the Old Lands over and through those mountains centuries ago and pissed off the dragons that inhabited those mountains and they crafted the Behemoths to guard those trails and tunnels.  Between the dragons and the guardians there is essentially ‘no going home again’ although it’s possible to take a perilous sea journey to the west along the coast and get back but the success rate is very low, 1 in 10 make it through and 1 in 100 make it back.  Not great odds when at best a cargo can be sold for double or triple it’s value at most.

Behemoth Guardian Level 4 Solo Brute Large Natural Humanoid XP 875
Initiative +3 Senses Perception +6, low light vision
HP 264; Bloodied 132
AC 18; Fortitude 20, Reflex 17, Will 13
Saving Throws +5
Speed 5
Action Points 2
Brutal Fist (Standard; at-will)
+7 vs AC 2d8+4
Forging Iron (Standard; at-will)
+7 vs AC; 3d6+4 and target is Grabbed and ongoing damage 5 (escape ends)
Lashing Out (Standard; at-will)
+7 vs AC; 1d10+4, melee attack against two opponents in range.
Here, catch! (Standard; encounter; requires grabbed opponent)
Ranged 8; +5 vs Reflex; 3d8+4 and knocked prone. Grabbed opponent is throw at another enemy in range. On miss thrown creature takes half damage.
Ground Pounder (Immediate Reaction; triggered on 3 or more adjacent enemies.
Burst 1; +5 vs Reflex; 1d8+4 damage and pushed 3. Behemoth leaps up and brings both fists down on the ground generating a force wave that pushes everyone around.
Agonized Howl (Immediate Reaction; when bloodied the first time.)
Blast 4; +5 vs Fortitude; 2d6+4 damage and dazed until end of Behemoth’s next turn (save ends). The behemoth lets out a howl of blasting noise as its blood spills to the floor.
Alignment Evil Languages Common, Draconic
Skills Endurance +10, Intimidate +10
Str 20 (+7) Dex 13 (+3) Wis 11 (+2) Con 18 (+6) Int 8 (+1) Cha 6 (+0)
Equipment None

In the foothills of the northern Dragon’s Teeth mountain range a race of giant creatures are known to guard passageways and trails through to the Old Lands. Set there by dragons many centuries past to keep the mayflies away the giants or Behemoths stand their long vigils, guarding the dark silent tunnels and mountain passes destroying all who dare intrude there. On the rare occasion one of these giant creatures will break the geas that holds them to the positions and venture forth into the world where they tend to take over small tribes of humanoids to do their bidding.
On some occasions the dragon that was responsible for an individual behemoth or its ancestor will track down a rogue and destroy it and generally a goodly section of the surrounding area as punishment and broadcast its death through the mystic link it holds to all of those under its sway.

Behemoth Tactics
Behemoths are not clever fighters and they’ll go after either the most shiny target or the nearest target at first and then whatever is pissing them off the most during the course of a fight.  If they are being hit from range they’ll grab an opponenent and throw it at whoever is hitting them from a distance.

Behemoth Lore
A character will know the following information on a successful skill check.

Nature DC 15: Behemoths are typically found as guardians of ancient ways and treasures.
Nature DC 20: Behemoths are not very intelligent and are easily confused and distracted by shiny objects.
Arcana DC 15: Behemoths were originally crafted by magic but now reproduce by fission.
Arcana DC 20: Behemoths are known to be linked in a general way for a distance and what one knows and experiences others within several miles will also know in a vague and disconnected way.

Encounter Group (Outdoors)
Level 6 Encounter (XP 1215)
1 Behemoth Guardian (level 4 Brute 875xp)
1 Hobgoblin Archer (Level 3 Artillery 150xp)
5 x Hobgoblin Grunt (Level 3 Minion 190xp)

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What’s that got to do with anything?  Well DarkGoldfish has created some new goblins.  Well technically goblinoid’s would be the better term given that they have both goblins and bugbear types.

If like me you can’t get enough humanoid type monsters, especially goblins then you can find them over on the boards.

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Again they may be a little OP so use them wisely. It’s hard design wise to restrict yourself in terms of adding powers to a low level monster just because creating powers is cool so I understand the draw but still keep an eye on them.

These monsters do have a certain distinction in that they have self-punitive powers.

Anyway the Fireguy is below, hit the link for the Nailer.

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Dark Eye’s although not truly related to Beholders are very similar in appearance and in many cases they play on this by those that don’t really know the difference. They tend to employ some humanoid races as servants and are fond of using goblinoid races because they’re easily cowed into submission.

Dark Eye Level 4 Elite Artillery Medium Aberrant Magical Beast XP 350
Initiative +6 Senses Perception +5; all around vision
Dark Gaze aura 2; at the start of each enemy’s turn, if that creature is within the aura and in the Dark Eye’s line of sight the eye uses one random power against that creature.
HP 90; Bloodied 45
AC 18; Fortitude 18, Reflex 19, Will 18
Speed fly 6 (hover)
Action Points 1
Bite (Standard)
+9 vs. AC; 1d8+4 damage
Eye Rays (Standard) ♦ at-will
The Dark Eye can use one eye ray chosen from the list below. Using eye rays doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks. 1 – Mind Rip (Psychic): Ranged 6; +9 vs. Will; 1d8+4 and target is dazed until end of Dark Eye’s next turn (save ends). 2 – Winter’s Gaze (Cold): Ranged 6; +9 vs Reflex; 1d10+4 and target is slowed until end of Dark Eye’s next turn (save ends). 3 – Death’s Darkness (Necrotic): Ranged 6; +9 vs Fortitude; 1d10+4 damage and ongoing 5 damage (save ends).
Death to All (Immediate Reaction); ♦ standard, triggered when first bloodied
Close Burst 5; When first bloodied Dark Eye will use its Death’s Darkness power as a close burst.
Alignment Chaotic Evil Languages Common
Str 15 (+4) Dex 18 (+6) Wis 15 (+4) Con 15 (+4) Int 18 (+6) Cha 15 (+4)

Dark Eye Tactics
The Dark Eye will when possible station its minions in advantageous locations to take down any intruders into it’s lair. It will try to use it’s eye rays to the best advantage, using Winter’s Gaze to slow those attackers next to it.

Dark Eye Lore
A character knows the following information on a successful Nature check.
DC 15: Dark Eyes are fond of silver items and have been known to pursue the gaining of silver with extraordinary dedication.
DC 20: Dark Eyes have a submissive streak and can often be bluffed by those it perceives as stronger.

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