Lost Lurker

Are we letting our party off too easy with some of our Dungeon Delve Wandering Monster entries? Let’s settle all those concerns.

There aren’t any street signs in all those twisting Dungeons, so things get a little confusing, even for the resident monsters. So, this time, we’ve got a wandering monster that is literally wandering a bit too much for his own good.

Today’s super fun miniature comes from the marvelous makers over at EC3D Designs and their Skyless Realms set. This lumbering Deepfin Lurker just felt like a monster who took one too many left turns and is now thoroughly lost deep inside his own dungeon!

The talented Kimmy Utah colored this pudgy, resin-printed mini. Her paint choices were just so darn good. We especially like the primary green color with plenty of dirt mixed into the sculpt.

He just looks like he normally resides in a dungeon’s damp, wet sewers. Alas, he’s waddled a bit too far from home base and desperately wants to return to his smelly lair.

Now, let’s talk stats and tactics! When we hear “lurker,” the monster that comes to mind looks more like a Manta Ray than this lumbering fellow. The Aether Studios discord (a really fun place) suggested we adapt the Aboleth monster stats. We love that idea, so here’s how we’re breaking it out stats-wise.

• AC: 17 | HP 135
• Tail Swipe: +9, 3d6+5 bludgeoning damage*
• Bite x2: +9, 2d6+3 bludgeoning damage*
• Acid Wag: 2d6+3 acid damage (30 ft radius)*
• Enslave (3/day)
• Legendary Actions (3)

Naturally, we had to change a few things, so the Aboleth’s three tentacle attacks were replaced with two bite attacks. The Acid Wag replaces Mucous Cloud and will be an auto-hit with a Dex save for half damage. It also recharges on a six from a d6 die roll. The Tail Swipe has a 10-ft reach.

Now, let’s set the scene. The players are holed up in another dank dungeon room. Suddenly, the player on watch gets overcome by this disgusting sewer-style smell. A few moments later, they hear this loud, intermittent moaning coming down the hallway on the other side of the door.

Our Deepfin Lurker is utterly lost, getting frustrated (and angrier) by the minute! He will sniff out the adventurers (thanks to his high perception) and decide that his best path back to the sewers may be beyond their door. If they don’t open it, he will!

It does have Probing Telepathy, so if anyone in the group has telepathic abilities, they could try to communicate it and help it get back home (or at least point our no-armed creature in the right direction).

With a CR 10, our six-character, level-four party will have their hands full with this toothy fella. This slimy monster comes in as a “hard” fight using our favorite encounter builder tool, but sometimes, that’s how the wandering monster table rolls.

Side note: while researching this article, the Aether Studios Discord suggested we try Kobold Fight Club and boy, are we going to!

Now, all that’s left to do is update our table!

Until next time!