Return of the Mutant Beasts

Adventure Briefing

A toxic alchemical spill, caused by a rebel attack on a Civil Legion caravan, has contaminated the river and mutated Lolien’s pets. The Civil Legion needs protection as they clean up the spill, while the rebel Survivors want to save the mutated creatures. Both groups are seeking adventurers.

Level Range: 5-6
Tags: Animals, Chaos, Gauntlet
Connections: Lawmaster Quentin Le'Cheff, Lilea Dawn, Lolien, The Ores, The Survivors
Monsters: Ankheg, Diseased Rat, Giant Elk, Giant Octopus, Gibbering Mouther, Mutated Chimera, Octopus
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Requesting Help

Quentin Le'Cheff. (N/E, Halfling, Male Lawmaster)
The Lawmaster knows the full extent of the danger. His priority is protecting trade and ensuring cleanup. He is fine with saving the creatures if the job is done, but only after the cleanup.

Offer.

“I can’t believe this is happening again.”
~ Lawmaster Le’Cheff

Lilea Dawn. (C/G, Human, Female Spy)
The rebel Survivors see the animals as part of the community. Lilea aims to restore them with the help of a druid from the Emerald Wood. She needs adventurers to capture and restrain the mutated creatures. They understand everything won’t live.

Offer.

Don Rubgandy. (N/G, Halfling, Male Conessiour) Don is a bitter widow whose only companion is an old elk named Daxter, now affected by the spill. He is solely focused on saving Daxter, indifferent to the fate of the other animals.

Offer.

Elemental gem

blue sapphire

bag of beans

“Daxter is a good boy. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. He’s just confused.”
~ Don

Preparations

The Survivors provide rope, hunting traps, and nets. The Civil Legion grants a few minutes to assess the field. Characters can scout for creatures, talk with soldiers, or coordinate a plan.

Perception.

Saving Pets. Can be restrained or knocked out. They remain on the field and are affected by area effects. Fish are not pets.

The Spill

The battle takes place in 4 waves. During the fight, 6x Civil Legion soldiers work on cleaning the spill. They need 1 minute to complete their task. For each soldier lost, the cleanup takes 2 extra rounds. Soldiers have 15 AC and 10 hp.

Read Aloud. The air smells foul as you near the river. In the distance, you spot the bloated bodies of llamas, twisted and still. Something stirs beyond them.

Wild Mutations. All of the mutated animals are immune to the charm condition and cannot be calmed by Animal Handling.

Wave #1

Rnd 1	Rnd 2	Rnd 3
Acid Spitting Llama & 12x Rabid Rabbits	1d6 Rabid Rabbits	1d6 Rabid Rabbits

Acid Spitting Llama. A cliffgrazer llama (ankheg) with a grotesque, gaping maw and a deadly spit. Its mouth spreads open, spraying acid at foes. Rabid Rabbits. Twisted rabbits (diseased giant rat) are diseased and hyper-aggressive, with multiple mouths and snouts. They rush in packs, biting everything in sight.

Wave #2

Rnd 1	Rnd 2	Rnd 3
Toxic Turtle & 2x Tentacle Fish	1d6 Tentacle Fish	1d6 Tentacle Fish & 1x Giant Tentacle Fish

Toxic Turtle. A slow-moving, slimy creature (gibbering mouther with the Sludge ability). Sludge (1/Day). The turtle releases toxic sludge. All creatures within 5 feet of it must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw.

Failure: The creature drops to 0 hp.
Success: 3d6 poison damage.

Tentacle Fish. Walking fish with tentacles (octopus) slither out of the river, grappling to pull targets underwater. Giant Tentacle Fish. A massive tentacle fish (giant octopus) rises from the water, more dangerous than the others.

Wave #3

Rnd 1	Rnd 2	Rnd 3
Daxter the Elk	1d4 Rabid Rabbits	1d4 Rabid Rabbits

Daxter the Elk. A giant elk covered in gnarled antlers that stab out in all directions. Additional Damage. Daxter’s attacks deal an additional 2d6 piercing damage due to his mutated antlers. Melee Reprisal. When a creature strikes Daxter with a melee attack, it takes 2d6 piercing damage due to his mutated antlers.

Wave #4

Mutant Chimera. A grotesque amalgamation of animals, including an acid spitting llama, rabid rabbits, and tentacles. The Chimera cannot be saved or reasoned with. Pets Saved. For each pet saved so far, reduce the Chimera’s HP by 2. If Daxter is safe, the mutant chimera loses its Horn attack.

Read Aloud. The bodies of the dead twitch and convulse, merging into a towering beast. Three mutated heads rise from the writhing mass, twisted by the spill’s magic. A gap toothed llama’s jaw splits open, dripping with acid.

Reference Page

Rewards

Civil Legion. 100 gp for each character. Negotiable to 200 gp. Survivors. For each pet saved they will give a level 1 or 2 spell scroll, up to 5 scrolls. Don Rubgandy. Elemental gemstone (blue sapphire) or a bag of beans (if you’re brave).

Political Situation

Lolien remains tense. The Civil Legion controls security and trade, but many citizens quietly support the rebels, who provide aid and speak against the Legion’s reach. Neither side wants open conflict. Trust is thin and cooperation rare. Small disputes are common.

Hunting Trap

Equipment, Weapon When you use your action to set it, this trap forms a saw-toothed steel ring that snaps shut when a creature steps on a pressure plate in the center. The trap is affixed by a heavy chain to an immobile object, such as a tree or a spike driven into the ground. A creature that steps on the plate must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or take 1d4 piercing damage and stop moving. Thereafter, until the creature breaks free of the trap, its movement is limited by the length of the chain (typically 3 feet long). A creature can use its action to make a DC 13 Strength check, freeing itself or another creature within its reach on a success. Each failed check deals 1 piercing damage to the trapped creature.

Net

Equipment, Adventuring Gear A Large or smaller creature hit by a net is restrained until it is freed. A net has no effect on creatures that are formless, or creatures that are Huge or larger. A creature can use its action to make a DC 10 Strength check, freeing itself or another creature within its reach on a success. Dealing 5 slashing damage to the net (AC 10) also frees the creature without harming it, ending the effect and destroying the net. When you use an action, bonus action, or reaction to attack with a net, you can make only one attack regardless of the number of attacks you can normally make. Proficiency with a net allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll for any attack you make with it.

Mutant Chimera Roll Initiative
Large Monstrosity, Unaligned

Armor Class 14 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 114 (12d10 + 48)
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
19 (+4)	11 (-)	19 (+4)	3 (-4)	14 (+2)	10 (-)

Skills Perception +8
Condition Immunity Charmed, Frightened
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 15
Languages Understands Draconic but cannot speak
Proficiency Bonus +3

Actions

Multiattack. The mutant chimera makes three attacks: one with its bite, one with its horns, and one with its tentacles. When its acid breath is available, it can use the breath in place of its bite or horns.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 ( 2d6 + 4 ) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or contract a disease. Until the disease is cured, the target can’t regain hit points except by magical means, and the target’s hit point maximum decreases by 3 ( 1d6 ) every 24 hours. If the target’s hit point maximum drops to 0 as a result of this disease, the target dies. Horns. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d12 + 4) piercing damage. Tentacles. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 11 ( 2d6 + 4 ) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it is grappled (escape DC 16). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the chimera can’t use its tentacles on another target. Acid Breath (Recharge 5–6). The llama head exhales acid in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 28 ( 7d8 ) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Non Lethal Damage

When an attacker reduces a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack, the attacker can knock the creature out. The attacker can make this choice the instant the damage is dealt. The creature falls unconscious and is stable.

GM Advice

A full minute of combat can drag. Keep it fresh and moving. This scene is meant to use up resources, not just take time. Place creatures where they create problems, not just danger. Some are meant to slow the party, not stop them. Expect lots of dice rolls and shifting focus. The Civil Legion is here to survive, not to help. They lost people last time. That is why they hired outsiders. If the players stall or let things go wrong, show the cost. You can always send in more soldiers if needed. The Sludge ability is inspired by Final Fantasy’s Tonberries. Use it to terrify the lowest Constitution character in the fight. While the return angle is a joke, keep the mystery. No one wants to talk about last time.