Mission Delay and Swamp Sludge Monster: A Bayou Tuesday Update

 Mission Delay and Swamp Sludge Monster: A Bayou Tuesday Update

Greetings, swamp folks! Normally, by this time, you'd be knee-deep in a brand new installment of your favorite Bayou Tuesday adventures. But today, as you can see, we're running a tad behind schedule. The reason? Well, let's just say we've had... company and a red alert level cabin cleaning mission.

As you might have gathered from yesterday's post, the cabin was a hubbub of activity with Uncle Bill, Uncle Jerry, Uncle Elmer, and Uncle Greg all joining us. A proper family gathering! And if you've ever tried to coordinate four senior uncles (whom I love dearly, mind you), you'll know that punctuality takes a backseat to storytelling, endless coffee refills, and before you know it, the morning slips away like fog on the bayou.

But the company wasn't the sole cause of our tardiness. After such a lively gathering, the cabin was in need of a serious scrub-down. We're talking hauling out the trash (and boy, was there trash!), scrubbing dishes until they gleamed like the moon on the swamp, and dusting every nook and cranny where those mischievous dust bunnies might be lurking. It was a full-on team effort, though not quite the adventuring kind I usually recount.

Speaking of team efforts, the image above isn't just a random snapshot. Picture it as a visual log of an away team mission. Bayou Earl, codenamed Captain Hedges (a nod to his roots, you see!), leading a perilous away team. Their mission? To dispose of hazardous waste in an uncharted corner of the swamp. The red alert symbol flashes on the panel, indicating that time is of the essence.

Now, why all the urgency with the garbage, you might ask? Well, this is where our story takes a distinctly... swampy turn. You see, over the years, whispers have circulated among the older folks in the bayou about a peculiar creature residing in the deepest parts of the marsh – the Sludge Junk Monster.

At first, we chalked it up to old wives' tales, stories to scare children away from littering. But lately, the sightings have increased, and piles of discarded refuse have been mysteriously vanishing. And today, as we were hauling our considerable trash to our usual disposal spot (a rather deep sinkhole we've used for years), we noticed something... different.

A movement in the gloom. A wet gurgling sound. And then... eyes. Big, slimy, yellowish eyes peering back at us from the shadows. The Sludge Junk Monster was real.

Now, this wasn't the kind of monster that attacks with claws and fangs. No, this creature seemed... hungry. Hungry for our garbage.

So now Meet the Slodge. They are a sewer dwelling creature found in the long forgotten ancient sewers of a great city.

Are they friendly? nope…

Do they smell bad? yep…

One might say they resemble a pile of foul feces with eyes and tentacles and a rather large mouth. Either way, very nasty indeed…

Title - Slodge

Media - Digital Paint

Artist - Wayne Hudman See less

 And with an unspoken understanding (and a healthy dose of trepidation), we decided to offer it a tribute.

We tossed our trash bags – beignet scraps, empty soda cans, and yes, even some of Uncle Bill's more questionable "improvement projects" – into the darkness. The monster made a wet, sucking sound, and the refuse vanished into its slimy depths. It was grotesque, yes, but also... efficient. Our trash problem solved in a strangely eco-friendly way.

he Slodge: Abomination from the Depths!

Posted by Captain Hedges (with a queasy assist from Bayou Earl)

June 24, 2025

Well, folks, it’s not often I come across something that makes Bayou Earl himself blanch, but I tell ya, the creature we’re unveiling today... it's a new level of nasty. Deep beneath the forgotten cobbles of old cities, lurking in the truly ancient parts of the sewer systems, and now, we suspect, festering in the darkest corners of the most toxic swamps, lives a beast so foul it beggars belief. We call it The Slodge.

One might say it resembles a pile of foul feces with eyes and tentacles and a rather large, drooling mouth. And trust me, it smells bad. Friendliness? Absolutely not. This thing is the ultimate junk-garbage-eating monster, and it’s hungry for anything and everything.

Our good friend, the artist Wayne Hudman, did an absolutely incredible job capturing its essence in his digital paintwork. Just looking at it makes my stomach turn.

We’ve been working on getting its stats ready for you, and let me tell you, this isn't your average rat in the sewer. The Slodge is a terrifying amalgamation of everything repulsive and dangerous from the darkest corners of forgotten places. We’ve taken the core horror of the Slodge and combined it with the most dangerous traits of other infamous subterranean dwellers.

Here's what we've managed to put together on this beast for your OpenD6 SRD games. Be warned, adventurers, this isn't one to trifle with!

The Slodge: Ultimate Scavenger Abomination

This horrific creature is the pinnacle of sewer-dwelling and swamp-dwelling nightmares. It's a pulsating, reeking mass of foul, corrosive sludge resembling a colossal pile of excrement, adorned with multiple glistening eyes and numerous powerful, barbed tentacles. It is mostly a gaping, drooling maw, capable of dissolving almost anything. It stalks forgotten sewers, murky bogs, and toxic swamps, utterly dominant in its filthy domain, thriving on garbage and consuming all in its path.

Move: 2 (Slithering)

Might: 4D+2 (Ponderous but immensely powerful, capable of crushing, grappling, and slamming)

Grace: 2D (Slow-moving, but its tentacles can strike with surprising reach and fluidity)

Smarts: 2D+1 (Surprisingly intelligent and cunning, with keen predatory instincts)

Will: 3D+1 (Extremely resilient, focused, and difficult to deter or affect mentally)

Charm: 0D (Utterly repulsive, noxious, and visually horrifying)

Skills:

Brawling 5D (from Might, for its bite and tentacle attacks)

Dodge 2D+1 (from Grace, for attempting to avoid attacks)

Perception 4D+1 (from Smarts, for keen senses, noticing details, and detecting metal)

Survival 4D+1 (from Smarts, for navigating its vile environment and finding sustenance)

Attributes (for reference, if needed for specific skill derivations):

Dexterity: 2D

Knowledge: 2D+1

Mechanical: 0D

Perception: 2D+1

Strength: 4D+2

Technical: 0D

Perks:

Darkvision: 120 feet. The Slodge sees perfectly in absolute darkness.

Immunity (Disease, Poison): Its inherently foul and highly corrosive nature, combined with its diet, makes it completely immune to all forms of disease and poison.

Amorphous: Due to its fluid, shapeless, and highly malleable body, the Slodge takes half damage from bludgeoning attacks. It can also squeeze through spaces large enough for its eyes and mouth.

Natural Armor: Its thick, tough hide and viscous body grant it a natural Armor Value of 14 (or provides a +2D bonus to its resistance rolls against physical damage).

Limited Telepathy: The Slodge can magically transmit simple messages and vivid images to any creature within 40 meters (120 feet) that can understand a language. The receiving creature cannot telepathically respond, only receive.

Exceptional Resilience (Constitution/Willpower): The Slodge possesses extraordinary natural toughness and mental fortitude. It gains an additional +3D to Will rolls specifically made to resist effects that target its constitution, such as poisons, diseases, stunning effects, or other physical ailments.

Flaws:

Foul Odor: The Slodge constantly emits a profoundly noxious and overwhelming stench. Any living creature within 2 meters (5 feet) of a Slodge must make a Might (difficulty 8) roll. If failed, they become Nauseated for 1D6 rounds (suffering disadvantage on all checks and rolls). Creatures with a naturally strong sense of smell (e.g., dogs, scent-tracking beasts) suffer a -2D penalty to this Might roll.

Vulnerability (Extreme Cold): Its semi-liquid form becomes sluggish, brittle, and partially solid in freezing temperatures. In such conditions, it takes double damage from all sources and its movement speed is halved. Prolonged exposure might fully immobilize it.

Horrid Appearance: Even among the most hardened adventurers, the Slodge is considered utterly disgusting and horrific. Unless a creature has formed a specific, long-standing, and highly unusual alliance, most sentient beings will react with extreme disgust, fear, and hostility upon seeing it.

Special Abilities (Actions & Passive Effects):

Multi-Attack: The Slodge is a relentless combatant. As an action, it can make three devastating attacks: one with its powerful Bite and two with separate Tentacle attacks.

Bite:

Attack: Brawling (difficulty 6) to hit, Reach 2 meters (5 ft.), one target.

Damage: 2D+2 Piercing Damage (from its massive, irregular teeth).

Filth Fever (Disease): If the target is a living creature, it must immediately make a Will (difficulty 15) roll against disease. If failed, the creature becomes Diseased (and functionally poisoned) until the disease is cured. Every 24 hours that elapse, the target must repeat this Will roll. On a failure, the target's Body Point Maximum is reduced by 1D. The disease is cured on a success (and the Body Point Maximum reduction ends). The target dies if this disease reduces its Body Point Maximum to 0.

Tentacle:

Attack: Brawling (difficulty 6) to hit, Reach 4 meters (10 ft.), one target. The Slodge can use two different tentacles for its Multi-Attack.

Damage: 1D+2 Bludgeoning Damage (from the tentacle's impact) plus 1D Piercing Damage (from the barbs or tearing action).

Grapple & Restrain: If the target is Medium size or smaller, on a successful hit, it is immediately Grappled (escape difficulty 13, requiring a Might or Grace roll) and Restrained until the grapple ends. The Slodge can maintain a grapple on two different targets simultaneously with its two main attacking tentacles.

Corrosive Touch (Integrated): Any item, weapon, or armor hit by the Slodge's Tentacle attack (or touched by the Slodge in any way) is immediately subjected to its potent acid (see Corrosive Touch details below).

Corrosive Touch (Passive & Active Ooze): The Slodge is constantly dripping and oozing highly potent, indiscriminate acid. This acid rapidly dissolves most materials.

Direct Contact (Attacks & Environment): When the Slodge makes a successful Brawling attack (Bite or Tentacle), or when a creature is Engulfed, anything it touches (organic matter, inorganic materials, mundane items, even magical items and enchanted substances) is immediately subjected to its potent acid.

Equipment/Items: Any item, weapon, or armor directly hit by the Slodge's attack (or worn/carried by a grabbed or engulfed target) takes 1D damage directly to its integrity/structure. This damage ignores conventional armor ratings and applies directly to the item's durability.

Weapons: A weapon that takes damage from corrosive touch takes a permanent and cumulative -1 pip penalty to its damage dice for every 1D of acid damage it accumulates. If this penalty reaches -5D (e.g., a 4D weapon becomes 0D+1), the weapon is destroyed.

Armor/Shields: Armor or shields take a permanent and cumulative -1 pip penalty to their Armor Value or Block die for every 1D of acid damage they accumulate. When their value reaches 0, the item is utterly destroyed.

Other Items: Small items (like ropes, scrolls, small tools, or even adventurer's rations) might be destroyed instantly (GM's discretion). Larger items will take escalating damage, becoming useless once their structural integrity is compromised.

Ammunition: Any ammunition (arrows, bolts, bullets) made of any material that hits the Slodge is utterly destroyed after dealing damage (if any).

Environmental Corrosion: The acid also slowly eats away at the environment. Floors, walls, objects, and structures the Slodge moves over or rests against will show signs of severe corrosion, potentially becoming difficult terrain, collapsing, or breaking apart over time.

Engulf: As a powerful action, the Slodge can attempt to fully engulf a creature its size or smaller. The target must make a Grace (difficulty 5) roll or be immediately Grabbed and pulled into the Slodge's mass.

While grabbed and engulfed, the creature takes 1D damage per round from the Slodge's internal corrosive digestive fluids (this damage applies directly to the creature's Body Points, bypassing armor).

Crucially, everything on the engulfed target (clothing, armor, weapons, carried items, and even skin) is subjected to the full effects of the Corrosive Touch each round.

Another creature can attempt a Might (difficulty 5) roll to pull the grabbed creature free.

The Slodge can combine this with its Tentacle Slam action, slamming engulfed targets against its own internal structures or the surrounding environment.

Tentacle Slam: The Slodge is adept at brutalizing its grappled foes. As an action, it can slam creatures it has Grappled (either with its tentacles or from being Engulfed) into each other or against a solid surface nearby.

Effect: Each grappled creature must make a Will (difficulty 14) roll. On a failure, the target takes 2D+2 Bludgeoning Damage and is Stunned until the end of the Slodge's next turn. On a successful save, the target takes half the bludgeoning damage and is not stunned.

Sewer Dweller / Ultimate Garbage Feeder: Slodges are perfectly adapted to their filthy environments. They can move through narrow passages, grates, and slick, waste-covered surfaces without penalty. They actively seek out and thrive on consuming all forms of organic and inorganic waste – refuse, sewage, offal, decaying matter, even dissolved items. This vile diet fuels their incredibly potent corrosive abilities and allows it to regenerate minor damage (e.g., 1D Body Point per round when fully immersed in significant quantities of garbage, up to WT).

Wound Threshold: 12

Cost/Challenge Rating: (Given its truly overwhelming combination of attributes, resistances, multi-attacks, debilitating effects like disease and stun, pervasive item destruction, and regenerative capabilities in its natural habitat, this Slodge is an Extremely High Threat. It would likely be in the 900-1200+ character point range, representing a significant "boss" level encounter, capable of wiping out an unprepared party of experienced adventurers.)

So there you have it, folks. A new horror to spice up your next dungeon crawl or swamp expedition. If you run into one of these, well, you've been warned. Don't say Captain Hedges and Bayou Earl didn't tell ya!

Stay safe out there,

Captain Hedges

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

System Reference Document 5.1 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Rodney Thompson, Peter Lee, James Wyatt, Robert J. Schwalb, Bruce R. Cordell, Chris Sims, and Scott Fitzgerald Gray, with additional design by Jeffrey Baker, Stacy Bermes, Chris Dupuis, Greg Marks, Celese Newman, Jeremy Quilling, Curtis Scott, and Stephen Schubert, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

The Adventures of Captain Hedges Weblog Copyright 2025, [Your Name/Company Name Here];

Product Identity: The names "Slodge", "Noctrunis", "Adventures of Captain Hedges Weblog", "Bayou Earl", and "Captain Hedges" are Product Identity.

Open Game Content: All game mechanics and statistics, including creature abilities, descriptions (unless specifically noted as Product Identity), and numerical values for the Slodge are Open Game Content.

So there you have it, folks. The real reason for our late post today: unexpected company, a thorough cabin cleaning, and a casual encounter with a garbage-devouring monster. Life in the bayou is never dull, is it?

Stay tuned next week for more Bayou Tuesday adventures (and hopefully a more punctual post). Until then, keep your swamps clean and watch out for what lurks in the shadows!