As a matter of interest, does anyone have any good substitutions for the Eldarin and Sword Archon duo encountered in The Spire of Long Shadows? I like the concept of getting an opportunity to throw "good" creatures at the party as a nasty surprize, but I also wonder what other undead might be suitable in their place. Are there any evil outsiders that specifically follow Kyuss?
Ideas, as they came to me:
* You could replace the entire encounter with a single immature nightcrawler (MM 195), which fits extraordinarily well as a servant of Kyuss. Just imagine the look on your player's faces when you describe this Gargantuan worm composed of an oily green darkness rips through the floor to attack them. To make it a CR 15 instead of a CR 18, reduce it to 20 HD, reduce the DR to 10/silver and magic, bring the SR down to 28, bring Str down to 40 and Charisma to 16. Since it has less HD, it loses 2 feats (I recommend Quicken Spell-like Ability (cone of cold) and Improved Critical (sting)). That should about do it.
* If you haven't already used a beholder in this adventure this might instead be a good point to use one. Aberrations fit well with worms and other creepy-crawlies.
* An advanced Chaos Beast (20 HD would make it a CR 15) would likewise fit the creepy feel.
* A bit of work can make you an advanced Fiendish Chimera (24 HD), with a thematic change of having 3 worm heads instead of the traditional appearance. Have the breath weapon be a 40-foot line of acid.
* A pair of 11th level Choker Rogues would make a nasty EL 15 encounter, and again fit with the worm-theme.
* Take the standard Frost Worm, advance it to 21 HD, and replace its Cold ability with the Worm Infested ability of an Overworm. Change the Breath Weapon and Death Throes so that it spews worms of kyuss instead of dealing cold damage. Remove the racial Hide bonus.
* A 19 HD Death Slaad would make a likely ally of Kyuss.
Thanks for taking time to make great suggestions! I think the night crawler is a good pick as well, though I think I'd be more likely to swap out humanoid type combatants like for like. I've got a long ways to go until this is even going to be a problem anyhow...