Alerting predators in a swamp

[LucyG92]

If you make a lot of noise at night in a swamp, what creatures might be alerted to the presence of prey (preferably low-fantasy)? :)

[Ignotus Advenium]

Crocodiles
Frogs
Leeches
Snakes

I'm not certain about how well any of these creaures hear, but they are predators that hunt in swampy/marshy areas, and would presumably be able to sense characters slogging through a swamp, whether that's via hearing, scent, or whatever.

[Crag_Irons]

You could try the PRD and check the Beastiary Index. Just select the CR you want and swamps, animals and vermin.

[Glorf Fei-Hung]

Also any sort of flying insect swarms could be a viable option. Along with their oversized Dire/Giant versions.

[MageHunter]

Boggards.

[LucyG92]

Insects wouldn't really work for what I'm thinking of. One of the party members has a habit of screaming a lot in her sleep - it occurred to me today that in a dangerous area this might draw attention, so I'm specifically thinking if any predators might hear (like bears, but I assume bears can't live in a swamp)

[Claxon]

Here you go.

Start at marsh/swamp any and you can work through warm, cold, and temperate.

[Velcro Zipper]

Reptiles and amphibians don't usually hunt by sound, but swamp-dwelling mammals like black bears, bobcats and boars do and might investigate screaming if they think it's a wounded or young animal. Swamps are pretty noisy at night to start with, and predators tend to go after prey they recognize (its safer and uses less energy to hunt something you know you can kill) so human screams might be too out of place to warrant investigation depending on how often humanoids come into the swamp.

Another option is to go with another humanoid. Lizardfolk and ogrekin are low-fantasy and both would recognize and investigate the sound of screaming humans. If you haven't seen it, the movie Southern Comfort is a good setup for a low-level adventure involving a swamp tribe.

It's about a group of National Guardsmen who intrude into the territory of some Louisiana bayou folk while drilling and end up hunted by the locals.

[LucyG92]

Velcro Zipper wrote:

Reptiles and amphibians don't usually hunt by sound, but swamp-dwelling mammals like black bears, bobcats and boars do and might investigate screaming if they think it's a wounded or young animal. Swamps are pretty noisy at night to start with, and predators tend to go after prey they recognize (its safer and uses less energy to hunt something you know you can kill) so human screams might be too out of place to warrant investigation depending on how often humanoids come into the swamp.

Another option is to go with another humanoid. Lizardfolk and ogrekin are low-fantasy and both would recognize and investigate the sound of screaming humans. If you haven't seen it, the movie Southern Comfort is a good setup for a low-level adventure involving a swamp tribe.

It's about a group of National Guardsmen who intrude into the territory of some Louisiana bayou folk while drilling and end up hunted by the locals.

Thanks!

Many of the animals in this region are being affected by a disease which causes them to go into a rage and abandon any common sense, so they will happily go after anything at the moment.

I haven't seen Southern Comfort, can't watch the trailer at the moment but will have a look later.

[Wheldrake]

Although gators, crocs and boas are very thematic, I've always wanted to terrorize my players with a huge razorback. Hogzilla!

Then there is the old favorite from the (IIRC) Greyhawk encounter tables: giant weasle/hogs. Sometimes we'd roll for one or the other, but usually we fought some horrible composite beast, the "weasley-hogs!"

Giant slugs or leeches are another favorite. Not to mention various flavors of carnivorous plants. Step aside, little shop of horrors!

Mire-encrusted undead work too. Especially if protecting some voodoo priest's swamp shack.