Greenscale Warrior – Steal this Monster

The traders were foolish, to say the least. Knowing the Lizardfolk to be savage, they mistakenly assumed them to be simple. With two adventurers hidden among them, the traders went to see the tribal leader. When the leader arrived with only two warriors, the adventurers attacked – thinking to take the Lizardfolk’s resources while giving nothing in return. Their arrogance was dashed away when two score warriors rose up from the marsh around them in response.

The Greenscale Warrior is the first line of defense for what is considered the most common of the lizardfolk bloodlines. These soldiers are picked out at a young age when they show weakness in their training and hunting.

Too skilled to die on their own, but not talented enough to undergo full tribal training, they learn early about the honor they will bring by dying for their tribe. They are proud of their people and will rush into battle without fear. They also know well their inferiority, having heard it most of their life. They attack, follow the basic tactics of their more skilled kin, and are quick to get out of the way for others. However, their pride and fearless attitude quickly dissipates after seeing their more powerful kin fall.  At this, they are then easier to scare into submission.

Nature 10: These warriors are the most basically trained of all the Lizardfolk. They know of some tactics, but depend upon others for leadership.

Nature 15: The Greenscale Warrior is brought up with years of lackey treatment at the hands of the strongest warriors of their tribe. They know well to clear the way for hunters. Adventurers be wary, once in flanking position, their confidence increases and their attacks dig all the deeper.

In Combat: Greenscale Warriors prefer situations where they can surprise the enemy (like ambushes).  When the surprise ends (or if surprise is not possible), they attack fearlessly as long as momentum is their side’s favor. Setting up flanking for other Lizardfolk is their top priority, but they follow orders quickly and with efficient practice.

A favorite tactic of some tribes is to have the Warriors move heedlessly through combat, even recklessly, in order to draw enemy attacks. Though they’ll die, other Lizardfolk will gain more advantageous positions.

Lairs and Hazards: All Lizardfolk favor swamps and marshes, but Greenscale Warriors fight their best when given places to fully submerge. This not only gives them a place to surprise from, but also an exit if they need to regroup or come from another angle.

Lizardfolk often try to choose areas with unusual features within their territory to stage their battles. This way they can take full advantage of their enemies’ lack of knowledge.

Areas featuring Grab Grass (DMG 68, usually found in the Fey Wild, but occasionally uprooted) make it all the easier for Warriors to get into position.

Cave Slime (DMG 67) can easily be reskinned as slippery moss or muddy terrain.

Encounters: Greenscale Warriors work best as support for more powerful Lizardfolk, but can also represent a larger horde of other Lizardfolk for players in the latter-half of the heroic tier.

Highlight the Warrior’s Flanking Bonus (Level 3): This combination allows the Warriors to get into flanking more easily, taking advantage of the Hunter’s Shifting attack and the Darter’s poison which slows.

• 4 Greenscale Warrior
• 2 Greenscale Hunter (MM 178)
• 1 Greenscale Darter (MM 178)

Highlight the Warrior as part of a Tribe (Level 5): This combination showcases the Warrior as an integral and large part of the tribe, while still highlighting the fact that they are not the expert like the others. Keep the Drake near the Hunter, following his commands.

For extra fun, have the drake lash out at Warrior occasionally (losing control), especially if the hunter dies, or if a warrior gets trapped in their way.

• 8 Greenscale Warrior
• 1 Bloodseeker Drake (MM2 88)
• 1 Greenscale Hunter (MM 178)
• 1 Greenscale Marsh Mystic (MM 179)

Highlight the Warrior as Horde (Level 7): This grouping  sets the stage for a massive amount of Lizardfolk on the field of battle at once. Here the warrior can represent more than just the runts of the tribe, but the Bruisers and the Hunters now that the heroes have advanced to higher levels.

In this encounter the Warriors are meant to be fodder. They act as a distraction, and add to the damage of the Orc Chieftan (substitute any charismatic, clever or intimidating foe), while allowing the heroes to feel powerful by plowing right through them.

The Orc Chieftan takes a little explaining, but takes excellent advantage of the warrior’s with his Inspire Ferocity ability. He could be a Chieftain who lost his orc tribe already to the PCs and whipped a group of Lizardfolk into obedience to take revenge.

Alternatively, the orc chieftain could be particularly magnetic, and drew in the Lizardfolk while trying to bring together all the orcs in an area. He now keeps them as his personal guard as a symbol of his sway and ability to unite.

• 18 Greenscale Warriors
• 1 Orc Chieftain (MM 204)

Treasure: In most encounters, the Greenscale Warrior’s won’t be the primary source of treasure, but rather their more powerful companions will.

In trade negotiations, they are often used as porters, and those most daring may slip trinkets and gems away from the chests when no one is looking.

As those doing the grunt work, Greenscale warriors are often found with useful mundane items like empty bags, torches and bundles of rope.

Previous Article in Series: The Devolution of Lizardfolk

Next Article in Series: Blackscale Tribal Fury

For more information on the Ecology of Lizardfolk, see the Monster Manual and Dragon Magazine 335.

The Greenscale Warrior originally appeared on Free Orcs. It has been revised and expanded upon for this republishing.