Venomthrope

Saves: Toughness +6

Senses: Sees normally in total darkness

Spore Shroud. The venomthrope drifts inside a living fog 15 feet in radius. Ranged attacks against tyranids in the shroud, including the venomthrope, are made at Disadvantage.

Toxic Miasma. A non-tyranid creature that starts its turn in the shroud takes 1d6 toxic damage and makes a Toughness Save DC 14 or attacks at Disadvantage until the start of its next turn.

Lingering Death. When the venomthrope dies, its spore cloud remains where it fell, keeping its Spore Shroud and Toxic Miasma effects for 2 more rounds before dispersing.

Toxic Lash. Melee Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 2d6 + 2 toxic damage, and the target makes a Toughness Save DC 14 or its Movement is halved until the end of its next turn.

Thicken the Cloud. The venomthrope concentrates its spores into one 15-foot zone inside its shroud. Creatures in that zone are Blinded until the start of the venomthrope's next turn.

Lash Reach. When a non-tyranid creature enters the spore shroud, the venomthrope may make one Toxic Lash attack against it, without appearing to notice.

Morale: Does not make Morale checks under synapse. Without it, it drifts on air currents — a wandering poison hazard with no plan at all.

Tactics: Glue it to the brood the party most needs to shoot, and make every volley into the fog a coin flip. Closing in, area fire, and flame each carry a cost the miasma collects. Killing it is correct and unpleasant — the cloud outlives it.

Loot / Evidence / Hooks: Distilled miasma toxin keeps its potency in sealed vials; poisoners and biologis alike ask no questions at purchase.

The venomthrope is a drifting support organism wrapped in lash-tendrils and a permanent fog of spores that kills lungs, sight, and marksmanship in that order. It does little itself; everything near it becomes harder to fight.

Use this enemy to armor a swarm in poison fog — the miasma that ruins the party's firing solutions and makes closing to melee cost blood.

Threat Profile: Medium durability, minimal direct attack, area spore-cloud concealment and poison, protects broods from ranged fire, high-value support target.

Spore Shroud. Tyranids within 15 feet gain concealment against ranged attacks; the fog is thick, mobile, and alive.

Toxic Miasma. Non-tyranid creatures in the shroud take poison damage each round and save or are impaired.

Lash Reach. Its toxin-dripping tendrils threaten everything adjacent without the venomthrope appearing to notice.

Toxic Lash. Melee attack with reach; a hit target saves or is Poisoned and slowed.

Thicken the Cloud. Concentrates its spores into one zone, blinding it entirely for a round.

Drift With the Wave. Moves with the brood it screens, keeping the shroud over the swarm's advance.

Morale: No Morale under synapse; without it, it drifts on air currents, a wandering poison hazard with no plan at all.

Tactics: Glue the venomthrope to the brood the party most needs to shoot, and make every volley into the fog a coin flip. The party's answers — closing in, area fire, flame — each have a cost the miasma collects. Killing it is correct and unpleasant; the spore cloud does not die with it immediately.

Full Stat Block Priority: Medium