How to Make Adjustments to Spell Casting Monsters on the Fly

I had some situations that I knew they would have some agency in to discount the fact that they just had this situation where they didn't. And then I hit them with like stress effects from the lazy DMs companion. They all had to make saving throws. Some of them heard the sound of screaming children, but I didn't have it paralyzed them. So it worked out okay. And so that is really the key about this idea of throwing monsters that are more powerful than the characters are. Even if it makes sense for the situation, it is going to be a big downward beat. You're going to want to find good ways to put upward beats. If you can, project it early