Was just talking with some folks on twitch about this most puzzling of protein predicaments, and we were able to come up with a pretty plausible theory:
MAYBE the reason the Slayer Captain doesn't have any of his meat-filled troops with him is because of a tragic expedition to Oasis, during which his entire army was defeated and eaten by the evil Lockjaw!
Slayer Captain, being so embarrassed to have lost his raiding force to a mere crocodile in a leveling zone now hides out in the swamplands, unable to muster the strength or will power to engage in further combat?
I smell a new
Starting Zone quest. And it smells like Troll Parts.