When Swain gets an update his Q should work similar to Elise Volatile Spiderling
A little about Volatile Spiderling: it is a 950 range slow speed skillshot that deals aoe damage when it hits something, and if it hits nothing before reaching the end of its' path it will auto target and chase the nearest enemy.
The difference for Swains Q would be when it locks on to a target it applies the original Q effect slowing and dealing damage over time to that single target with a slightly shorter tether range.
The effect ends if the tether is broken.