- This article is about the creature. For the spell of the same name which summons it, see summon invisible stalker.
The invisible stalker is an extraplanar air elemental creature conjured by a spellcaster to complete a task. They are fautless trackers and deadly assassins, and follow their orders without fail.
Description[]
Appearance[]
The invisible stalker is the approximate shape of a human and stands around eight feet tall. [1] Made entirely of air, however, it is completely invisible. Even magic which reveals invisible, such as see invisibility, shows only a vague outline.[2] At best, it can be perceived as a shimmering air mass, similar to the refraction caused by hot air seen in deserts.[3] The spell true seeing reveals a cloud of vapor.[4]
The creature's true form is similar to that of an air elemental, though the difference between the two is clear to natives of the plane of air.[5]
Invisible stalkers are occasionally given names by their summoners and identified as having a gender, although there appear to be no physical differences between them.[6]
Personality and alignment[]
Invisible stalkers resent being summoned. While they are compelled to follow the orders of their summoner for as long as the magic lasts or until they are destroyed, an invisible stalker ordered an unreasonably dull or lengthy duty may seek to circumvent it by exploiting loopholes in their orders.[2] Missions of more than a week in length test its patience.[1]
For example, an invisible stalker ordered to guard its summoner for a month may eventually imprison them in their home plane in order to obey the spirit of the order, [7] with similar results for asking it to guard a treasure indefinitely.[8] Ordering it to follow the summoner may lead to to follow at a distance of a hundred feet,[1] and ordering it to guard a passageway against all without the password may be interpreted to require the password be spoken in a specific language.[9] Some methods of summoning them completely fail when ordered to do anything but hunt a person or item.[1]
Many invisible stalkers are distrustful of humanoids due to past mistreatment.[3] Those inhabiting the elemental planes freely prefer negotiation to combat, where possible.[5]
Invisible stalkers are typically true neutral in alignment.[2]
Abilities and traits[]
The invisible stalker, made of air, is naturally invisible for all practical purposes. This makes it highly dangerous as an assassin.[2]
It is exceptionally good at tracking targets. It automatically knows the direction and distance of its target, as long as they are on the same plane of existence; and the location of its summoner.[2]
As an amorphous elemental creature made of air, it is highly resistant to typical weapon attacks and poison, and it is practically impossible to grapple or knock prone.[2]
Invisible stalkers are intelligent enough to carry out reasonably complex plans. For example, one can be ordered not to attack anone wearing a specific holy symbol.[10]
The invisible stalker fights by striking its opponent with powerful bursts of air.[4]
Invisible stalkers natively inhabiting the plane of air can travel through the air at exceptional speed, possess ESP, and can assume the form of other air elemental creatures.[5]
Sources contradict each other regarding whether the monster can be magically dispelled once conjured.[7][11] It disappears when slain.
Ecology[]
Environment[]
The invisible stalker is an extraplanar creature, usually encountered summoned to the material plane.[2] Most are conjured from the plane of air, and large squads of them are sometimes encountered there.[12]
They are occasionally found on the astral plane and ethereal plane, though they are not so invulnerable there as on the material plane where they are invisible to most inhabitants.[13]
They are also found imprisoned in dungeons and locations where they have been made to serve as guardians.[14]
In Eberron, they inhabit the plane of Lamannia, the Twilight Forest.[15] Thirteen exceptionally powerful invisible stalkers inhabit the Cloud Citadel of the great wyrm Zenobaal.[16]
Lair[]
Invisible stalkers occasionally establish their own permanent lairs in the plane of air. Once such known building consists of a stone one-story building with a three-story tower, built up upon a massive floating rock and guarded by three air elementals. This invisible stalker is tasked with the duty of protecting individuals, and he uses the tower to protect his charges which he places in temporal stasis.[17]
Life cycle[]
An invisible stalker begins its life as a summoned air elemental which is transformed by powerful magic.[2] Examples of such magic include the spell invisible stalker,[7] planar binding and planar ally spells,[18] powerful and dangerous wizard-crafted scrolls costing upwards of 5,000 gp,[3] elaborate lesser binding rituals costing even greater sums,[19] expensive type-VII summoning stones costing over 27,000 gp,[20] a sphere of the unseen,[21] and the conjuration ability of powerful druid hierophants,[22]
Once summoned, the invisible stalker remains by the summoner's side until it receives orders, at which point it sets out to carry out its instructions. Such instructions usually involve hunting down an individual named creature, or recovering a specific object for the summoner.[2]
When its instructions are complete, the invisible stalker returns to its summoner and continues to serve until the magic used to summon it expires. It will complete its task even if its summoner dies while the invisible stalker is carrying out a mission, although it will disappear thereafter.[2]
When killed, an invisible stalker dissipates in a gust of wind. Once its tour of duty, the air elemental spirit which animated the creature returns to its plane.[2]
Diet[]
Invisible stalkers do not need to eat, drink, sleep or breathe.[2]
Treasure[]
Hoard[]
Invisible stalkers do not gather treasure unless ordered to by their summoner.[2] However, they may carry treasure that they have been ordered to retrieve by their summoner.
Harvesting[]
Invisible stalker ichor can be used in the production of potions of invisibility.[23] A dram of this substance can create an invisibility potion with a chance to continue even after the user attacks.[24]
The body of an invisible stalker can be used in the production of a dust of disappearance.[25]
History[]
Society and culture[]
Invisible stalkers are typically solitary and created only through magic. However, some societies of such creatures exist on a more permanent basis.
In the world of Mystara, the invisible stalkers refer to their species as the Sshai.[26]
In the elemental plane of air, invisible stalkers inhabit the grand castles of the djinn, where they serve peacefully as lorekeepers and sages.[27] The Sshai are also known to serve the djinn as spies and guards. Such individuals tend to be a little smaller and weaker than the invisible stalkers summoned by spellcasters, standing around the height of a human.[5]
Organization[]
Invisible stalkers are typically solitary, though a spellcaster might summon multiple such creatures. They are sometimes encountered in small groups of up to three in the plane of air.[28]
Allies and minions[]
Invisible stalkers are usually encountered after having been summoned by a spellcaster, who they serve diligently.[2]
Invisible stalkers are found in the service of numerous powerful spellcasters, including Turan the Alchemist,[14] Damien Byreb,[29] Bhir-Vedi,[30] Thoth-Amon,[31] Murq of Greyhawk,[32] Miza Radu,[33] Asberdies the Lich,[34] Azalin the Lich,[35] the human magic user Horan,[36] Fayiz al-Wazir (who uses them as messengers),[37] The Matriarch of The Constellation,[38] Morgan le Fay,[39] Ivid V of the former Great Kingdom and his court mage Karoolck,[40] Vorbyx of the Moonsea,[41] the archaeologist Dirganun,{{cite book|College of Wizardry|33} Halaster Blackcloak,[42] and air prophet Aerisi Kalinoth[43]
At least one invisible stalker has been known to make an alliance with a berbalang.[44] The archomentals Yan-C-Bin[27] and Chan,[45] and even the avatars of some deities (including Boccob, god of magic,[46] and Sin, Mesopotamian moon god[47]) are known to summon invisible stalkers.[48] They often serve djinn.[49]
An enslaved contingent of invisible stalkers is bound to The Dreadnought, a unique land warfare vehicle crafted by Prinzan of Veluna.[50]
Enemies[]
The anemos, lawful-aligned creatures of the plane of air, have a dislike of invisible stalkers.[26]
Invisible stalkers are fearful of earth-elemental creatures and attacks.[51]
Attempting to summon an invisible stalker on the plane of air greatly enrages the inhabitants of that plane.[52]
Religion[]
Invisible stalkers have no known religion.
Language[]
Invisible stalkers speak Auran, the language of air elementals. Their speech resembles the whooshing and roaring of a wind storm. They are also capable of understanding Common, but do not speak that language themselves.[2][3]
Cultural significance[]
The Faerûnian goddess Leira was believed to act through the presence of invisible stalkers, amongst other creatures.[53] The deity Hoar the Doombringer likewise uses such creatures.[54]
Notable invisible stalkers[]
For a full list, see Category:Invisible stalkers.
- Demon of the Black Hands is an exceptionally powerful invisible stalker[55]
- Tabati, female invisible stalker[6]
- Cochort, servant of the Vecnan cultist Vocar[56]
- Nicoramus, troll stalker[57]
Related creatures[]
The invisible spirit troll is a horrid magical cross-breed of troll and invisible stalker. Only thirty or so are known to exist.[58]
Amyrisu is a half-fiend invisible stalker assassin, permanently bound to guard an ancient crypt of Netheril.[59] The Banestalkers of Faerûn are invisible stalkers invested with a fragment of the evil power of the god Bane.[60]
It is suspected that an an invisible stalker Orglash, or ice spirit, may exist, though none have ever been conclusively found.[61]
The earth elemental dune stalker, fire elemental phantom stalker,[62] and water elemental hydrax[63] are often described as similar to the invisible stalker.
Related spells and items[]
The spells summon invisible stalker (often simple called invisible stalker), summon monster VII, summon nature's ally VII, and planar ally[64] may be used to summon an invisible stalker. The psionic power summon planar creature may likewise do so.[65]
Invisible stalkers can be summoned with a scarf of the dry steppes,[66] a glass egg from Zadron's pouch of wonders, Kybal's cord, the bag of beans, a brazen bottle, an iron flask, an ultimate helm, the orb of the eldest wyrm, the machine of Lum the Mad, and other rare artifacts.[67][68]
The glass ring of the stalker has an invisible stalker bound within it.[69]
An invisible stalker haunts the bearer of the key to Al Azid's ghostly palace.[70]
Publication history[]
The invisible stalker has appeared throughout all editions of Dungeons & Dragons since the original. It has seen inclusion in over 250 sourcebooks.
Original D&D[]
The invisible stalker first appeared in Monsters & Treasure (1974), p.18. It is summoned by the spell named Invisible Stalker, a sixth-level Magic-User spell which would continue to appear until its removal in D&D 3rd edition (2000). In this book, it is established that the invisible stalker is "created" by the spell, which would later be contradicted by AD&D books asserting that they are merely conjured by it. The conjuration spell in Men & Magic (1974), p.30 asserts that conjured stalkers cannot be dispelled, but Monsters & Treasure asserts that dispel magic is effective against it.
The invisible stalker's famous reluctance to follow orders appears in this edition of the rules. It may arise from an attempt to balance the spell.
Basic D&D[]
The invisible stalker appears in the Expert Set (B/X) (1981), p.34, the Expert Rules (BECMI) (1983), p.52, the Companion Rules (BECMI), Dungeon Masters Companion: Book Two (1984), p.41, the Rules Cyclopedia (1991), p.187, The New Easy to Master Dungeons & Dragons Game (1991), p.46, and The Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game, Rules and Adventures Book (1994), p.84-85.
AD&D 1st edition[]
The invisible stalker appears in the Monster Manual (1e) (1977), p.55. Its accompanying artwork is, amusingly, completely blank. It is established in this book that they are a creature native to he plane of air.
A notable invisible stalker encounter appears in REF4 The Book of Lairs II (1987), p.68, which describes a lair kept by such a creature on the plane of air. Several innovative encounters with invisible stalkers appear in Deck of Encounters Set 1 (1994).
Invisible stalkers appear in numerous books and adventure modules, including REF3 The Book of Lairs (1e) (1986), S2 White Plume Mountain (1979), and UK6 All That Glitters... (1984).
AD&D 2nd edition[]
The invisible stalker appears in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), where it is described in detail. Its entry was later reprinted in Monstrous Manual (1993), p.208, in which its illustration is credited to project coordinator Tim Beach and editor Doug Stewart. However, it is completely blank.
Its entry is reprinted in the Dark Sun sourcebook DSE2 Black Spine (1994). HR6 Age of Heroes Campaign Sourcebook (1994), p.63 recommends banning the invisible stalker from campaigns set in ancient Greece.
Invisible stalkers who follow strictly-defined instructions appears in Axe of the Dwarvish Lords (1999).
D&D 3rd edition[]
The invisible stalker appear in the Monster Manual (3.0) (2000), p.123 and Monster Manual (3.5) (2003), p.160-161. Its artwork depicts it as a vague shape standing behind an unwary adventurer.
A price for binding an invisible stalker to a location is given in Stronghold Builder's Guidebook (2002), p.51, where it costs 6,610 gp to hire a 15th level wizard.
The Dungeon Master's Guide (3.5) (2003), p.81 suggests an encounter featuring a 5th-level gnoll ranger, 1d3 invisible stalkers, and one greater shadow, as an 11th level dungeon encounter. Why these creatures would work together is not explained.
D&D 4th edition[]
The spell summon invisible stalker and statistics for the invisible stalker as a level 15 summoned creature appear in Heroes of the Elemental Chaos{{UnknownBook}}, p.115.
A creature called the astral stalker appears in the Monster Manual (4e) (2008), a high-level creature which has the ability to turn invisible. One appears in the adventure Grasp of the Mantled Citadel, Dungeon #171 (Oct 2009), p.76, where it is described as an "invisible stalker", although it is a different creature.
Coincidentally, a level 22 at-will rogue utility power named Invisible Stalker appears in Heroes of the Fallen Lands (2010), p.190, though it is unrelated to the creature of that name.
D&D 5th edition[]
The invisible stalker appears in the Monster Manual (5e) (2014), p.192. It previously appeared in the D&D Next preview adventure Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle (2013), p.246. Notable changes between these two documents harken back to the creature's OD&D origins: the name of its ability Faultless Tracker appears in its description in the original D&D box set; and the creature is described as being created by its summoning spell, rather than simply being a unique native species of the plane of air who is summoned by the spell.
It is established in the Dungeon Master's Guide (5e) (2014), p.52 that the invisible stalker, as well as other elemental creatures including the galeb duhr, magmin and water weird, are created by spellcasters who conjure a raw elemental spirit to animate their form.
Creative origins[]
Reception and influence[]
The invisible stalker appears in the roguelike NetHack. Consuming its corpse turns the player character temporarily invisible, unless they are already invisible, in which case they become permanently invisible and gain see invisibility. As all currently invisible creatures are referred to in NetHack as "invisible <name>", and the invisible stalker is always invisible, the creature is technically known as the stalker. However, no non-invisible stalkers exist in the game, so in practice it always appears with the name "invisible stalker".
A short adventure module named Invisible Stalker appears in Dungeon #63 (Jan/Feb 1997), p.54-56, although the invisible stalker creature does not appear in it.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Monster Manual (1e) (1977), p.55.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 Monster Manual (5e) (2014), p.192.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Monster Manual (3.0) (2000), p.123.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Companion Rules (BECMI), Dungeon Masters Companion: Book Two (1984), p.41.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ruined Kingdoms, Adventure Book (1994), p.6.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Monsters & Treasure (1974), p.18.
- ↑ Expert Rules (BECMI) (1983), p.52.
- ↑ Deck of Encounters Set 1, Airy Guardian (1994).
- ↑ I7 Baltron's Beacon (1985), p.29.
- ↑ Men & Magic (1974), p.30.
- ↑ Manual of the Planes (1e) (1987), p.25,34.
- ↑ Eldritch Wizardry (1976), p.29.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 REF3 The Book of Lairs (1e) (1986), p.73.
- ↑ Eberron Campaign Setting (2004).
- ↑ Dragons of Eberron (2007), p.74.
- ↑ REF4 The Book of Lairs II (1987), p.68.
- ↑ Tome and Blood (2001), p.35.
- ↑ UK6 All That Glitters... (1984), p.9.
- ↑ Stronghold Builder's Guidebook (2002), p.84.
- ↑ Dungeon #102 (Sep 2003), p.55.
- ↑ PHBR13 The Complete Druid's Handbook (1994), p.121-122.
- ↑ Dungeon Masters Guide (1e) (1979), p.116-117.
- ↑ Variety, the Spice of Magic, Dragon #147 (Jul 1989), p.25.
- ↑ Better Living Through Alchemy, Dragon #130 (Feb 1988), p.40.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Monstrous Compendium: Mystara Appendix (1994), p.7.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix III (1998), p.8.
- ↑ Manual of the Planes (3e) (2001), p.70.
- ↑ REF5 Lords of Darkness (1e) (1988), p.80.
- ↑ CB1 Conan Unchained! (1984), p.18.
- ↑ CB2 Conan Against Darkness! (1984), p.25.
- ↑ The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting, Glossography (1980), p.26.
- ↑ C6 The Official RPGA Tournament Handbook (1987), p.19-20.
- ↑ GDQ1-7 Queen of the Spiders (1986), p.58.
- ↑ I10 Ravenloft II: The House on Gryphon Hill (1986), p.48.
- ↑ I1 Dwellers of the Forbidden City (1981), p.15.
- ↑ Land of Fate (1992), p.111.
- ↑ CGR3? The Complete Sha'ir's Handbook (1994).
- ↑ Legends & Lore (2e) (1990), p.36.
- ↑ WGRX Ivid the Undying (1995), p.32.
- ↑ Mysteries of the Moonsea (2006), p.43.
- ↑ Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage (2018), p.94.
- ↑ Princes of the Apocalypse (2015), p.84.
- ↑ OP1 Tales of the Outer Planes (1988), p.44.
- ↑ Princes of Elemental Good, Dragon #353 (Mar 2007), p.46.
- ↑ Complete Divine (2004), p.110.
- ↑ Mesopotamian Mythos, Dragon #329 (Mar 2005), p.46.
- ↑ DMGR4 Monster Mythology (1992), p.11.
- ↑ ALQ4 Secrets of the Lamp (1993), p.21.
- ↑ AC11 The Book of Wondrous Inventions (1987), p.36.
- ↑ Rules Cyclopedia (1991), p.187.
- ↑ Wrath of the Immortals, Book One (1992), p.121.
- ↑ Faiths & Avatars (1996), p.94.
- ↑ Powers & Pantheons (1997), p.29.
- ↑ Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes (1976), p.48.
- ↑ Vecna Reborn (1998), p.21.
- ↑ Expedition to Castle Ravenloft (2006), p.162.
- ↑ Fiend Folio (1e) (1981), p.30.
- ↑ Races of Faerûn, Web enhancement (2003), p.10.
- ↑ Shadowdale: The Scouring of the Land (2007), p.24.
- ↑ Unapproachable East (2003), p.69.
- ↑ Fiend Folio (1e) (1981), p.30,73.
- ↑ PC3 Creature Crucible: The Sea People, The Sea People (1990), p.63.
- ↑ Complete Divine (2004), p.119.
- ↑ The Will and the Way (1994), p.47-48.
- ↑ Greyhawk Adventures (1988), p.83.
- ↑ Encyclopedia Magica Volume One (1994), p.127,141-142,199,330.
- ↑ Encyclopedia Magica Volume Two (1995), p.489,582,682,786.
- ↑ Magic of Eberron (2005), p.118.
- ↑ Encyclopedia Magica Volume One (1994), p.26.