Blackspawn stalkers are terrifying but nearly mindless predatory dragonspawn combining the worst traits of black dragons and spiders.[2] A related creature is the blackspawn gloomweb, which can also shroud itself in darkness.[1][note 1]
Description[]
A blackspawn stalker is a large arachnoid creature with six legs and two spined tails from which webbing is emitted. They also have six eyes and four horns on their heads, while their mouths drool green acid. Blackspawn stalkers stand 6–8 feet (1.8–2.4 meters) tall, with a 7–10 foot (2.1–3.0 meters) leg span, and weigh up to 5,000 pounds (2,300 kilograms). The females are generally larger than the males.[2]
Personality[]
Although not nearly as smart as their dragon progenitors, and in fact almost mindless, blackspawn stalkers are nevertheless superb and patient hunters and constantly seek new prey. They respect strength, especially the strength to overpower others, and are even proud to serve a more powerful master, at least until they show weakness or abuse their services. Thus, they are chaotic evil in nature. The goddess Tiamat, the Queen of Evil Dragons, created blackspawn stalkers to terrorize their prey, as she gains strength from fear and panic, and this they do gladly. They view her as their ultimate master and believe that, through their breeding, they will give rise to a perfect servant worthy of being chosen to serve Tiamat herself. If they have nothing else to do or no other master to serve, blackspawn stalkers breed as often as they can.[2]
Gloomwebs are equally unintelligent, and very aggressive and impatient. These qualities mean they are very hard for others to train. However, they are more bestial and lack a truly evil nature.[1]
Abilities[]
Blackspawn stalkers are immune to acid and are also capable of spitting their acidic saliva to a distance of 60 feet (18 meters) and biting their prey to inflict corrosive injuries. Additionally, thanks to Tiamat's blessing, other dragonspawn within 5 feet (1.5 meters) of the stalker gain immunity to acid as well.[2]
Blackspawn stalkers can produce spider-like webbing, up to eight times each day and two at a time with each of their tails. There are two ways they can use their webs. One way creates a sheet of webbing up to 20 feet (6.1 meters) to a side, which they use to form traps; these are difficult to spot before one blunders into them. The stalker can climb this web easily and sense any creature in contact with it. The other way hurls webbing directly at creature, up to 50 feet (15 meters) away or more, tangling them up like a net and sticking them to the ground where they were. The webs are tough and sticky and difficult to break out of.[2]
Similarly, gloomwebs are highly resistant to acid and have acidic saliva, with which they can bite prey to also inflict corrosive injuries. But rather than spit acid or spin web traps, they launch sticky acid-dripping webs that tangle and burn their victims at the same time.[1]
True to its name, a gloomweb is surrounded by ever-swirling shadows. When the gloomweb remains stationary for some seconds, these shadows settle into a cloud around it, making it very hard to target. When it moves again, this cloud dissipates. Either way, they aid its already impressive stealth skills.[1]
Stalkers and gloomwebs are both excellent climbers.[2][1]
Combat[]
A less-well-fed blackspawn gloomweb.
Blackspawn stalkers are not fighters so much as hunters. Skilled and patient predators, they prefer to set traps by stretching webs between trees or over the ground, depending on their choice of prey, and then wait for prey to blunder in. They remain in the trees, where they have the advantage of height and safety. If this tactic fails, the stalker attacks directly, whether by hurling webs or spitting acid to first weaken the prey, and then rushing in to gore them with their four horns or bite with their acidic saliva, or strike with their two tails.[2]
Lacking such patience, blackspawn gloomwebs prefer to lurk in shadows and then simply charge at and gore their victims with their four horns. Thereafter they engage in skirmish tactics, rushing away again to come about and repeat the process. When faced by multiple opponents, they launch their acidic webs to restrain one or more of them. They begin devouring even before their prey are overcome by the acid.[1]
Ecology[]
Blackspawn stalkers are capable of breeding more of their kind. To impress a potential female mate, two males lock horns and wrestle in a test of strength. They mate for life, and each mated pair lays eggs annually, which they distribute across up to six nests to increase the chances of some surviving. Since many other creatures (like large birds and other flying creatures) eat the eggs, only a few hatch. In the rare event that all survive, the hatchling stalkers gather and maraud through the area, slaughtering all living creatures they come across.[2]
Blackspawn stalkers are voracious carnivores who can consume prey by either biting, tearing off, and swallowing flesh or by using their acidic saliva to dissolve organic matter and sucking it up.[2]
With age, they grow bigger and ever more dangerous. This is particularly the case for the best hunters, and especially those that get to hunt good dragons and devour their flesh.[2]
Society[]
Although normally solitary, mated pairs of blackspawn stalkers are sometimes come across. Otherwise, they see others of their own kind as competition, either for food or for mates.[2]
Stalkers are willing to serve more powerful creatures, usually true dragons or stronger dragonspawn. The stalkers have a preference for black dragons, but occasionally join green or red dragons, who respect the stalkers' hunting skills. The blackspawn stalkers work for them as guards or assistants in a hunt. They will leave a master who abuses them or displays weakness, usually attacking them before they go.[2]
Like dragons, they collect treasure, but instead of hoarding it they spread it around in many stashes and caches.[2]
Lands[]
Found in warm and temperate climes, blackspawn stalkers favor swamplands, but can adapt to dense forests if need be. Either way, they occupy the canopy of trees, constructing nests and laying eggs in the upper branches.[2] Gloomwebs, meanwhile, occupy remote caves.[1]
Blackspawn stalkers are found in Argonnessen, serving the true dragons that dominate that land and seldom far from their sides.[2]
Some scholars speculate they may also be found in the forests of Q'barra.[2]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ The 3.5-edition Monster Manual IV first presented the blackspawn stalker, and the 4th-edition Monster Manual later presented the blackspawn gloomweb. While they have some key differences, they are very similar in concept and hence are both covered on this page. It is unclear what lore about stalkers also applies to gloomwebs. However, it is unknown if the gloomweb may be found in Eberron.
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt (2008). Monster Manual (4th edition). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 88. ISBN 0-7869-4852-3.
- ↑ 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 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 (July 2006). Monster Manual IV. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 134–135. ISBN 0-7869-3920-6.
External Links[]
- Blackspawn stalker article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.