Invisible Stalker

Invisible stalkers are creatures native to the Elemental Plane of Air. They sometimes serve wizards and sorcerers, who summon them to perform specific tasks.

A summoned invisible stalker undertakes whatever task the summoner commands, even if the task sends it hundreds or thousands of miles away. The creature follows a command until the task is completed and obeys only the summoner. However, it resents protracted missions or complex tasks and seeks to pervert its instructions accordingly.

Invisible stalkers have an amorphous form. A detect invisible spell shows only a dim outline of a cloud. Don't forget to apply the standard penalty of -4 on the attack die when an invisible stalker is attacked by a creature which is unable to see it.

Special Abilities

Invisibility — Invisible stalkers have an amorphous form. A detect invisible spell shows only a dim outline of a cloud. Apply the standard penalty of -4 on the attack die when an invisible stalker is attacked by a creature which is unable to see it.

Summoned Service — A summoned invisible stalker undertakes whatever task the summoner commands, even if the task sends it hundreds or thousands of miles away. The creature follows a command until the task is completed and obeys only the summoner. However, it resents protracted missions or complex tasks and seeks to pervert its instructions accordingly.

A denizen of the Elemental Plane of Air, an invisible stalker encountered on the Prime Material Plane has been conjured and bound to service by a magic user. The summoning mage retains command of the creature until it either fulfils the mission which it was summoned to perform or it is killed.

While on the Prime Material Plane invisible stalkers can only be viewed by magical means (e.g. gem of seeing, true seeing, detect invisibility); otherwise anyone attacking an invisible stalker suffers a -2 penalty "to hit". An invisible stalker cannot be killed on this plane. Reducing it to zero hit points merely banishes it back to its home plane for a period of 1 year plus 1 day.

Invisible stalkers are useful, if dangerous, servants. Once given a mission they will relentlessly pursue their goal, motivated more by a dislike of forced service and a desire to return to their home plane than by any sense of devotion to their summoner. Invisible stalkers are faultless trackers across any surface or distance and, if ordered to kill their prey, will attack without checking morale until either they or their target is dead. As implied above, invisible stalkers are not willing servants but will not normally begrudge performing a simple task of short duration for the summoner.

More complicated tasks or tasks of duration longer than a week will anger the invisible stalker and may lead it to attempt to pervert the wording of its commands without directly violating them. If ordered to guard the summoner's treasure in perpetuity, for instance, the invisible stalker might remove every last copper piece of the summoner's treasure to a secret vault located within the invisible stalker's lair on the Elemental Plane of Air, where the 'stalker could easily keep watch over it.

If the GM feels the invisible stalker's service too onerous or complicated, he or she should assign a cumulative 1% per day chance of the 'stalker wearying of its task and attempting to twist the meaning its orders. A clever summoner might be able to word his or her orders in such a way as to make its meaning airtight and clear. In this case the 'stalker must continue to serve until its duties are discharged.

Invisible stalkers can understand the common tongue of the Prime Material Plane, the language of the Elemental Plane of Air, and their own language. They will speak no tongue but their own.

Special Abilities

Invisibility — Can only be viewed by magical means (e.g. gem of seeing, true seeing, detect invisibility). Attackers suffer -2 penalty 'to hit'.

Cannot Be Killed — Cannot be killed on the Prime Material Plane. Reducing it to zero hit points merely banishes it back to its home plane for a period of 1 year plus 1 day.

Faultless Tracking — Faultless trackers across any surface or distance.

Relentless — If ordered to kill their prey, will attack without checking morale until either they or their target is dead.

Command Perversion — Complicated tasks or tasks longer than a week may anger the stalker, leading it to attempt to pervert the wording of its commands without directly violating them. Cumulative 1% per day chance of the stalker attempting to twist the meaning of its orders.

Languages — Can understand the common tongue of the Prime Material Plane, the language of the Elemental Plane of Air, and their own language. They will speak no tongue but their own.