Gloom Stalker
The Gloom Stalker is an ethereal predator drawn to places of deep sorrow or ancient massacre. It appears as a swirling vortex of shadow and smoke, sometimes coalescing into a vaguely humanoid shape with two pinpricks of malevolent light for eyes. Its touch chills the very soul, and its presence brings a profound sense of despair.
C&C Monster Statistics
| Trait | Value | Notes |
| Armor Class (AC) | 16 | Ethereal, difficult to hit with non-magical weapons. |
| Hit Dice (HD) | 6 | (d8) |
| Movement | 30' (Fly) | Perfect flight, can pass through non-magical barriers (like a shadow). |
| Attacks | 1 (Touch) | |
| Damage | 1d6 + Chill Damage | See Special Attack below. |
| Special Attack | Soul Chill, Aura of Despair | |
| Special Defense | Ethereal Form, Undead Traits | |
| Size | Medium | (M) |
| Morale | 12 | Utterly fearless and driven by an innate malice. |
| Experience Pts (XP) | 800 |
Ability Scores (Challenges)
The Gloom Stalker's primary challenges are set against the standard C&C Prime abilities.
| Ability | Score | Prime Challenge (PC) | Non-Prime Challenge (NPC) |
| Strength (Str) | 10 | 18 | 12 |
| Dexterity (Dex) | 14 | 16 | 14 |
| Constitution (Con) | 12 | 17 | 13 |
| Intelligence (Int) | 10 | 18 | 12 |
| Wisdom (Wis) | 14 | 16 | 14 |
| Charisma (Cha) | 16 | 15 | 15 |
Special Attacks
Soul Chill (Touch Attack): In addition to the standard 1d6 damage, a creature struck by the Gloom Stalker's touch must make a Constitution Challenge (PC 17 / NPC 13). Failure means the victim suffers an additional 1d4 points of temporary Strength damage due to the necrotic chill. This Strength damage is recovered at a rate of 1 point per hour.
Aura of Despair (Constant): Any living creature that starts its turn within 30 feet of the Gloom Stalker must make a Charisma Challenge (PC 15 / NPC 15). Failure means the creature suffers a -1 penalty to attack rolls and saving throws for one round as their will is momentarily crushed by overwhelming dread. This effect stacks with itself up to a maximum of -3.
Special Defenses
Ethereal Form: The Gloom Stalker is immune to non-magical missile weapons. Non-magical melee weapons inflict only half damage unless they are blessed or made of special materials (like cold iron). Magical weapons strike normally.
Undead Traits: It is immune to sleep, charm, hold, fear, disease, and poison effects. It is not affected by critical hits, flanking, or subdual damage.
Energy Immunity: Immune to Cold and Necrotic damage.
Turn Undead: Clerics can attempt to Turn the Gloom Stalker as if it were a 6 HD specter.
The Gloom Stalker Encounter: The Black Watch Crypt
Setting the Scene
The heroes are investigating the ruins of an ancient, forgotten chapel built atop a mass grave from a long-ago plague. The site is known locally as the Black Watch Crypt. The atmosphere is unnaturally cold, even indoors, and the silence is broken only by the muffled sounds of water dripping far below.
Encounter Mechanics
The Gloom Stalker lairs in the deepest part of the crypt, a chamber containing the undisturbed skeletal remains of dozens of plague victims.
Preparation (Aura of Despair): As the party enters the 30-foot range of the central chamber, the Gloom Stalker's Aura of Despair immediately takes effect. The first round of combat is challenging as most party members will suffer the initial -1 penalty to attacks/saves.
Tactics: The Gloom Stalker will prioritize characters who rely on physical attacks (especially non-magical ones) to inflict its Soul Chill and temporarily reduce their Strength. It uses its Fly movement to phase through the crypt's stone walls and ceilings, appearing and disappearing to attack from unexpected angles (taking advantage of its AC 16).
Vulnerability: The skeletal remains are covered in a thick layer of fine, consecrated ash left by the original priests. If a character uses an action to disturb or throw the ash (perhaps over the area the Stalker is currently hovering), the Stalker must make a Wisdom Challenge (PC 16 / NPC 14) or lose its Ethereal Form advantage for 1 round, allowing non-magical weapons to strike normally and inflict full damage.
Magic Equipment: The Sunstone Pendant
A relic created by an ancient order of paladins dedicated to light and protection. It is specifically designed to combat creatures of shadow and despair.
The Sunstone Pendant
Type: Wondrous Item, Necklace
Activation: Continuous (Aura), Action (Flash)
Protection (Continuous): The wearer and any adjacent allies (within 5 feet) gain advantage on saving throws/challenges against fear effects and the Gloom Stalker's Aura of Despair. This helps mitigate the Stalker's signature ability.
Purging Flash (Action): Once per day, the wearer may use an action to channel the pendant's light. The Sunstone emits a burst of blinding, radiant energy in a 15-foot radius centered on the pendant.
Any creature of shadow or undead (including the Gloom Stalker) within the radius must make a Constitution Challenge (PC 17 / NPC 13).
Failure: The creature takes 3d6 points of Radiant damage and is Blind for 1 round.
Success: The creature takes half damage and is not blinded.
—giving the Gloom Stalker a specific magical attack will make it even more terrifying!
Here is a new spell, specifically designed for a creature of despair like the Gloom Stalker, utilizing C&C's standard spell format.
Shadow's Embrace (Gloom Stalker Only)
Level: Varies (functions like a 3rd or 4th level spell for purposes of saving throw difficulty)
Range: 60 feet
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
Casting Time: 1 action
Casting Ability: Charisma (PC 15 / NPC 15)
Spell Description
The Gloom Stalker singles out one visible, living creature within range and attempts to smother them with a thick, suffocating wave of localized shadow and despair.
Effects
Initial Challenge: The targeted creature must immediately make a Charisma Challenge (PC 15 / NPC 15) to resist the initial wave of psychic dread.
Failure: The target takes 2d8 points of psychic damage as their worst fears manifest, and they are Restrained by the clinging shadows until the start of their next turn.
Success: The target takes half damage and is not Restrained.
Concentration: For up to one minute, the Gloom Stalker can use its action on subsequent rounds to maintain concentration and repeat the psychic assault.
On each subsequent round the Gloom Stalker concentrates, the restrained target must repeat the Charisma Challenge (PC 15 / NPC 15) or take another 2d8 points of psychic damage.
Vulnerability: While concentrating on Shadow's Embrace, the Gloom Stalker cannot use its Aura of Despair special ability, as its focus is entirely on the target. This gives the rest of the party a moment of respite from the stacking penalty.
