| Other Names | Vampire |
| Climate/Terrain | Any |
| Frequency | Rare |
| Organization | Solitary |
| Activity Cycle | Any |
| Diet | Blood |
The Deathstalker is a nightmarish creature, a foul bat-like humanoid that embodies the darkest aspects of necromancy. Standing more than two meters tall, it features leathery wings that stretch ominously from its muscular back, casting eerie shadows in the moonlight. Its skin is ashen gray, reminiscent of decay, with veins pulsating a sickly green hue, hinting at the dark magic coursing through its body. Its elongated limbs end in sharp claws, perfect for grasping and tearing at flesh. The Deathstalker's face is a ghastly amalgamation of bat and human features, with a gaping maw lined with needle-like teeth that gleam with a thirst for blood. Its eyes, large and reflective, burn with an unsettling red glow, allowing it to see perfectly in the darkness. The creature rarely vocalizes beyond the occasional screech or squawk.
Deathstalkers are strong creatures with long claws and vicious fangs, both of which can inflict terrible wounds. Their wings give them the ability to fly and they will often use this to their advantage in combat, swooping down to attack those on the ground and sometimes carrying off victims into the night.
The Deathstalker draws power from the very essence of life it drains from its victims. In effect, as it consumes the blood of prey, it heals itself and regenerates. This makes a deathstalker very difficult to kill, as it can heal and regenerate in the midst of battle. And because it is not truly living, a deathstalker continues to fight on no matter the wound. Severed limbs will continue to claw, heads will bite. The only way to truly kill a deathstalker is to burn it to ash.
Deathstalkers are known to lurk in caves, ruins, dungeons and other desolate places, waiting for the cover of night to embark on their bloodthirsty hunts. They are also found deep underground. The creature cannot tolerate sunlight which causes its flesh to burn and wither, forcing it to retreat to the shadows. It is known that the light of a drellisite crystal will keep them at bay. Deathstalkers have been encountered on all three continents. A deathstalker will occasionally relocate, moving to a new place to hunt and establishing a new lair. A malevolent presence, the Deathstalker serves as a harbinger of death, often leaving behind a trail of lifeless bodies in its wake.
The deathstalkers were created through the twisted experiments of Thryxdar, a powerful Traxxian wizard who lives during the chaos of the Traxxian civil war in the 8th century. He had ties to the Iron Brigade and the crystal mine of Kalrothis and it is said that by using many crystals obtained from the mine, he channeled vast energy into the creatures when he created them. According to legend, they ended up slaying their creator and fleeing into the night of the world.
Originally a dozen were created, but any victim drained completely of blood and killed will rise a week later as a deathstalker, usually digging its way out of the grave. As far as is known, this is the only method by which deathstalkers procreate. Burning the body will prevent it from rising.
Neither living nor dead, the deathstalkers are a mockery of life, fueled by foul necromantic sorcery. They feed, but they do not excrete or breed or age like living creatures. No one knows how many of these things roam the world.
The Deathstalker is called "vampire" in some places in the world.
This website was last updated February 1, 2026. Copyright 1990-2025 David M. Roomes.