Lurker (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, the lurker is an aberration
. It is similar to the darkmantle
and the piercer, but attacks with suffocation instead of impaling. The Lurker resembles a flat, grey stingray
with two small eyes at the front. They are capable of both creeping along a ceiling and slowly gliding through the air. The darkmantle is said to be the result of crossbreeding a lurker with a piercer. Lurkers live underground.
#3 (August 1975). The lurker (later known as the trapper) first appeared in The Strategic Review #5 (December 1975).
The lurker above and the trapper appeared in first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in the original Monster Manual
(1977). The miner first appeared in the original Monster Manual II (1983). The trapper was further detailed in Dragon
#84 (April 1984).
The lurker above, the trapper, and the forest trapper (miner) appeared in second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993). The shadow lurker appeared for the Forgotten Realms
setting in Ruins of Undermountain II: The Deep Levels (1994), and reprinted in Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two (1995). The ice trapper appeared in Dungeon
#78 (January 2000).
The lurker appeared in third edition in Underdark
(2003).
Lurkers were first described in the AD & D Monster Manual (First Edition) by Gary Gyax. The original name of the monster in that publication read "Lurker Above". The "Above" was dropped subsequentially and they just became lurkers in later editions of AD & D.
Lurkers and their variations cannot speak, and they are neutral in alignment.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, the lurker is an aberration
Aberration (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, aberration is a type of creature, or "creature type". Aberrations generally all have bizarre anatomies, strange abilities, alien mindsets, or any combination thereof....
. It is similar to the darkmantle
Darkmantle
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, a darkmantle is a strange magical beast which lives in caves.-Publication history:The darkmantle first appeared in the third edition Monster Manual , and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual...
and the piercer, but attacks with suffocation instead of impaling. The Lurker resembles a flat, grey stingray
Stingray
The stingrays are a group of rays, which are cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. They are classified in the suborder Myliobatoidei of the order Myliobatiformes, and consist of eight families: Hexatrygonidae , Plesiobatidae , Urolophidae , Urotrygonidae , Dasyatidae , Potamotrygonidae The...
with two small eyes at the front. They are capable of both creeping along a ceiling and slowly gliding through the air. The darkmantle is said to be the result of crossbreeding a lurker with a piercer. Lurkers live underground.
Publication history
The lurker above first appeared in The Strategic ReviewDragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#3 (August 1975). The lurker (later known as the trapper) first appeared in The Strategic Review #5 (December 1975).
The lurker above and the trapper appeared in first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in the original Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
(1977). The miner first appeared in the original Monster Manual II (1983). The trapper was further detailed in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#84 (April 1984).
The lurker above, the trapper, and the forest trapper (miner) appeared in second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993). The shadow lurker appeared for the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
setting in Ruins of Undermountain II: The Deep Levels (1994), and reprinted in Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two (1995). The ice trapper appeared in Dungeon
Dungeon (magazine)
Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
#78 (January 2000).
The lurker appeared in third edition in Underdark
Underdark (supplement)
The Underdark sourcebook for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.-Contents:...
(2003).
Characteristics and habits
Lurkers, as said before, attack simarily to the darkmantle and the piercer. They flap/crawl to the roof of a cavern, and attach themselves to the ceiling. They wait until prey comes beneath them and then drop below. Because they are flat and not pointed, they do not impale the prey. Instead, they wrap around the head of the victim and suffocate them. They do not let go until either they or the prey is dead. They can only be fought off by others, or with small weapons the prey was already holding. Lurkers are solitary creatures, unlike the piercer which lives in colonies which can be huge. Females lay glutinous sacks of eggs on the ground, and newborns feed upon vermin which can be found on cave floors, until they are old enough to fly and can attack in the above described method.Lurkers were first described in the AD & D Monster Manual (First Edition) by Gary Gyax. The original name of the monster in that publication read "Lurker Above". The "Above" was dropped subsequentially and they just became lurkers in later editions of AD & D.
Trappers
The trapper is a variation of the lurker. Instead of attacking by dropping from above, it waits on the floor and kills by closing itself over prey that walks on top of it.Forest trapper (miner)
Another, more different variation of the lurker. The miner waits on the floor of forests, waits until prey walks on top of it, and then attacks with two poisonous barbs.Lurkers and their variations cannot speak, and they are neutral in alignment.