Dark stalker The dark stalkers were a race of humanoid s dwelling in the Underdark . They were natural rogue s with powers of stealth and shadow . They were one of the two subraces of the dark one s . Description . Unlike their dark creeper kin , dark stalkers appeared almost fully human , but with dusky skin and pale , even white eyes . They only ever wore black clothing of somber style with masks to cover their faces . They fought in leather armor . and wielded a short sword and javelin or rapier , longbow , and dagger . Powers . Thrice a day , a dark stalker could envelop itself in cloak of shadows , concealing it from view even in bright light , aiding its defense . This darkness was magical , so a foe needed the ability to see in magical darkness to penetrate it . A dark stalker could utilize all its acute senses — hearing and smell as well as sight — to discern its surroundings and locate beings . Even in absolute darkness , it had perfect sight out to 60 feet ( 18 . 3 meters ) . However , when caught in daylight ( natural or magical ) , a dark stalker was dazzled or badly demoralized in all ways . A dark stalker could conjure a " fog cloud " spell twice a day . A dark stalker had natural expertise in the use of poisons , and never risked poisoning itself . Personality . The dark stalkers hated light of any kind , and would assault any being who carried a source of illumination , whether a lantern , a torch , or magic . They did not harass those who passed without the aid of an artificial light source . A dark stalker would never show its face if it could avoid it . They weren ' t likely to speak either . Combat . Dark stalkers were craven creatures , but highly skilled in stealth and in ambush . They usually surprised and picked off their foes from the shadows . They were natural backstabbers , most dangerous when making a sneak attack from flanking or surprise . Dark stalkers fought in total darkness wherever possible , and beat a hasty retreat if they lost the upper hand . For this , they used their " fog cloud " spells to cover their escape . Dark stalkers favored envenoming their short swords and javelins to inflict more devastating wounds . They favored shadow essence poison , but medium spider venom was also known to be used . Society . Among the dark ones , the dark stalkers were the leaders . They led dark creepers in ambush and combat . If not working alone , dark ones typically operated in bands of two to five dark creepers led by one dark stalker . Their tribes comprised less than a hundred members , with twenty to eighty dark creepers and two to five dark stalker leaders . Dark ones spoke their own tongue , called Dark One . They seemed to comprehend Undercommon , but no one ever heard them utter it . They also knew Common . Relations . The dark ones were an enigmatic people , even to other races in the Underdark . They usually only came into contact with outsiders when they stole some item from others or defended their lairs from their foes . History . In the Year of Lightning Storms , 1374 DR , a group of dark one mercenaries ( a dark stalker and four dark creepers ) were hired by cleric s of Shar involved in the operations at the Temple of Mystra in Wheloon and the Lost Refuge in the Vast Swamp in Cormyr . By early Eleint , they ' d taken up residence in the Tomb of Chonis to watch over the petitioners travelling between the two points . In particular , they watched for groups investigating these petitioners . Adventurers investigating the Temple of Mystra may have encountered them .