Dune Stalkers

In the vast, sun-scorched expanses of the Tomb Kingdoms,

the dune stalkers stand as silent, lethal protectors of the
realm's borders. These enigmatic constructs, part serpent,
part warrior, are a fearsome sight to behold. Towering over This fearsome ability has given rise to various tales and
men, they possess the sinuous bodies of serpents, seamlessly strategies among tomb raiders and warriors; some speculate
blending into the desert sands, while their upper bodies are that the use of a reflective surface could turn this deadly gaze
those of men, crowned with dread, skull-like visages. The back upon the dune stalker itself.
stalkers move with the deadly grace of a serpent while
wielding deadly glaives with the skill of veteran warriors. Eyes of the Desert
Creation of the Dune Stalkers. Dune stalkers are born A unique and even more formidable breed of dune stalkers
from a combination of necessity and arcane prowess. When a known as the Eyes of the Desert commands terror and
veteran warrior of the Tomb Kingdoms falls in battle, and paranoia among those who dare face them. These
their body is damaged beyond repair, the liche priests may exceptional guardians possess a cunning and deceptive
choose to grant the solider a new form of unlife. Through ability that sets them apart: they can create a simulacrum of
elaborate ceremonies, these priests transfer the warrior's themselves, a duplicate crafted from the very sands they
spirit into a specially crafted statue, giving birth to a dune patrol. This sand-formed doppelganger possesses the same
stalker. This process allows the fallen warrior to continue martial prowess as the original, wielding its glaive with lethal
their service, granting them a fearsome and enduring form. efficiency. However, it lacks the petrifying gaze of its creator.
Guardians of the Pharaoh's Domain. Tasked with The creation of these sand duplicates is more than just a
guarding the borders of their tomb pharaoh's territory, dune display of combat might; it is a sophisticated strategy of
stalkers are masters of stealth and ambush. With the ability psychological warfare. Enemies find themselves in a
to burrow silently through the sands, they lie in wait beneath treacherous game of guessing and second-guessing as they
the dunes, undetectable to the unwary traveler or invader. try to discern the true stalker from its simulacrum. Direct
When the time for attack comes, they erupt from beneath the observation of the duplicate reveals its sandy nature, but this
sands in a sudden, terrifying assault, using their glaives to realization comes with a perilous risk. For if one mistakenly
dispatch foes with swift precision. meets the gaze of the true dune stalker, thinking it to be the
The Gaze of Petrification. Perhaps the most dreaded copy, they fall victim to its terrifying, petrifying power. Thus,
aspect of these guardians is their gaze. Legends say that the Eyes of the Desert not only dominate the physical
those who lock eyes with a dune stalker are transformed into battlefield but also the minds of their foes, turning
statues of sand, their forms left to be scattered and lost engagements into a deadly dance of illusion, cunning, and
amidst the desert winds. raw power.

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 Dune Stalker Adventures
The following table provides some ways to create adventures
featuring dune stalkers in your games:
Dune Stalker Adventure Hooks
d4 Adventure Hook
Lost To The Dunes: Rumors spread of a caravan that
vanished in the desert, with the only clue being tracks The Desert's Fury: The players are traveling through a
leading to an area known for dune stalker activity. The desert when they find themselves caught in a
1 3 sandstorm. As they seek shelter, they catch the
adventurers must navigate this perilous terrain,
overcome the dune stalkers, and uncover the fate of attention of a dune stalker patrol, which begins hunting
the lost caravan. them across the sands.

The Sunken City: Rumors tell of an ancient city buried The Sand Sculptor's Sanctum: A mad sculptor has found a
beneath the sands, guarded by dune stalkers. The way to control The Eyes of Desert and now uses them to
2 4
adventurers are tasked with exploring this city, facing patrol his palace, turning those who displease him into
its guardians, and uncovering the city's lost knowledge. his newest works of art.

Dune Stalker Transmogrifying Gaze. If a creature starts its turn within

30 feet of the stalker and the two of them can see each
Large construct, unaligned
other, the stalker can force the creature to make a DC
15 Constitution saving throw if the stalker isn’t
Armor Class 18 (natural armor) incapacitated and can see the creature. A creature that
Hit Points 76 (9d10 + 27) fails the save begins to turn to sand and is restrained.
Speed 50 ft., burrow 50 ft. The restrained creature must repeat the saving throw at
the end of its next turn, becoming petrified on a failure
or ending the effect on a success. The petrification
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA lasts until the creature is freed by the greater
18 (+4) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 10 (0) 18 (+4) 10 (0) restoration spell or other magic. While petrified this
way, if the creature takes any damage or is moved, it
crumbles into fine sand.
Skills Perception +7, Stealth +6
Damage Resistances necrotic, psychic, radiant Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid
Damage Immunities poison the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, does so, it can’t see the stalker until the start of its next
paralyzed, petrified, poisoned turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If the creature
Senses darkvision 120 ft., tremorsense 60 ft., passive looks at the stalker in the meantime, it must
Perception 17 immediately make the save.
Languages understands the languages of its creator but
If the stalker sees itself reflected on a polished surface
can't speak
within 30 feet of it and in an area of bright light, the
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3
stalker must make the saving throw against its own
gaze, ignoring its immunity to being petrified and its
Animated Construct. The stalker is infused with the soul Immutable Form trait.
of a dead champion. Its type is Undead in addition to
Construct when determining the effects of features A creature holding a reflective surface that is affected
such as a paladin’s Divine Smite. by the gaze at the start of its turn may use its action to
reflect the gaze back at the stalker by making a DC 17
Crevice Crawler. The stalker can move through and stop Dexterity check; it has a disadvantage on the check if it
in a space large enough to fit a creature one size averted its eyes. If the creature succeeds on check, the
smaller than it without squeezing. stalker is subjected to the effects of its own gaze.
Desert Sight. The stalker does not suffer disadvantage
on Wisdom (Perception) checks in areas that are lightly
Actions
obscured. Multiattack. The stalker makes three attacks: two with
its halberd and one with its tail.
False Appearance. While the stalker remains motionless,
it is indistinguishable from an inanimate statue. Halberd. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 15 ft.,
Immutable Form. The stalker is immune to any spell or one creature. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) slashing damage.
effect that would alter its form. Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
creature. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage, and
the stalker can push the target up to 5 feet away if it is
Large or smaller.

2
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are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
 Dune Stalker, Eyes of The double shares the stalker's initiative count and has
the same statistics as the stalker, except it has
The Desert Intelligence 1 and Charisma 1, lacks this feature, and
creatures automatically pass saves against its
Large construct, unaligned
Transmogrifying Gaze ability.

Armor Class 18 (natural armor) Any creature looking directly at the double can discern
Hit Points 110 (13d10 + 39) it's the double until it is no longer looking directly at
Speed 50 ft., burrow 50 ft. the double. To anyone not looking directly at the
double, the stalker and its double are indistinguishable.
The double lasts for 1 minute or until the stalker dies.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Transmogrifying Gaze. When a creature that can see the
16 (+3) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 20 (+5) 10 (0) stalker’s eyes starts its turn within 30 feet of the
stalker, the stalker can force it to make a DC 17
Saving Throws Dex +8 Constitution saving throw if the stalker isn’t
Skills Perception +9, Stealth +6 incapacitated and can see the creature. A creature that
Damage Resistances necrotic, psychic, radiant fails the save begins to turn to sand and is restrained.
Damage Immunities poison The restrained creature must repeat the saving throw at
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, the end of its next turn, becoming petrified on a failure
paralyzed, petrified, poisoned or ending the effect on a success. The petrification
Senses darkvision 120 ft., truesight 60 ft., tremorsense lasts until the creature is freed by the greater
60 ft., passive Perception 19 restoration spell or other magic. While petrified this
Languages Understands the languages of its creator but way, if the creature takes any damage or is moved, it
can't speak crumbles into fine sand.
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP) Proficiency Bonus +4 Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid
the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature
Animated Construct. The stalker is infused with the soul does so, it can’t see the stalker until the start of its next
of a dead champion. Its type is Undead in addition to turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If the creature
Construct when determining the effects of features looks at the stalker in the meantime, it must
such as a paladin’s Divine Smite. immediately make the save.
Crevice Crawler. The stalker can move through and stop If the stalker sees itself reflected on a polished surface
in a space large enough to fit a creature one size within 30 feet of it and in an area of bright light, the
smaller than it without squeezing. stalker must make the saving throw against its own
Desert Sight. The stalker does not suffer disadvantage gaze, ignoring its immunity to being petrified and its
on Wisdom (Perception) checks in areas that are lightly Immutable Form trait.
obscured. A creature holding a reflective surface that is affected
False Appearance. While the stalker remains motionless, by the gaze at the start of its turn may use its action to
it is indistinguishable from an inanimate statue. reflect the gaze back at the stalker by making a DC 17
Dexterity check; it has a disadvantage on the check if it
Immutable Form. The stalker is immune to any spell or averted its eyes. If the creature succeeds on check, the
effect that would alter its form. stalker is subjected to the effects of its own gaze.
Living Mirage (1/Day). On initiative count 20 (losing
initiative ties), if the stalker is not incapacitated, it may
Actions
animate a 10-foot cube of sand with in 30 feet of it Multiattack. The stalker makes three attacks: two with
that it can see into a double of itself. The stalker can its Halberd and one with its tail.
swap places with the double when it is created.
Halberd. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 15 ft.,
one creature. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) slashing damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage.

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 Dune Stalker Tactics Eyes of the Desert Loot Table
Domb stalkers are ambush fighters who either use their Looting Check Result or 1d20 + 5 Loot
burrowing abilities or False Appearance trait to catch foes by 6-7 1d4(2) 5gp Items
surprise and hit them with their Transmogrifying Gaze. At the
end of each of its turns, the stalker will burrow underground, 8-11 1d4(2) 100gp Items
then pop out to attack any player that is either restrained by 12-18 1d6(3) 100gp Items
its gaze or has chosen not to avert its gaze.
19-23 1d4(2) 200gp Items
Eyes of the Desert Tactics 24+ 1d6(5) 20gp Items
The Living Mirage ability allows these stalkers to play mind
games with their foes. There are many ways to use this
ability, but there are a couple of tactics to keep in mind: Example Dune Stalker Loot Names
You can give the different types of items unique names based
The stalker never ambushes with its Living Mirage active, on their material and value to help differentiate them from
as a creature would be forced to look at it and realize it's a one another. The following table provides some example
fake. It waits until creatures can choose whether they will names.
look at it and its copy before using the ability.
Example Uncommon Dune Stalker Item
The stalker and its double stay near each other, and at the Names
end of each of their turns, they will attempt to burrow
back under the ground, moving to different positions. This 1d4 5gp Item 10gp Item 20gp Item
means that every time one of them emerges from the 1 Flawed Lapis Pristine Lapis
ground, its opponents will have to guess whether it's the (Gem) Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli
Lazuli
double or the real one. The stalker should switch up each
round, varying whether the copy takes its turn before or 2 Tarnished Stalker Masterwork Stalker
after the real one so as not to become predictable. (Metal) Stalker Plating Plating Plating
3 Cracked Stalker Stalker Pristine Stalker
Dune Stalker Loot (Stone) Stone Stone Stone
The valuable items looted from dune stalkers will generally 4 Cracked Preserved Masterwork
come from whatever can be harvested from their remains. (Wood) Preserved Wood Wood Preserved Wood
This harvesting can usually be done using an Intelligence
(History) or Intelligence (Religion) check. However, you Example Rare Dune Stalker Item Names
may allow players proficient with specific tools to harvest 1d4 50gp 100gp Item 200gp Item
items related to that tool. For example, a character might
make an Intelligence (Jewler's Tools) check to harvest gems. 1 Flawed
Amethyst Pristine Amethyst
Alternatively, you can roll for the loot randomly using a flat (Gem) Amethyst
modifier. Tarnished Masterwork
2 Stalker-Elite
Stalker-Elite Stalker-Elite
Dune Stalkers Loot Tables (Metal)
Plating
Plating
Plating
The following tables describe the number of items and value
of those items the players are able to loot depending on the 3 Cracked Stalker- Stalker-Elite Pristine Stalker-
result of their check or the results of your roll. If they're (Stone) Elite Stone Stone Elite Stone
making checks, you can have them make a separate check for 4 Cracked Runed Runed Masterwork Runed
each creature they're looting or use one check for multiple (Wood) Wood Wood Wood
creatures at once to save time.
Dune Stalker Loot Table
Looting Check Result or 1d20 + 5 Loot Art Credit
6-7 1d6(3) 5gp Items Naga Eternal - Johann Bodin, Wizards of the Coast
8-10 1d6(3) 10gp Items
11-17 2d4(5) 10gp Items
18-22 1d6(3) 20gp Items
23+ 2d4(5) 20gp Items

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Change Log
1.0.0
Document release
1.1.0
Fix HP of Eyes of the Desert

This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used
are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.