Monster Mondays began as a series of posts inspired by James Jacobs’ 10 goblin facts written for Pathfinder. Now, I’m creating new lore, encounters, unique NPCs and more for creatures in the Monster Manual. The goal is to provide habits, scene-setting tools, encounter hooks, and more variety, especially for monsters that don’t get quite as much love as dragons, beholders, mind flayers, and liches.
This week’s monster is the cloaker. The Monster Manual depicts cloakers as solitary predators, gliding through dark caves like stingrays. The aberration also has a seriously creepy moan and the ability to create illusory duplicates of itself. This Monster Monday, I’m creating three cloaker NPCs that you can drop in your campaign.
Sir Skesk
- Bio: Sir Skesk is bound in the service of an Underdark monarch. Skesk spends his days draped around the shoulders of said monarch, a dutiful bodyguard ready to defend the monarch at a moment’s notice. The cloaker resents the magical bond that holds it to the monarch, a life debt that Skesk is eager to repay in full. Sir Skesk’s dark humor and ill temper are infamous among the monarch’s closest advisors.
- Alternative Characterization: Some believe Sir Skesk is actually an agent of a dark power sent to manipulate the monarch. Others believe that he is more noble than he lets on.
- Lair: When not draped around the shoulders of the monarch, Skesk has his own quarters, a dark cavern accessed through a wardrobe in the monarch’s private quarters.
- Loot: Ten gems each worth 100 gp adhered to the eyespots on his back.
The Ringmaster
- Bio: The Ringmaster is a cloaker that oversees an eerie traveling circus known as the Troupe of Nightmares. The Troupe of Nightmares is a haven for monsters and criminals, and despite its dark reputation, the marvels it presents still draw audiences. The Ringmaster is aloof, technically overseeing the circus but handing off most of the responsibility to a number of subordinates.
- Alternative Characterization: It’s true that no shortage of dark deeds follow the Troupe of Nightmares. The obvious answer is that a coterie of monsters and murderers brings wicked works with it, but some believe the Troupe is actually a cover for a group of monster hunters with the Ringmaster as their mascot.
- Lair: The Ringmaster travels in a brightly painted wagon. The interior is dingy and dirty, with heavy curtains over the windows and a layer of old fliers and food debris covering the floor.
- Loot: A ring of animal influence worn on the Ringmaster’s tail and used to control circus animals.
Evix, the Phantom of Skull Alley
- Bio: A notorious killer, Evix is a cloaker that haunts the back alleys of a city, murdering people who wander out alone in the night. Authorities know him only as the Phantom of Skull Alley. He is a vicious predator and enjoys playing with his food.
- Alternative Characterization: A few misguided souls believe the Phantom is some sort of street hero. This reputation is aided by the fact that many of his victims do have criminal records.
- Lair: Evix spends the daylight hours lurking in the sewers away from the sunlight. He stashes souvenirs from each of his meals in nooks and crannies of the sewers.
- Loot: A dancing sword that Evix fights alongside.
Check out last week’s post featuring 10 lore hooks for the remorhaz.
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