Belkers were a type of elemental creature of smoke that had an appearance evocative of fiends.[1][2]
Description[]
These creatures were primarily composed of smoke and had large black wings[1][2] that were bat-like, clawed tendrils, and a biting maw. Though their base form was sort of demonic in appearance, they continually shifted and changed shape due to their semi-gaseous nature.[1] On average their smoky bodies were 7 to 9 feet (2.1 to 2.7 meters) tall.[2]
Abilities[]
These creatures could at will turn their whole body into a gaseous form,[1][2] or merely parts of it, though their wings always remained solid no matter what.[2][note 1] While in their gaseous form their resistance to magic was doubled and only weaponry with a +1 or greater enchantment could harm them. They were vulnerable to Cold-based spells and abilities. The spell gust of wind would send them flying far away and the spell wind wall entrapped them as if it were hold monster.[2]
No matter what form they took these creatures were impervious to harm from fire and heat, were unaffected by poisons, and could not be paralyzed or petrified.[2]
Their most notable ability was being able to harm other creatures assuming a smoke or mist form, such as vampires.[2]
Combat[]
These creatures fought by means of their claws and fangs. Their favorite tactic was to assume a gaseous form, engulf their opponents by moving on top of them and filling the air around them, then have their opponent inhale them. Then while they were choking and coughing on the smoke, the belker would make their claws solid inside the creature's body to attack its organs from within.[1][2]
History[]
In 1374 DR,[3] belkers were very rarely encountered in the Forest of Amtar.[4]
Society[]
These creatures were reclusive.[1] They lived a largely solitary existence, only meeting with others of their kind to mate or occasionally to hunt together. They did not raise their young, forcing them to fend for themselves.[2]
Diet[]
Belkers were a carnivorous species, willing to eat almost anything. On their homeplane they preyed upon smoke mephits and vapor rats.[2]
Homelands[]
Belkers were native to the Great Conflagration, otherwise known as the Para-elemental Plane of Smoke.[2] In the Underdark, belkers could be found in the Howling Abyss chasm.[5]
Relationships[]
Belkers felt hatred towards most all mephits, paraelementals, and other creatures.[6]
Over the years many of the efreet that came to the Great Conflagration tried to conscript belkers into being soldiers in their near endless wars against the djinn. The belkers came to harbor great hatred for the efreet and would side with the djinn whenever they had to choose sides.[7]
Rumors & Legends[]
Some scholars believed that belkers were related to smoke mephits, a theory that belkers themselves considered to be laughable.[2]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Third edition's write up of the belker makes no mention of the wings remaining solid while in its gaseous form, though this could just be for mechanical reasons.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 27. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 Monte Cook, ed. (1998). Monstrous Compendium Planescape Appendix III. Edited by Michele Carter and Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 22–23. ISBN 0-7869-0751-7.
- ↑ Thomas Reid (October 2004). Shining South. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 104. ISBN 0-7869-3492-1.
- ↑ Thomas Reid (October 2004). Shining South. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 84. ISBN 0-7869-3492-1.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (2007-04-25). Dragons of Faerûn, Part 3: City of Wyrmshadows (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for Dragons of Faerûn. Wizards of the Coast. p. 4. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2009-10-07.
- ↑ Monte Cook and William W. Connors (December 7, 1998). The Inner Planes. Edited by Michele Carter and Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 89. ISBN 0-7869-0736-3.
- ↑ Monte Cook, ed. (1998). Monstrous Compendium Planescape Appendix III. Edited by Michele Carter and Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 10. ISBN 0-7869-0751-7.