Knocker

Small Fey, Chaotic Neutral

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 27 (6d6 + 6)
Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
8 (–1)	15 (+2)	12 (+1)	11 (+0)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)

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Saving Throws Dexterity +4, Wisdom +4
Skills Stealth +6, Perception +4, Insight +4, Survival +4
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities frightened
Senses darkvision 120 ft., tremorsense 30 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Terran, Gnomish; understands Common
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +2

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Innate Ore Sense

The knocker can sense the presence and location of unrefined ore or gemstones within 60 feet, even through stone or soil.

Miner’s Ghost

The knocker moves through stone or earth-based difficult terrain without penalty. It has advantage on Stealth checks while underground or in dim light.

Echo Tap (1/Turn)

As a bonus action, the knocker knocks on a nearby surface, producing an illusory sound anywhere within 60 feet. The sound can mimic tapping, footsteps, distant voices, or mining tools. Creatures that hear the sound must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom (Insight) check or misjudge its source and direction.

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Actions

Pickaxe Strike

Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 6 (1d6 + 2) slashing damage.

Dust Collapse (Recharge 5–6)

The knocker causes a section of loose rock or ceiling within 30 feet to collapse. Each creature in a 10-foot radius must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, taking 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success. The area becomes heavily obscured until the end of the knocker’s next turn.

Stone Meld (1/day)

The knocker magically merges with adjacent stone or earthen surfaces for up to 1 minute. While melded:

• It gains resistance to all damage.
• It has advantage on Stealth checks and can move through stone as if it were difficult terrain.
• It cannot attack or cast spells, but may continue using Echo Tap.

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Tactics

Knockers prefer subterfuge and environmental manipulation over direct combat. They observe intruders from the shadows, using Echo Tap to confuse, separate, or delay enemies. In combat, they exploit their terrain: triggering collapses, obscuring visibility, and retreating into the stone when threatened. They will not pursue enemies far beyond their lairs and rarely kill unless provoked or defending their territory.

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Lair Effects (Optional)

In mines or natural caverns inhabited by a group of knockers, the environment may develop the following regional traits:

• Echoing Whispers: Sounds carry unpredictably, mimicking distant voices, footsteps, or tapping.
• Structural Instability: Beams shift, tools break more easily, and mining checks made without care or respect suffer disadvantage.
• Superstitious Favor: Miners who leave small offerings—crumbs, coins, or polished stones—are less likely to encounter hostile knockers and may gain advantage on their next Survival or Investigation check while underground.

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Lore (History or Nature DC 13)

Knockers are ancient fey spirits rooted in the oldest mining traditions of the mortal world. In some regions, they are said to be the souls of lost miners; in others, embodiments of the mountain’s will. Their relationship with mortals is complex—they punish arrogance and greed but may reward humility and reverence. Tapping sounds in the dark, both feared and revered by miners, are believed to signal their presence—either a warning or a hidden gift.

Knockers

This creature looks rather like a gnome with slate-grey skin. His hair and beard are faintly metallic, perhaps copper greying to iron at the edges.

Monster Encyclopaedia I: Ravagers of the Realms

Author August Hahn, Gareth Hanrahan, Lizard

Series Monster Encyclopaedia

Publisher Mongoose Publishing

Publish date 2004

Knockers are a minor race, often mistaken for dwarves, Gnomes or even kobolds by those who do not know them – and few know the knockers, for they are among the most secretive of folk. They dwell in the lowest reaches of the underworld, only occasionally coming to the surface. The underworld is a place of terrible horrors and fearsome monsters, so the little knockers are forced to hide and avoid other creatures. They favour sealed caverns with no ingresses, which they themselves can access using their earth walk ability.

Knocker tribes consist of a few dozen members, who practise the high art of the knockers – mining. Unlike other species, they do not treasure the wealth of gold or silver or the other resources of the earth; they appreciate them solely for their beauty. Knockers dig up gemstones, carve them, polish them, admire them – then bury them again for future generations to find again. The knockers dislike the mining practises of dwarves and men, but only take action against the largest mines that delve too close to knocker villages.

Each village is ruled by a headman, who is generally also a cleric of the knocker deity, the World Stone. clerics of the World Stone may take the Earth and Protection domains.

Knocker
Small Monstrous
Humanoid (Earth)
Hit Dice	1d8+2 (6 hp)
Initiative	-1
Speed	20 ft. (4 squares)
Armour Class	12 (+1 size, -1 Dexterity, +2 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple	+1/-2
Attack	Slam +3 melee (1d4+2)
Full Attack	Slam +3 melee (1d4+2)
Space/Reach	5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks	–
Special Qualities	Darkvision 60 ft., earth walk, stonecunning, tapping
Saves	Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +2
Abilities	Strength 13, Dexterity 8, Constitution 15, Intelligence 11, Wisdom 10, Charisma 8
Skills	Craft (stonecutting) +3, Knowledge (architecture & engineering) +2, Listen +3
Feats	Great Fortitude
Environment	Temperate hills and underground
Organisation	Solitary, gang (4-9) or village (20-50)
Challenge Rating	1/2
Treasure	Standard, double gems
Alignment	Usually neutral
Advancement	By character class
Level Adjustment	+0

Combat

Knockers have strong little stony fists and can make a surprisingly good accounting of themselves in a fistfight. When forced to defend themselves, they also use wickedly sharp little shortswords and wear finely made chainmail.

Earth Walk (Su): Once per day, a knocker can earth walk for one minute. While earth walking, the knocker can pass through earth and stone freely, moving at its normal movement through the obstacle. The knocker must keep moving and cannot stop within the stone, but can move in circles and can spend multiple rounds immersed in stone.

Stonecunning (Ex): A knocker has the same stonecunning ability as a dwarf.

Tapping (Ex): All knockers know the secret language of their race, which they can use to communicate over long distances underground. This code is tapped onto the stone; the knocker must make a Craft (stonecutting) check at a DC equal to 5 x the distance transmitted in miles to successfully communicate it.

Knocker

CR 1
XP 400
Male knocker
CN Small fey
Init +3; Senses darkvision 120 ft., low-light vision, tremorsense 30 ft.; Perception +7

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DEFENSE

AC 15, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+1 natural, +3 Dex, +1 size)
hp 13 (2d6+6)
Fort +1, Ref +6, Will +5
DR 5/cold iron
Resist electricity 5, sonic 5
Immune fear

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OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., climb 10 ft.
Melee masterwork pickaxe +4 (1d6–1/×4)
Special Attacks dust collapse (1/day), echo tap
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 3rd; concentration +3)

• At will—ghost sound (DC 11), detect metals and minerals†, mending
• 1/day—meld into stone (self only)

†Functions as detect magic, but reveals only unrefined metals, gems, and mineral veins.

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STATISTICS

Str 8, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 11
Base Atk +1; CMB –1; CMD 12
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +7, Climb +7, Perception +7, Stealth +11, Survival +6, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +4
Languages Common, Gnome, Sylvan, Terran

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ECOLOGY

Environment underground (caves, mines, ancient tunnels)
Organization solitary, pair, or clatter (3–8)
Treasure standard (ore fragments, semi-precious stones, rusted tools)

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SPECIAL ABILITIES

Echo Tap (Su):
As a standard action, a knocker can strike a nearby stone or metal surface, producing an illusory sound at any point within 60 feet. This sound can resemble tapping, mining, whispered voices, or footsteps. Creatures within range must succeed at a DC 12 Will save or misjudge the direction and proximity of the sound for 1 round. This is a mind-affecting figment. The save DC is Wisdom-based.

Dust Collapse (Su):
Once per day, a knocker can cause a sudden cave-in of loose rock or debris within 20 feet. All creatures in a 10-foot radius must make a DC 13 Reflex save or take 2d4 bludgeoning damage and be dazzled for 1 round. A successful save halves the damage and negates the dazzled effect. The affected area is lightly obscured until the end of the knocker’s next turn.

Ore Sense (Ex):
A knocker can detect unrefined ore or mineral deposits within 60 feet, functioning as detect magic, but only for raw metals and gemstones. The knocker instinctively understands the type and direction of the material.

Stonecunning (Ex):
Knockers gain a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks to notice unusual stonework, including hidden doors and mechanical traps involving stone. This ability functions like the dwarven racial trait.

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DESCRIPTION

Knockers are secretive, fey creatures that haunt the depths of the earth. They are commonly associated with old mines, sealed tunnels, and collapsed shafts—places where the line between the natural and the supernatural has worn thin. Their appearance resembles that of small, wiry miners, with ashen skin, oversized black eyes, and patchwork gear cobbled together from lost equipment and scavenged relics.

Miners tell countless stories of knockers—some speak of whispered warnings and helpful guidance, while others recount sabotage and sudden disappearances. Most agree on one thing: disrespect the mine, and the knockers will make their displeasure known.

Though not inherently evil, knockers are fiercely protective of the subterranean realm and deeply offended by greed or recklessness. They favor stealth and trickery over violence, often using sound to confuse and mislead intruders. However, when enraged or cornered, they can call upon the mine itself to strike down their foes.

Superstitious miners often leave offerings—crumbs of food, coins, or polished stones—to appease the knockers. Whether this brings luck or simply wards off mischief, none can say for sure.