The devils are lawful evil natives of the Nine Hells of Baator in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. Devils subjugate the weak and rule tyrannically over their domains; the most numerous type are called baatezu. Pit fiends are the most powerful baatezu, though even the strongest pit fiends are surpassed by the Lords of the Nine, or Archdevils, whose ranks include Baalzebul, Mephistopheles, and Asmodeus. Unlike the demons, the devils arranged themselves through a strict hierarchy. Like the demons, the devils are scheming backstabbers; while a demon only keeps its words when it is convenient for it, a devil keeps its word all too well; though being used to exploiting repressive bureaucratic machinations to the fullest, knows always ways around the letter of a contract to begin with.
Types of Devils
Baatezu
- Advespa - Female, wasplike devils that patrol infernal skies.
- Amnizu - Short, stocky winged guardians of the gates of the Nine Hells.
- Barbed Devil (Hamatula) - Elite infernal warrior with impaling spikes.
- Bearded Devil (Barbazu) - Ferocious warrior that frenzies with a saw-toothed glaive.
- Bone Devil (Osyluth) - Hateful fiend with a dangerous sting.
- Erinyes - A fallen angel that delivers death from her fiery bow.
- Ghargatula - Dinosaurlike guardians with massive maw and a wicked stinger.
- Horned Devil (Cornugon) - Gargoylelike fiend armed with a spiked chain.
- Ice Devil (Gelugon) - Insectile horror promising a cold death.
- Kocrachon - Insectoid diabolical torturer.
- Lemure - Mindless, tormented creature that attacks in mobs.
- Logokron - Delight in learning the personal truenames of their foes, then tormenting them or turning them into slaves.
- Malebranche - Hulking, horned warriors, enforcers, punishers, and mounts.
- Narzugon - Nighmare-riding elite cavalry.
- Paeliryon - Disgusting spymasters with deforming fingernails.
- Pit Fiend - Lord of devils, with great strength and deadly power.
- Spinagon - Spike-covered eyes and ears of Baator.
- Xerfilstyx - Memory-stealing guardians of the River Styx in Avernus.
Abishai
Abishai are a subgroup of baatezu created by Tiamat.
Non-Baatezu
- Chain Devil (Kyton) - Murderous torturer with an infernal command of chains.
- Desert Devil (Araton) - Scimitar-wielding desert-dwelling devils.
- Hellcat (Bezekira) - Infernal, invisible catlike devil the size of a tiger.
- Imp - Clever devil that aids evil mortals with dark counsel and trickery.
- Imp, Filth - Foul-smelling imp with a talent for forgery and translation.
- Imp, Bloodbag - Imp that serves as infernal nurse corps.
- Imp, Euphoric - Imp that serves as dealer of hallucinogenic slime.
Hellforged Devils
A subgroup of devils, known as hellforged devils, were constructs that over time were transformed by the Nine Hells of Baator into living beings. They rigidly follow and enforce the laws of the Hells.
- Coal Devil: Hellforged devil enforcers and shock troops.
- Glass Devil: Hellforged devil spies and watchers.
- Lead Devil: Hellforged devils dispatched to capture prisoners alive.
- Obsidian Devil: Hellforged police force of the Nine Hells.
- Sand Devil: Hellforged devil spies and informers.
- Spiked Devil: Hellforged devil covered with sharp iron spikes.
References
- Bonny, Ed, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Skip Williams, and Steve Winter. Monster Manual II (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).
- Cagle, Eric, Jesse Decker, James Jacobs, Erik Mona, Matt Sernett, Chris Thomasson, and James Wyatt. Fiend Folio (Wizards of the Coast, 2003).
- Cordell, Bruce, Jennifer Clarke-Wilkes, and JD Wiker. Sandstorm (Wizards of the Coast, 2005).
- Grubb, Jeff. Manual of the Planes (TSR, 1987). ISBN 0786918500
- Grubb, Jeff, David Noonan, and Bruce Cordell. Manual of the Planes (Wizards of the Coast, 2001).
- Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual II (TSR, 1983). ISBN 0786928735
- McComb, Colin. Faces of Evil: The Fiends (TSR, 1997). ISBN 0786906847
- McComb, Colin and Wolfgang Baur. Planes of Law (TSR, 1995).
- McComb, Colin, Dale Donovan, and Monte Cook. Planes of Conflict (TSR, 1995). ISBN 0786903090
- Sernett, Matthew, Dave Noonan, Ari Marmell, and Robert J. Schwalb. Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic (Wizards of the Coast, 2006).
- Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1994).
- Turnbull, Don, ed. Fiend Folio (TSR, 1981).
- Williams, Skip, Jonathan Tweet, and Monte Cook. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2000).
- Wyatt, James and Rob Heinsoo. Monstrous Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn (Wizards of the Coast, 2001).