Large fiend (devil), lawful evil
Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 142 (15d10 + 60)
Speed 40 ft., fly 40 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +4
Proficiency Bonus +6 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 (+4) | 16 (+3) | 18 (+4) | 13 (+1) | 14 (+2) | 16 (+3) |
Saving Throws (suggested) Str +9, Int +5, Wis +6, Cha +7
Saving Throws Int +5, Wis +6, Cha +7
Skills Deception +7, Insight +6
Damage Resistances cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren’t silvered
Damage Immunities fire, poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Infernal, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Devil’s Sight. Magical darkness doesn’t impede the devil’s darkvision.
Fear Aura (suggested). Any creature that starts its turn within 5 feet of the monster must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. A frightened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the monster’s Fear Aura for the next 24 hours.
Magic Resistance. The devil has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack. The devil makes three attacks: two with its claws and one with its sting.
- Multiattack (suggested). The bone devil makes four attacks: two with its claws, one with its sting and one with its bite.
- Bite (suggested). Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) piercing damage.
- Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage.
- Sting. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) piercing damage plus 17 (5d6) poison damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
- Sting (suggested). Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (4d4 + 4) piercing damage plus 17 (5d6) poison damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned for 1 minute and get one level of exhaustion. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
5th Edition Advanced Mode
Limiting the power of a character and making the overall difficulty of the game harder, does not reduce the creativity, indeed it does quite the opposite.
The Game Master has the option to use any and all of the instances proposed in this guide, or just some of them according to their preference.
It is the lack of something that move and motivate characters, not the abundance of it
Bone Devil: The Taskmasters of the Nine Hells
The Bone Devil is one of the most feared and hated creatures in the Nine Hells, a plane of existence where evil and law are supreme. These fiends are the enforcers and overseers of the infernal hierarchy, serving the archdevils and tormenting the lesser devils and damned souls. They are also known for their ambition and treachery, constantly scheming to advance their rank and power.
DESCRIPTION
A Bone Devil appears as a humanoid husk, with dried skin stretched tight across its skeletal frame. It bears a fearsome skull-like head and the tail of a scorpion, and a foul odor of decay hangs in the air around it . Its claws and sting are capable of inflicting terrible wounds, and its eyes can see through any darkness, even magical ones. A Bone Devil stands about 9 feet tall and weighs about 500 pounds.
A Bone Devil is also known as an osyluth, the “police officer” of Baator, the common name for the Nine Hells. It has the power to discipline any other devil, except for pit fiends, who are above its authority. It can send offenders into the Pit of Flame for 101 days of torment, or reduce them to marked lemures, who never advance beyond their station and are particularly hated by all devils. An osyluth is supposed to be absolutely loyal, never step out of line, nor do anything against the nature of devils. However, there have been some historical exceptions to this rule.
COMBAT
A Bone Devil is a cunning and ruthless combatant, using its flight, speed, and reach to gain an advantage over its foes. It prefers to strike from above or behind, using its sting to inject a potent poison that weakens and paralyzes its victims. It also employs deception and intimidation, using its telepathy to communicate with allies or taunt enemies. A Bone Devil is resistant to cold and most physical attacks, and immune to fire and poison. It can also shrug off most spells and magical effects with ease.
A Bone Devil is also ambitious and treacherous, constantly plotting to rise in rank and power. It will often make deals with mortals or other devils, offering them favors or information in exchange for their souls or services. A Bone Devil is loyal only to itself, and will betray anyone who stands in its way.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
A Bone Devil dwells in the Nine Hells, where it serves as a taskmaster and enforcer for the archdevils. It is responsible for overseeing the work and punishment of lesser devils and damned souls, ensuring that they follow the strict laws and contracts of the infernal realm. A Bone Devil is also ambitious and treacherous, constantly plotting to rise in rank and power. It will often make deals with mortals or other devils, offering them favors or information in exchange for their souls or services. A Bone Devil is loyal only to itself, and will betray anyone who stands in its way.
A Bone Devil spends a century as such before advancing among the devils. Following every Ring of Cantrum, a ritual that determines the hierarchy of devils, all 1,000 osyluths advance to hamatula status, also known as barbed devils. Simultaneously, 1,000 new osyluths are formed. Despite this guaranteed advancement, osyluths still have incentives to surpass even their exacting standards. An osyluth that performs with distinction becomes an amnizu rather than a hamatula. This accelerated advancement is rare, but serves the pit fiends well for it guards against complacency in the osyluth ranks.
ECOLOGY
A Bone Devil is a fiend, a creature of pure evil that feeds on the suffering and fear of others. It has no need for food, water, or air, but it enjoys inflicting pain and torment on its victims. It also derives pleasure from manipulating and deceiving others, especially mortals who are foolish enough to bargain with it. A Bone Devil has no natural enemies, except for other devils who covet its position or resources. It has no allies either, except for those who serve its interests or fear its wrath. A Bone Devil is a creature of law as well as evil, and will always honor its contracts and agreements, but it will also exploit any loopholes or ambiguities to its advantage.
The Ring of Cantrum: The Ritual of Promotion and Demotion in the Nine Hells
The Ring of Cantrum is a ritual that determines the hierarchy of the devils in the Nine Hells, a plane of existence where evil and law are supreme. It is named after Cantrum, the founder of the Dark Eight, a coven of pit fiend generals who reside on Nessus, the ninth layer of the Nine Hells. The Ring of Cantrum takes place every century, and involves the Dark Eight and 100 osyluths, also known as bone devils. The osyluths are the “police officers” of Baator, the common name for the Nine Hells, and have the power to discipline any other devil, except for pit fiends.
The purpose of the Ring of Cantrum is to decide the promotion of the gelugons, also known as ice devils, who are one rank below the pit fiends. The gelugons are the elite soldiers and commanders of Hell’s armies, and they aspire to become pit fiends, the highest rank among the devils. The Ring of Cantrum is a test of their exploits and ethics, as well as their loyalty and obedience to the infernal laws.
The Ring of Cantrum is conducted in a circular arena, where the Dark Eight sit on thrones and the osyluths form a ring around them. The gelugons are brought in one by one, and each one is interrogated and evaluated by the Dark Eight and the osyluths. The osyluths provide information about the gelugons’ achievements and failures, as well as their adherence to or deviation from the devilish nature. The Dark Eight then vote on whether to promote or demote the gelugons, or leave them unchanged. The osyluths also have a collective vote, which counts as one out of the nine vote.
The Ring of Cantrum is a brutal and merciless process, where the gelugons are exposed to harsh criticism and judgment. Many gelugons fail to impress the Dark Eight and the osyluths, and are either demoted to lesser ranks or sent to the Pit of Flame for 101 days of torment. Some gelugons manage to retain their status, but few gelugons succeed in becoming pit fiends. Those who do are rewarded with immense power and prestige, but also face greater challenges and dangers in their new role.
The Ring of Cantrum is a crucial event for the devils, as it affects not only their individual fate, but also their collective order and stability. The Ring of Cantrum ensures that only the most worthy and capable devils rise to the top, while also eliminating or punishing those who are weak or rebellious. The Ring of Cantrum also reinforces the authority and influence of the Dark Eight and the osyluths, who serve as the enforcers and overseers of the infernal hierarchy.