Cornugon [Greater Baatezu]

Cornugons are 9 feet tall and only loosely human in shape, covered in hideous scales, with enormous wings and a writhing prehensile tail. Most carry a long barbed whip, and their whole appearance is meant to terrify.

Cornugons fight without fear and almost never retreat, even against hopeless odds. Their 18/00 Strength gives +6 to damage. Its tail hits for 1d3 and opens a gash that keeps losing 1 hit point each round until someone treats it. Each round a cornugon also either claws for 1d4 and bites for 1d4+1, or lashes with its barbed whip for 1d6, and a whip victim who fails a save vs. paralyzation is left stunned for 1d4 rounds.

An aura of dread surrounds each one to a radius of 5 feet; a creature that steps inside must save vs. rod, staff or wand, and on a failure it runs in panic for 1d6 melee rounds. Wounds close quickly too, since a cornugon regains 2 hit points each melee round.

Along with the powers all baatezu have, a cornugon can use detect magic, ESP, produce flame and pyrotechnics, lightning bolt three times a day and wall of fire once a day. Once per day each, it can try to gate in 2 to 12 barbazu (50%), 2 to 16 scaled devils (35%) or 1 to 3 more cornugons (20%).

Cornugons are the hells' elite troops, mustering in dreadful armies as large as 2,000, which only pit fiends may lead to war. Such armies usually form only on the lowest layers. Higher up, single cornugons act as generals over huge armies of lesser baatezu, a post prized for the fast promotion it brings, second only to guarding the Infernal Eight. Pit fiends and gelugons covet cornugons as bodyguards and personal retainers, and the Eight keep 106 of them.

Being greater baatezu, cornugons enjoy some status, and they and the hamatula rise faster than any other baatezu. A cornugon hero with several victorious campaigns behind it is promoted to command vast legions on the upper layer, and further distinction there can turn it into a gelugon, one of the merciless lords of the frozen layer.

Their military discipline makes them the least treacherous of all baatezu, and that loyalty is a rare asset. The 106 guards of the Infernal Eight are said to be utterly faithful and willing to die for the council, nearly unique behavior in the hells. Whether from true devotion or dread of the pit fiends, almost none in the council's history has ever turned traitor.