Hezrou [True Tanar'ri]

A hezrou resembles a huge toad shaped roughly like a man, with arms instead of forelegs, a spiny back, and rows of thick, blunt teeth. It goes upright or on all fours as it likes, and talks by telepathy.

It cannot be surprised, nonmagical weapons do not harm it, and other mundane harm such as fire, acid or poison deals half damage. It has 120' infravision and twice a human's hearing and sense of smell. Spiteful to the core, it attacks even obedient underlings for fun.

Claws deal 1d6 each and the bite 4d4. If both claws land in one round, the victim is caught in a bear hug: no attacks, 2d4 crushing damage each round, and automatic bites. Breaking free takes a Strength check against half the victim's score, and the hezrou releases its grip if dealt 20 hp in one round.

Its slimy skin reeks. Creatures within 10 feet must save vs. paralyzation or fall helpless, gagging and vomiting; even those who resist suffer -2 to hit and on initiative.

Its 9th-level powers, besides the tanar'ri basics, are blink, wall of fire, summon insects, produce flame, animate object, protection from normal missiles, duo-dimension (3/day), and unholy word, the reverse of holy word. Three times a day it may try to gate 1-4 greater, 1-10 lesser or 4-40 least tanar'ri (50%), and once a day 1 true tanar'ri (20%).

Hezrou are among the weakest true tanar'ri, but still dangerous. They act for the arrogant nalfeshnee, roaming the layers to build armies and impose orders on a chaotic realm. A few times each century they may plane shift freely, and on these rare excursions they offer desperate mortals a great service, such as toppling a rival's castle or finding a lost artifact. The price is eternal servitude, by the mortal or a loved one, as manes in the Abyss.

Their enforcer role spares them front-line slaughter in the endless war between demons and devils. They are less clever than other true tanar'ri, which suits a job built on obedience.