Pit Fiend [Greater Baatezu]

A pit fiend is a giant red-scaled gargoyle of a devil, with bat-wings broad enough to wrap around it as armor and fangs oozing green slime. Rage or excitement sets its body ablaze.

Thanks to 18/00 Strength (+6 damage), it makes six attacks per round, divided among up to six enemies: two wing buffets (1d4 each), a pair of claws (1d6 each), a bite (2d6), and its tail. The bite's venom kills in 1d4 rounds unless the victim saves vs. poison, and it passes a disease even if the save succeeds. That tail lashes for 2d4, then squeezes for 2d4 each round until a Strength check frees the victim. A jagged club (1d6+1) can replace one claw.

Once per round it may use one of: wall of fire, pyrotechnics, produce flame, fireball, hold person, improved invisibility, detect invisibility, detect magic, or polymorph self, plus the usual baatezu powers. It casts wish once a year and automatically summons one greater or two lesser baatezu once per round. A daily symbol of pain imposes -4 to attacks and -2 Dexterity for 2d10 rounds unless the target saves vs. rod, staff, or wand. It regenerates 2 hp per round, and its 20-foot fear aura calls for a save vs. rod, staff, or wand at -3 or 1d10 rounds of panicked flight.

These are the masters of the Nine Hells. They are very rare on the first three layers and the frozen eighth, rare on the fourth through seventh, and common only on the ninth. Each leads legions made of dozens of whole armies against the tanar'ri. Visitors to the Lower Planes who see such a host flee for 1 to 3 days if under 10 Hit Dice; tougher viewers save vs. rod, staff, or wand or run for 1d12 turns. Rumor holds that even pit fiends serve some hidden greater power, one able to conceal itself from every sage.

A gelugon judged worthy spends 1,001 days in the pit of flame and comes out a pit fiend.