Scaled Devil [Lesser Baatezu]

Gaunt and lizardlike, a scaled devil resembles a gothic gargoyle with big wings and a long, gripping tail. Black, green, and red varieties exist, in rising order of rank. All smell of vinegar, rasp when they speak, and seem to warm the air nearby.

It rakes with two claws (1d4 each) and stings with its tail for 1d4+1 plus a poison that kills unless the victim saves vs. poison. From high in the air it can dive, striking with both claws at +2 for double damage, 2d4 per claw. Its powers include scare, pyrotechnics, produce flame, command, and change self, on top of the usual baatezu set. Once a day it may call 2-12 lemures (60%) or 1-3 of its own kind (30%). Holy water deals 2d4 per vial, and it regenerates 1 hp per round except against holy water or holy magical weapons.

These ravenous, malicious devils are common on the top two layers of the Nine Hells and enjoy tormenting the few baatezu below them. They trick daring mortal visitors with change self and charm person, posing as greater fiends.

They fill large armies that battle the tanar'ri and other invaders. A capable red one may command lemures and, if successful, win promotion to a higher form. To corrupt mortals, they gift dangerous magic to novice wizards, who usually lose control and cause havoc.