Abishai

Typical white (left), green (center), and red (right) abishai

> "Tiamat is a force of Chaos bound to a place of Law. Are abishai her servants or her jailors?"
>
>

> - Damien Aldaste
>
>

**Abishai**, or **abishais**, also known as **scaly devils**, are baatezu in service to the Queen of Chromatic Dragons, Tiamat. The draconic devils are, among many other roles, the guards and escorts of the Nine Hells' captives, processing them for torture when not corrupting mortals themselves.

Among most daemonologists, abishai are considered the lowest-ranked of the lesser baatezu.

## Description

> "Standing head and shoulders above the dragonborn cultists was a creature more dragon than humanoid. It would be easily mistaken for a half-dragon, if it were not for the acrid stench of Avernus that clung to it."
>
>

> - *The Chronicles of the Godeater*
>
>

Abishais appear to be archetypal devils due to their strong resemblance to gargoyles, being thin, clawed reptilians with large, leathery, bat-like wings. Their tails are prehensile, constantly whipping around their bodies and are tipped with a hidden barb. An abishai's eyes are slanted, and their voices are hollow and raspy. Atop their visage is a pair of small horns, snake-like hair, and pointed ears. Strangely, their presence brings with them the smell of vinegar and a perceptible increase in the warmth of the air.

They come in five different colors: red, white, black, green and blue, but the scales that adorn their skin are duller than those of their true, chromatic counterparts. Their size is said to correspond to their station, but in general they are 110‒230 kg (250-500 lbs) devils that could reach heights between 1.2‒2.4 m (4-8 ft) tall.

## Personality

> "You'll be hard-pressed to find worse company in the Hells than an abishai. Sure, kytons and excrxiarchs are viscious bastards, and tyrannugons are likely to devour you just for looking at them funny, but at least they can hold a conversation. I think I'd rather listen to a blabbering nupperibo than listen to the twisted muzings of an abishai."
>
>

> - *Advar's Advice III: Avernus*
>
>

Abishais are arrogant devils that view themselves as the purest children of Tiamat, and as such view themselves as superior to both her other underlings and other baatezu. They draw both their philosophical stances and demeanor from their queen and swear fealty to her.

Their sense of rivalry extends not only to other devils, but to different breeds of abishai as well. Due to their intense sense of classism they only interact with abishais of immediately higher or lower rank, and even then only because they must. At the same time, they are irritated by their own low status and state of servitude, and so take great pleasure in tormenting the few baatezu lower in the infernal hierarchy than themselves. In addition, they have a clinical fascination with discovering the depths of mortal suffering.

## Abilities

> "Ser Axel drew his blade, striking out at the abishai towering over the Baroness. The echoing of steel on steel wrung throughout the hall as the draconic fiend parried with sharpened claws of infernal bone, strong as adamantine and imbued with foul curses."
>
>

> - *The Adventures of Ser Axel of Glionn, Volume II: The Baroness of Varishelle*
>
>

Abishais are naturally armed with teeth, claws, and stingers strong enough to defend themselves with. By holding onto an opponent, their scales and talons can also dig into flesh, opening wounds painful wounds that struggle to close. While capable of flight, they are clumsy, making it easier for them to keep to the ground when in combat.

Like most low-level devils, they slowly but surely regenerate from any wounds not caused by holy water or holy weapons, both of which can cause them particular pain. They possess a frightening countenance that can force their enemies to flee, while their weapons are infused with the power of whichever dragon they resemble.