Cornugon

A typical cornugon

> "Before the gate stood the vile form of Whisper, infernal liturgist of blood and marrow. With firey fork and asmodean magic he held the hellriders back, denying them the satisfaction of his master."
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> - *The Great Crusades XI: The Last Charge of the Hellriders*
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**Cornugons**, also known as **Horned Devils** or **Malebranche**, are greater baatezu that serve as the lesser nobles and elite warriors of the Nine Hells. Physically imposing and frighteningly intelligent, they are at the forefront of Baator's political scheming.

## Description

> "The cornugons are members of the elite defense forces of Baator, the personal bodyguards of the most powerful pit fiends, and the first of the greater baatezu."
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> - *The Bestiarium Maleficum, Volume I: Fiends*
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Cornugons are ogre-sized creatures known for their imposing stature and strength. A cornugon generally stands around 2.7 m (9 ft) tall. They are 270 kg (600 lb), roughly humanoid beings of fibrous muscle with bodies sheathed in repulsive scales. The presence they possess is considered intimidating even to other devils, as their massive wings, sweeping horns, and serpentine tails only further their frightening appearance.

## Personality

> "Gifts and humility are musts when dealing with cornugons. They will never view you as an equal, so do not expect respect from them."
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> - *Petitioner's Guide to the Outer Realms: The Nine Hells*
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Despite being among the most capable and cunning of the baatezu, cornugons are also some of the least likely to betray their superiors, making them powerful assets to tyrannugons and gelugons. The true source of their loyalty is a point of contention among daemonologists, although they notably hate and fear those stronger than themselves and so it is assumed they act to avoid risk. While some claim their true nature is militaristic and disciplined, others say their loyalty stems from laziness, and their love of battle from belligerence. Regardless of the reasons for their obedience, if thoroughly agitated they are capable of daunting rage and impressive displays of violence.

## Abilities

> "With a burst of speed greater than the fastest warhorse, Whisper launched himself amidst the formation of Hellriders. Three fell in quick succession, the cornugon's insidious tail ripping incurable wounds in the paladins."
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> - *The Great Crusades XI: The Last Charge of the Hellriders*
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The wings of a horned devil are not just for show, allowing them to move across the battlefield in bursts of speed uncharacteristic of their large size. They can hurl bolts of hellish flame at their enemies, making them just as dangerous at range as in melee. In addition to their ability to fight with their fang and claw, cornugons inflict infernal wounds on those whose skin they pierce with their tails. Such wounds persistently and profusely bleed, slowly draining the victim of their blood and never naturally healing. Only capable medicine or skilled healing magic is capable of ending the bleeding.

Being of the Hells, cornugons possess innate resistances to nonmagical and elemental damage, while their fiendish blood is immune to mundane poisons. Their eyes can peer through even magical darkness, and their bodies readily resist magic, as the power of Baator and their own impressive will helps negate effects that seek to harm them. They also have the ability to call upon a wide variety of devils, including a small mob of lemures, a group of barbazus, a flock of abishai or a few more cornugons.

As with all fiends, cornugons possess the ability to make pacts with mortal creatures. Infernal Pacts differ from other fiendish pacts because of the litigious nature of Baator. All disputes are handled in two ways: by duel or in court. To avoid these outcomes, fiends will thus follow the exact letter of what is written in the four corners of a contract, even if it acts to their detriment. It must be noted, however, that devils will only respect the wording of a pact, not the intention. They use this fact to manipulate unsuspecting mortals into unfavorable agreements, oftentimes netting their soul for little effort on their part.

Cornugon pacts typically follow this regimen, though their presence as a greater baatezu means greater potential gains from such pacts, as well as greater cost. The most common pacts fulfilled by cornugons include warlock pacts and pacts of wealth or military power.

## Combat

> "Do not mistake an angry cornugon for a stupid cornugon. That lesson is one few survive."
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> - *Advar's Advice III: Avernus*
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Cornugons often fight with military forks or spiked chains, with which they stun their enemies. They are bold in combat and rarely retreat even when dangerously outmatched. They typically swoop into combat from the air, attempting to quickly disable and eliminate the most powerful threats first with their forks, chains, or tails.

Spellcasters among the cornugons are infrequent. Few are willing to put aside their physical training long enough to become noteworthy wizards and only rarely do they retain any of their former allegiances to deities once they reach their place in the infernal hierarchy.

## Society

> "Command is another form of service and service leads to greater command."
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> - A cornugon's infernal lesson
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Cornugons often occupy the lower circles of Hell, particularly Malbolge and Maladomini, where they serve as lesser nobles and elite flying infantry. Their hosts can reach up to 2,000 of their kind, with tyrannugons being allowed to lead their infernal legions. Horned devils are also the elite bodyguards of Baator, desired by powerful gelugons and tyrannugons alike to serve as personal guards and retainers.

Along with hamatula, cornugons are among the fastest advancing baatezu. Cornugons capable of showcasing their abilities through several military successes can be given command over vast armies of lesser devil soldiers. The only faster path to advancement from that point would be direct service to the Dark Eight, making it an incredibly desired position in the infernal hierarchy.

Cornugons that prove themselves particularly exceptional are allowed to serve among the 104 cornugons protecting the Dark Eight. Said cornugons possess an extreme loyalty rarely seen within the traitorous depths of Baator, rumored to be willing to die for the council whether out of genuine devotion or simply out of sheer terror of the consequences for forsaking them. Cornugons that manage to serve with the 106 advance relatively quickly for baatezu, typically reaching gelugon status within a millennium or so.

In the infernal hierarchy of the baatezu, cornugons are thought to be the least of the greater devils, but are still awarded with prestige for their rank. Grand villas, beautiful weapons, and vast luxuries await cornugons who serve their masters well.

### Promotion

Cornugons can be promoted into gelugons, or be demoted into barbazus, hamatulas, or oslyuths depending on their service. While they are most commonly transformed into gelugons, an especially powerful or worthy cornugon can be promoted into a tyrannugon. In order to become a tyrannugon they have to undergo the same process as the gelugons and withstand the torment of the Pit of Flame for 1,001 days. Many take their promotions when they arise, their yearning for higher station a costant factor in their decisions. Some, however, like Asmodeus' favored guard Amon, prefer to keep their station, whether out of loyalty, comfort, or fear of rivals.

## Ecology

> "Strong as an ogre, smart as a wizard, with the influence of a vizier. Not a creature you want to piss off."
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> - Saint Aevon of Whitecastle
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Cornugons, like other baatezu, are most often born from mortal souls. There is only one known exception to this rule, that of Amon, the Lord of Horns. He is the first cornugon, and it is theorized that he received his infernal form as a blessing from Asmodeus. A commonly accepted theory as to cornugon ecology is that their appearance is based on Amon's blessed form.

Like most devils, cornugons are only capable of siring children. They are almost exclusively male, with the rare female varieties being barren. They are uncaring and dismissive parents, most of their young being cambions bred for one of the infernal legions or for a plot on the Prime.

## History

> "And so fell Asmodeus, favored son of Heaven. And with him fell the furies, sisters of righteous wrath twisted by their corrupted general. All manner of angel rallied to his treacherous banner, turning from holy avengers to infernal torturers."
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> - *The Fall: From Holy Avengers to Infernal Torturers*
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Legend in the Nine Hells says that the first cornugon was Asmodeus' shieldbearer and devoted retainer who followed his master into the Hells. Given how most devils reproduce, most cornugons are not related by blood to Amon, though they still recognize him as their progenitor.

## Notable Cornugons

The powerful and devoted nature of cornugons has made for some notable entities over the years; fiends that have distinguished themselves for their brutality, cunning, martial exploits, or even the masters they serve.

* Ahriman - Known by many names, Ahriman is the Prince of the Ashen Library and one of the Ashen Tyrant's most trusted devils.
* Amon - The Lord of Horns is the first cornugon, and the commander of the Eightfold Guard.
* Balaam - Member of the Eightfold Guard and First Spear of Bel, the Pretender.
* Bast - A sadistic and cruel guard in the infernal court in Phlegethos.
* Hazrebel - A manipulative and cunning guard of the Ashen Tyrant, known for acting as his liason to the Prime.
* Whisper - The Liturgist of Blood and Marrow is a fearsome cornugon known for its slaughter of the hellriders during the Battle of Ibandy.
* Zammasir - A cantankerous cornugon who, alongside nine other cornugons, is tasked with thwarting escape attempts and securing dangerous devils in punishment cages within the Pit of Flame.