Page 312 - Monster Manual [11th Print]
P. 312
YU O L OTHS upon them. A yugoloth summoned using its true name,
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as inscribed in the Books of Keeping, is forced to serve
Yugoloths are fickle fiends that inhabit the planes its summoner obediently. The yugoloth hates being
of Acheron, Gehenna, Hades, and Carceri. They act controlled in this manner and isn't shy about making
as mercenaries and are notorious for their shifting its displeasure known. Like a petulant child, it will
loyalties. They are the embodiments of avarice. Before follow its instructions to the letter while looking for
serving under anyone's banner, a yugoloth asks the only opportunities to misinterpret them.
question on its mind: W h at's in it for me? The General of Gehenna. Somewhere in the
Spawn of Gehenna. The first yugoloths were brimstone wastes of Gehenna, there roams an ultroloth
created by a sisterhood of night hags on Gehenna. It so strong that none contests his power: the General of
is widely believed that Asmodeus, Lord of the Nine Gehenna. Many yugoloths search for this great general
Hells, commissioned the work, in the hope of creating in the hope of serving with him. They believe that
an army of fiends that were not bound to the Nine service with the General of Gehenna grants power and
Hells. In the course of making this new army, the hags prestige among lower planar entities.
crafted four magic tomes and recorded the true names Whatever the case, no fiend finds the General unless
of every yugoloth they created, save one, the General the General desires it. His personal name is unknown,
of Gehenna. These tomes were called the Books of and even the Books of Keeping contain no mention of
Keeping. Since knowing a fiend's true name grants this powerful, thoroughly evil entity.
power over it, the hags used the books to ensure the
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yugoloths' loyalty. They also used the books to capture ARC N A LOTH
the true names of other fiends that crossed them. It is
rumored that the Books of Keeping contain the true Arcanaloths are sly, jackal-headed beings with
humanoid bodies, but they can employ magic to take any
names of a few demon lords and archdevils as well. humanoid form. They do so to gain the trust of creatures
Petty jealousies and endless bickering caused
the sisterhood to dissolve, and in the ensuing power with whom they negotiate, replacing jackal snarls with
grab, the Books of Keeping were lost or stolen. No winsome smiles.
Regardless of its chosen form, an arcanaloth appears
longer indentured to anyone, the yugoloths gained well groomed, clothing itself in fine robes. Highly
independence, and they now offer their services to the
highest bidder. intelligent spellcasters who hunger for knowledge and
F i endish Mercenaries. Summoned yugoloths power, arcanaloths command units of lesser yugoloths
demand much for their time and loyalty. Whatever and maintain the contracts, records, and accounts
promises a yugoloth makes are quickly broken when of their kind.
Arcanaloths speak and write all languages, making
a better opportunity presents itself. Unlike demons,
yugoloths can be reasoned with, but unlike devils, they them cunning diplomats and negotiators. An arcanaloth
are rarely true to their word. properly paid can broker treaties or alliances with
Yugoloths can be found anywhere, but the high cost of subtlety and finesse, just as an arcanaloth who changes
maintaining a yugoloth army's loyalty typically exceeds sides can easily turn the best-laid peace talks into all-out
what any warlord on the Material Plane can pay. war. What the fiend demands in exchange for its time
Being self-serving creatures, yugoloths quarrel and talent is information, as well as powerful magic
among themselves constantly. A yugoloth army is more items that it can trade for even more information.
organized than a ravening horde of demons, but far less
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orderly and regimented than a legion of devils. Without VA I ANT: YUGOLOTH U M M O N I N G
a powerful leader to keep them in line, yugoloths fight Some yugoloths have an action option that allows them to
simply to indulge their violent predilections, and only as summon other yugoloths.
Summon Y u goloth (1 /Day). The yugoloth chooses what to
long as it benefits them to do so. summon and attempts a magical summoning.
Back to Gehenna. When a yugoloth dies, it dissolves
into a pool of ichor and reforms at full strength on the • An arcanaloth has a 40 percent chance of summoning
Bleak Eternity of Gehenna. Only on its native plane one arcanaloth.
can a yugoloth be destroyed permanently. A yugoloth • A mezzoloth has a 30 percent chance of summoning
one mezzoloth.
knows this and acts accordingly. When summoned to • A nycaloth has a 50 percent chance of summoning l d4
other planes, a yugoloth fights without concern for its mezzoloths or one nycaloth .
own well-being. On Gehenna, it is more apt to retreat or • An ultroloth has a 50 percent chance of summoning l d6
plead for mercy if its demise seems imminent. mezzoloths, l d4 nycaloths, or one ultroloth.
When a yugoloth is permanently destroyed, its name A summoned yugoloth appears in an unoccupied space
vanishes from every Book of Keeping. If a yugoloth within 60 feet of its summoner, does as it pleases (unless
is re-created by way of an unholy ritual requiring the its summoner is an ultroloth, in which case it acts as an ally
expenditure of souls, its name reappears in the books. of its summoner), and can't summon other yugoloths. The
T h e Books of Keeping. When all four copies of the summoned yugoloth remains for l minute, until it or its
Books of Keeping disappeared, Asmodeus and the night summoner dies, or until its summoner takes a bonus action
hags lost control of their yugoloth creations. Each Book to dismiss it.
of Keeping still exists, drifting from plane to plane,
where the brave and the foolish occasionally stumble
YUGO LOTH

