Page 312 - D&D Bestiary

YUGOLOTHS upon them. A yugoloth summoned using its true name,
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. r
question on its mind: What's in it for me? The General ofGehenna. Somewhere in the
Spawn ofGehenna. The first yugoloths were brimstone wastes of Gehenna, there roams an ultrploth
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 p0\ve~ 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
yugoloths' loyalty. They also used the books to capture ARCANA LOTH
the true names of other fiends that crossed them. It is Arcanaloths are sly, jackal-headed beings with
rumored that the Books of Keeping contain the true
humanoid bodies, but they can employ magic to take any
names of a few demon lords and arch devils as well.
Petty jealousies and endless bickering caused humanoid form. They do so to gain the trust of creatures
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.
longer indentured to anyone, the yugoloths gained Regardless of its chosen form, an arcanaloth appears
well groomed, clothing itself in fine robes. Highly
independence, and they now offer their services to the
intelligent spellcasters who hunger for knowledge and
highest bidder.
power, arcanaloths command units of lesser yugoloths
Fiendish Mercenaries. Summoned yugoloths
and maintain the contracts, records, and accounts
demand much for their time and loyalty. Whatever
of their kind.
promise;; a yugoloth makes are quickly broken when
Arcanaloths speak and write all languages, making
a better opportunity presents itself. Unlike demons,
them cunning diplomats and negotiators. An arcanaloth
yugoloths can be reasoned with, but unlike devils, they
properly paid can broker treaties or alliances with
are rarely true to their word.
subtlety and finesse, just as an arcana loth who changes
Yugoloths can be found anywhere, but the high cost of
sides can easily turn the best-laid peace talks into all-out
maintaining a yugoloth army's loyalty typically exceeds
war. What the fiend demands in exchange for its time
what any warlord on the Material Plane can pay.
and talent is information, as well as powerful magic
Being self-serving creatures, yugoloths quarrel
items that it can trade for even more information.
among themselves constantly. A yugoloth army is more
organized than a ravening horde of demons, but far less
VARIANT: YUGOLOTH SUMMONING
orderly and regimented than a legion of devils. Without
a powerful leader to keep them in line, yugoloths fight Some yugoloths have an action option that allows them to
summon other yugoloths.
simply to indulge their violent predilections, and only as
Summon Yugoloth (1jDay)- 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
one arcanaloth.
Bleak Eternity of Gehenna. Only on its native plane
• A mezzoloth has a 30 percent chance of summoning
can a yugoloth be destroyed permanently. A yugoloth
one mezzoloth.
knows this and acts accordingly. When summoned to
• A nycaloth has a SO percent chance of summoning 1 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 SO percent chance of summoning 1 d6
plead for mercy if its demise seems imminent. mezzoloths, 1 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
The Books of Keeping. When all four copies of the summoned yugoloth remains for 1 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