Thrall of Pazuzu
Medium humanoid (any race), chaotic evil
Armor Class 13 (leather armor)
Hit Points 33 (6d8 + 6)
Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft.
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|
11 (+0) | 14 (+2) | 12 (+1) | 10 (+0) | 13 (+1) | 14 (+2) |
Skills Deception +4, Insight +3, Persuasion +4
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Abyssal plus one other language (usually Common)
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +2
Speak with Aerial Creatures. When it speaks in Abyssal the thrall of pazuzu can communicate with any creature that has a fly speed. If the creature has an intelligence lower than 8 it will only understand simple concepts.
Spellcasting. The thrall is a 4th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following spells prepared.
- Cantrips (at will): friends, poison spray, prestidigitation, vicious mockery
- 1st level (4 slots): command, inflict wounds, shield of faith
- 2nd level (3 slots): dust devil, hold person
Wings of Pazuzu. The thrall has grown a pair of black raven wings; this gift from Pazuzu grants it the power of flight.
Actions
Multiattack. The thrall makes two attacks. It can use its rapier or a dagger for either attack.
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60, one target.
Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.
Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.
Bewitch Aerial Creature (Recharges After Long Rest). The thrall of pazuzu selects a creature with a fly speed it can see within 60 feet. The aerial creature must succeed at a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw, with advantage if the creature is hostile (which will always be the case if the thrall or their allies are fighting it). If it fails the saving throw, it is charmed by the thrall for 1 hour during which it regards the thrall as a friendly acquaintance.
The thrall can use an action to compel a bewitched aerial creature to perform a specific action, such as "charge that creature and attack it", "pick up this object and follow me" or "go to that wall and pull the leftmost lever". The creature makes a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw. If it fails, it must use its reaction to move up to its speed and make a melee attack (or another action of similar complexity) as the thrall directed. If the save succeeded, the creature falls prone and makes another Wisdom saving throw which ends the charm effect if it succeeds.
Each time the charmed creature takes damage, it makes a new Wisdom saving throw. The effect ends if the save succeeds.
An aerial creature knows it was charmed by the thrall when the effect ends. If the creature ended the charm with a successful Wisdom save, it becomes immune to the thrall's
bewitchment for the next 24 hours.
Pazrael's Breath (Recharges After A Long Rest). The thrall of pazuzu exhales a demonic locust swarm into an adjacent space (see
Swarm of Demonic Locusts for statistics). The thrall can exhale the swarm into areas occupied by other creatures, including the thrall itself. Roll initiative for the swarm, which has its own turns. It obeys any verbal commands the thrall gives it in Abyssal. The swarm never attacks the thrall and recognizes the thrall's allies. If the thrall doesn't issue any commands, the swarm starts attacking random creatures and devouring vegetation while defending itself from hostile creatures and trying to stay within 30 feet of the thrall. An undirected swarm that has no victims or crops in sight will slake its thirst for destruction by vandalizing property. The swarm vanishes back to the lower aerial kingdoms after 6 rounds.
If the thrall of pazuzu stops concentration on Pazrael's Breath, the swarm vanishes at the start of the thrall's next turn. It also disappears when it drops to 0 hit points or if the thrall orders it to return home.
Bonus Actions
Lethal Legerdemain. The thrall makes one melee or ranged attack with a dagger.
Noxious Spores (Recharge 5-6). The thrall coughs a cloud of toxic spores at a creature within 15 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. Emptying a vial of holy water on the target also ends the effect on it.
Description
Thralls of pazuzu are devotees of the demon prince Pazuzu. They were once ordinary humanoids but were transformed in body and soul once they enslaved themselves to Pazuzu. They now have black vulture-like wings sprouting from their shoulders and malevolent, aquiline features.
Advocates of Evil. Thralls of pazuzu seek to spread the word of their dark patron and in so doing spread chaos and evil like a blight. They tempt others to ask their demon lord for aid and step upon the slippery slope to damnation. When they cannot tempt others into serving their master, they plot to inflict death and torment upon as many innocents as it can. Thralls view creatures that cannot fly as pitiful and foolish, and often uses the promise of flight to seduce victims into serving Pazuzu.
Flying Threats. Thralls often call upon Pazuzu's favored creatures—any evil monster that flies—to aid their unholy crusade. Their commonest minions are clouds of demonic locusts* they exhale with their
Breath of Pazrael power. A thrall of pazuzu can bend flying creatures to its will using
Bewitch Aerial Creature and delights in forcing neutral or good-aligned flyer to perform evil acts.
Thralls of pazuzu prefer to fight from the sky while mocking ground-bound enemies. They typically invoke a
shield of faith and use
Breath of Pazreal, then fly above their opponents' reach while hurling down ranged attacks, spells, and
Noxious Spores.
* Note: The demonic locusts a thrall of pazuzu can breathe out are detailed in a separate "
Swarm of Demonic Locusts" entry.
(Originally appeared in
Dragon Magazine #329 (March 2005) as part of "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Pazuzu - Prince of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms" by James Jacobs.)
