Abishai

Abishai, also known as scaly devils, were medium-sized baatezu devils from the first two circles of the Nine Hells, who were servants of Tiamat. They were guards and torturers. "Tiamat is a force of Chaos bound to a place of Law. Are abishai her servants or her jailors?"

- Mordenkainen

Description
They resembled cornugons and could be found in various colors: red, white, black, green and blue.

Combat
In battle, they relied on their claws, but the elder ones could possess some magic abilities, such as opening a gate between the Nine Hells and the Prime Material Plane, and some lesser spells.

History
During the Time of Troubles, a group of thirteen abishai were marooned in Unther. The Cult of the Dragon in Unther considered this a blessing from Tiamat. Each of the thirteen maintained a lair in the Underdark below the city of Unthalass. In truth, Tiamat did not send them as a blessing; the thirteen enjoyed their freedom from serving Tiamat, and the high priest of the Cult was blackmailing them into following his orders lest he send them back to Tiamat in Hell.

Appearances

 * Adventures:
 * Dungeon #14: Masqueraider
 * Novels:
 * The Captive Flame
 * Video Games:
 * Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear
 * Icewind Dale II
 * Planescape: Torment