Barbazu

Barbazus, also called bearded devils, were the shock troops of the Nine Hells and the most impulsively belligerent of the baatezu. They earned their name from the venomous, beard-like tendrils that hung from their chins.

Description
Barbazus were tall humanoids with roughly, muscled bodies. Their signature feature was their disgusting, wiry beards, although they also had pointed ears, and long tails. Their skin was moist but covered in scales, and despite having clawed hands and feet they almost always carried a massive saw-toothed glaives.

Personality
Barbazu were volatile and violent, attacking at the slightest provocation and exploiting any opportunity to go on the offensive. They were extremely cruel, fighting not because of loyalty to the system or fellowship with their kin, but out of a need to injure, kill, and terrify. They were followers by nature as they were too reckless and simpleminded to lead, being potentially the most chaotic of the baatezu. Slaughter and maiming was their primary approach to interacting with mortals, as opposed to the subtle temptations and deceptions found in other devils. Barbazu were had a personal attachment to their glaives and would stubbornly insist on keeping them even if offered one of superior quality.

Abilities
The beard of a barbazu contained a dangerous disease known as the 'devil chills' which caused those struck to develop a painfully burning rash. If not lashing out with their claws and beards a barbazu could attempt to summon abishai, lemures, or simply additional barbazus. Barbazus could also whip themselves into a dangerous battle frenzy not unlike that of a barbarian, fearlessly rampaging throughout the battlefield with no regard to personal safety. As a battle raged on they were more and more likely to enter such a state and would stay enraged unless stopped or removed from the battle.

Combat
Being the combat-craving creatures that they were, barbazus took every opportunity to engage in battle and often refused to stop until their opponents were slain. Their tactics were fairly direct, although they were trained to use teamwork to defend allies in the heat of battle. Most barbazus were armed with a saw-toothed glaive with a backward curved, treble hook at its base. While the blade itself serrated their foes and caused them to profusely bleed, the hook could be used to drag back fleeing enemies. Due to their attachment to their own glaives, they normally refused to fight with their claws unless they were unable to use them.

Society
These devils were the elite soldiers of Hell's legions and led armies of lemures. They were savage fighters who would enter a frenzied rage before engaging in battle. Between wars, they found employment as guards and sentinels for more powerful devils.

History
In 1480 DR, assassins and barbazu attacked Lasparhall in Thentia in an attempt to assassinate the rightful ruling family of Hulburg, the Hulmasters.

Appearances

 * Adventures:
 * The Sword of Selfaril
 * Novels:
 * Avenger


 * Sourcebooks:
 * Mysteries of the Moonsea