Hellcat

Hellcats, also called bezekira, were quiet hunters of the Nine Hells.

Description
While some hellcats had the forms of lions, others appeared to be tiger-sized domestic cats. Their size ranged between long and they often weighed 900 lbs (410 kg). Hellcats were invisible in the presence of light and moved with silent grace. In total darkness however, they could be seen as a faint, wraith-like outlines with bodies seemingly composed of bright light and flickers of fire. They could only be seen from away, or  away if their viewer had low-light vision, when under darkness. Magical darkness on the other hand concealed them by smothering their light in shadows. Just like their fangs, their malevolent eyes glowed crimson, and it was rumored that one could see the fires of Hell if one looked far back enough into them.

Personality
Bezekiras lacked all the charm associated with felines but had an abundance of their more infuriating traits, the most dangerous of which being their capriciousness. While they would serve under other beings, protecting them and helping them commit wicked acts, they were completely independent at heart and willing to drop all allegiances to their current masters the moment one judged to be superior made themselves apparent. They would attack old masters without complaint and betray their new lords as easily as their last ones.

Bezekiras always chose to obey baatezu above all others, but the first and foremost quality by which they judged mortals as potential masters was by their alignment. They only followed those committed to the ideals of law and evil and while they ran from those of non-lawful evil alignments, they would attempt to convert those drifting toward evil to their alignment. A hellcat would almost always abandon their masters for those of greater power, provided that such a being would have them. Hellcats preferred masters were priests and clerics, followed by specialized casters, regular casters, fighters and then rogues.

If not properly fed, hellcats would turn their owners into their meals. When given two options for masters judged to be equivalent in desirability, hellcats decided randomly between the two. Creatures of lower than average intelligence by the standards of humans were regarded as disposable tools for Hell.

Combat
These fierce devil-cats moved about in virtual silence, constantly on the prowl for any opportunity to do evil.

Abilities
Invisible in any light, bezekira were only visible in total darkness.

Ecology
Hellcats were sometimes used by mages, particularly Disciples of Asmodeus, and those of the Halls of the Beast-Tamers, in Myth Drannor.

Appearances

 * Video games
 * Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear