Hezrou

A hezrou, was a type II tanar'ri demon that were known for their simplicity in control and desires. They often supervised lesser demonic entities and enacted the will of more sinister threats.

Description
Hezrou were large demonic monstrosities that stood 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall and weighed 750 pounds (340 kilograms). They bore a superficial resemblance to a toad in humanoid form, with arms and hands instead of forelegs. Within their wide maws were rows of blunt teeth that had a powerful crushing force and a series of long spikes ran down their backs. Hezrous could walk on either two feet or on all hands and feet, but always fought standing upright.

Personality
Hezrou were obedient and simple yet dangerously powerful beings, and as such were among the preferred monsters within the Abyss. A hezrou's main motivating factor was food followed by a desire for wanton destruction. They gladly served under more powerful demons or even summoners who supported their behavior. Their love of combat surpassed that of vrocks and the two possessed similar eating habits. Despite their love for fighting hezrou were not opposed to diplomacy, even with mortals, and might engage in trade when carrying cargo such as slaves. Hezrou were not particularly intelligent, intuitive, or otherwise mentally capable, a fact that was seen as a virtue by their masters as scheming was not their job. Unfortunately for those under their thumb hezrou were still demons through and through, beating up on even loyal subordinates for fun and just being generally foul-tempered.

Abilities
Hezrou were cunning on the battlefield and could fulfill roles both as powerful warriors and capable sergeants. They were somewhat ineffective against non-demonic beings as many of their abilities didn't work against evil outsiders. When against non-evil entities they opened combat by casting blasphemy, then favored chaos hammer or unholy blight from time to time as suited their foes. Their amphibian skin exuded a toxic substance that produced a cloud of noxious gas when they were agitated while their own olfactory senses were quite sharp. They gladly forced their way into and behind enemy ranks, where their foul stench could overwhelm as early and as many as possible and they were free to rip into their opponents with tooth and claw. Normal demonic resistances, immunity to non-magical weapons, telepathy, and summoning, particularly of dretch mobs and other hezrou, were also among their powers.

Society
Hezrou were integral to both the Blood War and the day to day proceedings of the Abyss in general. At their core hezrou functioned as enforcers, either as sturdy foot soldiers or solid sergeants. Their ability to focus on simple tasks, oversee armies, lack of plotting skill, and great numbers made them ideal for their duties. They normally patrolled the layers enacting the will of their respective demon lords and nalfeshnees, and tyrannically controlling lesser demons like dretches and chasmes. Hezrou often sought to make themselves useful to their masters so as to ensure they were not sent into unwinnable front line situations, as they were seen as somewhat expendable.

Despite not being particularly good as scheming hezrou still made use of temptation, making simple but cruel deals to those in states of despair. Every now and then in a century hezrou went on what were called Dark Walks, plane shifting to the mortal realm to make pacts with desperate souls. They would willingly enter their service and complete a major task like the destruction of a hated location or retrieval of a powerful artifact at the cost of trapping the mortal or a loved one in the Abyss and having them serve as a mane for eternity. Otherwise when on the Material Plane they recruited dull-witted followers in trolls, hill giants, ogres, and other creatures appreciable of their power.

It was possible for a marilith to be demoted to a hezrou as a punishment, bringing a change in sex from female to male.

History
The Faceless Lord Jubilex was served primarily by hezrou who paid him significant fealty in victims. In fact his primary servant, Darkness Given Hunger, was actually a hezrou demon whose possession of the largest known black pudding had been made permanent through magic, fusing the two together. Demogorgon also employed many hezrou as lieutenants, although his were twice the size of any others within the Abyss.

The hezrou Zaxis was actually a fallen marilith named Bethsiva, whose child was the balor Baalbisan with a rank even higher than hers.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * Tymora's Luck
 * Unclean
 * The Last Mythal trilogy
 * The Crystal Mountain
 * Prophet of the Dead (mentioned)
 * Computer games
 * Neverwinter Nights 2
 * Neverwinter Nights 2
 * Neverwinter Nights 2