Cornugon

Cornugons, also known as horned devils or malebranche &mdash;not to be confused with another type of devil with the same name &mdash;were greater baatezu  that served as elite defense troops in the Nine Hells.

Description
Cornugons were about as tall as an ogre, reaching nine feet (three meters) high   and weighing some 600 pounds (270 kilograms). Their bodies were covered in iron-hard scales. They had massive wings, great horns, and powerful tails. Even other devils considered them terrible to look at.

Personality
Cornugons were exceptionally lazy creatures, and they dreaded any being stronger than themselves. To their fortune, they were one of the most powerful kinds of devil, and they were of exceptional intelligence. Because of their militaristic nature, treachery did not often occur among their numbers, making them very loyal guardians.

Cornugons had a rage that could inflict terror in their enemies. They were bold in combat and would rarely retreat.

Combat
Cornugons often fought with military forks  or spiked chains, with which they would stun their enemies. In addition to biting and clawing, they would also lash out with their tails, which would leave a piercing wound that would not heal naturally. Cornugons also had the ability to hurl a flame of fire at their enemies.

Tactically, they often sought to eliminate their most powerful opponents first.

Abilities
Like all baatezu, cornugons could see in utter darkness and were telepathic.

They could fly, had several inherent spell-like powers, and could regenerate any damage they suffered except from good-aligned or silver weapons or inherently good spells. Like all baatezu, they were immune to fire and poison and resistant to acid and cold.

Society
Cornugons formed elite strike forces for the Hells' armies, numbering as many as 2,000 devils, which were led by pit fiends. Gelugons and pit fiends often utilized them as personal body guards. The Dark Eight had control of 106 cornugon guards.

Cornugons primarily lived on the sixth through ninth layers of the Hells, with the greatest populations in Malbolge and Maladomini. In the upper layers, promoted cornugons sometimes led their own armies of lesser baatezu.

In the infernal hierarchy of the baatezu, cornugons were greater devils who were below erinyes and gelugons in rank. Cornugons were some of the fastest progressing baatezu. After surviving a number of campaigns in elite combat forces, a cornugon would be promoted to lead armies in the upper layers. After displaying quality leadership, a cornugon would be promoted to a gelugon.

Corugons often had names that translated into such things as "Bent Wing" or "Easy Tail".

Notable Cornugons

 * Vesarius, a lieutenant in Dragonspear Castle
 * Vooka, another lieutenant in Dragonspear Castle
 * Vrag, another lieutenant in Dragonspear Castle

Appearances

 * Hordes of Dragonspear
 * City of the Spider Queen
 * Mysteries of the Moonsea