Nalfeshnee

Nalfeshnees were type IV tanar'ri demons that acted as the ruling authority for many beings within the Abyss. They were the slothful and gluttonous creatures that acted as the nobility of the Abyss, bickering amongst each other for control of small fiefdoms with pretensions of being refined rulers.

Description
Nalfeshnees were repulsive demons that towered over most other demonic entities, standing at least tall. Most, however, stood over tall and weighed a gargantuan, with some being even more massive. They had small, feathered wings, greatly undersized compared to their rotund figures, that despite their flimsy appearance enabled nalfeshnees to fly. Among the most hideous of demonic powers, their bodies were most generously described as corpulent, combining the most abysmal features of a boar and ape into a bipedal monstrosity. Nalfeshnees did not so much walk as waddle, when they were not simply flying. Their glowing red eyes looked hungrily at most mortals they came across.

Personality
Behind their swinish exterior, both in appearance and behavior, nalfeshnees possessed a dangerous intellect. Other beings were placed within three categories by nalfeshnees: "fit to eat", "fit to use", and "fit to serve". Creatures a nalfeshnee would consume included animals, lesser demons, and most humanoid races. They did not conduct negotiations with these beings, the same as most people would not converse with their food. Among a nalfeshnee's preferred foods were halflings and terrified beings.

The second group consisted of beings that had more worth outside a nalfeshnee's stomach than within it. Powerful humanoids, certain demons, gnomes, immortals, insects (including arachnids), and elemental creatures were in this category. Although some entities within this category were of no use to a nalfeshnee, they were here because they were simply inedible.

Beings worthy of a nalfeshnee's servitude would have to be far greater than the nalfeshnee itself, a position reserved for demon lords, primordials, balors, or powerful elementals. The true spinelessness of a nalfeshnee was only revealed when in contact with one of these entities. Normally nalfeshnees employed cutlery, regardless of condition, in an attempt to appear dignified and renounced combat as being underneath them. In the presence of a more powerful being, this facade melted away into a whinging, sycophantic wretch that bowed and scraped to its masters without shame. Although their intellects often rivaled those of balors, causing them to view themselves as superior, they obeyed them in recognition of their greater strength. When their masters were not present, nalfeshnees would not hesitate to secretly foil their plans or embarrass them. Nalfeshnees carried no great regard for the Blood War and would sabotage their balor masters even if it worsened the side of demons overall.

Abilities
With claws and teeth, nalfeshnees were capable of brutality in the heat of battle. Like other tanar'ri, they could summon fellow tanar'ri to aid them when needed. These could be demons as powerful as glabrezus, hezrous, or even another nalfeshnees if need be. Despite their bloated bodies, they could easily, if clumsily, navigate the battlefield with their wings, if not their teleportation powers. Their truesight pierced illusions or other means of deception. A small array of spells were in their possession. Another ability most commonly used by nalfeshnees was their specialized ability to smite those around them with unholy light. Those struck by this light were dazed, surrounded by visions of their worst fears.

Combat
Although they put on airs of being above brawling, nalfeshnees were demons with a near irresistible bloodlust. When they deemed it acceptable they would engage in battle, smiting their foes with their nightmarish nimbus ability before ruthlessly savaging them while they were dazed. While physically dangerous they were more likely to be found on the battlefield soaring above the masses to target more easily defeated foes. When in the middle of combat they used their telepathic abilities to bark orders at their inferiors, all the while terrifying their enemies.

Society
"You — manes. You — rutterkin. You — dretch. You — dinner."

- The nalfeshnee lord, Magistrate Oozewart, judging petitioners

Nalfeshnees were best known for their roles as the judges of the Abyss, processing damned souls from the Mountain of Woe them as appropriate, a task they loved to perform. From atop their flaming thrones, they were the ones responsible for turning the newly deceased of the Abyss into manes, or other lesser demons depending on whether food, slaves, or slave food was most needed. The rulers of the plane, aptly titled the Lords of Woe, claimed knowledge over the quality of the petitioners brought before them and the ability to properly assess the best demon they would make. Such claims were likely complete fabrications, as despite having guidelines, nalfeshnees were ultimately beings of chaos which would whimsically promote those before them into whatever form they desired. Although lesser demons were more common transformations, nalfeshnees could turn petitioners into demons such as chasme immediately. The intended procedures for the promotion of petitioners typically had manes made from the spirits of those without sufficient malevolence and malleability and dretches made from those that did. Rutterkin were made from the especially prideful so as to teach them humility through humiliation. Nalfeshnees did not normally function as commanders but were said to decide the makeup of Abyssal armies, with some claims even being that they could promote and demote demonic generals, thus altering the path of the Blood War.

Nalfeshnees, despite their love of food, possessed reasonable self-control. They often obtained food from the Prime Material Plane and stored it within their pantries rather than simply eating it immediately. This food was later consumed in elaborate feasts with other nalfeshnee.

Ecology
The process by which nalfeshnees created demons was a horrific one that befitted their voracious nature. Nalfeshnees devoured not only flesh, but negative emotions such as misery, fear and rage out of those they saw. Feelings like these were consumed in tandem with life force through their hungry eyes, leaving the husks of the former victims left full of empty thoughts. Victims that weren't killed by the process were left in a dazed state for potentially weeks, incapable of fighting, sleeping or even thinking properly. Afterwards, the drained shells were transformed into tanar'ri in torturous ceremonies.

History
The fact that soul larva typically arrived at the Woeful Escarand was not a coincidence. The demons of the Abyss had intentionally subverted the system millennia ago so that such souls could be judged and promoted at the discretion of the Lords of Woe.

The lich Acererak trapped a nalfeshnee in a black obelisk outside his Tomb of the Nine Gods, as a guard against those would topple the obelisk.

There was a statue of a nalfeshnee on the Dungeon Level of Undermountain.

The archmage Arcturia kept a nalfeshnee in a nalfeshnee shaped pedestal, as a guard for her phylactery in the layer of Arcturiadoom in Undermountain.

Notable Nalfeshnees

 * Nalfeshnee, the strongest nalfeshnee for which the race was named.
 * Zerevimeel, summoned by Quenthel Baenre in 1373 DR.
 * Orcus, was rumored to have once have been a nalfeshnee.
 * Judge Gabberslug was a massive nalfeshnee thought by scholars to be a former Lord of Woe before his misuse of his position to prank the balor generals got him exiled. He eventually found work for the Dustmen of Sigil, operating from his court of corpses in the Negative Energy Plane as a fickle and openly disgusting arbiter of justice.
 * Gardener, was a nalfeshnee that protected the vast expanse of the Drooling Jungle from interference by outside forces, like a farmer protecting his land from vermin.
 * Slaughtertusk, was a nalfeshnee sent by Baphomet to guard the Maze Engine in the Labyrinth area of Undermountain.
 * Trantolox, was a nalfeshnee sent by Yeenoghu to break into the Bleeding Citadel to claim the Sword of Zariel.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Out of the Abyss • Tomb of Annihilation • Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage • Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
 * Novels
 * Resurrection • Archmage