Homebrew Erinyes Species Details
Devils personify tyranny, with a totalitarian society dedicated to the domination of mortal life. The shadow of the Nine Hells of Baator extends far across the multiverse, and Asmodeus, the dark lord of Nessus, strives to subjugate the cosmos to satisfy his thirst for power. To do so, he must continually expand his infernal armies, sending his servants to the mortal realm to corrupt the souls from which new devils are spawned.
Lords of Tyranny. Devils live to conquer, enslave, and oppress. They take perverse delight in exercising authority over the weak, and any creature that defies the authority of a devil faces swift and cruel punishment. Every interaction is an opportunity for a devil to display its power, and all devils have a keen understanding of how to use and abuse their power.
Devils understand the failings that plague intelligent mortals, and they use that knowledge to lead mortals into temptation and darkness, turning creatures into slaves to their own corruption. Devils on the Material Plane use their influence to manipulate humanoid rulers, whispering evil thoughts, fomenting paranoia, and eventually driving them to tyrannical actions.
Obedience and Ambition. In accordance with their lawful alignment, devils obey even when they envy or dislike their superiors, knowing that their obedience will be rewarded. The hierarchy of the Nine Hells depends on this unswerving loyalty, without which that fiendish plane would become as anarchic as the Abyss.
At the same time, it is in the nature of devils to scheme, creating in some a desire to rule that eclipses their contentment to be ruled. This singular ambition is strongest among the archdevils whom Asmodeus appoints to rule the nine layers of the Nine Hells. These high-ranking fiends are the only devils to ever sample true power, which they crave like the sweetest ambrosia.
Dark Dealers and Soul Mongers. Devils are confined to the Lower Planes, but they can travel beyond those planes by way of portals or powerful summoning magic. They love to strike bargains with mortals seeking to gain some benefit or prize, but a mortal making such a bargain must be wary. Devils are crafty negotiators and positively ruthless at enforcing the terms of an agreement. Moreover, a contract with even the lowliest devil is enforced by Asmodeus’s will. Any mortal creature that breaks such a contract instantly forfeits its soul, which is spirited away to the Nine Hells.
To own a creature’s soul is to have absolute control over that creature, and most devils accept no other currency in exchange for the fiendish power and boons they can provide. A soul is usually forfeited when a mortal dies naturally, for devils are immortal and can wait years for a contract to play out. If a contract allows a devil to claim a mortal’s soul before death, it can instantly return to the Nine Hells with the soul in its possession. Only divine intervention can release a soul after a devil has claimed it.
The most beautiful and striking of all lesser and greater devils, the erinyes are fierce and disciplined warriors. Sweeping down from the skies, they bring swift death to creatures that have wronged their masters or defied the edicts of Asmodeus. The erinyes appear as female humanoids with statuesque builds and large feathery wings. Most wear stylized armor and horned helms, and carry exquisite swords and bows. A few also use ropes of entanglement to ensnare powerful foes.
Legends tell that the first erinyes were angels that fell from the Upper Planes because of temptation or misdeed. Erinyes are always willing to take advantage of being mistaken for celestials in their missions of conquest and corruption.
Erinyes Traits
Erinyes share these racial traits as a result of their fiendish descent.Ability Score Increases
Increase one score by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. Your strength, constitution, and charisma scores increase by 2.
Alignment
As a devil bound to the Nine Hells, the plane of lawful evil, your alignment is lawful evil.
Age
Erinyes mature at the same rate as humans but once mature they do not age and cannot die of old age.
Size
Erinyes are about the same size and build as humans. Your size is Medium.
Speed
You have a base walking speed is 30 feet, and have a flying speed of 60 feet.
Creature Type
You are a Fiend but are also considered a Devil for any prerequisite or effect that requires you to be an Devil.
Truesight
You can see in normal and magical darkness up to 120 ft, see invisible creatures and objects, automatically detect visual illusions and succeed on saving throws against them, and perceive the original form of a shapechanger or a creature that is transformed by magic. Furthermore, you can see into the Ethereal Plane up to 120 ft.
Magic Resistance
You have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Infernal Resilience
You have resistance to cold damage, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren't silvered, and are immune to fire damage, poison damage, and being poisoned. You are proficient with dexterity, constitution, wisdom, and charisma saving throws.
Diabolical Restoration
If you die outside the Nine Hells, your body disappears in sulfurous smoke, and you gain a new body instantly, reviving with all your Hit Points somewhere in the Nine Hells.
Parry
When a creature would make an attack roll against you, you can then use your reaction to add 4 to your AC against one melee attack that would hit you. To do so, you must see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.
Infernal Combat Training
You have proficiency with the longsword, shortsword, longbow, shortbow, medium armor, heavy armor, and poisoner's kit.
Hellish Weapons
When you damage a creature with a weapon attack, you can deal an extra <strong>d8</strong> extra poison damage. This damage increases by 1d8 when you reach 6th level (2d8), 9th level (3d8).
Shapechanger
As an action, you can change your appearance and your voice. You determine the specifics of the changes, including your coloration, hair length, and sex. You can also adjust your height and weight, but not so much that your size changes. You can make yourself appear as a member of another race, though none of your game statistics change. You can’t duplicate the appearance of a creature you’ve never seen, and you must adopt a form that has the same basic arrangement of limbs that you have. Without wings, you lose your flying speed. Your clothing and equipment aren’t changed by this trait. Without wings, you lose your flying speed.
You stay in the new form until you use an action to revert to your true form or until you die.
Summon Devil
When you reach 11th level, you choose what to summon and attempt a magical summoning as an action, you have a 50 percent chance of summoning 3d6 spined devils, 1d6 bearded devils, or one erinyes. The summoned devil appears in an unoccupied space within 60 feet of you, acts as an ally of you, and can’t summon other devils. It remains for 1 minute, until it or you die, or until its you dismiss it as an action. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common, Infernal, and speak telepathically with any creature within 120 feet of you that understands at least one language. A creature without telepathy can receive and respond to telepathic messages but can’t initiate or terminate a telepathic conversation.
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