Homebrew Erinyes Species Details

Erinyes are fallen angels who have been banished from the upper planes and send to hell because of their evil or treasonous actions. These celestial turned fiends are dangerous as they are extremely loyal to their devil lords. Their charming appearance hides their true intentions. They are very dangerous because they are the only devils that can leave hell and set foot on the material plane. 

Their natural forms normally possessed glowing red eyes, as well as large, feathered wings that stayed regardless of the form that they took. After Asmodeus' ascension to godhood, the erinyes lost their wings, and received hooves and fangs in return, which made them look beastly.

History and Social Structure

Fall from Grace

Legend in the Nine Hells told that the first erinyes were angels who fell from the heavens after being corrupted by temptation or committing some misdeed. Most erinyes were the descendants of fallen angels while others were their still-living ancestors having survived to become brachinas.

Following the ascension of Asmodeus, the erinyes received mastery over the succubi, but received a terrifying transformation.

Society

Even erinyes that did not work under archdevils often directly reported to the Dark Eight as opposed to having an intermediary master. While some served as servants or were simply concubines, others had vastly superior tasks such as spying on both enemies and allies. Many erinyes were responsible for bringing justice to Hell, although the method with which they did so varied greatly. Donning horned helms and stylized armor, erinyes warriors brought death to those that defied their infernal masters or the orders of Asmodeus himself. As arbiters of justice, they acted on behalf of Hell and were responsible for tracking down those that broke infernal contracts. Others acted on the other side of the law, helping to free mortal souls by acting as legal counsel for those that did not receive what they were promised or were forced into making their deals. The role that earned erinyes the most respect among their devilish peers however, was that of the temptress.

Corruption

Unlike almost all other devils, erinyes were capable of entering the mortal world of their own volition, and used this ability to collect mortal souls. The traditional method used to achieve this goal was through seduction, although they were forced to use magic to disguise their wings if they did not attempt to use their celestial heritage as cover. They entered the mortal world alone, as they were incapable of bringing others with them, and searched for mortals that they could lure back to Baator. Only one person could return to Hell with them at a time with inorganic matter being left behind, forcing the victim to try and escape Baator while dangerously underequipped or be turned into a lemure. When seducing mortals they spoke rather than communicating telepathically, and could speak a wide variety of languages.

When seduction was not sufficient, erinyes had other methods to enrapture mortals, such as offering Faustian bargains and other forms of deals. While erinyes normally led battle-focused devils such as barbazus, merregons, or kytons, they would also command mortal warriors as some were willing to sell their souls in exchange for training. As well as devils, erinyes were also occasionally put in charge of managing small cults. Those that chose to take up wizardry usually studied enchantment magic to enhance their pre-existing ability to charm.

Promotion

Erinyes could be promoted to the form of any devil above them, or be demoted into barbazus depending on their service. While they were most commonly transformed into osyluths, it was possible for them to be turned even into pit fiends. In order to become pit fiends they had to undergo the same process as the gelugons and withstand the torment of the Pit of Flame for 1,001 days. Despite their great maneuverability within the infernal hierarchy many turned down opportunities to be promoted, having come to enjoy their exemption from the normal ranks of the baatezu and numerous advantages.

Ecology

Erinyes were the only types of devils to have possibly been born rather than made from mortal souls. Unlike most devils that were capable only of siring children, erinyes were capable of carrying them. It was unknown if erinyes gained the ability before or after their descent but the ability to become pregnant was another reason they often refused promotion. They were protective and cautious parents that hid colonies of their young away from the eyes of those that would interfere with their development.

While some reports claimed that devils could not be promoted into erinyes, others purported that the rank could serve as a reward for sluggish devils that overcame their earlier blunders despite numerous trials, such as abishai. Abishai that were promoted into erinyes were said to have their features rearranged by numerous kocrachon in order to make them more appealing to mortals and somehow had syllables added to their true names to make summoning them more complicated. It was rumored that only 500 erinyes were allowed to exist at one time, with lesser baatezu being promoted to fill their positions when current erinyes were promoted into higher forms.

Combat

Erinyes, while not the greatest warriors of Hell, possessed legendary combat prowess. They were often armed with incredible swords and bows, but could expertly wield practically any weapon. Their conventional weaponry included powerful ropes of entanglement used to entrap powerful opponents and hapless victims alike. The normal battle strategy employed with the ropes was to bind their enemies before lifting them a great distance up and letting them fall. They were also known to use weapons coated in caustic venom.

Through the brutality they inflicted on the battlefield, erinyes renewed the vigor of their allies, often engaging multiple enemies at once with unbridled rage. Despite their fearsome wrath, Erinyes were also tactically adept, coordinating with others of their kind to surround groups of enemies as opposed to merely flanking them. Although erinyes had no qualms about engaging enemies on the ground, they preferred to fight from afar. They normally used their magical abilities first, sowing confusion into those below them before firing their bows.

Erinyes Traits

Most devils come into existence from the forsaken souls of the dammed. Erinyes however, are born in a manner most mortals would consider natural...

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma score increases by 2 and you Dexterity score increases by 1 

Alignment

Almost all Erinyes are lawful evil beings but there have been those that seek redemption and are inclined towards a chaotic good alignment.

Size

Your size is medium or small, your choice. Erinyes often take form after those faithful to their devil lords. So an erinyes serving a lord with Tiefling followers might look different than an erinyes serving a lord with human followers.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Fallen Angel

The human dilution of your Infernal bloodline means you must grow and strengthen your ability for flight while on the prime material plane. 

• At levels 1-3 you have control of the movement of your wings, but cannot manage flight.                                
• From level 4, you can fly for 1 minute, with a flight speed of 20 feet per long rest. 
• At level 7 your speed increases to 30 feet.
• Reaching level 9 allows you to use your wings 2 times for 10 minutes per long rest. Additionally, you gain the ability to carry small items or individuals during your flight. 
• At level 12 you have enough strength and skill to fly 3 times for 1 hour per long rest. Your speed increases to 40 feet, and you can choose to carry a medium sized item or individual for the duration but suffer a point of exhaustion should you do so. No penalty for anything considered small. 
• When you reach level 14, you have mastered the full use of your wings. You can fly at will, and through your skill and agility gain advantage on all melee attacks against creatures that can also fly.

(Should your adventures take you to the Infernal planes, you will have full and unhindered use of your flight at any level.)

Darkvision

As a Devil your vision can easily cut through darkness. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Demonic Resistance

Life in the Nine Hells is a harsh one and as such you gain the following resistances:

You are resistant to poison damage and have advantage on saving throws against magical attacks. You are immune to fire damage

Hellish Weapons

The Erinyes weapon attacks are magical and deal an extra 13 (3d8) poison damage on a hit (included in the attacks).

Languages

You can speak and write Common, Celestial, and Infernal

Telepathic

Being a creature well versed all forms of war the ability to invade an enemy's mind is taught to all Erinyes. You have telepathy 120 ft.