Oi, cutter. Welcome back, and sit down. 'Ere is an important lesson, so pay attention. Moving on from the
least Baatezu previously covered (nupperibo, lemure, spinagon), we come to the
lesser ones. Well, these devils naturally employ more cunning, have more resilient bodies, but also need to try much harder to climb the ranks. Past the rank of spinagon, there are five higher ranks available.
First off, we have the abishai. They themselves come in five various shapes and sizes (and colours): white, black, green, blue and red - each more powerful than the last (fig.1).
Fig. 1: Abishai*
Now, there's all sort of talk how the abishai came to be, and many planar scholars agree that they are results of magical experiments - devils infused with draconic heritage of Tiamat, or somesuch bollocks. Believe it if you will, but I urge you not to ask an abishai what he thinks on the matter (if you value your life, that is). These devils are easily angered, and best avoided.
For the abishai, in order to rise in the ranks further, they must learn to be clever and determined, as well as act quickly and decisively. From there, they may rise to the position of either kocrachon or erinyes.
Moving on. Second, we have the barbazu, or bearded devils (fig. 2). They are vicious fighters, but rather dull when compared to some other lesser devils. They join the battle gladly, and are eager and savage killers who rely upon their battle prowess to push through the enemy, as well as further up the baatorian hierarchy.
Fig. 2:
Barbazu
Avoid them entirely; but should you have the misfortune of meeting them in battle, avoid their glaives
and their beards. Many an adventurer celebrated a victory over a barbazu in battle, only to die of the
devil's chills a week later.
The barbazu may rise only one notch: to the rank of osyluth.
Ah, the osyluth, you ask? But what about the aforementioned kocrachon and erinyes? Worry not; more about these in the next lesson. Go and take some rest now, and meditate upon what you have learned today.
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* The patron who commissioned the illustration was deeply dissatisfied with it, and had the artist sent to the Dungeons of Hathar'ach, where he is suffering still.
