Baerzurg

Source: The Gods Are Bastards - Web Serial
Type: Low-Tier Sentient Demon
Hierarchy: Lower Tiers (ultimate demonic shock troop, low tier in Khelminash caste)
Minimum Warlock Level: 5

Physical Description

Baerzurg demons are the ultimate demonic shock troop. They are very large creatures, standing as tall as 15 feet, though they walk with a pronounced hunch that makes them appear somewhat shorter. Their massive size is matched by their incredible strength.

Baerzurg have bronze metallic scales covering their bodies and tails. These scales are sharp, making direct attacks against them dangerous—anyone who strikes a Baerzurg with bare hands or unarmored weapons risks being cut by the sharp scales.

Their most distinctive feature is their head, which is sunken into their torso with no functional neck. This unusual anatomy makes them appear even more brutish and intimidating. Their mouths open in three petals and are lined with razor sharp teeth, giving them an extremely potent bite attack that can tear through armor and flesh with ease.

Despite their intimidating appearance and massive size, Baerzurg are sentient but quite dumb. They have basic intelligence and can understand commands, but they lack higher reasoning capabilities and are not capable of complex thought or strategy.

Role in Hell

Baerzurg are low tier in the Khelminash caste system, used primarily for their strength. They serve as the ultimate shock troops in demonic armies, leveraging their immense size, strength, and durability to break enemy lines and cause destruction.

They are essential to demonic military operations but hold little social status compared to elite demons. They serve under the command of more intelligent demons like Rhaazke or Khelminash, following simple orders and fighting where directed. Their role is straightforward: use their strength and durability to overwhelm enemies through sheer physical power.

Making a Pact

What Baerzurg Want

Baerzurg demons seek: - Clear, simple orders: They appreciate very direct commands due to their limited intelligence - Combat opportunities: They value chances to fight and use their immense strength - Protection for their master: They want to protect the warlock who gives them direction - Simple rewards: They appreciate basic recognition of their service - Food: They need to eat, and their three-petaled mouths and razor teeth make them effective at consuming almost anything

What They Get from the Pact

Through the pact, Baerzurg gain: - A master to serve: The warlock provides direction and purpose - Protection: The warlock becomes someone they can defend - Combat purpose: The warlock gives them opportunities to fight

Contract Difficulty

Negotiation DC: Easy (DC 12 Charisma check)

Baerzurg are straightforward to contract with due to their limited intelligence. They appreciate directness and are less likely to insert complex clauses or hidden terms. However, their lack of intelligence means they may not fully understand complex agreements.

Demon Summon

When you summon your pacted Baerzurg demon, it appears in its full massive form and can aid you in the following ways:

Combat: The Baerzurg is an exceptional shock trooper, capable of breaking enemy lines and causing massive destruction
Intimidation: Its sheer size and power can intimidate enemies and break morale
Physical tasks: The demon can perform heavy physical labor, move obstacles, break structures, or handle any task requiring immense strength

The demon can remain summoned for a number of hours equal to your warlock level, and it will follow simple, direct commands. Baerzurg appreciate clear orders and will resist complex or confusing instructions. They excel at straightforward combat and physical tasks.

Example Stat Block

name: Baerzurg
size: Large
type: fiend
subtype: demon
alignment: chaotic evil
ac: 17 (natural armor, sharp scales)
hp: 136
hit_dice: 16d10 + 48
speed: 30 ft. (hunched posture)
stats: [22, 11, 16, 7, 10, 9]
skillsaves:
  - athletics: 12
damage_resistances: cold, fire, lightning, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
damage_immunities: poison
condition_immunities: charmed, frightened, poisoned
senses: darkvision 60 ft.
languages: Abyssal, understands Tanglish but cannot speak
cr: 8
traits:
  - name: Sharp Scales
    desc: "The Baerzurg's bronze metallic scales are sharp. Any creature that makes an unarmed strike or uses a non-reach melee weapon against the Baerzurg takes 4 (1d8) slashing damage from the sharp scales. Creatures wearing armor or using reach weapons are not affected."
  - name: Brute
    desc: "A melee weapon deals one extra die of its damage when the Baerzurg hits with it (included in the attack)."
  - name: Relentless
    desc: "If the Baerzurg takes 15 damage or less that would reduce it to 0 hit points, it is reduced to 1 hit point instead."
actions:
  - name: Multiattack
    desc: "The Baerzurg makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws."
  - name: Bite
    desc: "Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 24 (3d10 + 8) piercing damage. The Baerzurg's three-petaled mouth lined with razor sharp teeth can tear through armor and flesh with devastating force."
  - name: Claw
    desc: "Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (2d8 + 10) slashing damage."
  - name: Rock
    desc: "Ranged Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one target. Hit: 30 (4d10 + 8) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone."

Greater Baerzurg

If a warlock contracts with a Baerzurg at level 5 and keeps it alive until reaching level 10, the demon undergoes a dramatic transformation into a Greater Baerzurg. Unlike the base Baerzurg's limited intelligence, the Greater variant experiences a profound awakening of intellect and gains powerful destructive magic. This evolution transforms them from simple shock troops into devastating battle commanders with tactical cunning and destructive sorcery.

name: Greater Baerzurg
size: Huge
type: fiend
subtype: demon
alignment: lawful evil
ac: 19 (natural armor, sharp scales)
hp: 230
hit_dice: 20d12 + 100
speed: 40 ft.
stats: [26, 12, 20, 16, 14, 13]
skillsaves:
  - athletics: 15
  - intimidation: 8
  - arcana: 10
damage_resistances: cold, fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
damage_immunities: poison
condition_immunities: charmed, frightened, poisoned
senses: darkvision 120 ft.
languages: Abyssal, Tanglish, Infernal, Common
cr: 13
traits:
  - name: Sharp Scales
    desc: "The Baerzurg's bronze metallic scales are sharp. Any creature that makes an unarmed strike or uses a non-reach melee weapon against the Baerzurg takes 9 (2d8) slashing damage from the sharp scales. Creatures wearing armor or using reach weapons are not affected."
  - name: Brute
    desc: "A melee weapon deals two extra dice of its damage when the Baerzurg hits with it (included in the attack)."
  - name: Relentless
    desc: "If the Baerzurg takes 25 damage or less that would reduce it to 0 hit points, it is reduced to 1 hit point instead. This ability can be used once per short rest."
  - name: Siege Monster
    desc: "The Baerzurg deals double damage to objects and structures."
  - name: Awakened Intellect
    desc: "The Greater Baerzurg has gained significant intelligence and tactical awareness. It can understand complex battle strategies, coordinate with allies, and make tactical decisions. It has advantage on Intelligence and Wisdom saving throws."
  - name: Magic Resistance
    desc: "The Baerzurg has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects."
actions:
  - name: Multiattack
    desc: "The Baerzurg makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws, or it can replace one attack with a spell."
  - name: Bite
    desc: "Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 41 (5d10 + 13) piercing damage. The Baerzurg's three-petaled mouth lined with razor sharp teeth can tear through armor and flesh with devastating force. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it is grappled (escape DC 23)."
  - name: Claw
    desc: "Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 26 (3d8 + 13) slashing damage."
  - name: Rock
    desc: "Ranged Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one target. Hit: 42 (5d10 + 15) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 23 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone."
  - name: Destructive Wave (Recharge 5-6)
    desc: "The Baerzurg strikes the ground, creating a devastating shockwave. Each creature within 30 feet must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 35 (10d6) force damage and is knocked prone. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and isn't knocked prone."
spellcasting:
  - name: Innate Spellcasting
    desc: "The Baerzurg's spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 18, +10 to hit with spell attacks). The Baerzurg can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:"
    spells:
      - "At will: shatter, thunderwave"
      - "3/day each: fireball, erupting earth, stoneskin"
      - "1/day each: earthquake, meteor swarm, wall of force"
legendary_actions:
  - name: Legendary Actions (2/Turn)
    desc: "The Baerzurg can take 2 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The Baerzurg regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn."
  - name: Attack
    desc: "The Baerzurg makes one claw attack."
  - name: Devastating Stomp
    desc: "The Baerzurg stomps the ground. Each creature within 10 feet must succeed on a DC 23 Dexterity saving throw or take 13 (2d12) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone."
  - name: Cast a Spell (Costs 2 Actions)
    desc: "The Baerzurg casts a spell from its Innate Spellcasting."