Katzils

Source: The Gods Are Bastards - Web Serial
Type: Combat Demon
Hierarchy: Lower Tiers (hellish animals, kept as pets by high-tier demons)
Minimum Warlock Level: 1

Physical Description

Katzils are flying demonic entities, often resembling draconic creatures with wings. They are agile flying demons with fire attacks. They can curl up like a cat when at rest, giving them their name and making them deceptively compact when not in flight.

They are basically hellish animals, kept as pets by high-tier demons. While they can be trained and coordinated in groups, they lack true sentience or higher intelligence, functioning more like intelligent beasts than conscious beings.

Role in Hell

Katzils are hellish animals kept as pets by high-tier demons. They are not part of any organized hierarchy or caste system, but rather are kept as companion animals by powerful demons who value their aerial abilities and fire attacks. High-tier demons may keep multiple Katzils as pets, using them for entertainment, hunting, or as exotic guard animals.

They can be trained to work in groups and respond to simple commands, but they lack true sentience or independent thought. Their value comes from their usefulness as flying fire-breathing pets rather than any tactical or strategic importance in demonic society.

Making a Pact

What Katzils Want

As hellish animals, Katzils seek (insofar as animals can): - Care and feeding: They need a master to provide for their basic needs - Flying opportunities: They naturally desire to fly and use their aerial abilities - Familiarity: As pets, they may form basic attachments to those who care for them

What They Get from the Pact

Through the pact, Katzils gain: - A master/owner: The warlock becomes their owner who provides care and direction - Purpose: The warlock gives them purpose beyond being simple pets - Protection: The warlock can protect them from harm

Contract Difficulty

Formation Method: Animal handling or care (Handle Animal check or similar)

As hellish animals, Katzils cannot negotiate in any traditional sense. The pact must be formed through care, training, and earning the trust of the Katzil, similar to how one might bond with a pet or trained animal. The warlock must demonstrate they can provide for the Katzil's needs and establish themselves as a trustworthy master. High-tier demons who own Katzils may also gift or transfer ownership of their pets.

Demon Summon

When you summon your pacted Katzils, 1d4 Katzils appear. The Katzils can aid you in the following ways:

Aerial Combat: The Katzils can engage in aerial combat, using their agility and fire abilities to strike from above
Flying Transport: The Katzils can carry you or small objects while flying, serving as aerial mounts or carriers
Guard Duty: The Katzils can be trained to guard locations, using their fire abilities to warn or attack intruders
Hunting: The Katzils can hunt targets you designate, using their speed and fire abilities

The Katzils can remain summoned for a number of hours equal to your warlock level, and they will follow simple commands like trained animals. They respond best to clear, direct orders and may not understand complex tactical instructions. As pets, they may be more interested in playing or hunting than following precise battle plans.

Example Stat Block

name: Katzil
size: Small
type: fiend
subtype: demon
alignment: neutral evil
ac: 13
hp: 22
hit_dice: 4d6 + 8
speed: 20 ft., fly 60 ft.
stats: [10, 16, 14, 4, 12, 8]
skillsaves:
  - acrobatics: 5
  - perception: 3
  - stealth: 5
damage_resistances: fire
damage_immunities: fire
senses: darkvision 60 ft.
languages: —
cr: 2
traits:
  - name: Flyby
    desc: "The Katzil doesn't provoke opportunity attacks when it flies out of an enemy's reach."
  - name: Pack Tactics
    desc: "The Katzil has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the Katzil's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated."
actions:
  - name: Claw
    desc: "Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage."
  - name: Bite
    desc: "Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) fire damage."
  - name: Fire Breath (Recharge 5-6)
    desc: "The Katzil exhales fire in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one."

Greater Katzil

If a warlock contracts with Katzils at level 1 and keeps them alive until reaching level 5, they evolve into Greater Katzils—larger, more dangerous flying demons with enhanced fire abilities and improved combat capabilities.

name: Greater Katzil
size: Medium
type: fiend
subtype: demon
alignment: neutral evil
ac: 15
hp: 82
hit_dice: 11d8 + 33
speed: 30 ft., fly 80 ft.
stats: [14, 18, 16, 6, 14, 10]
skillsaves:
  - acrobatics: 7
  - perception: 5
  - stealth: 7
damage_resistances: fire, cold, lightning
damage_immunities: fire, poison
condition_immunities: poisoned
senses: darkvision 90 ft.
languages: —
cr: 7
traits:
  - name: Flyby
    desc: "The Katzil doesn't provoke opportunity attacks when it flies out of an enemy's reach."
  - name: Pack Tactics
    desc: "The Katzil has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the Katzil's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated."
  - name: Fiery Aura
    desc: "At the start of each of the Katzil's turns, each creature within 5 feet of it takes 3 (1d6) fire damage. A creature that touches the Katzil or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet of it takes 3 (1d6) fire damage."
actions:
  - name: Multiattack
    desc: "The Katzil makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claw."
  - name: Claw
    desc: "Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage plus 3 (1d6) fire damage."
  - name: Bite
    desc: "Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) fire damage."
  - name: Fire Breath (Recharge 5-6)
    desc: "The Katzil exhales fire in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 28 (8d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one."