Etezu (3.5e Monster)

This is the Liber Diabolica replacement of the lemure.

''The small, humanoid things brandish short metal tubes inscribed with runes and ending in a hafts made of iron, their long and spindly fingers clutching at the triggers of their weapons. Standing in a tight and ordered bunch, with each arranged so as to allow him to aim over his fellow’s shoulder, they open fire and gun down numerous members of your force with a highly concentrated volley of flames. Despite their stature, their highly advanced weapons make them a force to be reckoned with.''

Etezu are the lowest kind of devil and the initial form of every devil when created from a petitioner. There are never any exceptions to this rule; to do so would be to violate the rules and protocols of Hell. That said, the rate at which promotion occurs can vary rapidly.

As with all baatezu and in stark contrast to their demonic counterparts—the manes—etezu are surprisingly intelligent, on average boasting the intelligence of an typical human. This mental capacity allows etezu to learn and emphasizes the importance that the baatezu place on each of their members.

Etezu are essentially soldiers-in-training, loaned out by the powers of Hell to mortal agents or sold to whoever is willing to shell out the cash for their services. Those that both survive and show competence on the field of battle (because being cowardly is against the rules) are in line for promotion to higher ranks of devils.

Combat
While weak compared to other devils, etezu are competent combatants especially at range, able to go toe-to-toe with most foreseeable foes encountered in the area to which they are dispatched. While they are bound by contract to follow the rules of their detachment and by association the orders of their employer, they are bound even more strictly by baatezu pragmatism; if it is both in their interests and in their power, they will not hesitate to turn on a non-devil commander.

Like most devils, etezu function best as part of a group, devastating foes with organized volleys of shots. Their most common formations consist of tightly packed phalanxes, against which their demon enemies send wave after wave of manes in an attempt to break their lines.

 (Su): An etezu’s aura of cold logic deals 1 point of cold damage every turn, operates out to a distance of 25 feet, and has a save DC of 8.



 (Ex): When an etezu makes an attack roll with its hellfire warpspitter, every etezu adjacent to it may take an immediate action to also take a shot. This effect is capable of chaining (that is, an etezu adjacent to another etezu that has used their immediate action for this ability can also do so) as long as the ranks of etezu form a contiguous shape. Their attack rolls need not come against the same opponent, although they can if necessary.



 (Ex): Etezu can see perfectly in darkness of any kind.