Demon, Coloxus ‘Fly Demon’
“Meet the grotesque fly-headed demon who’s as obsessed with luxury as it is with your downfall!”
A coloxus is a humanoid fiend with the grotesque head of a fly, featuring bulbous, multifaceted red eyes and quivering mandibles. Its twin pairs of translucent, insectile wings shimmer with eerie iridescence, often twitching restlessly even when it stands still. Despite its repulsive features, a coloxus dresses in opulent robes and adorns itself with priceless jewelry, gold chains, and gems that glimmer against its dark, chitinous skin. Every detail of its attire exudes a twisted sense of refinement, amplifying the unsettling contrast between its monstrous visage and its noble bearing.
Behavior:
Coloxus demons carry themselves with an air of exaggerated courtesy, masking their venomous intentions beneath a veneer of civility. They are patient manipulators, excelling in diplomacy and deception, though their excessive vanity betrays their insecurity. Coloxus demons despise being mocked or insulted, especially when it involves their appearance. If tricked into seeing their reflection, they fly into a violent rage, shedding their refined façade. They view themselves as cultured and elite, often surrounding themselves with sycophants to bolster their ego. However, their politeness is a carefully maintained tool, discarded as soon as their ambitions are thwarted.
Habitat:
Coloxus demons dwell in the more organized layers of the Abyss, particularly in regions dominated by courts and fiendish nobility. These areas reflect their affinity for intrigue and structure, often featuring grand halls of decay, draped in rotting silks and tarnished splendor. Occasionally, coloxus demons are summoned by mortal spellcasters to serve as emissaries or spies, finding temporary residence in lavish but shadowy mortal courts or mage towers.
Modus Operandi:
A coloxus prefers manipulation over brute force, weaving lies and illusions to achieve its goals. It employs its mastery of illusion magic to misdirect, confuse, and control enemies, creating elaborate falsehoods that ensnare the minds of the gullible. When tasked with assassination, it approaches with meticulous care, often using invisibility and blur to evade detection before delivering precise, devastating strikes. Even in combat, it maintains a semblance of dignity, taunting foes with biting wit and sharp intelligence. A coloxus will retreat before risking personal harm, always prioritizing its self-preservation.
Motivation:
Fueled by an unrelenting need to validate its superiority, a coloxus seeks power, prestige, and admiration. Its ultimate goal is to rise in the infernal hierarchy, outshining rivals and earning the favor of powerful demon lords. While its grotesque appearance is a constant source of internal shame, it compensates with displays of wealth and cunning, seeking to dominate through manipulation and guile. Every action it takes—whether brokering a treacherous deal, eliminating a perceived rival, or flaunting its “sophistication”—is driven by an insatiable hunger for recognition and an obsessive need to maintain its illusions of grandeur.
Coloxus, Fly Demon
Medium Fiend (Demon), Chaotic Evil
Armor Class: 18 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 168 (16d10 + 80)
Speed: 30 ft., Fly 60 ft. (hover)
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
19 (+4) | 28 (+9) | 20 (+5) | 17 (+3) | 18 (+4) | 23 (+6) |
Saving Throws: Dex +11, Con +10, Wis +9, Cha +10
Skills: Acrobatics +16, Appraise +9, Bluff +14, Diplomacy +14, Disguise +10, Fly +18, Knowledge (Arcana, History, Planes, Religion) +9, Perception +16, Sleight of Hand +11, Stealth +16
Damage Resistances: Acid 10, Cold 10, Fire 10
Damage Immunities: Electricity, Poison
Condition Immunities: Disease, Poisoned
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Scent, Passive Perception 26
Languages: Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Infernal; Telepathy 100 ft., Tongues
Challenge Rating: 12 (19,200 XP)
TRAITS
Fiendish Brilliance.
The Coloxus has advantage on all Intelligence ability checks.
Fiendish Tongue.
The Coloxus is always under the effects of a Tongues spell, enabling it to communicate with any creature that understands a language.
Flight.
The Coloxus has a natural flying speed of 60 feet and can hover without being knocked prone.
Narcissistic Vanity.
The Coloxus is consumed with self-admiration. When it sees its own reflection, it must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become charmed for 1 minute. While charmed, it perceives itself as perfectly elegant and untouchable, ignoring any immediate threats. The charm ends if the Coloxus is attacked or harmed.
ACTIONS
Multiattack.
The Coloxus makes two Claw attacks or one Bite attack and one Slam attack.
Bite.
Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 10 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage plus 4 (1d4) Charisma damage. The target must make a DC 23 Constitution saving throw or take 4 points of Charisma damage. The Coloxus heals 5 points of damage for each point of Charisma damage dealt.
Slams.
Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 9 (1d4 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
Droning Wings (Recharge 5-6).
The Coloxus flutters its wings in a mesmerizing display of color, accompanied by a disorienting buzzing drone. Each creature within a 30-foot radius that can see the Coloxus must succeed on a DC 24 Wisdom saving throw or be slowed for 1d4 rounds. Each round, the Coloxus must use a bonus action to maintain the effect. The affected creatures move and take actions as normal if they succeed on a subsequent Wisdom saving throw at the end of their turns. The Coloxus is immune to sonic damage while droning. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Siphon.
A creature bitten by the Coloxus must make a DC 23 Fortitude saving throw or suffer 1d4 points of Charisma damage. The Coloxus heals itself of 5 hit points for every point of Charisma damage dealt. The save DC is Constitution-based.
SPELL-LIKE ABILITIES (Caster Level 12)
- At will: Tongues, Invisibility, Suggestion (DC 19)
- 3/day: Confusion (DC 20), Haste, Quickened Invisibility, Mind Fog (DC 21)
- 1/day: Giant Vermin, Shadow Evocation (DC 21)
REACTIONS
Frightening Aura.
When a creature within 30 feet of the Coloxus hits it with an attack, the Coloxus can use its reaction to project an aura of terror. The creature must succeed on a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
The Coloxus can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The Coloxus regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
- Claw Attack. The Coloxus makes a Claw attack.
- Mirror Illusion (Costs 2 Actions). The Coloxus creates an illusion of itself, causing one creature within 60 feet to make a DC 16 Intelligence saving throw or be deceived by the illusion, as though under the effect of the Mirror Image spell.
- Fly (Costs 2 Actions). The Coloxus moves up to its fly speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
TACTICS
The Coloxus thrives in psychological manipulation, using its charm and appearance to unsettle its enemies. In combat, it will start by using its Droning Wings ability to disorient and slow opponents, especially spellcasters or those attempting to concentrate. It then uses Siphon to drain the Charisma of its foes, healing itself in the process.
The Coloxus is a master of deception and prefers to engage with finesse over brute strength. It will often open with a Bite to siphon Charisma from an opponent, followed by Slams to finish off weakened foes. If it’s in danger of being overwhelmed, it will retreat using Invisibility or Quickened Invisibility, taking advantage of its ability to avoid damage and reset its tactics. If the battle isn’t going its way, it will invoke Confusion or Mind Fog to disrupt its foes’ mental focus.
When charmed by a reflection, the Coloxus will focus on any potential threats, but its vanity leaves it open to psychological tactics. Skilled combatants can exploit this flaw by utilizing Mirror Image or creating reflective surfaces to force the Coloxus to waste time on its own vanity, leaving it vulnerable to attacks.
ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Coloxus demons prefer to reside in urban areas, especially abandoned palaces, decadent mansions, or locations of high power and mysticism. These areas, often once full of grandeur, mirror the Coloxus’s obsession with beauty and status. It often fills its lair with reflective surfaces—mirrors, pools of water, and polished stone—to reinforce its belief in its own perfection.
They typically operate as solitary entities but will form temporary alliances when it benefits their status, serving as diplomats, assassins, or emissaries. However, their vanity makes them highly prone to betrayal if their interests are threatened.
Demon, Coloxus
Family: Demons
Robed as though it were a noble, this insectile fiend’s disgusting head is topped by two enormous multi-faceted red eyes, the translucent wings sprouting from its neck reaching nearly to the floor.
Medium fiend (demon), chaotic evil
Armor Class 15
Hit Points 42 (5d8+20)
Speed 25 ft., fly 50 ft. (hover)
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 (+3) | 20 (+5) | 19 (+4) | 19 (+4) | 10 (+0) | 15 (+2) |
Saving Throws Constitution +6
Skills Arcana +6, Deception +4, Perception +2
Damage Resistances acid, cold, fire, lightning
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities disease, poisoned; Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages all, telepathy 100 ft.
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Special Traits
- Fiendish Brilliance. The coloxus has advantage on Intelligence ability checks.
- Fiendish Tongue. The coloxus is under the constant effects of a tongues spell.
- Spellcasting. The coloxus is a 6th level spellcaster that uses Intelligence as its spellcasting ability (spell save DC 14; +6 to hit with spell attacks). The coloxus has the following spells prepared from the wizard‘s spell list:
- Cantrips: acid splash, fire bolt, mage hand, minor illusion, poison spray, prestidigitation, true strike
- 1st-level (6 slots): detect magic, disguise self, identify, illusory script, silent image
- 2nd-level (6 slots): blur, detect thoughts, invisibility, locate object, see invisibility, mirror image
- 3rd-level (5 slots): clairvoyance, fear, haste (self only), hypnotic pattern, major image
Actions
- Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8+5) slashing damage.
- Droning Wings. As an action, the coloxus can flutter its wings to conjure a kaleidoscope of color and a drone that dampens other sounds. The coloxus gains immunity to thunder damage and creatures within a 30-foot radius have disadvantage on Constitution saving throws made to maintain concentration on spells that have verbal components.
Many a mage have looked too deeply into forbidden lore, forever staining their souls with failed attempts to grasp at powers beyond mortal ken. When the cursed finally perishes they may be drawn down into the Abyss, the finality of their demise reinterpeted by demon handlers to be seen as an ascension instead. Thus coloxus are incredibly confident in their power, overwhelmingly certain that they are truly masters of the arcane without peer. The illusion that they reside within is so whole and encompassing that nothing in existence can convince them otherwise-and they keep any mortal foolish enough to believe the charade in bondage as servants, the fear the coloxus’ “terrible power” bearing down on them at all times.
Section 15: Copyright Notice
Book of True Evil. © 2018 Mike Myler, published under license by Legendary Games.
Coloxus
This figure would be the picture of elegance and refinement were it not for its grotesque fly head and shivering insectile wings.
Coloxus demons, known also as fly demons, resemble humans with the head of a fly and twin pairs of gossamer wings. Even their smallest movements and gestures seem infused with manic quickness and alertness. Ironically ‘given their grotesque, insectile appearance’ coloxus demons are demons of vanity. They are formed from the souls of narcissistic mortals responsible for disasters or tragedy through their careless self-absorption. A coloxus prefers to wear opulent clothing and jewels that would rival the wealthiest nobility of any race.
Despite their foul appearance, coloxus demons consider themselves cultured and elite. They are unusually patient and well mannered for demons, and as a result are often used as emissaries, diplomats, and negotiators by marilith generals, balors, and even demon lords. Even when facing hated foes, coloxus demons are the epitome of courtesy, but such manners are always a deceitful veneer, masking the creatures’ efforts to gain the upper hand.
Evil mortal spellcasters are fond of conjuring coloxus demons for similar roles, but the monsters also work well as assassins. Even in this role, a coloxus is dignified and polite. Only when presented with a reflection of itself does the normally civilized coloxus show its true demonic colors any creature foolish enough to trick a coloxus into looking at a mirror finds herself the eternal foe of an insulted and scandalized demon.
A coloxus is 6 feet tall and weighs 150 pounds.
Coloxus CR 12 |
XP 19,200 CE Medium outsider (chaotic, demon, evil, extraplanar) Init +13; Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Scent; Perception +31 |
DEFENSE |
AC 26, touch 19, flat-footed 17 (+9 Dexterity, +7 natural) hp 168 (16d10+80) Fort +15, Ref +19, Will +9 DR 10/good; Immune electricity, disease, poison; Resist acid 10, cold 10, fire 10; SR 23 |
OFFENSE |
Speed 30 ft., Fly 60 ft. (good) Melee bite +25 (1d6+4 plus siphon), 2 slams +25 (1d4+4) Special Attacks droning wings, siphon, sneak attack +4d6 Spell-Like Abilities (CL 12th; Concentration +18) Constanttongues At willcontagion (DC 20), invisibility, suggestion (DC 19) 3/dayconfusion (DC 20), haste, quickened invisibility, mind fog (DC 21) 1/daygiant vermin, shadow evocation (DC 21) |
STATISTICS |
Strength 19, Dexterity 28, Constitution 20, Intelligence 17, Wisdom 18, Charisma 23 Base Atk +16; CMB +25; CMD 39 Feats Agile Maneuvers, Combat Reflexes, Deceitful, Flyby Attack, Hover, Improved Initiative, Quicken Spell-Like Ability (invisibility), Weapon Finesse Skills Acrobatics +28, Appraise +14, Bluff +29, Diplomacy +14, Disguise +19, Fly +32, Knowledge (arcana, history, planes, and religion) +14, Perception +31, Sleight of Hand +17, Stealth +28; Racial Modifiers +8 Perception Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Infernal; telepathy 100 ft., tongues |
SPECIAL ABILITIES |
Droning Wings (Ex) Once per day, when it flutters its wings as a standard action, a coloxus can create a mesmerizing display of color and a sound-dampening buzzing drone. All creatures within 30 feet that can see the coloxus must make a DC 24 Will save or be slowed for up to 6 rounds. Each subsequent round, the coloxus must take a swift action to maintain the effect or the effect ceases at the end of its turn. Additionally, the sound creates a buffer against sonic energy, granting the fly demon immunity to sonic attacks or effects while it continues to drone. The save DC is Charisma-based. Siphon (Su) Any creature bitten by a coloxus must make a DC 23 Fortitude save or take 1d4 points of Charisma damage. A coloxus heals itself of 5 points of damage for every point of Charisma damage it deals. The save DC is Constitution-based. |
ECOLOGY |
Environment urban (Abyss) Organization solitary, pair, or swarm (3-8) Treasure double |
Section 15: Copyright Notice – Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 3
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 3, © 2011, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors Jesse Benner, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, James Jacobs, Michael Kenway, Rob McCreary, Patrick Renie, Chris Sims, F. Wesley Schneider, James L. Sutter, and Russ Taylor, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.