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Pet Devil, Hell’s Tracking Maw

Pet Devil, Hell’s Tracking Maw
Create

A Pet Devil resembles a grotesque caricature of a bulldog twisted by infernal whims: completely hairless, its thick, bile-yellow skin is wrinkled and puckered as though it’s been forcefully stuffed into a body two sizes too small. Its form is low and squat, rippling with unnatural muscle under slick, oily folds of flesh. The head is dominated by a gaping maw that takes up nearly a third of its total mass—lined with jagged, yellowed fangs and capable of unhinging to terrifying width. I

ts eyes are round, lidless, and featureless like burnt pearls, while vestigial pointed ears twitch erratically atop its misshapen head. A series of studded leather straps often encircle its frame—not for restraint, but to denote ownership in the hierarchy of Hell.


Behaviour

Pet Devils are relentless, hyper-focused, and utterly loyal to their masters—though not out of affection. They are bred or bound through infernal means to obey, and disobedience is punishable by torment they remember across centuries. They do not speak but comprehend commands in Infernal with frightening precision. In combat, they become consumed by a feral attack frenzy, lunging with brutal speed and attempting to latch on with their massive jaws, tearing muscle from bone with gleeful violence. When not in combat, they often pace like caged predators, alert and sniffing for perceived threats or prey.


Habitat

Native to the Lawful Evil planes, especially Baator (Hell), Pet Devils are found near infernal strongholds, fortress kennels, and battlefield encampments. They flourish in structured, militarized environments where they can serve as both trackers and sentries. Though sometimes found individually in the service of lesser devils, they are most effective when deployed in coordinated packs led by a devilish handler.


Modus Operandi

When unleashed, Pet Devils follow commands with single-minded ferocity. They excel at tracking fleeing souls, guarding infernal relics, or patrolling perimeters. Their scent-based tracking, enhanced by magical senses, allows them to follow quarry across planes if needed. In battle, they begin with high-speed charge attacks aimed at soft targets, immediately attempting to grapple and rip with their oversized jaws. If ordered to subdue rather than kill, they will mangle legs or arms to immobilize without mercy.


Motivation

Pet Devils have no personal goals beyond fulfilling the orders of their masters. However, they are driven by an innate sadism woven into their essence—a need to hunt, harm, and dominate. Though they feel no love, they thrive on structured cruelty. Their obedience is absolute, but their joy comes only in the suffering of others—a trait that makes them both dependable and terrifyingly efficient.


  • Pet Devil 5e
  • Pet Devil, Pathfinder
  • Pet Devil 3.5
Pet Devil, Hell’s Tracking Maw
Create

Small Fiend (Devil), Lawful Evil


Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 45 (6d6 + 24)
Speed 40 ft.

STRDEXCONINTWISCHA
15 (+2)14 (+2)18 (+4)3 (−4)12 (+1)5 (−3)

Saving Throws Dex +4, Con +6, Wis +3
Skills Perception +5, Survival +5 (+9 when tracking by scent)
Damage Resistances cold, acid
Damage Immunities fire, poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15, scent
Languages understands Infernal but can’t speak
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +2
Tags Fiend, Devil


Traits

Keen Tracker.
The Pet Devil has advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to track creatures. It can track by scent alone, even across planar boundaries for up to 24 hours after first encountering a creature’s trail.

Unnerving Gaze.
Any creature that starts its turn within 10 feet of the Pet Devil and can see it must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes against the Pet Devil before the end of its turn. A creature that succeeds is immune to this effect for 24 hours.


Actions

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 13 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be grappled (escape DC 14). While grappling a target, the Pet Devil can’t bite another.

Savage Frenzy (Recharge 5–6).
The Pet Devil enters a feral frenzy for 1 minute. While in this state:

  • It has advantage on all melee attack rolls.
  • It deals an extra 2 damage with melee attacks.
  • It gains a +4 bonus to initiative.
  • It can make one Bite attack as a bonus action on each of its turns.
    While frenzied, the Pet Devil must attack a hostile creature on its turn if it is able to.

Reactions

Lash Out.
When a creature ends its movement within 5 feet of the Pet Devil, it can make one Bite attack against that creature.


Tactics

  • Opener: Charges and activates Savage Frenzy to grapple and isolate a vulnerable target.
  • Mid-fight: Pins targets in place with bite and grapples, using pack tactics if other Pet Devils are nearby.
  • Obedience: Will follow infernal commands without hesitation, even if suicidal.

Description

Pet Devils are twisted, hairless beasts bred in the kennels of Hell to serve as trackers and sentries. With maws large enough to engulf prey and senses sharp enough to follow a soul across planes, they are weapons of obedience and brutality. Though barely intelligent, they thrive on structure and cruelty—an ideal pet for Hell’s masters.

Pet Devil, Hell’s Tracking Maw
Create

This bile-colored quadruped snarls through folds of glistening, wrinkled flesh. Its enormous jaws stretch unnaturally wide, revealing jagged fangs and a hunger that borders on madness.


Pet Devil                           CR 4
XP 1,200
LE Small outsider (devil, evil, extraplanar, lawful)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., scent; Perception +9


DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dex, +1 size, +6 natural)
hp 45 (6d10+12)
Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +4
DR 5/good or silver; Immune fire, poison; Resist acid 10, cold 10
SR 15


OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft.
Melee bite +10 (2d6+4/19–20)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks attack frenzy, grab


STATISTICS

Str 17, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 6
Base Atk +6; CMB +8 (+12 grapple while frenzied); CMD 20 (24 vs. trip)
Feats Improved Initiative, Toughness, Weapon Focus (bite)
Skills Perception +9, Survival +9 (+13 when tracking by scent)
Languages understands Infernal (cannot speak)


ECOLOGY

Environment any lawful evil-aligned Lower Plane (typically Baator)
Organization solitary, pair, bunch (3–6), or pack (4–16)
Treasure none


SPECIAL ABILITIES

Attack Frenzy (Ex)
Once per day, a pet devil can fly into a savage frenzy as a free action. This frenzy lasts for 4 rounds. While frenzied, the pet devil gains the following benefits:

  • +2 morale bonus on melee attack and damage rolls
  • +4 morale bonus on initiative and grapple checks
  • May make one additional bite attack each round as a swift action

While frenzied, the pet devil must attack a hostile creature each round if able. It cannot end the frenzy voluntarily.


Grab (Ex)
A pet devil can attempt to grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity when it hits with its bite attack. While grappling, it may continue to bite its target. The pet devil cannot use its bite on other targets while it maintains a grapple.


Tracker of the Damned (Ex)
A pet devil gains a +4 racial bonus on Survival checks to track. It can track by scent alone and can follow a target across planar boundaries for up to 24 hours after first detecting its scent.


TACTICS

Before Combat
Pet devils typically hide or remain leashed until given the command to hunt. They rely on scent and darkvision to locate prey.

During Combat
A pet devil opens combat with a charge and bite, then immediately activates attack frenzy. It focuses on grappling and mauling a single target, often isolating vulnerable foes such as casters or wounded combatants.

Morale
Pet devils fight to the death unless restrained by their master. Their fear of failure outweighs fear of pain.


DESCRIPTION

Pet devils are brutal infernal hunting beasts, created in the forges and kennels of Hell to serve as trackers, guards, and executioners. These creatures resemble hairless, bloated bulldogs—though far more grotesque—with folds of wrinkled, bile-colored skin and oversized jaws capable of unhinging to devour prey nearly their own size. Their minds are simple, but they follow commands in Infernal with uncanny discipline.

Pet devils are favored by barbazus and erinyes as sentries and soul-trackers. Though treated like animals, they are in fact minor devils and serve a unique ecological role in the lower planes—as both predators and property.


VARIANT CREATURES

Alpha Pet Devil (CR 6): Medium size, +2 Strength, +2 Intelligence; gains Infernal Howl (Su) once per day—grants allies within 30 feet a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saving throws for 1 minute.

Infernal Tracker (CR 5): Gains see invisibility 3/day as a spell-like ability and increases its Survival bonus to +13 (+17 when tracking).

Pet Devil, Hell’s Tracking Maw
Create

There are three or four of the creatures, savagely barking and snarling with a fierceness you would never find in an animal created by nature.

Monster Encyclopaedia II: The Dark Bestiary
Author J. C. Alvarez
Series Monster Encyclopaedia
Publisher Mongoose Publishing
Publish date 2005

If these are the animals of Hell, they suit the ecosystem perfectly. These beasts have a vague resemblance to hairless yellow bulldogs, although their mammoth maws take up nearly one-third of their body mass. The monsters are strapped together by studded leather strips and collars tied around the sections of their bodies where their necks should be. The pig-like skin of these brutes is so wrinkled and folded that they appear to have been squashed into their current forms by some playful fiend.

Pet devils are kept as trackers and guardians by nearly everybody in Hell. Although they are actually evil outsiders, they are considered normal animals by lower plane standards. Pet devils are Small quadrupeds with completely hairless, bile coloured bodies. The only physical traits discernible among the fatty folds and wrinkles of a pet devil’s hide are a pair of round, featureless eyes, a set of vestigial pointed ears and, most importantly, a fanged maw big enough to eat itself with a single gulp.

Pet devils speak no language, but they can understand and follow commands given in Infernal.

Pet Devil
Small outsider (Evil,
Extraplanar, Lawful)
Hit Dice4d8+14 (32 hp)
Initiative+4
Speed40 ft. (8 squares)
AC21 (+1 size, +2 Dexterity, +8 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 19
Base Attack/Grapple+4/+6
AttackBite +9 melee (2d6+5/19-20)
Full AttackBite +9 melee (2d6+5/19-20)
Space/Reach5 ft. /5 ft.
Special AttacksAttack frenzy
Special QualitiesDarkvision 60 ft., immunity to fire and poison, resistance to acid 10 and cold 10, Scent
SavesFort +6, Ref +4, Will +4
AbilitiesStrength 14, Dexterity 11, Constitution 14, Intelligence 3, Wisdom 10, Charisma 6
SkillsListen +7, Search +7, Spot +7, Survival +7 (+13 following tracks)
FeatsToughness (x2), TrackB
EnvironmentLawful evil planes
OrganisationSolitary, pair, bunch (3-6) or pack (4-16)
Challenge Rating4
TreasureNone
AlignmentAlways lawful evil
Advancement5-8 HD (Medium), 9-12 HD (Large)
Level Adjustment+0 (cohort)

Combat

By Sailko - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33616557, Devil Pet
By Sailko – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33616557

Pet devils attack by biting enemies. They often begin with a charge attack at the target’s vitals, and then attempt to grapple, rip and tear at the flesh with their teeth.

Attack Frenzy (Ex): When in combat, a pet devil is possessed by a savage frenzy giving it increased offensive power. While attacking, a pet devil gains a +2 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls, plus a +4 morale bonus on Initiative and Grapple checks. These bonuses are included in the above statistics.

Skills: A pet devil gains a +4 racial bonus on all Search checks and a +4 racial bonus on Survival checks made to follow tracks.

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