Gazra, Governor of Abriymoch

At a Glance

Creature	Unique greater devil, pit fiend
Alignment	Lawful Evil
Office	Governor of Abriymoch; infernal security master
Home	Phlegethos, fourth layer of Hell
Allegiance	Fierna; formally Zimimar
Rival	Belial and rival dukes
Signature weapon	Rod of Tyranny

Abriymoch’s governor seldom raises his voice. While a visitor speaks, his spies are already testing every claim and his guards quietly closing the exits. Gazra’s patience is not mercy: every bargain he honours makes Hell’s grip a little tighter.

Gazra is one of the most powerful pit fiends not directly associated with the Courtiers of Perdition. Technically serving under Dark Minister Zimimar, Gazra is far more closely intertwined with the politics of Phlegethon (Phlegethos). Indeed, of his many responsibilities, including governing Abriymoch and overseeing the security of Hell’s first four Perditions, Gazra takes his role as Fierna’s bodyguard and lover the most seriously. Indeed, Gazra is totally committed to the Grand Duchess of Phlegethon (Phlegethos), although he takes severe pains to disguise his perverse affection – he is in love with her – from all, including Fierna herself.

Gazra has served as the Security Master for the Four Lower Perditions for over a thousand years and controls the most hamatulas in Hell beyond the infiltrators of the Blood War. However, he only recently (the past century) assumed the status of governor of Abriymoch and, consequently, stewardship over the Lake of Fire. These new appointments all came at the personal behest of Fierna and, at least publicly, have the support of Arch Duke Belial. To date, Gazra has done a superlative job with his expanded duties. His security forces have uncovered plots against the Lords of the Fourth, incursions into Phlegethon (Phlegethos), and even an attempt from a few Barregons to bathe within the Lake of Fire.

However, Gazra is far more interested in politics than he is in continuing with the Legions of Hell. His canny ability to use his resources to blackmail and cajole even Dukes of Hell has earned him regular invitations to the Court of Phlegethon (Phlegethos). He has even been in the Gatherings of Perdition in Nessus a number of times. Although most suspect that Gazra’s interests are to solely perpetuate his own power, in truth he is also interested in seeing the rise of his secret love, Fierna.

Everything Gazra has done to for the past millennium has revolved around putting him in a position to see Fierna’s rise to power. Every Duke he has crossed, every rival pit fiend he has cowed, every spy in his employ, every action Gazra has taken is dedicated to increasing Fierna’s authority. Gazra is well aware of the game he is playing. Should his perverted affections be discovered, his successes would wither into smoke and he would likely suffer at best an immediate demotion if not annihilation. Somehow, though, Gazra has concealed not only his goals but his love.

Gazra has a cool relationship with his true master, Zimimar. Both fiends are well aware of Gazra’s status in Hell and Zimimar reluctantly accepts that she can only expect so much from the Governor of Abriymoch as it relates to military service; Gazra, for his part, has done everything to reveal his lack of interest in performing additional duties for the Legions of Hell. Still, Gazra is wise enough to know when he has to make concessions.

The Governor of Abriymoch is universally hated by most of the Dukes of Phlegethon (Phlegethos), particularly those of fiendish origins as they have suffered severely from his blackmail and extortion. However, they all know that he is a favorite of Fierna and leave him be for now. Fierna is delighted with Gazra. While she has no idea as to the depths of his affection, she does know that he is almost stupidly loyal to her and manipulates his emotions. Fierana has expertly created a great rift between her father and Gazra, hoping that one day the Governor will dash all caution aside and join her in a bid to cast Belial down. Belial is well aware of Gazra’s contempt, but could not care less. So far as Belial is concerned, Gazra is a lowly pit fiend, a mere play thing of his daughter and, when she grows tired of him, he will be crushed. For the time being, Belial allows Gazra great lee-way within Phlegethon (Phlegethos) because it suits his purposes (chief among those, keeping the Dukes of Phlegethon (Phlegethos) in check).

Gazra appears as a fiery, red pit fiend in black leather armor covered in silver spikes. He usually wears a great black cloak and always carries his rod of tyranny. He speaks slowly and with great care, never jumps to conclusions, and is an excellent judge of character…except where Fierna is concerned.

Encounters in Abriymoch

The missing courier. A mortal carrying records of Fierna’s movements disappears before reaching Gazra. The governor hires outsiders to find the courier, but Belial’s agents offer a competing reward for the same evidence.

The compromised officer. Gazra knows one of his own officers has sold confidential information. He will not arrest the traitor until the entire network is uncovered. Adventurers must decide whether to help his investigation or warn those about to be condemned.

The protected heir. Saganth becomes the target of rivals trying to force Gazra into a public confrontation. Guarding him is not the same as supporting his father’s political ambitions.

Historical Illustration

Combat

Commanding the Battle

Against intruders. Gazra uses his security network to learn names and capabilities before confronting anyone. He isolates spellcasters and escape specialists, employs greater invisibility to position himself, and makes examples of oathbreakers.

Against rival devils. Gazra preserves discipline: barbed devils watch suspects, horned devils seal exits, and pit fiends confront the strongest opposition. His lawful evil nature is evident in meticulous records, coerced testimony, and punishments intended to deter future betrayal.

When defending Fierna. He places her survival above the success of his wider forces, remaining close enough to use Protective Aura and his Guardian Paramount abilities. Her habit of moving freely in battle can draw him out of a defensible position.

Retreat. He withdraws if remaining would destroy useful intelligence or endanger the security of Abriymoch; he may fight to the death when Fierna is personally threatened.

If engaged in combat by himself or with normal devils, Gazra casts greater invisibility and unholy aura on his person before moving in for sneak attacks on his foes. He reserves his usage of adjust probability for successful attacks against his own person rather than benefiting any of his troops. He likes to single out and close with mages, who are especially vulnerable to his attacks of opportunity.

If attacked while with Fierna, his first action is to use his protective aura on her. He remains by her side as best he can, using his Epic Combat Expertise to increase her own armor class as much as possible. His evasive preceptor is largely useless to defend her, as she already possesses improved evasion, but he will have already activated his uncanny dodge enabler on her person. As Fierna likes to dance around the battlefield, Gazra is often hard pressed to keep up with her.

Due to his lower than normal caster level for his spell-like abilities, he rarely uses them offensively on foes with Spell Resistance. Against mortal enemies, however, he is not at all above detonating fireballs on his own person to clear away those who get too close.

Cohort: Gazra and Fierana’s son Saganth attends to his father’s needs, whatever they may be. He largely resembles his mother, with flaming hair and humanoid features, but his powerful lower jaw and fangs are a clear feature from his paternal side. Red and black scales are scattered across his body. Treat Saganth as a pit fiend with the nephilim template and 8 levels of warmage.

Sources and Credits

The Gates of Hell (Dicefreaks), Grimoire of Cosmic Entities, Volume One, by Eli Atkinson, William Church and Serge W. Desir, Jr. Original concept by Serge W. Desir, Jr.