Amduscias (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
Amduscias is a powerful unique baatezu in the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
.
Amduscias is a duke in the service of Tiamat
, and leads 29 companies of abishai. He lives on Avernus, the first layer of Baator
. He is famous for his long memory, and almost as well known for his cunning strategies. He has also earned the moniker “Reconciliator of Foes,” by being a skillful actor and negotiator. Tiamat often employs him to mediate disputes between devils
and dragons
. Amduscias is also tasked with keeping the Rabble of Devilkin
in line.
's article "The Nine Hells Part I" in Dragon
#75 (1983).
Amduscias was briefly mentioned in Faces of Evil: The Fiends (1997).
Amduscias was briefly detailed in Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells
(2006).
Amduscias prefers to fight in his wolf form. He can use all of his attacks on as many targets as he wishes. One favorite tactic is to constrict a foe with his tail and immerse the victim in water to drown, batter the victim against a rock, or use whatever advantage he can gain with the tail. In human form, he dual-wields two small weapons of his choice (such as daggers or darts), and likes to point at a victim to affect with his fear ability.
Amduscias can speak with any creature that has a language.
, the previous lord of Avernus, but was granted into the service of Tiamat in exchange for her aid in guarding the entrance to the second layer of Hell. This arrangement continued unchanged with the reign of Bel
.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
.
Amduscias is a duke in the service of Tiamat
Tiamat (Dungeons & Dragons)
Tiamat is the name of a powerful draconic goddess in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The name is taken from Tiamat, a goddess in ancient Mesopotamian mythology who is substantially different ....
, and leads 29 companies of abishai. He lives on Avernus, the first layer of Baator
Baator
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Baator, also known as the Nine Hells of Baator or the Nine Hells, is a lawful evil-aligned plane of existence...
. He is famous for his long memory, and almost as well known for his cunning strategies. He has also earned the moniker “Reconciliator of Foes,” by being a skillful actor and negotiator. Tiamat often employs him to mediate disputes between devils
Devil (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, devils are a powerful group of monsters used as a high-level challenge for players of the game. Devils are Lawful Evil in alignment and originate from the Nine Hells of Baator. True to their Lawful Evil alignment, devils are locked in a strict and brutal...
and dragons
Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game , dragons are an iconic type of monstrous creature used as adversaries or, less commonly, allies of player characters...
. Amduscias is also tasked with keeping the Rabble of Devilkin
Rabble of Devilkin
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, "rabble of devilkin" is a term applied to the lesser unique outcast devils dwelling on Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells...
in line.
Publication history
Amduscias first appears in Ed GreenwoodEd Greenwood
Ed Greenwood is a Canadian writer and editor who created the Forgotten Realms. He invented the Forgotten Realms as a child, as a fantasy world in which to set the stories he imagined, and later used this world as a campaign setting for his own personal Dungeons & Dragons playing group...
's article "The Nine Hells Part I" in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#75 (1983).
Amduscias was briefly mentioned in Faces of Evil: The Fiends (1997).
Amduscias was briefly detailed in Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells
Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells
Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Contents:...
(2006).
Description
Amduscias usually appears as a 9 feet (2.7 m) hawk-headed man wearing dark red or black robes, and never wears armor. He can also change into two distinct forms. He can resemble a dirty-yellow unicorn with eyes of flame, and a purple horn that causes terrible bleeding wounds. He can bolt from a standing start, and some say that whenever horses spook or gallop uncontrollably, Amduscias has affected them. He also likes to take the form of a dire wolf with a prehensile tail like that of a serpent.Amduscias prefers to fight in his wolf form. He can use all of his attacks on as many targets as he wishes. One favorite tactic is to constrict a foe with his tail and immerse the victim in water to drown, batter the victim against a rock, or use whatever advantage he can gain with the tail. In human form, he dual-wields two small weapons of his choice (such as daggers or darts), and likes to point at a victim to affect with his fear ability.
Amduscias can speak with any creature that has a language.
Relationships
Amduscias is a servant of Tiamat, for whom he leads 29 companies of abishai. Each company contains 333 abishai each.History
Amduscias originally served ZarielZariel
Zariel is an archdevil who once ruled Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells of Baator, in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:Zariel was first mentioned in the second edition book Guide to Hell ....
, the previous lord of Avernus, but was granted into the service of Tiamat in exchange for her aid in guarding the entrance to the second layer of Hell. This arrangement continued unchanged with the reign of Bel
Bel (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Bel the pit fiend, is the Arch-Devil currently in charge of Avernus, the First Layer of the Nine Hells of Baator...
.
Additional reading
- Greenwood, Ed. "The Nine Hells Revisited. DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
. #91. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1984.
- Stewart, Todd, and the Paizo Staff. "1d20 Villains." DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#359. Bellevue, WA: 2007. Page 68.