Fantasy Monster: Infernal Consort

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Devil, Infernal Consort

An androgynous figure clad in exquisite raiment made of translucent scales tightly enveloping the crimson body. The shining golden eyes and a crown of small horns adorning the brow complement the exotic yet alluring visage.

CR 3; XP 800
LE Medium Outsider (devil, evil, lawful)
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., see in darkness; Perception +8

Defense
AC 15, touch 14, flat-footed 11 (+4 Dex, +1 natural)
hp 30 (4d10+8); regeneration 5 (as long as master lives)
Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +5
Defensive Abilities consort-bond; DR 5/silver or good; Immune charm, fire, poison; Resist acid 10, cold 10

Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee 2 claws +5 (1d4+1)

Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 4th; concentration +7)
Constant—detect poison (touch or taste), locate person (master only)

At Will—mage hand, mending

1/day—create food and water (exquisite food and beverage sufficient for the master's needs and tastes, and up to eight other creatures), word of recall (returns to the master's location)

Statistics
Str 12, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 17
Base Atk +4; CMB +5; CMD 17
Feats Dirty Fighting, Nimble Moves
Skills Bluff +10, Diplomacy +10, Knowledge (planes) +8, Perception +8, Perform (dance or sing) +10, Profession (housekeeper, steward, or secretary) +8, Sense Motive +8; Racial Modifiers +10 bonus to Bluff, Diplomacy, and Sense Motive checks targeting the master
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Draconic, Infernal; telepathy 100 feet

SQ change shape (as alter self, though the form acquired always hints at fiendish heritage), consort teamwork

Ecology
Environment any (Hell)
Organization solitary, pair, or harem (3–6)
Treasure standard

Consort-Bond (Su) An infernal consort exists to be bound to a (usually) mortal master—either by a decree of a major devil or an infernal deity, or by personal pact with the master. The infernal consort's place is by their master. Once per week, an infernal consort may use their word of recall spell-like ability to travel back to the master from another plane. As long as the master lives, the infernal consort can regenerate any wounds and reform their body even if destroyed. The consort can always recognize their master, regardless of disguise, mundane or magical and gains +5 bonus to all Will saving throws against mind-affecting effects that would force them to act against the master, or prevent them from serving their master.

Consort Teamwork (Ex) An infernal consort treats all teamwork feats known by their master as bonus feats known, and can use them to aid the master as required.

Ardathim, colloquially known as infernal consorts, are devils tasked with serving particularly evil (or promising) mortals—magicians, warlords, royals—as consorts and concubines, largely to shield them from temptations of succubi and other meddlers. They usually combine their primary role of bond-companion with being trusted advisors, bodyguards, secretaries, and majordomos.

An exceptionally powerful individual or one of great importance for the forces of hell might bond with more than single infernal consort, almost always by decree of a major devil or infernal god, but never with more ardathim than the master's Charisma bonus +1.

Unbound ardathim are intangible genderless devilish spirits awaiting their servitude. When a pact is made and the bond forms, ardathim manifests a body, that, while clearly infernal in nature, reflects the master's desires, tastes, and wants—especially those the master might not be actually aware of. Similarly, the newly embodied ardathim forms personality fitting the complicated relationship to be.

While their very nature makes them inherently submissive to their masters, ardathim are adepts of passive-aggressive manipulation, and can be quite pushy. They are always deeply envious of any other emotional relationships upheld by their master, and are most willing to sabotage them in any way they can—except for other infernal consorts, which they grudgingly tolerate, though they always fight each other over their master's affection and dominant position as the first consort between each other. They cannot bear or sire children which can make some of them bitter and hateful of a potential co-parents of their master's heir. They might conceal it or not, but they almost universally hate children and aren't any good with them either.

Ardathim inherently loyalty toward the master can come into conflict with their innate bonds to hell and thus they try to keep their master serving the hell—they will unravel into nonexistence if they are destroyed after their master redeems himself from hell's grasp. One or two ardathim over the history might have redeemed themselves out of love for their masters. Most of the infernal consorts would rather pull their master to hell or even into oblivion with them, however.