Chain Devil
- Size: Medium
- Type: Fiend (Devil)
- Alignment: Lawful Evil
- AC: 15
- Initiative: +5 (15)
- HP: 85(10d8+40)
- Speed: 30 ft
| ATTR | VAL | MOD | SAVE |
|---|---|---|---|
| STR | 18 | +4 | +4 |
| Dex | 15 | +2 | +2 |
| Con | 18 | +4 | +7 |
| INT | 11 | +0 | +0 |
| Wis | 12 | +1 | +4 |
| CHA | 14 | +2 | +2 |
- Resistances: Bludgeoning, Cold, Piercing, Slashing
- Immunities: Fire, Poison; Poisoned
- Senses: Darkvision 120 ft . (unimpeded by magical Darkness); Passive Perception 11
- Languages: Infernal; telepathy 120 ft .
- CR: 8 (XP 3,900; PB +3 )
Traits
Diabolical Restoration. If the devil dies outside the Nine Hells, its body disappears in sulfurous smoke, and it gains a new body instantly, reviving with all its Hit Points somewhere in the Nine Hells.
Magic Resistance. The devil has Advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Actions
Multiattack. The devil makes two Chain attacks and uses Conjure Infernal Chain.
Chain. Melee Attack Roll: +7 , reach 10 ft . Hit: 11 (2d6 +4 ) Slashing damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it has the Grappled condition (escape DC 14) from one of two chains, and it has the Restrained condition until the grapple ends.
Conjure Infernal Chain. The devil conjures a fiery chain to bind a creature. Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 15, one creature the devil can see within 60 feet. Failure: 9 (2d4 + 4) Fire damage, and the target has the Restrained condition until the end of the devil's next turn, at which point the chain disappears. If the target is Large or smaller, the devil moves the target up to 30 feet straight toward itself. Success: The chain disappears.
Reactions
Unnerving Gaze. Trigger: A creature the devil can see starts its turn within 30 feet of the devil and can see the devil. Response-Wisdom Saving Throw: DC 15, the triggering creature. Failure: The target has the Frightened condition until the end of its turn. Success: The target is immune to this devil's Unnerving Gaze for 24 hours.
Lore & Background
Chain devils, known as kyton in the infernal hierarchy, are among the most sadistic and methodical torturers in the Nine Hells. These devils are formed from the souls of mortals who took pleasure in binding, restraining, and tormenting others during their lives. Their bodies are wrapped in animated chains that serve as both weapons and instruments of torture, reflecting their obsession with control and domination through physical restraint.
In the rigid structure of Hell's hierarchy, chain devils serve as specialized enforcers and interrogators, particularly valued for their ability to capture and restrain targets without killing them. They are often employed by more powerful devils who need prisoners taken alive or information extracted through prolonged torture. Their methodical nature and patience make them ideal for long-term assignments requiring careful planning and execution.
Chain devils take particular pride in their craft, viewing the art of restraint and torture as a form of twisted artistry. They study their victims carefully, learning their fears and weaknesses to maximize psychological impact alongside physical torment. Unlike more bestial devils, chain devils are calculating and precise, preferring to break their victims' will through systematic application of pain and helplessness rather than crude brutality.
Combat Tactics
Chain devils excel at battlefield control, using their animated chains to grapple and restrain multiple opponents while positioning themselves for maximum tactical advantage. They prefer to begin combat by restraining the most dangerous enemies, particularly spellcasters who rely on somatic components for their magic. Their conjure infernal chain ability allows them to control enemy positioning, pulling opponents into disadvantageous positions or separating them from their allies.
The devil's unnerving gaze creates an aura of fear that can disrupt enemy coordination, particularly effective against groups that rely on careful positioning and teamwork. Chain devils are patient combatants who focus on controlling the battlefield rather than dealing massive damage, understanding that restrained enemies are effectively neutralized regardless of their remaining hit points.
When facing multiple opponents, chain devils use their mobility and reach to stay at the edge of melee combat, striking with their chains while avoiding being surrounded. They are particularly effective in confined spaces where their chains can wrap around obstacles and create complex restraint patterns. If forced into a disadvantageous position, they use their conjure chain ability to reposition enemies or create escape opportunities.
Encounter Ideas
The Infernal Bounty Hunter: A chain devil has been sent to capture a specific individual alive, using its restraint abilities to subdue the target while fighting off anyone who tries to interfere with its mission.
The Torturer's Chamber: Heroes must infiltrate an infernal stronghold where a chain devil is extracting information from captured allies, requiring stealth and precision to avoid triggering additional security measures.
The Binding Contract: A chain devil appears to enforce the terms of an infernal contract, literally binding those who attempt to break their agreements until they fulfill their obligations or find a legal loophole.
The Escaped Prisoner: A chain devil has broken free from its own bindings and now seeks revenge against those who imprisoned it, using its intimate knowledge of restraint to turn the tables on its former captors.
Environmental Effects
Animated Restraints: Areas where chain devils operate often feature moving chains, ropes, and other binding materials that seem to have a life of their own, creating hazardous terrain for the unwary.
Psychological Pressure: The constant sound of rattling chains and the sight of restraint devices creates an atmosphere of claustrophobia and helplessness that affects even brave individuals.
Infernal Bindings: Magical restraints created by chain devils persist even after the devil's departure, requiring specific rituals or magical intervention to remove completely.
Temperature Fluctuations: The devil's fiery chains cause rapid temperature changes in the immediate area, making metal objects uncomfortably hot to touch and creating thermal stress on structures.
Treasure
Infernal Chains: The devil's animated chains retain some of their magical properties after death, potentially serving as magical weapons or components for creating binding spells.
Torture Implements: Masterfully crafted restraint devices and torture instruments that might have value to collectors or could be repurposed for more legitimate uses.
Binding Contracts: Legal documents written in infernal script that detail the terms of various agreements, potentially valuable for understanding diabolic law or as evidence of corruption.
Soul Shackles: Magical restraints designed to bind not just the body but the spirit itself, preventing escape through magical means and making them valuable for containing dangerous supernatural entities.
Plot Hooks
The Devil's Dilemma: A chain devil offers to help the heroes capture a dangerous criminal in exchange for allowing it to interrogate a different prisoner, creating moral complexity about working with infernal forces.
The Unbreakable Bonds: A chain devil has bound an important NPC with restraints that cannot be removed by conventional means, requiring the heroes to either bargain with the devil or find alternative solutions.
The Infernal Debt Collector: A chain devil appears to collect on debts owed to Hell, but the supposed debtors claim they never made any infernal bargains, leading to investigation of identity theft or inherited obligations.
The Torturer's Apprentice: A mortal has been learning the arts of restraint and interrogation from a chain devil, and their increasingly sophisticated crimes are drawing attention from law enforcement and the heroes.