Glabrezu

Glabrezu

Species	chthonic (demon)
No. Appearing	1–6
Behaviour	malevolent
Range	Abyss, subterranean
Size	9 ft. 6 in. tall
Weight	900 lbs.
Intelligence	11
Armour Class	-4
Hit Dice	10
Action Points	6
Max. Stride	9
THAC0	15
Hp/Die	d4+d6
Attack Forms	claw/claw, pincer/pincer & bite
Damage	1–4/1–4, 2–12/2–12 & 3–18
Special Attacks	cause fear, darkness, gate, levitate, magic resistance, magic to hit, natural immunities, polymorph self, possession, pyrotechnics, telekinesis, teleport, ultravision

The glabrezu is a towering, nightmarish demon of the Abyss, known for its cunning deception and brute strength. Standing nearly 20 feet tall, it possesses a hulking, bestial frame covered in matted, leathery skin, often dark brown or black in color. Its most distinctive feature is its four arms—two massive, clawed limbs built for rending flesh, while the smaller pair are more dexterous, capable of manipulation and spellcasting.

A dog-like, snarling head with glowing malevolent eyes and great, tusk-like fangs adds to its terrifying visage, exuding both intelligence and savagery. Its voice is deep and resonant, capable of issuing false promises, dark bargains, or outright threats. Despite its grotesque and monstrous form, the Glabrezu is an expert in manipulation and corruption, often luring mortals into ruin with temptations of power, wealth, or revenge rather than brute force alone.

Unlike many other demons who thrive solely on violence and destruction, the Glabrezu is a patient schemer. It works through deception, using its ability to grant wishes to lure desperate souls into making reckless bargains. However, every wish granted is carefully twisted to serve the demon’s own ends, bringing ruin to those foolish enough to trust it.

When deception fails, the Glabrezu is more than capable of engaging in direct combat, using its massive pincers to crush foes while supplementing its attacks with potent magic. It possesses innate spell-like abilities, often favoring illusions, enchantments, and devastating destructive spells to weaken or control its enemies.

Origin

Glabrezu dwell in the chaotic depths of the Abyss, favoring layers where deception, manipulation, and treachery flourish over raw destruction. Unlike the bloodthirsty warlords of demonkind, they do not thrive in realms where endless battles rage, but instead seek domains where their talents for corruption can be put to use. They often take residence in demon-infested cities, ruined temples dedicated to forgotten gods, or the grand fortresses of cunning demon princes who rule not through brute force, but through insidious influence and subtle control.

They are most commonly found serving demon lords who embody temptation, false promises, and the gradual unraveling of morality. The decadent courts of Graz’zt, the Dark Prince, are particularly suited to their nature, where their ability to offer twisted deals and lure mortals into their own downfall aligns perfectly with his love of control and excess. In the skies of the Abyss, Pazuzu, the Prince of Corruption, employs Glabrezu as whisperers of temptation, placing them in noble courts and influential circles where they can poison the minds of rulers and generals with half-truths and irresistible offers. Fraz-Urb’luu, the Demon Lord of Deception, delights in their work, seeing them as perfect instruments for undermining trust and spreading lies that lead entire civilizations to ruin. Even Orcus, the Demon Prince of Undeath, recognizes their value, sending them among the living to entrap mortals into making bargains that ultimately chain them to his service.

There are those among the Glabrezu who serve no master but their own ambition, wandering the Abyss and the mortal planes in search of those who can be ensnared by their promises. They often conceal themselves in shadowed fortresses and the ruins of once-glorious cities, waiting for the desperate to come seeking power, vengeance, or wealth beyond their reach. The Glabrezu work through patience and cunning, preferring to watch as their victims ruin themselves. They represent a deeper, more insidious evil, one that does not simply destroy, but which twists and corrupts, ensuring that by the time their victims realize the price of their desires, it is far too late to escape.

See Bestiary