Creatures of unbridled greed and desire, barbed devils act as guards to the more powerful denizens of the Nine Hells and their vaults. Resembling a tall humanoid covered in sharp barbs, spines, and hooks, a barbed devil has gleaming eyes that are ever watchful for objects and creatures it might claim for itself. These fiends welcome any chance to fight when victory promises reward.

Barbed devils are known for an alertness that makes them difficult to surprise, and they attend to their duties without boredom or distraction. They use their sharp claws as weapons or hurl balls of flame at foes that try to flee them.

Barbed Devil

Devil of Greed and Obsession

Infernal collectors, barbed devils fanatically protect troves of treasure and scour the planes of existence for additions to their hoards. Also known as hamatulas among the ranks of the Nine Hells, these devils bedeck their barbed hides with their most prized possessions and trophies taken from those who failed to steal from them. When threatened, barbed devils strike with their thorny limbs and hurl infernal flame.

Barbed devils often serve as guards and accountants for ice devil generals, pit fiend warlords, archdevils, and similarly powerful villains. In return, barbed devils gain protection for their own collections. Many barbed devils also maintain networks of imps that search the planes for treasures of interest or usefully greedy mortals.

Barbed devils rarely collect anything as prosaic as coins and gems. Rather, they pride themselves on having the multiverse's greatest collection of one kind of thing—typically items of rare pedigree or emblems of power. Barbed devils refuse to steal what they covet; instead they strike bargains to claim both treasure and mortal souls.

Humanoid infernals with sharp claws and a spiked tail, leathery gray skin with protruding spikes

Barbed devils are humanoid infernals with sharp claws and a spiked tail. Their skin is thick, leathery, and gray, with small spikes protruding from their joints and a slightly cone-shaped head. Despite being somewhat hunched, they still stand a full 7 feet tall. They are not particularly intelligent, and are usually minions of some greater devil or other infernal creature.

Common devils of the 3rd and 4th planes of Hell, typically used as guards and sentries

These devils are quite common on the 3rd and 4th planes of Hell. They are typically used as guards and sentries, a task which they excel at. Any trespassers will be quickly imprisoned in one of their many iron cells to await torture. Barbed devils do not need any hand weapons. They are quite proficient at using their hard, sharply-barbed claws and tail to beat their victims into submission. Whenever they hit an opponent, they cause fear (as the 4th level magic user spell).