Is anyone out there besides me a little frightened by Chris Pramas. Oh sure, he's a nice guy. On the surface! But we all know fiends assume a pleasing form when engaging in the seduction and subtle manipulations for which they are infamous. What was it Shakespeare said? "The devil hath power to assume a pleasing shape". Is Pramas' uncanny, and quite frankly unsettling knowledge of fiends a result of something more sinister than merely brilliant game design?
Perhaps we'll have to wait and see. But I have before me yet another testament to his intimate knowledge of devils and demons, Legions of Hell Book of Fiends, Volume 1. Having written the definitive D&D sourcebook on the topic, A Guide to Hell, Pramas decided to return to scene of perhaps his greatest success in this new soucebook from Green Ronin Publishing.
"Legion of Hell introduces you to Asmodeus' most notorious minions, up close and personal", which can't be all that safe, can it? "You'll meet scheming dukes, infernal assasins, and elite shock troops. You'll see firsthand why only the most ruthless devils survive the cuthrroat politics of the infernal reaches". Betcha my bottom dollar ol' Dubbaya Bush would fit right in down there!
Legions of Hell offers something for sick little minds of all persuasions. I'll begin with the meat of the book, which consists of 41 new Fiends, ranging in CRs from ˝ to over 20 (doh!). If your players a getting a bit cocky and are sleepwalking through adventures, scratching their backs with vampire limbs or drop-kicking giants across the room, this is exactly what the doctor ordered. Nothing like a good old fashioned medieval bleeding to cure what ails you…..literally, in this case!
I don't think I've seen a book that struck me with such intensity in a long time. Some fiends repulsed me, others shocked with their awesome might, and others, I must admit, attracted. The bottom line is there are no fillers in this book, no after-thoughts used to round out the effort.
Hellwardens look like crucified devils, with missing limbs and disfiguring wounds. Nevertheless, they are very much alive, and are used as powerful sentries by the forces of Hell. Antaia, the Witch Queen, is infinitely more powerful but just as subtle. Frequently travelling the Prime Material Plane, she lures worshippers away from the gods through manipulation and deceit. Perhaps the most repulsive fiend is Nergal the Fetid Prince, who is very similar in name and abilities to Nurgal from WFRP. A bloated monstrosity, he lives in a hellish swamp and revels in spreading disease on the Prime Material Plane. One of the more deadly opponents described herein.
Besides these fearsome foes, we find a few other interesting items with Legions of Hell.
Three prestige classes, with a sample NPC for each, are included. Balan's Jackals are gnoll-like monstrosities that had to engage in an orgy of cannibalism and murder before it could join the ranks of this feared group. Little more than savage animals driven by instinct and unswerving loyalty to their master, they are often sent on hunts onto the Prime plane. Mountebanks are the height of dupliciousnes and cunning. They are mortal souls who have sold their sole to the devil, so to speak, in exchange for great powers. Finally, there are Plaguelords, the bloated insectoid assasins and servants of Nergal. Get a load of this: Initiation calls for a prospective plaguelord to allow giant maggots to nest inside his guts and then consume him from the inside out!
As well, we have a template for fallen celestials (the results are awesome) and a brief but insightful look at angelic choirs and fallen celestials in Hell. Finally, scattered through-out the book one will find a handful of minor artefacts (for example Balan's huntsman's horn, through which the Infernal Hunt gains access to the Prime Material Plane), and new weapons (military fork, handscythe).
Pramas' writing is consistently clear and evocative, a real treat to read. That alone would make this sourcebook a winner, but when bound in such a professional and attractive package, it becomes a classic. The lay-out is excellent, and the interior artwork by a cast of luminaries (Brom, Chris Keefe, Sam Wood, and Cthulhu artist Toren Atkinson) is superb.
A book as inspiring as this can be used in genres beyond fantasy. Behold. I used Furcas in my Star Wars campaign as the overlord of the Emperors Sith Library, and boy were my PCs surprised when the mild-mannered librarian they expected to find turned out to be a powerful Dark Side Jedi. As well, I am about to run an Indiana Jones adventure based around Krotep, and I have plans to use the Akop as my version of the Borg in my long running Star Trek saga. The point is, wherever evil lies, Legions of Hell has its applications.
But it is in D&D where Legions of Hell is truly at home. There, the evil machinations of the denizens described within have the most scope for use.
I find myself in anticipation for the next book in the series. Am I being drawn in by the allure of evil? Is this book, as brilliant as it is, just part of an insidious plot of corruption by Chris Pramas? Buy it, and you can be the judge!
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