Monster Manual V

Strategies and TacticsA gulthir has lost so much that it has little fear, so it chargesinto battle recklessly, chooses an enemy, and tries to swallowthat opponent as soon as possible. It zaps strong foes withray of enfeeblement, hoping to weaken those opponents forwhen it comes time to grapple and swallow them. It usesscare to scatter its enemies so it can focus on its chosen target.If faced with numerous adversaries, a gulthir summonslemures to act as distractions and to consume to enhanceits own abilities.Sample EncounterGulthirs are pariahs, and when not in the service ofa greater devil, they stalk through the Hells gatheringpacks of lemures as pets and food.The lemures mindlessly mill aboutthe gulthir, unaware of the dangerthey face.Gublestald’s Gang (EL 7): A gluttonousgulthir named Gublestaldand his gang of four lemures (MM57) haunt the fetid landscape of acorrupted swamp. These fiendsserve a lich that lives in asinking tower in the swamp’sinterior, but they are free toharry anyone they find in thelich’s domain.EcologyGulthirs are outside the normalorder of fiends that populatethe Nine Hells. Formedfrom those devils that haveraised the ire of their infernalmasters, they are transformed into a lowerform until they somehow regain the confidenceof the baatezu.Instead of instantly ingesting the essenceof a swallowed fiend, a gulthir can insteadslowly digest the swallowed opponent,a process that transforms the creatureinto another gulthir. Devils that havedispleased their masters are oftenfed to gulthirs, as punishmentas well as a way to maintain thegulthir population. Displayinga small amount of pride,gulthirs never willingly transformlesser fiends into gulthirsthis way.A newly created gulthir is shattered by its transformation,experiencing waves of pain as its body acclimates toits new form. From the moment it reawakens, it knows itsGulthirfunction and all its abilities, and it sets out to regain its master’sfavor.Environment: Gulthirs are native to the Nine Hells ofBaator. They infest all the layers but are common on Dis, thesecond layer, where Dispater, the Iron Duke, dispenses hisparanoid brand of justice.Typical Physical Characteristics: A gulthir stands 10feet tall and weighs about 800 pounds. Its sallow skin hangsloosely from its skeletal frame. The loose mouthon a gulthir’s square head lies over a hinged jawthat the devil can unlock to accommodate creaturesof up to Medium size.Alignment: Like all baatezu, gulthirs arealways lawful evil. They take every opportunityto lord what little power they have over others,swallowing those that don’t bow down.SocietyGulthirs lament their fate. They despise theiraltered forms, a punishment they undoubtedlyfeel was unjust. To vent their hatred andloathing, they turn on other devils, revelingin the horror that their abilities elicit.Ironically, gulthirs are among the mostloyal servants in the Hells, acting likea policing force as well as a method ofpunishment. Other devils keep theirdistance from gulthirs, letting themenjoy the diversion of wreaking havocon lesser fiends.Typical TreasureTreasure is a symbol of statusthat gulthirs cling to. Theyadorn themselves with jewels,and they covet items of power.They swallow valuables carriedby their victims to keep such itemsout of the hands of potential rivals.Gulthirs have standard treasure for theirChallenge Rating.Advanced GulthirsUnless a gulthir somehow regains the favorof the devil that caused its demotion,it is condemned to spendeternity in its present form.Exceptionally old gulthirs are farlarger than their counterparts, andthey can consume larger creatures.For Player CharactersAn evil spellcaster can summon a gulthir using summonmonster VI or a higher-level summon monster spell. Treat theIllus. by C. CritchlowDEVIL33