Gloom Devils
Gloom devils are the embodiments of terror, deceit, and confusion. These devils are able to use their mastery of shadows to sow discord and insanity among mortals.
Agents of Corruption
The primary goal of a gloom devil is to plant the seeds of corruption into the souls of mortals. Because of this, gloom devils are most commonly found on the Material Plane working in the shadows to claim the souls of victims.
Shadowy Conspirators
While on the Material Plane, gloom devils devise elaborate schemes and conspiracies to corrupt as many souls as they can. Whereas other devils seek to bind souls through contracts for power, gloom devils prefer to corrupt their victims through constant fear and madness. They subject their victims to perpetual torment sending them to the point of depravity. Only then will the gloom devil put that creature out of its misery dragging its soul to the depths of hell.
Battle Tactics
Their preferred tactic is to lurk into the shadows and incite chaos. They have the ability magically warp the shadows around them to cause a creature to have illusory nightmares that prey on their target's greatest fears or regrets. If possible, the gloom devil will do its best not to ever reveal its true form. If physical intervention is required, the gloom devil will typically delegate these tasks to lesser devils. As a result, when there is a suspected insurgence of devils, it is highly likely that a gloom devil could be the source of such an incursion.
Maddening Shadowcraft
Despite their role as masterminds, they are still incredibly dangerous entities when cornered. If forced to fight, the gloom devil will force its enemy to fight on its own turns. While in darkness, the gloom devil is at its strongest as its spells are far more effective in these conditions. The best countermeasure for these entities is to use magical sunlight which temporarily negates many of their special abilities.
Gloom Devil Contracts
As with any devil, gloom devils will attempt to claim the soul of a mortal in exchange for a boon. If a gloom devil manages to forge a contract an adventurer, that creature gains the following benefits as part of this contract:
Contract Boons
Devil's Sight You gain darkvision up to 120ft. and your vision is not obscured by magical darkness. You also do not suffer disadvantage on Wisdom(Perception) checks as a result of low light.
Gloom's Skulker While in dim light or darkness, you are invisible to creatures that rely on darkvision to see it.
Shadow Shield While in dim light or darkness, you can use your reaction to take half damage
Shadow Magic You know the Thaumaturgy cantrip. You can cast the Darkness spell as a 2nd-level spell, Summon Shadowspawn as a 3rd level spell, and Shadow of Moil as a 4th level spell once each without spending a spell slot and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. You can use your choice of Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma as your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Gloom Devil
Medium fiend (devil), lawful evil
- Armor Class 17 (Natural Armor)
- Hit Points 120(16d8+48)
- Speed 30ft., fly. 60ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 16 (+3) 17 (+3) 16(+3) 18 (+4) 17 (+3) 18 (+4)
- Saving Throws Dex +7, Int +8, Wis +7, Cha +8
- Skills Deception +8, Perception +7, Intimidation +8, Stealth +7
- Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from non-magical attacks, necrotic, psychic
- Damage Immunities Fire, Poison
- Condition Immunities poisoned
- Senses darkvision 120ft., passive Perception 17
- Languages Infernal, telepathy 120ft.
- Proficiency Bonus +4
- Challenge 12 (8400 xp)
Devil Sight The gloom devil's vision is not obscured by magical darkness.
Gloom Skulker While in dim light or darkness, the gloom devil is invisible to creatures that rely on darkvision to see it.
Magic Resistance The gloom devil has advantage on saving throws against spells and magical effects.
Shadow Avoidance While in dim light or darkness, when the gloom devil fails a saving throw against an effect that deals damage, it takes half damage. On a successful saving throw, it takes no damage instead.
Shadowcraft While in dim light or darkness, creatures suffer disadvantage on saving throws against the gloom devil's spells.
Umbral Armor While in dim light or darkness, the gloom devil can add its Charisma modifier to its armor class.
Innate Spellcasting
The gloom devil's spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 16). The gloom devil can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components
- At will Darkvision, Darkness, Shadow Blade
- 3/day each Invisibility, Silence, Summon Shadow Spawn
- 1/day Fear, Phantasmal Killer, Shadow of Moil, Plane Shift
Actions
Multiattack. The gloom devil can make two attacks with its Umbra Blade.
Umbral Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, 5ft., one target. Hit 10(2d6+3) slashing damage. + 4(1d8) necrotic damage., If the target is in dim light or darkness, it deals an additional 9(2d8) psychic damage.
Maddening Shadows The gloom devil attempts to use fear and paranoia to corrupt a creature's mind. One frightened creature that the gloom devil can see within 30ft. of it must succeed a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed saving throw, the target takes 36 (8d8) psychic damage and must roll a d100 to suffer from one of the effects from the Long-term Madness table. If a creature dies while in this state of madness, the gloom devil can claim its soul. This effect can be removed by using Greater Restoration or similar magics.
Creatures in dim light or darkness have disadvantage on this saving throw. A creature can only be affected by this feature once every 24 hours, regardless of a successful or failed saving throw.
Bonus Actions
Shadow Stealth While in dim light or darkness, the gloom devil can use its bonus action to Hide.
Reactions
Shadow Shroud If the gloom devil takes damage while in dim light or darkness, it can use its reaction to halve the damage taken.