Fiend

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Fiend
Fiend
(Creature)

Level
Varies
Alignment
Adjective
Fiendish
Source: Monster Core, pg(s). 362
See also: Outer Sphere, celestial, and monitor

The term fiend or fiendish is used to describe creatures, places, or ideas originating or influenced by forces from the Outer Sphere planes of unholy nature or evil alignment, also known as the lower planes. This includes demons of the Outer Rifts, devils of Hell, and daemons of Abaddon.12

It is also used as a general term to describe anything deemed abhorrent, degenerate, or corrupted.3

Types of fiends

The term "fiend" most often refers to various types of beings native to an Outer Plane who are devoted to the causes of unholiness and evil. Some of the categories of creatures considered fiends are:

Asura
The living blasphemies known as asuras are born from the mistakes of the gods and seek to sow doubt and discord among mortals.4[citation needed]
Daemon
The denizens of Abaddon, daemons want nothing less than the extinction of all life in the multiverse.5[citation needed]
Demodand
Created by the titans in mockery of mortals, the demodands do their masters' bidding to tear down the works of the gods.6[citation needed]7
Demon
The spawn of the Outer Rifts, demons are born from mortal souls gorged on sin and wish to bring pain and suffering to all mortal life.8[citation needed]
Devil
The devils are the legions of Hell, created by Asmodeus to bring his vision of ruthless, brutal order to all existence.9[citation needed]
Div
Created from the souls of corrupt genies, divs exist to bring misery to mortals and despoil all that is beautiful.10[citation needed]
Imp
Created from the planes themselves, imps manipulate mortals into damnation.11
Nindoru
Associated with Tian Xia, nindorus are fiends tied to broken cycles.12
Qlippoth
The primeval denizens of the Outer Rifts, the alien qlippoth seek to destroy the demonic usurpers through the destruction of sin itself—by slaughtering mortals.13[citation needed]
Sahkil
Sahkils are former psychopomps who rebel against their role as soul shepherds for the River of Souls.14[citation needed]
Velstrac
Denizens of the Netherworld, velstracs warp flesh and spirit in endless pursuit of perverse "perfection".15[citation needed]

Other evil outsiders that do not fall into any specific category, such as barghests or dorvaes, might also be considered fiends.[citation needed]16

Planar scion

Planar scions created by fiendish influence or parentage are called cambions.1718

Fiendish creatures

Fiendish creatures are native to the lower planes or are natives of the Universe that have been transformed by the foul energies of the lower planes. Many exist in forms almost identical to those found in the Universe.19[citation needed] For instance, a race of fiendish humans inhabits Ishiar, the realm of the demon lord Dagon in the Outer Rifts.20

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.

  1. Logan Bonner, et al. “Appendix” in Bestiary, 346. Paizo Inc., 2019
  2. Logan Bonner, et al. “Ability Glossary” in Monster Core, 361–363. Paizo Inc., 2024
  3. Fiend on Wikipedia.
  4. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Monsters A to Z” in Bestiary 3, 21. Paizo Inc., 2011
  5. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Monsters A to Z” in Bestiary 2, 62. Paizo Inc., 2010
  6. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Monsters A to Z” in Bestiary 3, 68. Paizo Inc., 2011
  7. Demodands are legacy content as of the Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project. See Meta:Demodand.
  8. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Monsters A to Z” in Bestiary, 56. Paizo Inc., 2009
  9. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Monsters A to Z” in Bestiary, 71. Paizo Inc., 2009
  10. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Monsters A to Z” in Bestiary 3, 82. Paizo Inc., 2011
  11. Logan Bonner, et al. Imp” in Monster Core, 206. Paizo Inc., 2024
  12. Jeremy Blum. “Cycles of Destruction” in No Breath to Cry, 63. Paizo Inc., 2023
  13. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Monsters A to Z” in Bestiary 2, 218. Paizo Inc., 2010
  14. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Monsters A to Z” in Bestiary 5, 212. Paizo Inc., 2015
  15. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Monsters A to Z” in Bestiary 3, 170. Paizo Inc., 2011
  16. Oni and rakshasas were fiends prior to the Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project. See Meta:Fiend.
  17. Logan Bonner, et al. “Monsters A-Z” in Bestiary, 262. Paizo Inc., 2019
  18. Paizo referred to cambion planar scions as tieflings until the publication of Player Core. These cambions are unrelated to the type of demon with the same name.
  19. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Appendix 1: Monster Creation” in Bestiary, 290. Paizo Inc., 2009
  20. James Jacobs. “Lords of the Abyss” in Lords of Chaos, Book of the Damned Volume 2, 14. Paizo Inc., 2010

External links

  • Fiend (real-world concept) on Wikipedia