Dretch

Dretches are the least powerful of Tanar'ri demonkind, only out done by the near bestial Manes. They are petty, ugly wretches that are casually sacrificed by higher-ranking demonic entities. Doomed to a life of eternal disappointment, they do little but wallow in stinking mobs and their own self-pity while bemoaning their fate.

Description

Dretches stand around 4 ft tall and weigh around 60 lb, their squat, rounded bodies heavily contrasting their gaunt, emaciated limbs. Their skin is pale and rubbery, ranging in colour from white, beige, and blue, and sparsely covered by bristly hairs as well as pulsing, varicose veins. The eyes of a Dretch are slanted downwards, their noses seem squashed, and their exposed ears are pointed and lopped. There are small gangs inside their slobbery, slack mouths, and a pair of claws hanging of their hands.

Combat

Dretches even in combat are simple creatures that use their massive bear-like claws as higher-ranking Demons have given up trying to teach the Dretch how to use weapons. Producing a stink cloud that poisons their enemies that slows them enough for the Dretch to deliver blows with their claws.

Behaviour

With their high numbers, Dretches can be dangerous threats of they are more intelligent, but alas, they lack anything that could be regarded as brainpower. They are stupid, slow, quarrelsome, and uncreative Demons, with them only surviving within the Plane of Demons thanks to their immeasurable hordes. They prefer using their sheer numbers to win battles, their tactics rarely going beyond a mob rush as they normally have at least forty Dretches with them in a horde. This proximity amplifies their horrible stench, and because most Demons are immune to poisons, they can produce this stretch even will others of their kind are present. Dretches serve as the primary infantry in demonic armies. Because Dretches have some concern for their station, they are more reliable, relatively speaking, than the other cannon fodder troops of the Plane of Demons. At the same time, they are known as cowardly creatures and unlike many other Demons, have small amounts of self-preservation instincts. By themselves, they will flee from serious enemies, but their fear of punishment from (and desire to impress more powerful demonic forces will keep them fighting when one is present.

Society

Displeasure is the most common emotion that a Dretch can express, as they milled about in mobs expressing their disdain through different hotts, grunts and snarls. While not the lowest of the Tanar'ri breed, that being taken by the inferior Manes, they are still seen as only just a bit above them. Dretches are well aware of their own low station among their other kin, causing individaul Drectch to have different outlooks and attidues on it. Some wish to act as sycophants and helpers, attempting to be as useful as possible in hopes that more powerful forces will promote them. Wile others feel that their cimpletely miserable situation left them with nothing to lose, causing them to rebel against everything in sight. With Dretches being so numerous, many of them believe they can carve their own path in the Plane of Demons, as they are too lowly to catch the eye of more powerful entities. In trust, rebeliious Dretches are often slaughtered and hunted en mass by more powerful Demons, whom see them as nothing more then free blood to spill. 

Individually unimportant, their species plays large roles in the many wars fought by the Demons and the Plane as a whole. Because of the Tanar'ri and Demon nature to war and fight between each other, there was always the need for new meat to enter the grinder. Demonic armies are always about overwhelming numbers, and the uncounted billions of unimportant and pettty Dretches make up a vast fraction of those numbers. Regardless of their overall imprtance, Dretches are used as the rank-and-file soliders, thrown at new enemies both for tests and for fun, as there is always more Dretches wishing to join the endless hordes in hope of promotion. Though just like Manes, their fate also sometimes ends up just as a food source for greater demonic enties when prey was otherwise scares.

In-Game Stats

Monster Manual 5e

Dretch CR: 1/4

Small fiend (demon), chaotic evil

Armor Class: 11 (Natural Armor)

Hit Points: 18 (4d6 + 4)

Speed: 20 ft

STR

11 +0

DEX

11 +0

CON

12 +1

INT

5 -3

WIS

8 -1

CHA

3 -4

Damage Resistances: Cold, Fire, Lightning

Damage Immunities: Poison

Condition Immunities: Poisoned

Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 9

Languages: Abyssal, Telepathy 60 ft.

Challenge Rating: 1/4

Actions

Multiattack: The dretch makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.
Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d6) piercing damage.
Claws: Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (2d4) slashing damage.
Fetid Cloud (1/Day): A 10­-foot radius of disgusting green gas extends out from the Dretch. The gas spreads around corners, and its area is lightly obscured. It lasts for 1 minute or until a strong wind disperses it. Any creature that starts its turn in that area must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned until the start of its next turn. While poisoned in this way, the target can take either an action or a bonus action on its turn, not both, and can't take reactions.

Scientific Name

Tanar'ri Demon

Geographic Distribution

• The Plane of Demons