Baatezu

Baatezu are a strong, evil-tempered, well-organized race of fiends. In their rigid caste system, authority derives not only from power but from station. Changes in station come from participation in the Blood War or (as is more often the case) from the high attrition rate in the upper ranks. If a baatezu performs a great feat that cripples the enemy, it is rewarded by promotion -- actually a physical transformation -- to a higher station.

The baatezu pursue two obsessive goals. First and foremost, the baatezu wish to fulfill their ancient quest to destroy the tanar'ri, their blood enemies. Both races treat the conflict not only as a war of annihilation, but as a definition of existence. Second, the baatezu have recently (by immortal standards) noticed a small but interesting group of beings: humanity. The baatezu also know that by infiltrating humans and entering their world they will gain power over the tanar'ri. Toward this end they constantly strive to dominate the Prime Material plane and its natives.

In contrast to the chaotic evil tanar'ri, baatezu pursue a long-range goal of dominion by their whole race throughout the planes. They prefer to encourage humanity’s intellectual evils, such as pride and ambition, rather than the immediate sensual appetites tanar'ri exploit.

Baatezu are native to Baator. On Ardrana, baatezu do not appear with any frequency, usually only via the summoning of powerful spellcasters. When they do appear, they are more commonly called "devils".

Note: Baatezu originally appeared in this form in the Planescape Monstrous Compendium for the AD&D game from TSR. Their use here is for the purposes of providing context for the campaign only.