Abishai (Dungeons & Dragons)

Abishai are a fictional species of baatezu (devils) in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.

Publication history
The first edition AD&D article "From the Sorcerer's Scroll: New Denizens of Devildom" by Gary Gygax in Dragon #75 (July 1983) introduced the black abishai, blue abishai, green abishai, red abishai, and white abishai (lesser devil), and then appeared in the first edition Monster Manual II (1983).

The black abishai, green abishai, and red abishai lesser baatezu appear in second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Outer Planes Appendix (1991), and next appear in the Monstrous Manual (1993). The black abishai, green abishai, and red abishai lesser baatezu are detailed for the Planescape setting in the first Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994).

The black abishai, blue abishai, green abishai, red abishai, and white abishai setting appear in third edition for the Forgotten Realms in Monsters of Faerûn (2000). Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells (2006) includes the black abishai, blue abishai, green abishai, red abishai, and white abishai.

Description
The abishai are a subgroup of Baatezu created through the joint efforts of Tiamat and Pearza of the Dark Eight. They are humanoid creatures that resemble gargoyles or humanoid dragons. There are five kinds, easily distinguishable by color (black, blue, green, red, and white). Most abishai are servitors of the dragon goddess Tiamat. They are the scouts, torturers, and wardens of the first two layers of Baator.

Ranked in power, the red abishai are the most powerful, followed by the blue, green, black, and white.

Further notes
Abishai is the name of one of the grandsons of King David.

Additional reading

 * "Devil in the Details." Wizards of the Coast. 08 Dec. 2006. 30 May 2007 .