Lemure

Lemures are weird creatures. Made up of the literal essence of Hell, their sole purpose is to be molded and reshaped into greater devils. They are pathetic, sniveling, and inherently subservient. As such, they are also the perfect representation of the souls of the mortals that sell their souls for diabolic powers.

The Lemure's stat block confirms their status as the quintessential underlings - their charisma and intelligence scores are pretty low, and their only ability gives other devils a way to command them.

If you don't give much heed to the official cosmology, the Lemure still fits the role of magician's servant, alchemical creation, and others pretty well—though it might still harbour diabolic ambitions...

- Nemanja 

Hook 1 (Nemanja) - Diabolical Design

Lemure-sculpting is treated as one of the most prestigious crafts a student at the University of Diabolic Arts can be taught. Existing at a crossroads between high art and high magic, 'tis not a skill one can easily take up.

The university lies over a very large deposit of raw evillium, the substance from which all the fiends of the world are made up. The most gifted apprentices are given access to this resource and taught how to shape it into subservient, yet powerful, creatures known as Lemures. Giving them aesthetically pleasing—even if twisted—forms is treated as a sign of control.

The Diablerie Inquisition is called in to investigate several murders and a chase after wild and esoteric clues reveals a shocking truth: One of the teachers, the conjurers' elite, has been replaced with a Lemure molded in his perfect likeness. As it turns out, one of the ambitious, powerful young students is commanding him. The problem is, there's still no clue as to which student is the perpetrator and which teacher is the victim...

Hook 2 (Reece) - Digging Too Deep

"It is terribly unfortunate, what happened in Tegriden. Terribly unfortunate," Lord Degarring gestured at the map in front of him, shaking his head. "But the truth of the matter is that there is no help to spare. The town is inconsequential to the war effort, I'm afraid."

"But, my lord, the people of the area are being overrun!" Lykander, the chaptermaster for the Sailor's Guild on the small isle that held Tegriden, was quite distraught. Degarring was the fifth landed lord he'd approached. Some prospectors, hoping to strike up another iron mine given the high demand from the war, had unearthed something just outside of Tegriden. Though he hadn't been there for the inciting incident, he'd heard haunted tales from some of the miners who had managed to escape.

A dark temple. Caged and twisted creatures long-forgotten but somehow still alive. A portal to some other place. To some hellish nightmare long buried. Fleshy creatures that mindlessly lashed out,

"The isle is isolated. I suggest you do your best to evacuate your people and abandon it. The Royal Navy will contain the creatures when the war is won."

People were dying now. The town was being consumed. Lykander would have to go... Elsewhere for help.

Hook 3 (TJ) - First Siege with a New Liege

"My liege, time is of the essence." The tyrant devil turned to his subordinate and gave it a flat look. "Ah, I've forgotten. This is your first siege, isn't it?"

The tyrant devil turned back to the city walls. "We do not have the resources to have an extended siege, is that your concern? You worry we overstay our welcome outside of Hell?"

"Yes, my liege, that's part of it."

"Then you have yet to see why we gather these tormented formless ones. This will not take nearly the time you think."

The tyrant outstretched his hand and all of the lemures gathered at the base of the walls began to shiver and converge, a central mass of roiling flesh beginning to take shape into some greater terror.

"I would not leave us exposed for so long. You should have more... faith in me than that. You'll learn. Or you'll die, just like the rest."