[ Div ] [ Ahriman ] [ Aghash | Akvan | Bushyasta | Doru | Druj Nasu | Dulhath | Ghawwas | Immolith | Pairaka | Sepid | Shira | Taromaiti ]
Div, Doru
The Whispering Deceivers, the Foul Breath of Lies on the Fetid Winds of Gehenna
NE; CR 2 [PF1e], Creature 1 [PF2e]
The doru, one of the most insidious of the divs, thrives on whispers, deceit, and dark manipulation. These monsters serve as the spies and messengers of div-kind, working to subtly undermine mortal societies from within. Unlike the brute force and overt malevolence of many other fiends, dorus employ their silver tongues and cunning intellects to sow discord, corruption, and ruin.
Now, a doru’s a disturbing sight to behold for sure: A disembodied head with wild, lashing hair and six twisting horns. Its fanged mouth, flat nose, and glowing red eyes complete its terrifying visage. Most unsettling though, is its mode of movement. Preferring to fly, dorus hover at eye level with those they interact with, all the better t unnerve their opponents. When grounded, they roll, bounce and cartwheel in a chaotic and horrifying manner, their horns and teeth clattering on the ground.
The Ecology of the Doru
Dorus are the least powerful of the divs, often relegated to the roles of messengers and servants for mightier divs or ambitious (read: clueless) mortal spellcasters. Despite their lack of physical prowess, the true strength or a doru lies in its ability to deceive and manipulate. Dorus weave complex webs of lies, feeding their targets exaggerated news and outright falsehoods to drive them towards paranoia, despotism, and vengeance. The ultimate goal of a doru is not just to corrupt, but to destroy the reputation and often the life of those they pretend to serve.
These fiends have a particular fixation on secrets. Each doru is obsessed with a unique topic, whether it be the history of a specific mortal lineage, intricate riddles, mathematical puzzles, or even the latest local gossip. Their obsession can drive them to enter into bizarre and often dangerous bargains to obtain the knowledge they crave—and this weakness can be exploited, if a cutter is able to identify it.
Methods of Manipulation
Dorus are masters of subtlety. They use their magical abilities to spy, eavesdrop invisibly, and then try to charm their way out of trouble. Their tactics involve creating distrust among friends and allies, pushing their targets into making disastrous decisions. Even when a doru fails to corrupt a target, they’ll aim to weaken their resolve, to make them more susceptible to future attempts.
Their manipulative nature makes doru prized by evil spellcasters, who may seek them out as familiars. A doru’s knowledge and cunning can be invaluable to a wizard seeking forbidden power, but wise bloods know that these fiends are notoriously unreliable. Dorus despise mortals and find it difficult to maintain long-term loyalty, often serving for a few decades at most before turning on their masters. Only the most tantalising secrets can secure a doru’s servitude for longer.
Strengths and Weaknesses
While dorus are not formidable in direct combat, their true power lies in their intelligence and ability to manipulate. They are excellent spies and informants. They can infiltrate secure locations, gather sensitive information, and subtly influence events to their advantage. However, their obsession with secrets is a double-edged sword which can lead them into dangerous situations and makes them vulnerable to being outwitted by those who understand their nature. The layers of lies and manipulations they construct often collapse under their own weight, leading to their eventual downfall.
Philosophical Musings
Dorus embody the insidious nature of secrets and the destructive power of unchecked ambition. Their corruption begins with a whispered, seemingly innocuous piece of information that, once planted, grows in malevolence. Doru serve as a dark reminder to mortals that the quest for knowledge, when pursued without morality or caution, will lead to ruin. Their existence is a manifestation of the idea that some truths are better left undiscovered.
Source and stats: Bestiary 3 p86 [PF1e]; Bestiary 3 [PF2e]