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Once every 5,000 years or so, a warrior cornugon devil is elevated by the powers of Hell. He undergoes a painful metamorphosis and becomes a unique creature—a malebranche. These fiends are only ever transformed for a single reason: to lead the infernal legions in conquest of an entire world or even a planar realm. Although malebranche are chosen to lead Hell's invasions, they do not always choose to achieve their victories through naked military might. Many of these devils are devious manipulators, who seek to corrupt a realm's defenders before unleashing their forces.[1]

Known Malebranche[]

Although countless malebranche have existed in the eons of Hell's existence, only twelve are known to the historians of Golarion.[2]

Malebranche in literature[]

The Malebranche ("Evil Claws") are the demons in the Inferno of Dante's Divine Comedy who guard Bolgia Five of the Eighth Circle (Malebolge). They figure in Cantos XXI, XXII, and XXIII. Vulgar and quarrelsome, their duty is to force the corrupt politicians (barrators) to stay under the surface of a boiling lake of pitch.

There are twelve Malebranche named in the poem, and their names in some cases slightly differs from the ones used by Paizo:

  •  Alichino (derived from Arlecchino, the harlequin)
  •  Barbariccia ("Curly Beard")
  •  Cagnazzo ("Nasty Dog")
  •  Calcabrina ("Frostwalker")
  •  Ciriatto ("Wild Hog")
  •  Draghignazzo ("Nasty Grinning Dragon")
  •  Farfarello ("Butterfly")
  •  Graffiacane ("Dog Scratcher")
  •  Libicocco (possibly "Libyan Hothead")
  •  Malacoda, the leader ("Evil Tail")
  •  Rubicante (possibly "Red-faced Terror")
  •  Scarmiglione ("Trouble Maker", as in "With untidy hair". In Italian it is a figure of speech.)

References[]



Deities of the Pathfinder Chronicles campaign setting
Core deities

AbadarAsmodeusCalistriaCayden CaileanDesnaErastilGorumGozrehIomedaeIroriLamashtuNethysNorgorberPharasmaRovagugSarenraeShelynToragUrgathoaZon-Kuthon

Other deities

AchaekekAlsetaAngraddApsuArodenAzathothBesmaraBolkaBrighCamazotzChaldira ZuzaristanChamiduDahakDranngvitDroskarFandarraFindeladlaraFolgritGhlaunderGroetusGrundinnarGyronnaHadregashHaggakalHanspurKetephysKolsKurgessLissalaMagrimMilaniMinderhalNaderiNivi RhombodazzlePeacock SpiritSivanahSuyuddhaThamirThremyrTruddUrazraVenkelvoreYdersiusYuelralZarongelZogmugotZursvaaterZyphus

Other powers

Ancestral SpiritsArchdevilsDemon lordsEmpyreal lordsFour HorsemenGreat Old OnesInfernal dukesMalebrancheWhore queens

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