Agares

Large fiend (demon), chaotic evil

Armor Class 19 (natural armor)

Hit Points 285 (18d10 + 180)

Speed 30 ft., burrow 30 ft. (earth glide), fly 60 ft.

STR 24 (+7) · DEX 14 (+2) · CON 20 (+5) · INT 22 (+6) · WIS 18 (+4) · CHA 24 (+7)

Saving Throws Str +13, Con +11, Int +12, Wis +10, Cha +13

Skills Deception +13, History +12, Insight +10, Persuasion +13

Damage Resistances cold, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non-magical attacks

Damage Immunities fire, poison

Condition Immunities poisoned, charmed

Senses truesight 120 ft., tremorsense 60 ft., passive Perception 14

Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.

Challenge 19 (22,000 XP)

Traits

Earth Glide. Agares can burrow through nonmagical earth and stone, as well as solid rock, at his full burrow speed without disturbing the material he moves through.

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Agares fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.

Magic Resistance. Agares has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Magic Weapons. Agares’ weapon attacks are magical.

Master of Tongues. Creatures that start their turn within 60 feet of Agares and can hear him automatically understand any language he speaks.

Prime Minister of Hell. Agares has advantage on Charisma (Deception, Persuasion) checks, and magic can’t prevent him from being heard or understood.

Actions

Multiattack. Agares makes three Scepter attacks.

Scepter of Titles. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 51 (4d12 + 7 plus 4d8) damage—33 (4d12 + 7) bludgeoning and 18 (4d8) necrotic.

Falcon Bolt. Ranged Spell Attack: +12 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 27 (5d8 + 2) psychic damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of Agares until the end of its next turn.

Profane Command (Recharge 4–6). Agares targets up to three creatures he can see within 60 feet. Each target must succeed on a DC 21 Charisma saving throw or be magically dominated (as dominate person) for 1 minute. The dominated creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Earth-Rending Burst (Recharge 5–6). Agares strikes the ground, creating a localized quake in a 40-foot-radius, 20-foot-deep cylinder centered on himself. Each creature on the ground in that area must make a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw, taking 42 (12d6) bludgeoning damage and being knocked prone on a failed save, or half as much damage and no prone condition on a success. The ground becomes difficult terrain until cleared (10 minutes of work per 10-foot square). Structures in the area take double damage.

Bonus Actions

Summon Infernal Falcon (1/Day). Agares summons his hunting bird into an unoccupied space he can see within 30 feet. Use the statistics of a giant eagle with the fiend type; it acts on his initiative and obeys his mental commands. The falcon disappears after 1 hour, when it drops to 0 hit points, or when Agares dismisses it (no action required).

Reactions

Seize the Fugitive. When a creature within 60 feet attempts to teleport or magically travel (including the casting of misty step, teleport, or a similar effect), Agares can force the creature to make a DC 21 Charisma saving throw. On a failure, the spell or effect is negated and the creature takes 18 (4d8) psychic damage.

Legendary Actions

Agares can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Agares regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

Scepter Attack. Agares makes one Scepter attack.

Commanding Word. Agares targets one creature he can see within 30 feet; that creature must succeed on a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw or fall prone or stand up (Agares chooses).

Tremor Step (Costs 2 Actions). Agares moves up to half his speed without provoking opportunity attacks. Each space he leaves becomes difficult terrain, and each creature whose space he moves through must succeed on a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw or fall prone.

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Lore

An aged duke riding a crocodile who causes earthquakes, bestows authority.

Agares is also known as Aguares, Agarus, or Agreas. The demon’s name shifted over time: in the Livre des Esperitz (a French magical grimoire from the late 15th century) it appears as Agarat, while in Johann Weyer’s 16th-century Pseudomonarchia Daemonum the form Agarus is used. One theory links the root of the name to the Greek agora, hinting at the spirit’s social functions—guiding crowds, distributing titles, and influencing public honor. In the infernal hierarchy he bears the title Grand Duke of the East, ranks second in the Goetia, and serves under Oriens. The Grand Grimoire makes him the prime minister of Lucifuge Rofocale, effectively placing him in charge of foreign affairs and protocol in the Underworld.

Old grimoires describe Agares in nearly identical terms: a well-mannered elderly man whose calm demeanor inspires trust—an appearance that lets the summoner manipulate others without causing panic. Yet he rides a crocodile, symbol of earth-and-water fury, patience, and latent threat, underscoring his command over the depths and his power to trigger earthquakes. In his right hand he carries a hunting bird—sources call it a hawk, goshawk, or peregrine falcon—signifying mastery of space, sharp intellect, and quick reflexes for catching fugitives, while also confirming Agares’s aristocratic role as dispenser of prelacies and honors.

From Demonic Bestiary 5E, p. 12 · Fern Flower Press