Devas are angelic messengers and guides.

Description

A typical deva's true form looks like a silvery-skinned humanoid with large, feathery wings and lustrous hair and eyes, carrying a mace as a weapon. They usually prefer to appear as ordinary humanoids or beasts appropriate to their location.^[1] One deva of Sehanine had blue skin like the goddess she served.^[4] A "deva-like entity" of Sarenrae had white eyes and hairless, pale blue skin; she wore a simple silver breastplate with gold lining and carried a sword.^[2]

The angels who appear to aasimar in their dreams, guiding them with prophecies, visions, and feelings, are usually devas.^[5]

Abilities

The following is taken from the Monster Manual, 5th Edition, p. 16.

• Saving throw proficiencies: WIS, CHA
• Skill proficiencies: Insight, Perception
• Damage resistances: radiant, bludgeoning/piercing/slashing from nonmagical attacks
• Condition immunities: charmed, exhaustion, frightened
• Magic Resistance: Advantage on saving throws against spells and magical effects
• Angelic Weapons: The deva's weapon attacks are magical, and a hit from any of its weapons deals 4d8 additional radiant damage
• Innate spellcasting (requiring only verbal components):
  • At will: Detect Evil and Good
  • 1/day each: Commune, Raise Dead
• Actions
  • Mace: Bludgeoning damage plus the usual radiant damage
  • Multiattack: Two Mace attacks
  • Healing Touch (3x/day): Target regains 20 hit points and is cured of all curses, diseases, poisons, blindness, and deafness.
  • Change Shape: Polymorphs into a humanoid or beast with a Challenge Rating no higher than its own or back into its true form, absorbing or carrying any equipment of its current form as it chooses. The deva's AC, movement modes, Strength, Dexterity, and special senses are replaced by those of the new form, and it gains any capabilities of the new form in addition to its own. Reverts to its true form if it dies.

History

Perigee, a deva of Sehanine, fought in the Calamity alongside Alyxian in his final battle, defending Cael Morrow against Gruumsh's attack. After being re-formed at the Moonweaver's side she looked for Alyxian for centuries, until she found her way to the Netherdeep, where she was corrupted by ruidium and fell into despair. In this state she is willing to attack those who she considers to be bothering the Apotheon's dreams and those who think they can take him on, but if she is defeated, she is cleansed of her corruption and returns to the Moonweaver's side.^[6] If that happens, and Alyxian later threatens the world, Sehanine may send Perigee to help the adventurers who freed her.^[7]

As of 810 PD, the pillars in the main foyer of the Alabaster Lyceum were decorated with imagery of devas battling demons.^[8]

Pike Trickfoot summoned a "deva-like entity" of Sarenrae to repair the damage Vorugal inflicted on Greyskull Keep.^[2]

When Vox Machina visited the Fortress of the Sun, where Pelor resides in the Fields of Elysium, they encountered a number of devas among the angels there.^[9]

In early 812 PD, as Vecna's forces attacked Vasselheim, groups of clerics summoned devas to fight in defense of the city. A dozen such devas, summoned by one temple, fought against more than twice as many gloomstalkers, only for both groups to be swiped from the sky by Vecna's reanimated earth titan.^[10]

The adventure hook Morning Glory in the Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, set in 836 PD, involves a misguided deva of Pelor called Eclipse posing as a humanoid priest in Bronbog, a village in Tal'Dorei with a longstanding devotion to the Dawnfather. Hoping to brainwash the Bronboggi to create a loyal Army of the Dawn to fight against Pelor's enemies, Eclipse summons several glowing obelisks from the swamp that cause the most devout villagers to marvel, calling the pillars "heralds of the Dawnfather, the rising sun", though their feverish attitude disturbs their neighbors.^[11]

Trivia

• In the world of Aramán, "Deva Vindicta" was the name given to the avenging angel that was supposed to be crafted in Tannesar to avenge the eventual death of the sun god Tansul.^[12]

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} See D&D: Monster Manual (2014), 5^th ed., p. 16.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} See "Desperate Measures" (1x40) at 1:27:37.  The angel is identified as a "deva-like entity" in "Dangerous Dealings" (1x42) at 0:11:59.
3. ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 168.
4. ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, pp. 168–169.
5. ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 166.
6. ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, pp. 168–169. See also p. 7.
7. ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 186.
8. ↑ See "Escape from the Underdark" (1x13) at 2:16:42.
9. ↑ See "The Fear of Isolation" (1x105) at 0:12:05.
10. ↑ See "Vecna, the Ascended" (1x114) at 3:48:23.
11. ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 110.
12. ↑ See "Vindicta & Vale" (4x18) at 3:46:04.

Art:

1. ↑ Depiction of a deva's true form, by Conceptopolis from Monster Manual, 5th ed., p. 16. This page contains unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
2. ↑ Depiction of Perigee corrupted with ruidium, by Nikki Dawes from Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep, p. 169. Used with permission. This page contains unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.