Appearance
Tieflings generally have an appearance similar to whichever demon has cursed them with a sliver of The Underworld. Most have grey skin, with many different styles of horns. Beyond that, many have tails and hooves, while some sport greener skin and insectoid feet, and others still look radically different to the rest.
In build and height they can vary as much as humans, while their eyes tend to shades of yellow or black and their hair tends towards a hue that matches their skin.
Description
Dark Beginnings
Tieflings are not a naturally produced species of their own. That is to say, even if two tieflings copulate, their child will still be human, or whatever species the tieflings' ancestors were. No, instead tieflings are the results of dark bargains or curses, most often created when a couple promises their firstborn to a hellish being in return for power or riches, only to realise in horror what the deal actually meant once the child arrives.
Feared & Reviled
Stories of tieflings throughout the world are filled with misery and cruelty, for few tales end well when a demon is involved. The belief that these hellspawn are destined to hurt others, coupled with their unnatural appearance, has led to scores of unfortunate infants being left to die of exposure in the wilderness. Those few that are lucky enough to reach late childhood and beyond remain feared by civilised folk; whether by natural inclination or by societal pressure, many turn to dark deeds to survive, further enhancing their kind's foul reputation.
A Light in the Darkness
Tieflings the world over may speak of a darker ego in their minds, pushing them towards evil. Some describe it as a voice in their heads, others simply receive dark dreams on occasion, and a few unfortunate souls seem to simply have no conscience as if their internal morals have been hacked away at till nothing remains. Of course, many indulge these feelings and voices, leading some tieflings to committing atrocities that would make the cruelist of humans ill to consider.
And yet, more notable than any of the stories, are the plentiful tieflings who commit no such cruelties, who act with kindness in their hearts. They battle the shadows within, emerging as heroes in a war that few are ever aware of. The number of tieflings ascending to positions of prominence has risen in recent days, as they work to bring themselves and their kin into better days.
Religion & Politics
The Breaker
The relationship tieflings have with
Fidain is a complex one, for The Serpent is not a demon and creates very few hellspawn directly, but it does dwell in The Underworld, and as the God of Corruption, is responsible for more than a few souls falling to the despair necessary to transform into fiends who would then go on to form their own hellish creations.
Some claim that the dark impulses all tieflings have come from him, the original source of dark thoughts and deeds. Understandable, then, is the fact that tieflings who perform evil deeds will tend to worship this foul deity.
The Sun
Those kinder tieflings who reject their shadows will tend to worship
Talsia, for she is a God of Light, Protection, and Rebirth. In fact, one of the most common places to find a tiefling outside of city slums or cults is a Temple to The Phoenix, working as priests to help others towards the second chances they have been given.
Republic of Ósa
"Tieflings, moreso perhaps than any other lineage, represent the ideals of our wondrous Republic. By seeking the light of knowledge and the love of civilisation, they ascend far beyond whatever darkness would claim them, joining our Assembly of Mages and guiding us all to a worthy tomorrow." - Zarligantír Kerrhylon
Despite the hatred from common peoples, tieflings find themselves more welcomed amongst the upper eschelons of The Republic. Once they become an adult with control over their infernal magics, they may rise to high stations in human cities where arcane power is respected regardless of source. They are still feared and untrustworthy in the eyes of most, but few speak up about it unless they’ve the political means to survive criticising a Mage of the Assembly
Kingdom of Praelos
Without the automatic respect and status granted to Mages in Ósa, tieflings in Praelos fair even more poorly. They are not only typically killed directly at birth instead of being left to die in the wild, but if the parents are discovered to have been colluding with demons, they too are executed. The few who survive till adulthood, or the foolish who travel over, find themselves permanently outsiders, with little hope of a better life unless they can claim one with skill and violence.
Mechanics
Ability Scores: Cha +2, any other +1
Size: Tieflings are about the same size and build as humans. Your size is Medium.
Speed: 30ft
Languages: You can speak Common and Infernal
Abandoned by the Gods: You gain piety half as quickly as other races for deeds committed in a chosen god’s favour, but lose it half as quickly as well for deeds that go against your deity. The points are instead doubled for a follower of Fidain.
Darkvision: Thanks to your infernal heritage, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Hellish Resistance: You have resistance to fire damage.
Infernal Legacy: You know the thaumaturgy cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the hellish rebuke spell as a 2nd-level spell with this trait; you regain the ability to cast it when you finish a long rest. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the darkness spell once per day with this trait; you regain the ability to cast it when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
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