Tiefling
Species of Delvia
“But you do see the way people look at you, devil’s child.”
Those black eyes, cold as a winter storm, were staring right into her heart and the sudden seriousness in his voice jolted her.
“What is it they say?” he asked. “One’s a curiosity, two’s a conspiracy—”
“Three’s a curse,” she finished. “You think I haven’t heard that rubbish before?”
“I know you have.” When she glared at him, he added, “It’s not as if I’m plumbing the depths of your mind, dear girl. That is the burden of every tiefling. Some break under it, some make it the millstone around their neck, some revel in it.” He tilted his head again, scrutinizing her, with that wicked glint in his eyes. “You fight it, don’t you? Like a little wildcat, I wager. Every little jab and comment just sharpens your claws.”
To be greeted with stares and whispers, to suffer violence and insult on the street, to see mistrust and fear in every eye: this is the lot of the tiefling. And to twist the knife, tieflings know that this is because a pact struck generations ago infused the essence of fiendish blood into their lineage. Their appearance and their nature are not their fault but the result of an ancient sin, for which they and their children and their children’s children will always be held accountable.
Tieflings are human-based planetouched, native outsiders that have been infused with the touch of the fiendish planes, most often through descent from fiends—demons, Yugoloths, devils, evil deities, and others who had bred with humans. Tieflings are known for their cunning and personal allure, which makes them excellent deceivers as well as inspiring leaders when prejudices are laid aside.
Although their evil ancestors could be many generations removed, the taint lingered. Unlike half-fiends, tieflings are not predisposed to evil and vary in alignment about as widely as full humans. That said, tieflings are treated with cautious distrust in most countries of Delvia, at least until they prove themselves innocent.
While not nearly extinct, tieflings have become increasingly rare as of late, making them a high-value target for slave traders in Destov and Morenhauer. Seedy nobles and brothel owners will pay a hefty sum for the exotic slaves.
“What is it they say?” he asked. “One’s a curiosity, two’s a conspiracy—”
“Three’s a curse,” she finished. “You think I haven’t heard that rubbish before?”
“I know you have.” When she glared at him, he added, “It’s not as if I’m plumbing the depths of your mind, dear girl. That is the burden of every tiefling. Some break under it, some make it the millstone around their neck, some revel in it.” He tilted his head again, scrutinizing her, with that wicked glint in his eyes. “You fight it, don’t you? Like a little wildcat, I wager. Every little jab and comment just sharpens your claws.”
To be greeted with stares and whispers, to suffer violence and insult on the street, to see mistrust and fear in every eye: this is the lot of the tiefling. And to twist the knife, tieflings know that this is because a pact struck generations ago infused the essence of fiendish blood into their lineage. Their appearance and their nature are not their fault but the result of an ancient sin, for which they and their children and their children’s children will always be held accountable.
Tieflings are human-based planetouched, native outsiders that have been infused with the touch of the fiendish planes, most often through descent from fiends—demons, Yugoloths, devils, evil deities, and others who had bred with humans. Tieflings are known for their cunning and personal allure, which makes them excellent deceivers as well as inspiring leaders when prejudices are laid aside.
Although their evil ancestors could be many generations removed, the taint lingered. Unlike half-fiends, tieflings are not predisposed to evil and vary in alignment about as widely as full humans. That said, tieflings are treated with cautious distrust in most countries of Delvia, at least until they prove themselves innocent.
While not nearly extinct, tieflings have become increasingly rare as of late, making them a high-value target for slave traders in Destov and Morenhauer. Seedy nobles and brothel owners will pay a hefty sum for the exotic slaves.
Basic Information
Anatomy
While some look like normal humans, most retain physical characteristics derived from their ancestor, with the most common such features being horns, prehensile tails, and pointed teeth. Some tieflings have been known to have eyes that are solid orbs of black, red, white, silver, or gold, while others generally have eyes more similar to those of humans.
The physical appearance of a tiefling often depended on the exact ancestry that spawned it, a bloodline that might have remained dormant for generations. Diabolic or demonic tieflings could, besides the common horns and tails, possess a forked tongue, leathery or scaly skin, the smell of brimstone, or unusually warm flesh. Some accounts even held these tieflings to cast neither shadows nor reflections. Some diabolic tieflings also sported goat-like legs or hooves. Tieflings descended from rakshasa might have furred skin or feline eyes. Most tieflings had only one or two of these features.
The physical appearance of a tiefling often depended on the exact ancestry that spawned it, a bloodline that might have remained dormant for generations. Diabolic or demonic tieflings could, besides the common horns and tails, possess a forked tongue, leathery or scaly skin, the smell of brimstone, or unusually warm flesh. Some accounts even held these tieflings to cast neither shadows nor reflections. Some diabolic tieflings also sported goat-like legs or hooves. Tieflings descended from rakshasa might have furred skin or feline eyes. Most tieflings had only one or two of these features.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Thanks to their fiendish blood, tieflings are naturally adapted to darker, gloomier environments. Their eyes allow them to see better in darkness, but only in shades of red.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Conservation Status
This species is rare
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