Tieflings
Basic Information
Anatomy
Created as super-soldiers for the Guild, tieflings are humans that have been exposed for prolonged periods to the physically distorting forces of Hell. Following this period of exposure, humans will begin to acquire demonic traits including (but not limited to horns, clawed hands or feet, increased strength/agility, discolored eyes, thick hide in place of skin, acid in place of blood, tails, forked tongues, and wings. Apart from any of these traits, tiefling anatomy is identical to that of humans. Variation in the expression of each of these traits is dependent upon which devil (or Old God) the reality distortion force originated from, thereby linking different forms of tielfling to different demonic domains in exactly the same patterns as infernal beings who are "born" from this effect. For example, tieflings "created" by Molok's power are known to have pitch black skin, whereas those created in the domain of Eris have bright red skin.
Genetics and Reproduction
It has been postulated that tieflings, as hybridized humans, would naturally give birth to human children. However, after clinical observation by Guild scientists it was determined that all known tieflings created to date are sterile, incapable of causing or becoming pregnant.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Feared by those who misunderstand their nature, tieflings are accepted only within the society which created them: the Guild. Within the Guild, tieflings are viewed as military property for the most part, and are treated as a warrior class above the rest of their citizenry. As such, tieflings have a double-edged role within the Guildlands. On one hand, they enjoy status, privileges, and leadership ranks that other citizens cannot hope to attain. On the other hand, for a tiefling to pursue anything outside the military is banned. Thanks to this, most tieflings encountered throughout the Guildlands, New Padrya, and the Dearth fall into one of two categories: dedicated warlocks and military operatives loyal to the Guild, or deserters trying to break free from the Guild's control. To ensure the loyalty of the tieflings they create, the warlocks who operate the Machine employ brainwashing magic to replace the memories of humans subjects before they are changed and enlisted into service.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Tieflings originated in the Guildlands, east of the Dearth. Following the war for New Padrya against the Empire, many tieflings were taken prisoner and transported to the Zarion territories for study, while others deserted and fled into the western wildlands. It is estimated that there are no more than a few hundred tieflings at present moment.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Tieflings are usually capable of seeing in total darkness, and most have the innate ability to sense the presence of other beings of infernal influence nearby. These abilities appear to grow stronger with use or prolonged exposure to the powers of Molok and Hadea.
Civilization and Culture
Common Taboos
Tieflings of Kash's generation (black tieflings) have been observed to be impeccably well-mannered and sophisticated. Hot baths, well tailored clothing, clean nails and mint juleps were all considered musts. Definite taboos against wanton uncleanliness, coarseness, and rudeness have also been observed.
Red tieflings did not all subscribe to these same standards of conduct, though notably, the tiefling, Slim, was known throughout Riverbed as a "dandy". It is likely that the influence of Molok, whether from his infernal realm or from his tutelage of his "children", imparted some of this sense of propriety. Subsequently, Eris's chaotic personality may explain in part why this is lacking in red tieflings.
History
The Free Guildsmen of New Padrya, now simply known as the Guild, proclaimed their independence from the Zarion Empire only a decade ago. Over the course of ten years, civil war between the Guild and the Empire spread across the eastern coast of the continent known to many as the "New World", reaching even to the fringes of the Urunad and the northeastern frontier of the Dearth.
Leading the initial secession from the Empire were trade leaders who dabbled in infernal magic. They summoned infernal forces to fight in their army and eventually formed a pact with Molok, King of Hell. These warlocks became a governing council called the High Warlocks who doubled as the generals of the Guild's military forces. Their deal with Molok led to the creation of the Machine, a device that would tear open a portal to Hell, and into which would be deposited Molok's desire payment, 100 human souls.
Of these 100 humans, all were fed into the machine alive. All were children between the ages of 9 and 15, either stolen from or volunteered by households in the Guildlands. When Molok received the children, he sought to give them a better life than they could hope for in their wartorn homeworld, but knew that they could not live in the Palace of Night forever, and one by one sent them back to the world as tieflings. Although it had been years in Hell, only hours had passed on Farus. Guild diabolists were quick to condition the minds of those who stepped out of the Machine so as to more easily control them. These first tieflings possessed horns, tails, pitch black skin, and the "gifts of the dark path" - the blessings of their patron, Molok.
One tiefling of this generation, Jon Kash, was aided by Molok in breaking his Guild conditioning. When Molok discovered that the Guild was erasing their personalities and memories of Hell, he renounced helping them and resolved to actively work against the Guild. He warned Kash that Eris had usurped his place as the patron of the Guild, and a new generation of tieflings was being born of her fire and rage (red tieflings) that spelled doom for the Guildlands and beyond. Kash became Molok's de facto champion and was subsequently able to break his blood-brother, Micah, from Guild conditioning as well.
The town of Riverbed and other settlements in the Dearth had small populations of red tieflings. Mostly these were deserters from the Guild army interested in starting a life outside the laws of the Guildlands. Other tieflings encountered in those parts were Guild soldiers, bounty hunters, or other operatives.
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