Tiefling

Tieflings are a rare subgroup of humans with fiendish heritage. Tied to their ancestors from the Seven Hells, tieflings typically are either directly descended from a fiend, or are born from humans who have been corrupted through multiple dealings with fiends.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Tieflings tend to have an unsettling air about them, and most people are uncomfortable around them, whether they are aware of the tiefling's unsavory ancestry or not. While some look like normal humans, most retain physical characteristics derived from their ancestors, with the most common such features being horns, prehensile tails, and pointed teeth. Some tieflings also have eyes that are solid orbs of black, red, white, silver, or gold, while others have eyes more similar to those of humans. Other, more unusual characteristics include a sulfurous odor, cloven feet, or a general aura of discomfort they leave on others.
In many other ways, tieflings are similar to humans physically. Tieflings are, on average, just as tall as humans and weigh just a little bit heavier. Tiefling skin is usually human-like in color, though extending past normal human colors into reddish hues as well. Tiefling hair is also often the same color as human hair, though dark blue, red, or purple are common shades among the race. Although it is not always the case, tieflings tend to have better reflexes than their human kin. This, along with their natural propensity for hiding and deceit help to give tieflings a reputation for thievery and duplicity.
Tieflings who have strikingly inhuman features are often killed at birth by their horrified parents or others. Only those tieflings with subtle features or born to someone indifferent to their appearance, either out of acceptance or cruel purpose, are likely to reach adulthood. Those tieflings who do reach adulthood age at roughly the same rate. However, they have life spans roughly 20 to 40 years longer than normal humans.

Civilization and Culture

Major Language Groups and Dialects

A small minority, tieflings primarily speak whatever language they were raised in, typically Elvish. A handful who maintain closer relations with their fiendish ancestors also can speak Infernal.

History

Pre-Elven Conquest

Various stories from both Wiveria and pre-conquest Khalon speak of human-fiend hybrids. Feared and disliked, those who survived into adulthood faced heavy discrimination if not outright hostility. Mentions of tieflings became less frequent towards the 300s PE, with nearly no mention of tieflings during the Elven Era.

Recent History

Since the fall of Morenthyr, rumors have slowly spread throughout Ilyria and Gaul about the emergence of individuals infused with fiendish blood. One such case was the village of Strathford, where villagers made a deal with Zokus, the deacon of Zezgomon, for prosperity. Over a century, nearly half their children were born as tieflings. These children were killed shortly after birth, save a lucky few who were smuggled out of the village.
Beginning in late 1434, the number of tiefling children being born in Ilyria has increased rapidly. In some areas, nearly 1-in-50 children are born with some sort of demonic trait. The cause is yet unknown, with many parents desperate for an answer. Many tiefling children are abandoned by their parents. This has caused a variety of orphanages for these children to spring up, some under the auspices of the Lysandrian Church.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Human

Scientific Name

Homo sapiens infernalus

Lifespan

90-130 Years

Average Height

5'0''-6'6''

Average Weight

120-240 lb

Related Ethnicities

• Ilyrian