Corrupted Tiefling

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“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.”

Erin M. Evans, Brimstone Angels

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 Asmodeus—overlord of the Nine Hells—into their bloodline. 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.

Infernal Bloodline Embraced

Tieflings are derived from human bloodlines, and in the broadest possible sense, they still look human. However, their infernal heritage has left a clear imprint on their appearance. One that is embraced and even enhanced on Deminos, where their fiend ancestors can hold more sway and influence over their bloodlines. Many Tieflings on Deminos will breed with fiends to keep strong their ancestry, and those who are close in separation from a fiend in blood will couple together, keeping as pure as possible the hellish blood that they now draw power from. Tieflings have large horns that take any of a variety of shapes: some have curling horns like a ram, others have straight and tall horns like a gazelle’s, and some spiral upward like an antelopes’ horns. The corrupted variant often has between two and four sets of horns, growing like a crown of bone atop their heads. They have thick tails, four to five feet long, which lash or coil around their legs when they get upset or nervous. Their canine teeth are sharply pointed, and often so are several other teeth. Their eyes are solid colors—black, red, white, silver, or gold—with no visible sclera or pupil, but a gentle glow like embers. Their skin tones cover the full range of human coloration, but also include various shades of red, and black. Their hair, cascading down from behind and between their horns, is usually dark, from black or brown to dark red, blue, or purple.

Self-Reliant and Suspicious

On Deminos tieflings are treated like nobility by most other races, for their visible fiendish ancestry. While the Dragonspawn consider themselves above the tieflings, they usually show them respect out of such close and obvious connection to the fiends that rule the dark world. Many humans and shadar-kai will bend their knees to the regal appearing fiendlings. Those few tieflings that continue to hold good in their hearts tend to stay on the fringes of society, pariahs that are only left alive out of respect for their kin.

Lacking a homeland, tieflings know that they have to make their own way in the world and that they have to be strong to survive. They are not quick to trust anyone who claims to be a friend, but when a tiefling’s companions demonstrate that they trust him or her, the tiefling learns to extend the same trust to them. And once a tiefling gives someone loyalty, the tiefling is a firm friend or ally for life.

Tiefling Names

Tiefling names fall into three broad categories. Tieflings born into another culture typically have names reflective of that culture. Some have names derived from the Infernal language, passed down through generations, that reflect their fiendish heritage. And some younger tieflings, striving to find a place in the world, adopt a name that signifies a virtue or other concept and then try to embody that concept. For some, the chosen name is a noble quest. For others, it’s a grim destiny.

Male Infernal Names: Akmenos, Amnon, Barakas, Damakos, Ekemon, Iados, Kairon, Leucis, Melech, Mordai, Morthos, Pelaios, Skamos, Therai
Female Infernal Names: Akta, Anakis, Bryseis, Criella, Damaia, Ea, Kallista, Lerissa, Makaria, Nemeia, Orianna, Phelaia, Rieta
“Virtue” Names: Art, Carrion, Chant, Creed, Despair, Excellence, Fear, Glory, Hope, Ideal, Music, Nowhere, Open, Poetry, Quest, Random, Reverence, Sorrow, Temerity, Torment, Weary

Corruption on Deminos

Large number of tieflings escaped to the dark world of Deminos in the ancient days, and have since long forgotten how to return from it, though few see any reason to. On Deminos, their fiendish heritage is celebrated, and they are often exalted as high priests and clergymen of the hellish deities that influence the dark world. Their appearance shifted to become more hellish, somewhat taller and more muscular, and their skin grew thick and hardy. They have been granted leave to use blessings from the evil gods that rule this world.

Features

Age: Tieflings mature at the same rate as humans, but tend to live a few years longer.
Alignment: The Corruption on Deminos has seeped into many hearts among the tieflings, and most of them are evil, but they vary as well as any human.
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.
Fiend's Blessing: You know the thaumaturgy cantrip. After you reach 3rd level, you can cast the dragon's breath spell once per day as a 2nd level spell (after completion of a long rest). Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast bestow curse once per day (after completion of a long rest). Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Ancestor's Call: While on Deminos, you can hear your fiendish ancestors whispering desired actions and deeds from you in quiet places, and when you sleep. Every week, if you have not done a single evil aligned act, you must make a roll on the short-term madness table. Performing an action that is considered evil quiets your fiend ancestor's influence.

Languages. Infernal, Netherese