"Not man nor beast, the Draco people are a curious mystery. Hailing from a land beyond ours, not of divine light but warped darkness, the Draco is to be cautiously observed. These creatures, however convincing, may yet be pawns for a greater intrusion to our world if we let them. They are outsiders, in flesh and faith, and should not be trusted to safeguard the principles and values the common Thirewinian man possesses. No, he should be as confined as a bear in deep slumber. Make no mistake; They look of dragons, but have the inate cravings of their masters they hail from." - Albert S. Sabot, The Decievers
The most recent intelligent species discovered and integrated into wider society, though often at the cost of great surveillance and mistrust, are the tiefling. Tieflings come in many sizes, with some having horns or thin tails that can be used as a third appendage, though the most common variation is a tiefling with two horns petruding about 8 inches from their scalp and a thin tail measuring in length about 3 feet in length. Tieflings also have a range of skin tones, from more pale skin to medium-toned reds or purples. Though tieflings may appear as varied as many other species in Alanor, it is easy to spot one regardless of how predomonant their features are. Tieflings' introduction to this world is one filled with mystery, but also great loss and bloodshed. The Infernal Rupture as it'd become known led to the discovery, and immediate prosecution, of the people fleeing their old homeland in search for a better way of life. Though tieflings have become more accepted into wider society over the hundreds of years since they were first encountered, that does not mean that they are welcomed by many.
As a tiefling, you are trying to make your way in the world. With no place to go back to, you either live your life as a recluse in the solitude of your kin in settlements far from civilization, hoping to not be killed or taken, or you venture into the wider world and civilization itself despite the hardship. Perhaphs your purpose is to simply make a living and survive day to day, hoping to see a more welcoming world for your children through silent appropriation; Perhaphs you are the change you wish to see in the world, taking up jobs as mercenaries, escorts, or other jobs to earn the trust of those around you. In either scenario, two things are certain; The old guard who made the sacrifice for future generations are gone, and perhaphs the truth of your culture as well; And in this new world you must find your place and gain the trust of the existing world, neither of which are ensured to be easy or even fruitful.
The Infernal Rupture:
Hailing from a plane beyond our own, the tiefling people are said to hail from a land ruled by a dark entity of shadow and widespread authoritarianism. Little is known about their true origins by the wider world; Some tell stories that they were a cursed people who were once human or elven, while others say they are only agents of darker forces attempting to weaken the protections in the mortal realm. Regardless of their origin, they are said to have traveled to Alanor in the year 3,489, only nine years into the Reconstruction Age and eleven years after the destructive war between the Empire and the Reach in order to capture the vile necromancer Conrand Vileth. As a result, when word broke out across Thirewyn that a people resumbling monsters had found refuge in the forests it became a focal point for investigation and prosecution. Many who had made the perilous journey from their home land to a world foriegn to them sufferred the consequences of anger and fear they had not been the cause of. As a result, the majority of tieflings who migrated to the new world had to find refuge far from society on the edges of known maps or deep inside cave structures underground.
The Dwarves and Gnomes have been a close-knitted community in many strongholds across the continent for thousands of years, sharing commonalities in mining and craftsmanship. As tieflings had to find refuge these independant civilizations were among the first to encounter this new culture, but initially in a tense standstill in what has been described more akin to prisoners than kin. The gnomes in particular, more cautious and physically frail than their counterparts, were quick to judge the newcomers. While some strongholds were more open to utilizing the tieflings as labor or exchanging crafting techniques, stories of some strongholds initially using the refugees as experiments, slaves, or victims of weapon testing are sadly not untrue.
In the decades after their arrival, the first tieflings to venture in the wider world would be seen. At first it was during trades with the Empire or local civilizations at strongholds; Then tieflings were tasked with accompanying their collegues on trade runs, allowing them the first taste of cities and the decadence of Imperial culture. It would yet be many years before tieflings were allowed to enter cities unattended, partake in business, or be allowed many rights the average citizen has today. To this day, tieflings are looked at cautiously by many, but despite their appearance, many more socially ignorant citizens such as young adults or other more heavily persecuted species have found a mutual peace of co-existance, showing that while they may still largely be observed with caution by society as a whole, not all citizens are fearful of them and can allow a genuinely soft-hearted tiefling to show the same compassion towards those who amicably accept them.
Lifespan of a Tiefling:
Tieflings in Alanor reach maturity at the same age as humans. However, often live slightly longer lifespans than humans ranging from 90 to 115 years on average, if living a healthy life in a average enviroment. Some may live longer, but succum to the weakening strength in their later years like humans.
The oldest known tiefling in Alanor is said to be Dunharst Dunecrest, a legend among modern Tieflings who was a second-generation tiefling after the Infernal Rupture who became a wandering scholar and cultural breakthrough for tiefling relations in the empire. In his final years, as the gates of Plainview were opened to un-escorted tieflings in the year 3,659, Dunharst famously visited the Ethereal Sanctum temple in the center of the city and sat in silent contemplation among the shrines. He would reportedly become a devout follower of Delphine and studied Imperial Culture and the Imperial Pantheon for the remainder of his years. It's said he was in the process of writing a book meant to bridge the gap between tiefling and Imperial culture, with some transcripts of the work supposedly being copied and distrubuted, but there is no official report to confirm these rumors. Dunharst died as a cultural icon silently sitting in the Ethereal Sanctum at the age of 121.
Tiefling Sub-Species:
Unlike tieflings from DnD sources, Tieflings on Alanor are most equivalent to Variant Tieflings. Because it is not widely known where the tiefling people originally hail from, they do not owe credit to any one place for their appearance or personal drive. Instead, all tieflings have atleast one racial feature, such as pretruding horns, a tail, elongated fingers with nails, and often range from pale skinned to darker colors such as redish or purple tints. While not all tieflings have horns, a tail, and the normal DnD portrayal of features, all pure-blood tieflings have atleast one, if not all.
