Tiefling
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 (and many of the other powerful devils serving under him) 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.
- Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 2.
- Age. Tieflings mature at the same rate as humans but live a few years longer.
- Alignment. Tieflings might not have an innate tendency toward evil, but many of them end up there. Evil or not, an independent nature inclines many tieflings toward a chaotic alignment.
- Size. Tieflings are about the same size and build as humans. Your size is Medium.
- Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
- 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.
- Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Infernal.
Bloodline of Asmodeus
The tieflings connected to Nessus command the power of fire and darkness, guided by a keener than normal intellect, as befits those linked to Asmodeus himself.
- Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
- Infernal Legacy. You know the Thaumaturgy cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Hellish Rebuke spell once as a 2nd-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the Darkness spell once. You must finish a long rest to cast these spells again with this trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Bloodline of Dispater
The great city of Dis occupies most of Hell's second layer. It is a place where secrets are uncovered and shared with the highest bidder, making tieflings tied to Dispater excellent spies and infiltrators.
- Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
- Legacy of Dis. You know the Thaumaturgy cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Disguise Self spell once as a 2nd-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the Detect Thoughts spell once. You must finish a long rest to cast these spells again with this trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Bloodline of Fierna
A master manipulator, Fierna grants tieflings tied to her forceful personalities.
- Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
- Legacy of Phlegethos. You know the Friends cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Charm Person spell once as a 2nd-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the Suggestion spell once. You must finish a long rest to cast these spells again with this trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Bloodline of Glasya
Glasya, Hell's criminal mastermind, grants her tiefiings magic that is useful for committing heists.
- Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
- Legacy of Malbolge. You know the Minor Illusion cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Disguise Self spell once as a 2nd-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the Invisibility spell once as a 2nd-level spell. You must finish a long rest to cast these spells again with this trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Bloodline of Levistus
Frozen Stygia is ruled by Levistus, an archdevil known for offering bargains to those who face an inescapable doom.
- Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
- Legacy of Stygia. You know the Ray of Frost cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Armor of Agathys spell once as a 2nd-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the Darkness spell once. You must finish a long rest to cast these spells again with this trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Bloodline of Mammon
The great miser Mammon loves coins above all else. Tieflings tied to him excel at gathering and safeguarding wealth.
- Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
- Legacy of Minauros. You know the Mage Hand cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Tenser's Floating Disk spell once as a 2nd-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the Arcane Lock spell once. You must finish a long rest to cast these spells again with this trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Bloodline of Mephistopheles
In the frozen realm of Cania, Mephistopheles offers arcane power to those who entreat with him. Tieflings linked to him master some arcane magic.
- Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
- Legacy of Cania. You know the Mage Hand cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Burning Hands spell once as a 2nd-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the Flame Blade spell once as a 3rd-level spell. You must finish a long rest to cast these spells again with this trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Bloodline of Zariel
Tieflings with a blood tie to Zariel are stronger than the typical tiefling and receive magical abilities that aid them in battle.
- Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.
- Legacy of Avernus. You know the Thaumaturgy cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Searing Smite spell once as a 2nd-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the Branding Smite spell once as a 3rd-level spell. You must finish a long rest to cast these spells again with this trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Abyssal Tiefling
All abyssal tieflings trace their bloodline to the demons of the Abyss. These tieflings have the following additional features.
- Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
- Abyssal Arcana. Each time you finish a long rest, you gain the ability to cast cantrips and spells randomly determined from a short list. At 1st level, you can cast a cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can also cast a 1st-level spell. At 5th level, you can cast a 2nd-level spell.
- You can cast a spell gained from this trait only once until you complete your next long rest. You can cast a cantrip gained from this trait at will, as normal. For 1st-level spells whose effect changes if cast using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, you cast the spell as if using a 2nd-level slot. Spells of 2nd level are cast as if using a 2nd-level slot.
- At the end of each long rest, you lose the cantrips and spells previously granted by this feature, even if you did not cast them. You replace those cantrips and spells by rolling for new ones on the Abyssal Arcana Spells table. Roll separately for each cantrip and spell. If you roll the same spell or cantrip you gained at the end of your previous long rest, roll again until you get a different result.
- Abyssal Fortitude. Your hit point maximum increases by half your level (minimum 1).
- Languages. You can speak, read, and write Abyssal.
| Abyssal Arcana Spells | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| d6 | 1st Level | 3rd Level | 5th Level |
| 1 | Dancing Lights | Burning Hands | Alter Self |
| 2 | True Strike | Charm Person | Darkness |
| 3 | Light | Magic Missile | Invisibility |
| 4 | Message | Cure Wounds | Levitate |
| 5 | Spare the Dying | Tasha's Hideous Laughter | Mirror Image |
| 6 | Prestidigitation | Thunderwave | Spider Climb |
History
Since appearing around the same time as Aasimar, during the end of the Entity Era, Tieflings have spread far and wide into most habitable planes even if they are a bit rare to see. This has led to many differing cultures viewing them diffrently. Some see them as just a race, some as evil lower plane spawn, and some even as harbingers of a new age. While thought to have a natural rivalry with Aasimar, it is often case that when the two races meet and start to talk they find that they have much in common.
Civilization and Culture
Historical Figures
Asmodeus
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