Tieflings
PHB'24 p197
Tieflings
Infernal Souls
Tieflings are souls who have been afflicted by hellish energies released from the plane of Inferno. These energies, which may affect souls before their birth, come for one reason or another and often will corrupt and overpower all other traits of the soul they touch, resulting in a tiefling. The tieflings, appearing distinctly devil-like, stand roughly as tall as a human, with skin varying from blue to purple and even to red in certain cases. Additionally, they have long tails and feet adorned with hooves. Crowning their heads are curled or twisted horns that reinforce their devilish heritage. While their appearance has been overtaken by the infernal energy, their fate is still their own, and the souls of these beings can follow any path they desire.
Because of the nature of devils, tieflings are often reviled in smaller or more religious societies because of their connection to the unholy. Even if a tiefling themselves has full control over their fate, many groups view them as innately evil, corrupted from the moment of their birth. Because of these dangerous opinions, some tieflings tribes have arisen on the borders of Torrix or in the wilds of Elkus, hoping to keep an eye out for each other. This persecution isn’t unprecedented, though, in ancient times, tieflings were hunted by religious paladins or zealots. However, with the uprising of the Galanthian faith, this persecution has long since been abolished across the mainland. In fact, Saint Galanthia is often worshiped by tieflings, as the terrible oppression of yesteryear has faded to forgotten memories. As tieflings continue to overcome their circumstances, they follow their own path. Whether they derive from the golden farmsteads of the River Lily Empire or the shores of the Reaches, tieflings are finally able to create the destiny they want.
Festival of Fear
One of the most important cultural holidays to tieflings is the Festival of Fear, a series of nine days of various celebrations, each based around one of the nine Arch-Devils. While the connection to the Inferno is of course one element which draws tieflings to celebrate this series of holidays, there is one element that is even more critical to tieflings: many tieflings are born during the Festival of Fear. Due to the increased amount of hellish energies released from Inferno due to the celebrations, a child born during these nine days is much more likely to become corrupted into a tiefling. As such, while many tieflings do choose to celebrate the Festival of Fear, many others also spend the time reflecting on their lives and the circumstances of their species’ birth.
Tiefling Names
Most tiefling names will simply follow the naming conventions of the societies they were born in.You may choose to be small. When you select this species. Darkvision. You have Darkvision with a range of 60 feet. Fiendish Legacy. You are the recipient of a legacy that grants you supernatural abilities. Choose a legacy from the Fiendish Legacies table. You gain the level 1 benefit of the chosen legacy. When you reach character levels 3 and 5, you learn a higher-level spell, as shown on the table. You always have that spell prepared. You can cast it once without a spell slot, and you regain the ability to cast it in that way when you finish a Long Rest. You can also cast the spell using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level. Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for the spells you cast with this trait (choose the ability when you select the legacy).
Fiendish Legacies
| Legacy | Level 1 | Level 3 | Level 5 |
| Abyssal | You have Resistance to Poison damage. You also know the Poison Spray cantrip. | Ray of Sickness | Hold Person |
| Chthonic | You have Resistance to Necrotic damage. You also know the Chill Touch cantrip. | False Life | Ray of Enfeeblement |
| Infernal | You have Resistance to Fire damage. You also know the Fire Bolt cantrip. | Hellish Rebuke | Darkness |
