Tiefling
A tiefling is a Humanoid of any lineage who is influenced by the Negative Planes profoundly enough to change their bloodline and appearance.
In rare instances, a Fiend may ascend to the Material Plane, whether summoned by dark magic or simply having taken advantage of a spot where their plane temporarily weaves closer to the Material Plane. They leave negative energy wells on the locations they visit. A baby born in the area, or born of parents who dabble in the dark arts or spend too much time around the negative energy wells, has a high likelihood of being born a tiefling-- horned humanoids with skin in unnatural hues, who tower over all but the tallest humans and elves. Tieflings can come from anywhere, born of any parents-- it's hard to quantify any specific "tiefling culture," as they're fairly rare and scattered across the plane. A notable exception is the small island of Chorr'zya in the Aquatic Kingdoms, which is frequented by devils and thus has a sizeable tiefling minority.
Basic Information
Anatomy
A tiefling is fundamentally humanoid, but with a number of notable differences. They are typically between nine and twelve inches taller than would be genetically expected, and with a smooth, prehensile tail between three and four feet in length. Their skin tone can resemble that of their parents or display more vibrant hues, most commonly red, violet, or purple; other shades, from blues and greens to shades of gray, are also possible, if quite rare. Tieflings have horns (less frequently, antlers) in a wide variety of shapes. Most tieflings have humanoid-like feet, but a minority have cloven hooves.
Civilization and Culture
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Most cultures are wary of tieflings, and there are a number of superstitions about tieflings. Some believe making eye contact with a tiefling portends doom; others argue that their fiendlike appearance is a sign that they lack a soul. Given this pariah status, many tieflings are understandably drawn to criminal enterprises, or to large cities like Cantonova where they may be less unusual.
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