Tieflings are planetouched of the mortal races of Runetalras, native outsiders that were infused with the touch of the fiendish planes, most often through corruptive energies that flooded the known world during the
Age of Blood. Tieflings are known for their cunning and personal allure, which made them excellent deceivers as well as inspiring leaders when prejudices were laid aside.
Although their fiendish origins could be many generations removed, the taint lingered. Unlike half-fiends, tieflings are not predisposed to evil alignments and varied in alignment nearly as widely as full humans, though tieflings are certainly devious. tieflings are similar to other plane touched races like the
Aasimar and
Genasi.
Physical Description
Tieflings tend to have an unsettling air about them, and most people are uncomfortable around them, whether they are aware of the tiefling's unsavory ancestry or not. While some look like normal dwarves, elves, or humans, most retained physical characteristics derived from their ancestors, with the most common such features being horns, prehensile tails, and pointed teeth. Some tieflings also have eyes that were solid orbs of black, red, white, silver, or gold, while others had eyes more similar to those of the mortal races. Other, more unusually, possess characteristics which include a sulfurous odor, cloven feet, or a general aura of discomfort they leave on others.
In many other ways, tieflings are similar to their mortal race physically. Tieflings were, on average, just as tall as humans, from 4'6" – 6'2" and weighed just a little bit heavier at 100 – 220 lbs. Tiefling skin is usually akin to their mortal race ancestors in colour, though extending past normal colors into reddish, purple, blue, and orange hues as well. Tiefling hair is also often the same colour as
Human hair, though dark blue, red, or purple are common shades amongst the race. Although it is not always the case, tieflings tend to have better reflexes than humans. This, along with their natural propensity for hiding and deceit helped to give tieflings a reputation for thievery and duplicity.
Lifespan and Maturity
Tieflings who have strikingly inhuman features were often killed at birth by their horrified parents or others. Only those tieflings with subtle features or born to someone indifferent to their appearance, either out of acceptance or cruel purpose, are likely to reach adulthood. Those tieflings who did reach adulthood could be expected to age at roughly the same rate to their mortal race ancestors and their lifespan is similarly equal to that of mortal races.
Bloodlines
The physical appearance of a tiefling often depended on the exact ancestry that spawned it, a bloodline that might have remained dormant for generations. Diabolic or demonic tieflings can, in addition to the common horns and tails, possess a forked tongue, leathery or scaly skin, the smell of brimstone, or unusually warm flesh. Some accounts even hold these tieflings to cast neither shadows nor reflections. Some diabolic tieflings also sport goat-like legs or hooves. Tieflings descended from rakshasa might have furred skin or feline eyes. Most tieflings had only one or two of these features.
Tieflings Abilities
Tieflings have a number of abilities gifted to them by their fiendish heritage. By and large, tieflings are alluring and intelligent creatures, with a seductive aura in spite of their obviously evil ancestry. To a large degree, tieflings are more capable of guile than a great number of races, but these were not their dominant qualities. Tieflings also have an innate resistance to heat and had a hint of bloodlust that gave them a slight edge in combat. Tieflings are also gifted, by their fiendish heritage, with the innate ability to cast certain magic, which seems to be based upon their bloodline. Some tieflings are born with wings similar to those sported by many fiends.
Subraces
The subraces of the tieflings are equally as common as one another, tieflings are also unique in that each subrace could conceivably be broken down further to the exact source of their bloodline.
Abyssal Tiefling The abyssal tieflings draw their origins from the demons of the
Abyss, and only came into existence in large numbers during and after the
Age of Blood.
Infernal Tiefling The infernal tieflings draw their origins from the devils of the
Nine Hells, and only came into existence in large numbers during and after the
Age of Blood.
Tieflings Homelands
The tieflings have no true homelands, they are born to humans that consort with fiends or are tainted by the corrupted energies of the
Abyss and
Nine Hells, though the tieflings do have an adopted homeland:
The Infernal-Draconic Ascendancy The Infernal Draconic Ascendancy is the only kingdom of the tiefling. The Ascendancy is not a majority tiefling kingdoms but a join kingdom of the
Dragonborn and tieflings.
Tieflings within Human Kingdoms
Tieflings are believed by many humans to be wholly unnatural creatures and an oft too common reminder of the
Age of Blood. They are generally viewed as a terrible omen of disorder, chaos, and evil and little better than true fiends themselves. This is true in many of the great
Human kingdoms, Thaxnoria, Velgan, and Kasari. The only harbours where tieflings are capable of having lives similar to the elder races are some of the more accepting
Free States. With the
Yhess Kingdoms and
Atarsid Isles City States where they are valued as slaves, and within the Yhess the tieflings are known as diabolic master who rumour has it sacrifice slaves to more fiendish creatures than themselves.
Tiefling Traits
Ability Score Increase. When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. You can't raise any of your scores above 20.
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.
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 Baalzebul
The crumbling realm of Maladomini is ruled by Baalzebul, who excels at corrupting those whose minor sins can be transformed into acts of damnation. Tieflings linked to this archdevil can corrupt others both physically and psychically.
Legacy of Maladomini. You know the Thaumaturgy cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Ray of Sickness spell once as a 2nd-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the Crown of Madness 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.
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 tieftings tied to her forceful personalities.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
All abyssal tieflings trace their bloodline to the demons of the
Abyss. These tieflings have the following additional features.
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 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 |
Comments