Tiefling

Don't ever make a bet with a tiefling.

Planar proverb

In the multiverse, few creatures are of pure lineage, and even fewer are what they seem to be. That's the greatest truth of the tiefling's existence. It's not advisable to ask a tiefling about his or her ancestors, as the answer wouldn't likely be pleasant. Part human and part something else, tieflings are the orphans of the planes. They can be described as humans who've been planetouched. A shadow of knife-edge in their face, a little too much fire in their eyes, a scent of ash in their presence - all these things and more describe a tiefling. No planar would mistake a tiefling for a human, and most primes make the mistake only once. Tieflings live with both pride and shame of who and what they are. They have no culture of their own, and most are loners, which fits their background. Some slip into the edges of human society, becoming poets and artists who describe the corrupt fringes of the respectable world. Adventurous types often spend their years probing the unexplored edges of the multiverse, be it to survey strange lands or experiment in the forgotten niches of magical science.

Humans don't trust tieflings (and deep inside they fear them), but they remain inexplicably fascinated by tieflings just the same. The planetouched are often accused of secret plots and awful alliances - mostly without a shred of proof - because of who and what they are. A tiefling learns early that life is unfair and hard. His reaction is to fight back and never let his foes see the pain. Other people, even other tieflings, simply aren't viewed as allies and often are automatically considered enemies. A tiefling doesn't take a friend until he learns the measure of his companion, and even then he'll never fully trust anyone. "I watch my own back," is an old tiefling quip. They maintain no hereditary bloodfeuds, but tieflings take care of themselves without any thought of others' problems.

Most tieflings who have found themselves in the realm of The Shattered World are either hiding from something, or got here by accident, and very few are natural born on this plane. Tieflings themselves are extremely rare here, and often integrate themselves into the Archerian Empire, where they find themselves amongst the humans, or the Draknir Foundry, where their offputting presence often goes mostly unnoticed in the mines. Tieflings tend to find Elves insufferable, and usually won't try to settle in any teritory they are a majority.

Classes

Tieflings are a versitile race much like humans, but even in The Shattered World, no gods will grant them paladin powers. They can be fighters, rangers, wizards (including specialist mages), priests, thieves, or bards. They may also pursue multiclass options, including fighter/wizard, fighter/priest, fighter/thief, wizard/thief, and priest/thief.

Racial Features

• Tiefling characters gain a +1 bonus on Intelligence and Charisma scores, but suffer a -1 penalty to Strength and Wisdom.
• Tieflings can be of any alignment save lawful good.
• They possess infravision to a range of 60 feet
• Tieflings have the ability to create darkness, 15-foot radius once per day.
• Tieflings suffer only half damage from cold-based attacks
• Tieflings Gain a +2 bonus to all saving throws vs. fire, electricity, or poison.