Tiefling

Infernal Blood

"The sins of an ancestor are an inheritance. They are not a destiny."
— Corvyn Seinrill VI, Baron of Areeott

Tieflings are humanoids whose bloodlines bear the unmistakable influence of fiends. Whether descended from infernal pacts, ancient curses, planar corruption, or unions with beings from the Lower Planes, tieflings carry physical signs of their heritage that set them apart wherever they go. Yet beneath horns, tails, and unusual eyes beats the heart of an ordinary mortal, capable of the same compassion, cruelty, wisdom, and folly found in every other people. No two tieflings appear exactly alike. Horns may curve like those of a ram or rise straight from the brow. Tails vary in length and shape, skin may range from deep crimson and violet to ash gray, blue, or even ordinary human tones, and eyes often glow with solid colors or metallic irises. Some bear cloven hooves, sharpened teeth, or faint traces of smoke or embers that accompany strong emotion. Tieflings rarely establish nations of their own. Most are born into the societies of other races, where they often learn from an early age that appearances invite assumptions. Some communities welcome them without hesitation, while others greet them with suspicion born of superstition rather than experience. As a result, many tieflings become exceptionally independent, learning to define themselves before others attempt to do it for them. Because prejudice is so common, tieflings frequently develop resilience, wit, and determination. Many become scholars, merchants, adventurers, artists, diplomats, or mages, refusing to allow another person's fears to dictate the course of their lives. Others embrace solitude, finding comfort among those who judge character before appearance. The infernal influence within a tiefling is a matter of ancestry rather than allegiance. Most have never seen the fiend whose blood they carry, nor do they feel compelled to follow any particular path because of it. Tales of tieflings overcoming expectations are as common as those of individuals who surrender to temptation. Their heritage offers possibilities, not commandments. Among tieflings, family histories are often preserved with unusual care. Many choose to learn exactly how their bloodline came to be touched by the Lower Planes, believing that understanding the past grants greater freedom in shaping the future. Others deliberately leave those questions unanswered, deciding that a person's choices deserve more attention than those of long-dead ancestors. In many tiefling households, children are taught a simple lesson from an early age. A person's appearance may be the first thing the world notices, but it should never become the most interesting thing about them.

"Humans see horns before they see a smile. Tieflings learn very young which of those two things reveals more about a person."
— Elaris Willowmere, elven historian

Genetic Ancestor(s)