Tiefling (TEEF-ling)

Descendants of a hardy race of mountain-dwellers, tieflings are innately magical creatures who walk with the elemental forces at their back. Originally from a far mountainscape covered in snow, they had adapted to the climate with a strong sense of balance, resistance to the cold, and an adeptness at turning the harsh weather to their own purposes. Over time tieflings started to spread out across the landscape, catching the eyes of stronger elemental beings for their magical aptitude and eventually mixing with them to form the innately magical and deeply elemental creatures we know today. This blending produced distinct varieties of tiefling adapted to different regions and conditions; while all are immediately recognizable as tieflings, there are a few notable changes between them.   There is no congruent culture shared between all tieflings, as they are not a concrete group of people so much as a variable species scattered across the continent. However, there are several commonalities. The first is that tieflings are inherently proud of their respective heritages, and will not brook insult upon the matter. The second is that they are used to being comfortable in their native habitat, and will grow exceedingly irritated if moved to uncomfortable conditions.   Most tieflings live in Eruuj, a far northern country buried in snow. For a full formal greeting, they would give a slight touch to the opposite shoulder and depending on their heritage, “From flame.” or “From frost.” Identifying themselves as the deeply elemental beings they are as opposed to the demonic evil some others had called them, this greeting originated many years ago as part of a more elaborate affair, but has lessened over the years to the simple two-word phrase we know today.   Other tieflings live scattered across the continent, sometimes in small enclaves. As a tiefling will almost always breed true when crossed with other mortal races, it often does not take long for local populations of them to swell. A number had migrated down to the southern continents many generations ago, but little is known of what became of them. Now there are a goodly number of flame tieflings roaming the warm lands, although there are also a small, resilient group that have made a home in the bustling trade city Torthuíl - however, their precise origins are widely unknown.  

Frost Tieflings

Studious, adept at the arcane, and possessing a great reverence for the mysteries of the world, frost tieflings are perhaps the closest to their mountain-dwelling ancestors. Feeling most at home in the cold, a frost tiefling often prefers nothing more than a small fire and a book to keep themselves occupied. Some of course break this stereotype, but by and large they are a highly literate and academically inclined people. The bulk of them live in Eruuj, a longstanding civilization famed and respected for its highly skilled magic casters. They prize equality and learning, and have state-run systems for most needs. Eruuj’s magic schools are considered to be the best in the lands, and it is a high honor to be allowed into one as an outsider. Their citizens enjoy good medical care, comfortable housing, and widespread access to education, although this comes with the price of long work hours and a marked distrust of outsiders. Every Eruuj tiefling receives a magic tattoo upon their transition to adulthood, which marks them as a citizen entitled to all the rights and privileges thereof. If they receive high honors or take a state office, more patterns will be added to these tattoos in a growing intricacy. They also receive a number of magic tattoos for graduation and initiation in magic schools - if you see a grey-blue tiefling covered in scrawling ink, it is best to treat them with the utmost respect.  

Flame Tieflings

Vibrant, passionate, full of life, flame tieflings have little patience for study or quiet matters, preferring to live life to the fullest as much as they can. Finding the most comfort in warm places, flame tieflings run hot and their tempers even hotter. It is not uncommon to see an argument spontaneously strike up on a casual night at the tavern in a flame tiefling enclave, although the quarrels usually burn out fast with no particular resentment retained afterwards. While all tieflings make good magic casters, flame tieflings by far make the best sorcerers, as the pull of fire in their blood lends them a deep and innate draw to the magic constantly surrounding them in the world. However, it is rare to see them develop it at a high level, preferring to occupy their time with more enjoyable matters. Flame tieflings have no particular homeland, being found spread across the southern half of the continent freely. There are several enclaves tucked here and there, but are almost always within the cities or nations of other races. While they may possess great ambition, they typically would rather leave the nitty gritty details to other, more detail-oriented people.  

Wind Tieflings

Mysterious and ethereal, wind tieflings have a strong bond to the energies of the sky. Some even say that they share blood with the heavenly Anlenga, but whether they do or not is quite beside the point. Solitary by nature, wind tieflings live alone or in small family groups isolated on mountaintops, only collecting together for brief periods of time to philosophize and fill their light social requirements. A wind tiefling feels happiest when it's standing at a cliff’s edge, bathed in the strong winds sweeping the craggy rocks. With their strong connection to the air currents filling the sky, wind tieflings can float softly down from even the grandest heights, cradled by the gentle breeze. Some even grow large, soft wings of light feathers and gain the treasured ability of true flight.   Tieflings display a wide variety of traits, often directly influenced by their local climate and overall heritage. Flame tieflings are often tall and thin with fairly wide noses and bold, striking skin and hair colors such as vivid oranges and deep reds. A frost tiefling would typically have a narrow nose and muted color tones such as cool greys or mild blues, and be a bit stockier, but still fairly comparable in height. Wind tieflings are often an extremely light blue or purple, and physically they tend to be short yet lanky. All tieflings possess two or more horns, and only a few exceedingly rare flame tieflings boast more than four. All tieflings have tails; frost tieflings’ are shorter and thicker while flame tieflings have a long, sleek tail, and wind tieflings tend to vary between those two extremes. Of course, there are always individual exceptions; a flame tiefling may have a wide almost lizard-like tail, a wind tiefling may boast three rows of short horns, and a frost tiefling could be a vivid shade of purple. Every individual varies, as there’s no telling how the magic in their blood will express itself. In addition to these overall traits, sometimes other features manifest - mouth of extra sharp teeth, tiny wings, elongated claws, perpetual smell of a blazing wildfire, glowing eyes, two tails - but they are rather rare.