Tiefling

“Take your hood off, then. I would see who I’m dealing with,” said the Paladin, his voice cautious.
“You really don’t want me to do that,” the hooded figure warned.
“Take it off,” said the Paladin. “Or no deal.”
The figure sighed, tugged at the hood and cursed. “It’s stuck again,” she said, yanking the fabric until it tore on the sharp, curled horns that jutted an inch proud of her ash white curls. “And don’t get me started on sodding curtains. I tell you, they’re worse than the Red Inquisition,” she muttered as an afterthought. “You’re Sir Prestyr, right? I’ve got something for you.”
“You’re a- Tiefling?” stammered the Paladin, his hand at his pommel.
“And no one’s more annoyed about it than me, believe me," she drawled, leaning back in her chair, her hands behind her head. She blinked her purple eyes once, the slit-like pupils disappearing for a moment behind sideways inner lids, and smiled a pointy, exasperated smile. "Name's Hope. Brother Astlar asked me to give you this,” she said, handing him a bible. “Seems I'm your new apprentice.”

— Janet Forbes

Tieflings: A n Overview

A Tiefling’s striking appearance can cause shock and fear in those who do not know them. Tieflings are genetic anomalies - it’s not common knowledge exactly why some lineages throw them up from time to time. Folk tales, though, tell of pacts with devils or demons, or powerful necromancers and warlocks which lurk in their ancestry, leading tieflings to get an evil reputation. They are, after all, as close as most “normal” folk get to an actual devil.

Physical description and combat

Tieflings come in many and varied forms, but always bear visible signs of the infernal. They usually have formidable horns – some resembling the curling horns of a ram, others straight like those of a gazelle, and some spiralling upwards like the antlers of a majestic beast. Their tails, when present, may measure up to 5 feet in length, and are often as expressive as their faces. Their canine teeth are razor-sharp, and their eye-sclera shine with solid colors – be it black, red, white, silver, or gold – their pupils often reptilian, cat-like, or invisible altogether. Their skin tones encompass the entire spectrum of human diversity, and may also feature unique shades of crimson. Their hair ranges from deep black and brown to dark hues of red, blue, purple, or ash white.

Life span and outlook:

As genetic anomalies, Tieflings may be born into any species, and often have parents and siblings who look perfectly “normal”. Sometimes they are cast out as illegitimate and terrifying children - and orphanages and monasteries see more than their fair share of Tiefling foundlings. Other families may embrace them as odd-but-powerful family members, and those who worship or ally with devils see them as a good omen. Their magic manifests around their teenage years, often with explosive results.

Families and Societies

It’s rare that a Tiefling meets another of their kind, although more likely in big cities. The unlucky ones end up in the harshest districts, where they grow up as tricksters, thieves, or even crime lords. The luckiest grow up respected for who they are, rather than how they look, and their charisma and intelligence makes them into great leaders, and valued community members.

Regardless of their upbringing, Tieflings learn early in life that they were born in a threatening package: they are cautious about placing trust in strangers. However, once friends, they make powerful and loyal allies.

Names

Tiefling names generally reflect the culture they were born into. Some choose names derived from the infernal language, honoring their fiendish legacy. Others, especially those left at monasteries or orphanages, are given names representing virtues or ideals they must strive to embody. For some these names become a noble quest, while for others, a fateful destiny.

Reasons to go Adventuring

Always the outsider, Tieflings often feel more at home in a cosmopolitan environment, where everyone else is “different” too. This can easily lead them into adventuring parties and the fringes of society. A transition from a life of crime into adventuring is also common, and such Tieflings are often on the run from their reputation, their rap-sheet, or worse. Quests to solve the mystery of their heritage are often common too, as are quests in service of their deity.