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Tiefling
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To be greeted with stares and whispers, to suffer violence and insult on the
street, to see mistrust and fear in every eye: this is the lot of the
tiefling. And to twist the knife, tieflings know that this is because a pact
struck generations ago infused the essence of As mod eu s—overlord of the Nine
Hells—into their bloodline. Their appearance and their nature are not their
fault but the result of an ancient sin, for which they and their children and
their children’s children will always beheld accountable.


Infernal Blood line
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Tieflings are derived from human blood lines, and in the broadest possible
sense, they still look human. However, their infernal heritage has left a
clear imprint on their appearance. Tieflings have large horns that take any of
a variety of shapes: some have curling horns like a ram, others have straight
and tall horns like a gazelle’s, and some spiral upward like an antelopes’
horns. They have thick tails, four to five feet long, which lash or coil
around their legs when they get upset or nervous. Their canine teeth are
sharply pointed, and their eyes are solid colors —black, red, white, silver,
or gold—with no visible sclera or pupil. Their skin tones cover the full range
of human coloration, but also include various shades of red. Their hair,
cascading down from behind their horns, is usually dark, from black or brown
to dark red, blue, or purple.


Self-Reliant and Suspicious
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Tieflings subsist in small minorities found mostly in human cities or towns,
often in the roughest quarters of those places, where they grow up to be
swindlers, thieves, or crime lords. Sometimes they live among other minority
populations in enclaves where they are treated with more respect. Lacking a
homeland, tieflings know that they have to make their own way in the world and
that they have to be strong to survive. They are not quick to trust anyone who
claims to be a friend, but when a tiefling’s companions demonstrate that they
trust him or her, the tiefling learns to extend the same trust to them. And
once a tiefling gives someone loyalty, the tiefling is a firm friend or ally
for life.

Mutual Mistrust
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People tend to be suspicious of tieflings, assuming that their infernal
heritage has left its mark on their personality and morality, not just their
appearance. Shopkeepers keep a close eye on their goods when tieflings enter
their stores, the town watch might follow a tiefling around for awhile, and
demagogues blame tieflings for strange happenings. The reality, though, is
that a tiefling’s bloodline doesn’t affect his or her personality to any great
degree. Years of dealing with mistrust does leave its mark on most tieflings,
and they respond to it indifferent ways. Some choose to live up to the wicked
stereotype, but others are virtuous. Most are simply very aware of how people
respond to them. After dealing with this mistrust throughout youth, a tiefling
often develops the ability to overcome prejudice through charm or
intimidation.


Tiefling Names
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Tiefling names fall into three broad categories. Tieflings born into another
culture typically have names reflective of that culture. Some have names
derived from the Infernal language, passed down through generations, that
reflect their fiendish heritage. And some younger tieflings, striving to find
a place in the world, adopt a name that signifies a virtue or other concept
and then try to embody that concept. For some, the chosen name is a noble
quest. For others, it’s a grim destiny.

**Male Infernal Names:**
Akmenos, Amnon, Barakas, Damakos, Ekemon, Iados, Kairon, Leucis, Melech,
Mordai, Morthos, Pelaios, Skamos, Therai

**Female Infernal Names:**
Akta, A nakis, Bryseis, Criella, Dam aia, Ea, Kallista, Lerissa, Makaria,
Nemeia, Orianna, Phelaia, Rieta

**“Virtue” Names:**
Art, Carrion, Chant, Creed, Despair, Excellence, Fear, Glory, Hope, Ideal,
Music, Nowhere, Open, Poetry, Quest, Random, Reverence, Sorrow, Temerity,
Torment, Weary


Tiefling Traits
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Tieflings share certain racial traits as a result of their infernal descent.

**Ability Score Increase.**
Your Intelligence score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by
2.

**Age.**
Tieflings mature at the same rate as humans but live a few years longer.

**Alignment.**
Tieflings might not have an innate tendency toward evil, but many of them end
up there. Evil or not, an independent nature inclines many tieflings toward a
chaotic alignment.

**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.

**Infernal Legacy.**
You know the *thaumaturgy* cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the
*hellish rebuke* spell once per day as a 2nd-level spell. Once you reach 5th
level, you can also cast the *darkness* spell once per day. Charisma is your
spellcasting ability for these spells.

**Languages.**
You can speak, read, and write Common and Infernal.
