Tiefling - The World of Syphora

> [!infobox] > >> [!caption] >> ![[example-tiefling.png]] >> Art of a dyn, rhalya, and asphorus tiefling by XYuninoX & corviida > ###### Biological Information > | | | > | ---- | ---- | > | **Type** | [[Humanoid]] | > | **Subspecies** | - Euphet - Astaroth/Asherith - Rhalya - Beelzebub - Orcus - Mammon - Belial - Dyn - Asphorus | > | **Vision** | Darkvision | > | **Abilities** | - Hellish Resistance - Infernal Legacy | > > ##### Physical Information > | | | > | ---- | ---- | > | **Size** | Medium | > | **Lifespan** | 120 years | > | **Average height** | 5'4" - 5'8" | > | **Distinctions** | - Horns - Forked tails - (sometimes) Hoofed feet - Black or red sclera | > > ##### Sociocultural Information > | | | > | ---- | ---- | > | **Language** | Infernal | > | **Planes** | - Material Plane ([[Syphora]]) - [[Nine Hells]] | > | **Notable members** | - [[Riven Nyxhallow]] (dyn) - [[Iavir Waesleth]] (rhalya) - [[Azazel Ezel]] (asphorus) | **Tieflings**, also known as devilkin, are [[humanoid|humanoids]] with devilish ancestry. From their devilish horns and forked tails to unnatural skin colors, they are known widely as distinct and extravagant in their appearances and attitudes. Their celestial counterparts are known as [[alteius]], while their abyssal counterparts are known as avysseos. ## **Description** #### **Appearance ...** Retaining any number of traits from both [[human|humans]] and devils, all tieflings' immediate distinctions include horns, tails, and unnatural skin or eye colors. Many tieflings may even have more fiendish attributes, which are not shared traits amongst the entire race. These features include dark sclera, warm blood or skin, hooved legs and feet, forked tongues, or spiky, leathery, or scaly skin. Even still, their appearance does not signify how evil or inhumane a tiefling is—even those who still retain eyes akin to that of a human than devil. Besides their physicality, many tieflings are said to have a very particular air to them—An aura of discomfort and unsettling nature that often results in a common misinterpretation of the race. Even though tieflings do not hold any particular drive towards evil, they may be seen as such by the average person, depending on where they reside. Due to their odd ancestry, under rare circumstances, a family with an infernal bloodline may be diluted enough to skip generations, resulting in non-tiefling parents giving birth to a tiefling child, or vice versa. But to most, the union between anyone with infernal blood always produces a tiefling child. #### **Personality ...** With no real inclination towards good or evil alike, tieflings typically find themselves adapting to whatever their upbringings or surroundings may shape them into—Similar to that of a [[human]]. In this way, tieflings often represent their humanity through the ways they hold themselves or act, as opposed to valuing the lack of humanity that their physical appearance brings. Because of the generalized distrust tieflings face across the world, many still find themselves contributing to such beliefs. Dealt a bad hand at birth, many tieflings find themselves proud, haughty, and self-reliant. Because of this, alongside their treacherous and secretive nature, those born into these lineages find themselves distrusted by most until proven otherwise, aiding the furtherment of the reputation they face. In recent ages, however, people have come to adopt an insight that, once a tiefling finds themselves trusted by another, they will seldom break a bond that has been forged through such faith. ## History #### **Origins ...** Tiefling bloodlines and the means by which they've come to exist can be traced back to tomes from the Calamity; Said to have been first created by tormented [[human|humans]] and warlocks seeking absurd powers from the [[Nine Hells]], such souls made pacts with devils, and permanently cursed their lineages with the blood of the [[Asphorus|King of Hellfire, Asphorus,]] himself. Whether the belief that they obtained such powers by [[Asphorus]], the [[Nine Archdevils]], or any other devil be true, these tainted legacies have passed from generation to generation, even to this day. #### **Society ...** While tieflings are by no means a commonly found race, there are many regions in which they primarily reside—Especially varying based on the origin the tiefling comes from. For example, the black-skinned tieflings of [[Asphorus|Asphorus's]] lineage have a tendency to reside within the [[Kingdom of Axonder]]. Additionally, many tieflings are often found amongst diverse, urban society and are rarely found within nature or even rural civilization. Due to this, their appearance scarcely makes them an oddity in most cultures, even if they are faced with persecution by a vocal minority. Due to their infernal heritage, it is in turn very common for any tiefling to worship an infernal deity, even those who may not be well known. For obvious reasons, the [[Asphorus|King of Hellfire]] is typical among tieflings—However, many may even pray to any of the [[Nine Archdevils]], lesser deities of the [[Nine Hells]], or even the [[Vithyo|God of Darkness]], despite the lack-thereof infernal relation. ## Powers, abilities, and subspecies Tieflings are charismatic by nature, and due to their ancestry tracing back to the [[Nine Hells]], resistant to fire and can see in dim light and darkness. Their infernal legacy has granted them an innate ability to cast magic, most of which varies upon the descent they come from; whether their bloodline gained this legacy through curse, contact, or deal between mortals and some form of devilish influence or entity from a specific layer and archdevil of the Nine Hells. #### **Subspecies ...** - ##### **Euphet ...** - Red-skinned tieflings of the 1st Layer, those whose bloodline originates from the archdevil [[Euphet]]; Spawned of [[Asphorus]]'s vanity. Marked by the craggy depths of [[Avernus]], descendants of this lineage have been granted the ability to manipulate their voices, small flames, eye appearance, and project phantom sounds or tremors. The strongest of them are also capable of brandishing their strikes in magical flame or even creating illusory duplicates of themselves. - #### Astaroth, or Asherith ... - Pink-skinned tieflings of the 2nd Layer, those whose bloodline originates from the twin archdevils [[Astaroth]] and [[Asherith]]; Spawned of [[Asphorus]]'s lust. Marked by the fiery landscape of [[Incineon]], descendants of this lineage have been granted the ability to manipulate one's mind into trusting them. The strongest of them are also able to charm any person in their sights or even enthrall them to a near-obsessive degree. - #### Rhalya ... - Blue-skinned tieflings of the 3rd Layer, those whose bloodline originates from the archdevil [[Rhalya]]; Spawned of [[Asphorus]]'s sloth. Marked by the icy, misty cliffs of [[Stygium]], descendants of this lineage have been granted the ability to create minor illusions, such as sound or imagery, around themselves. The strongest of them are also capable of manipulating their physical appearance or even making their physical form completely invisible to the naked eye. - #### Beelzebub ... - Brown-skinned tieflings of the 4th Layer, those whose bloodline originates from the archdevil [[Beelzebub]]; Spawned of [[Asphorus]]'s gluttony. Marked by the gorey remains of [[Uor]], descendants of this lineage have been granted the ability to call upon small bugs or parasites to enact their bidding. The strongest of them are also capable of propelling noxious arcane into others and poisoning or making them grossly fatigued. - #### Orcus ... - Green-skinned tieflings of the 5th Layer, those whose bloodline originates from the archdevil [[Orcus]]; Spawned of [[Asphorus]]'s envy. Marked by the rotting mounds of [[Oedeus]], descendants of this lineage have been granted the ability to grasp onto others and inflict them with the chill of death. The strongest of them are also capable of manipulating their physical appearance or revoking one's sense of sight or hearing; rendering them blind or deaf. - #### Mammon ... - Yellow-skinned tieflings of the 6th Layer, those whose bloodline originates from the archdevil [[Mammon]]; Spawned of [[Asphorus]]'s greed. Marked by the boggy marshland of [[Lernaea]], descendants of this lineage have been granted the ability to create a spectral hand to enact their bidding. The strongest of them are also able to distort the value of any small object in their grasp or peer into the thoughts of a person. - #### Belial ... - Orange-skinned tieflings of the 7th Layer, those whose bloodline originates from the archdevil [[Belial]]; Spawned of [[Asphorus]]'s wrath. Marked by the boiling, volcanic peaks of [[Phlegethos]], descendants of this lineage have been granted the ability to propel bolts of arcane flame. The strongest of them are also able to wreathe their foes in flame in retaliation or brandishing an arcane blade made of immense, fiery flames. - #### Dyn ... - Purple-skinned tieflings of the 8th Layer, those whose bloodline originates from the archdevil [[Dyn]]; Spawned of [[Asphorus]]'s pride. Marked by the frozen desert of [[Mysia]], descendants of this lineage have been granted the ability to creep chilling ice across the skin of another to harm and make them sluggish. The strongest of them are also able to protect themselves in shards of ice or temporarily curse another to turn against their own mind. - #### Asphorus ... - Black-skinned tieflings of the 9th Layer, those whose bloodline originates from the [[Asphorus|King of Hellfire, Asphorus]], himself; Spawned of his treachery. Marked by the hot, endless depths of [[Anax]], descendants of this lineage have been granted the ability to manipulate their voices, small flames, eye appearance, and project phantom sounds or tremors. The strongest of them are also capable of wreathing their foes in flame in retaliation or creating indomitable magical darkness. ## Notable tieflings #### **Valkion ...** > [!caption|right] > ![[profile-maven.png|Image|210]] > Art of Maven Nyxhallow ##### **PCs ...** - [[Iavir Waesleth]]: A rogue and noble; Son of House Waesleth, the ruling Marquisate of the [[Kingdom of Foryn]]. - [[Riven Nyxhallow]]: A monk and noble; Heiress of House Nyxhallow, a lordship within the [[Kingdom of Axonder]]. ##### **NPCs ...** - [[Azazel Ezel]]: A black-skinned tiefling noble; Son of House Ezel, the ruling Duchy of the [[Kingdom of Axonder]]. - [[Maven Nyxhallow]]: A wizard and lady-in-waiting to [[Aurora Axonder|Queen Aurora]] of Axonder. She also rules as Lady of House Nyxhallow. She is the adoptive mother of [[Riven Nyxhallow]] and [[Noire Nyxhallow]]. ##### **Noble families ...** - House Ezel: The ruling Duchy of Axonder; Descendant-run by King Aeon's head general, currently ruled by [[Keloch Ezel|Duke Keloch]] and [[Vérène Ezel|Duchess Vérène]]. - House Nyxhallow: A lordship within [[Kingdom of Axonder|Axonder]]. Only recently have tieflings become prominent in the family, thanks to Lady Maven and her daughter, Riven. > [!caption|right] > ![[gallery-house_ezel.png]] > Duke Keloch and Duchess Vérène ## Trivia - The origin of the word comes from the Germanic "tief" (meaning "deep" or "low") and suffix -ling (meaning young or small one).