Do tieflings dream of half-fiend sheep?

[Olgar Shiverstone]

And are the children of demons doomed to be as evil as demons themselves? How would/should a devout enemy of demons (paladin, ranger with favored enemy: evil outsider, etc) react to meeting a tiefling the first time?

I'm starting a new campaign -- and playing for a change, woohoo! -- and my character is a CG demon hunter (high Int, low Wis, moderate Cha, if it matters). One of the other players will be bringing in a tiefling character. I'm trying to figure out a reasonable in-character response, between the two extremes of "Half-demon, you must die!" and "You look like a trustworthy fellow despite your horns, tail, and stink of brimstone -- please join us!"

 

[Zurai]

Tieflings are NOT half demons. They aren't even close to half. Tieflings are generations removed from the infernal/abyssal taint that gives them their unique features, and alignment is not genetic.

Your character would probably be unwilling to trust the tiefling right away, and would be highly suspicious of him, but wouldn't be able to justify attacking immediately unless he was either completely crazy or totally fanatical about wiping away anything that even resembles a demonic/infernal taint.

 

[Dross]

Do tieflings "ping" on the detect evil radar regardless of their actual alignment (like a neutral cleric of an evil deity)? And are they that noticably demon-tainted?

Also, note that you can have the period of trust-gaining be in both PC's backstories, to a level that you are both happy with before adventuring together.

Or the knowledge that the new companion is a teifling might not come into play until after trust has been gained, which could partitially sidestep the situation.

Or this scenario:
Demon hunter comes across a group of demons bullying a humanoid: Cause you’re not quite evil enough. You’re semi-evil, your quasi-evil, you’re the margarine of evil, you’re the diet coke of evil, just one calorie, not "evil" enough. (from Dr. Evil, Austen Powers, The Spy Who Shagged Me).

 

[Zurai]

Do tieflings "ping" on the detect evil radar regardless of their actual alignment (like a neutral cleric of an evil deity)? And are they that noticably demon-tainted?

I don't believe so, but I could be wrong.

 

[sukael]

Do tieflings "ping" on the detect evil radar regardless of their actual alignment (like a neutral cleric of an evil deity)? And are they that noticably demon-tainted?

No, and not necessarily.

 

[Rechan]

You know, I'm going to use a very strained analogy.

Tiefling: Demon:HB Sorcerer: Dragon.

According to the PHB, sorcerers get their magic from a dragon having schtooped their distant ancestor, causing innate magic several generations down the line.

Said sorcerer isn't expected to run around hoarding gold, making a lair, kidnapping princesses, etc.

Your character has a High Int. He should have some general knowledge about fiends and their ancestral children.

 

[Dross]

Something else to think about.

Since a teifling isn't in control of who it's great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandparents are, you could end up pitying the poor fellow for his unfortunate heritage and help him become better than they were.

 

[Merkuri]

Tieflings are NOT half demons. They aren't even close to half. Tieflings are generations removed from the infernal/abyssal taint that gives them their unique features, and alignment is not genetic.

I think I read this while playing the computer game Torment, so I don't know if it was unique to that game or unique to second edition (which the game was based off of, IIRC), but I recall reading that one source of tieflings would be if a child were conceived on one of the evil planes. Its mother and father could be completely human, no demon in the ancestry, but the fact that the child was created on an evil plane means it was tainted somehow, and the result is a tiefling.

In that case, the tiefling could be looked at as an innocent bystander, someone who was harmed by demons/evil before he was even born. He could want to kill demons as much as the demon hunter.

Don't know if the other player and/or your DM wants to use this origin story, though.

 

[Li Shenron]

And are the children of demons doomed to be as evil as demons themselves? How would/should a devout enemy of demons (paladin, ranger with favored enemy: evil outsider, etc) react to meeting a tiefling the first time?

I'm starting a new campaign -- and playing for a change, woohoo! -- and my character is a CG demon hunter (high Int, low Wis, moderate Cha, if it matters). One of the other players will be bringing in a tiefling character. I'm trying to figure out a reasonable in-character response, between the two extremes of "Half-demon, you must die!" and "You look like a trustworthy fellow despite your horns, tail, and stink of brimstone -- please join us!"

I think this scenario can provide fantastic roleplay opportunities.

Maybe you and the other player should try to think about some movie or tv series when something similar happened to two characters, and find some inspiration.

 

[ceratitis]

sounds reminicent of the bit in "tales of wyre" when whats his name tries to convert a succubus. anyway i second the "great role playing opportunities" theme