fuindordm
Adventurer
I was thinking about the tiefling and all the complaints that evil is getting too much attention, when inspiration struck. What if tiefling were now a generic term for all planetouched races, not just demonic/devilish halfbreeds? In 3rd edition we saw dozens of varieties, each with its own description and endless repetition between them.
Thus, I propose the following all-purpose tiefling race:
Tiefling
As every peasant knows, invisible worlds sometimes touch on our own. At certain times and places, uncanny beings walk the Earth: capricious sidhe lords, mischevious boggarts, and prideful djinn. Even the prisoners of Hell can walk free for a time, if they are called by mortals. Some few have claimed to see the Archons themselves at such times, but that may be mere fable.
It is not unheard of for these creatures to have congress with mortals. Such unions are usually fruitful, and some of the immortal parent's magical nature will be passed on to the child. These halfbreeds are known as tieflings.
Tieflings can occur in any mortal humanoid race, and although their appearance can vary widely they have very similar characteristics. How they are treated depends much on their parentage, but also on the culture of their birth. There are nations where tieflings are exposed as babies (if they are recognized) or banished as soon as their power becomes evident. In some communities, however, they are seen as a sign of luck--the family has been blessed with a spiritual patron. Whether blessed or cursed, however, tieflings always stand apart. All too human, yet not human enough for their fellows, most tielfings learn self-reliance early. The best among them accept what love they are given, and use their power to protect others. The worst turn away from society completely, and become sociopathic monsters.
A great many become adventureres, finding their place among companions who have no need to fear their powers.
A tiefling character has the following characteristics:
*+2 Cha, -2 Wis. All tieflings have a measure of innate power, but they tend to be distracted by fleeting sensations from other planes.
*Unusual appearance: All tielfings bear some physical mark of their unusual heritage. If it is overt, they gain +2 to Intimidate checks. If it is subtle, they gain +2 to Diplomacy checks. Examples include small horns, hooves for feet, a slender tail, fangs, eyes of an unusual color, six fingers on each hand, unnatural skin color, and so on.
*Size: A tiefling inherits the size and build as its mortal parent.
*Darkvision: All tieflings have darkvision.
*Resistance: A teifling starts with one minor energy resistance of their choice. They reduce the damage caused by this energy by five HP per round.
*Spell-like ability: At anytime during their childhood, a tiefling may manifest a magical ability. The character may choose any first or second-level spell to use as a spell-like ability once per day (if it is very useful) or twice per day (if the DM agrees that it is weak). This ability must imitate one of the magical talents of their immortal parent.
*Unique talent trees: As a tiefling gains levels, they can take talents to increase their natural defenses (energy resistance, natural armor) or develop stronger and more varied spell-like abilities. This power comes with a price, however--tieflings who delve into their native magic too deeply grow more and more inhuman in appearance.
Thus, I propose the following all-purpose tiefling race:
Tiefling
As every peasant knows, invisible worlds sometimes touch on our own. At certain times and places, uncanny beings walk the Earth: capricious sidhe lords, mischevious boggarts, and prideful djinn. Even the prisoners of Hell can walk free for a time, if they are called by mortals. Some few have claimed to see the Archons themselves at such times, but that may be mere fable.
It is not unheard of for these creatures to have congress with mortals. Such unions are usually fruitful, and some of the immortal parent's magical nature will be passed on to the child. These halfbreeds are known as tieflings.
Tieflings can occur in any mortal humanoid race, and although their appearance can vary widely they have very similar characteristics. How they are treated depends much on their parentage, but also on the culture of their birth. There are nations where tieflings are exposed as babies (if they are recognized) or banished as soon as their power becomes evident. In some communities, however, they are seen as a sign of luck--the family has been blessed with a spiritual patron. Whether blessed or cursed, however, tieflings always stand apart. All too human, yet not human enough for their fellows, most tielfings learn self-reliance early. The best among them accept what love they are given, and use their power to protect others. The worst turn away from society completely, and become sociopathic monsters.
A great many become adventureres, finding their place among companions who have no need to fear their powers.
A tiefling character has the following characteristics:
*+2 Cha, -2 Wis. All tieflings have a measure of innate power, but they tend to be distracted by fleeting sensations from other planes.
*Unusual appearance: All tielfings bear some physical mark of their unusual heritage. If it is overt, they gain +2 to Intimidate checks. If it is subtle, they gain +2 to Diplomacy checks. Examples include small horns, hooves for feet, a slender tail, fangs, eyes of an unusual color, six fingers on each hand, unnatural skin color, and so on.
*Size: A tiefling inherits the size and build as its mortal parent.
*Darkvision: All tieflings have darkvision.
*Resistance: A teifling starts with one minor energy resistance of their choice. They reduce the damage caused by this energy by five HP per round.
*Spell-like ability: At anytime during their childhood, a tiefling may manifest a magical ability. The character may choose any first or second-level spell to use as a spell-like ability once per day (if it is very useful) or twice per day (if the DM agrees that it is weak). This ability must imitate one of the magical talents of their immortal parent.
*Unique talent trees: As a tiefling gains levels, they can take talents to increase their natural defenses (energy resistance, natural armor) or develop stronger and more varied spell-like abilities. This power comes with a price, however--tieflings who delve into their native magic too deeply grow more and more inhuman in appearance.
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