Tieflings, also known as devilkin or infernals,[31] are humanoids with devilish ancestry. They are distinguished by the large horns on their head, and are known for their extravagant appearance and their often carefree attitude.
Appearance[]
A tiefling's diabolic origins results in the presence of an array of fiendish features being present in any given tiefling. Horns, tails, hooves, fangs, and rarely wings are fiendish trademarks, although their appearance and ancestry does not necessarily mean that tieflings are evil themselves. They have a wide array of skin tones, most commonly deep crimson, but also purple, blue, green, and even yellow and pink. Tiefling parents of similar skin colors can have children whose skin is a different color.[32]
Origins and society[]
Tieflings are thought to have been created in Issylra during the Age of Arcanum by a cabal of warlocks seeking to gain more otherworldly power. As a result of this bargain (or consort-like unions, according to others),[33] their children were marked with the fiendish influence of their masters.[34] An alternative theory suggests that the first tieflings were created in the city of Ghor Dranas in Wildemount, as a result of the city's inhabitants tying their bloodlines to Asmodeus in exchange for magical knowledge;[35] while those weren't the first tieflings (since there were members of that race before the Calamity)[32][36] in 836 PD one group of three tieflings from Rosohna all shared the red skin of the Father of Lies.[37] Shortly before the Divergence the Lord of the Hells started asking for tieflings to be brought to him, wanting them to be his soldiers in the conflicts ahead near Ghor Dranas.[38]
While tieflings are not particularly common across Exandria, their presence is well known enough that they are rarely persecuted for their extravagant appearance and diabolic origin.[32] Tieflings rarely live in rural communities, sticking to the more studied and diverse urban cities.[34]
Powers and abilities[]
Official art of a tiefling, by Azraelion from Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 163.[art 2]
Tieflings are generally quite charismatic, and due to their devilish ancestry, they are resistant to fire and can see in dim light and darkness. Their infernal legacy grants them a small number of magical abilities that can vary depending on the devilish bloodline of the tiefling; those bloodlines usually trace their origin to some sort of contact or deal between mortals and devilish influences from a specific layer and archdevil of the Nine Hells.[34][33]
However, the most commonly portrayed subrace of tieflings is the one marked by the power of Nessus and its ruler, Asmodeus, who is also the Lord of the Nine Hells. The members of this bloodline are usually very intelligent, and their infernal legacy grants them a small number of magical abilities, including amplifying their voice, changing their eye color, and minor manipulation of fire (the Thaumaturgy cantrip). More powerful tieflings can wreath their enemies in fire if they are attacked (the Hellish Rebuke spell) and can create pockets of magical darkness (the Darkness spell).[39] Zahra Hydris is an example of this bloodline in both power and appearance.[40][41]
Variants[]
Sometimes tiefling powers are slightly altered or completely changed in certain circumstances, like an unusual origin of their bloodline:
- Devil's Tongue: Their magic is oriented towards the manipulation and persuasion of other people's minds. They are able to distract and do real damage to their enemies with scathing insults (the Vicious Mockery cantrip). More powerful tieflings can make others believe they are their allies (the Charm Person spell) and can captivate groups to pay attention only to their words while they are speaking (the Enthrall spell).[42] Mollymauk Tealeaf was a tiefling with this variant trait.[43][44][45]
If the tiefling's family mixes with another magical lineage, an aspect of their powers can also be changed. A tiefling with a water genasi parent, for example, can develop an affinity to ice and cold instead of fire.[46][47]
Notable tieflings[]
Exandria Unlimited: Calamity[]
NPCs[]
Campaign One: Vox Machina[]
PCs[]
Fan art of Zahra Hydris restraining the fire giants guarding Thordak's lair, by Brandon Chang.[art 3]
- Lillith Anioska Daturai: A wizard specializing in the School of Illusion, and a cousin of Zahra Hydris.
- Zahra Hydris: A powerful warlock who gained entry into the Slayer's Take alongside Vox Machina by slaying a white dragon. Zahra later helped Vox Machina recover Raven's Slumber (one of the Vestiges of Divergence) and fought in The Siege of Emon, the battle against Raishan, and the battle against Vecna.
NPCs[]
- The Broker: A bounty hunter hired to capture Lillith Daturai by Lillith's sisters. Killed by Percy.
- Uten: A jeweler, working together with his business partner, Senokir, in a small jewelry shop, known as the Flame Garden[49], in the City of Brass.
- Huntmaster Vanessa Cyndrial: The mysterious matron of the Slayer's Take guild.
- Whitney: A member of the Air Ashari.
- Gwendolyn Zahra Melanie von Musel de Rolo: Percy and Vex'ahlia's youngest daughter.
Campaign Two: The Mighty Nein[]
PCs[]
- Jester Lavorre: A cleric of The Traveler and a member of the Mighty Nein.
- Mollymauk Tealeaf: A blood hunter, fortune-teller and a former member of the Mighty Nein.
NPCs[]
- Marion Lavorre: A famous courtesan and singer better known by her stage name, "The Ruby of the Sea", who lives and works in the Lavish Chateau in Nicodranas. She is the mother of Jester Lavorre.
- Ophelia Mardoon: A business partner of The Gentleman operating out of Shadycreek Run.
- Lucien: The leader of the Tombtakers whose body Mollymauk Tealeaf briefly inhabited.
Explorer's Guide to Wildemount[]
- Honor and Magic: young sisters adopted by Irven Liel and Fenton Tethwick, a couple from Palebank Village.[50]
Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep[]
Depiction of Prolix Yusaf, by Isabel Gibney from Call of the Netherdeep, p. 55.[art 5]
- Justice: Guards a caravan in the Xhorhasian wastes atop his moorbounder mount, Rice Pudding.[51]
- Koris: Leader of a crew of thieves attempting a heist at the Luck's Run casino.[52]
- Prolix Yusaf: A spy working for the Allegiance of Allsight[53]
- Question: A scholar studying mysteries related to Alyxian and the Jewel of Three Prayers at Bazzoxan.[54]
Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn[]
- Ryn: Planerider and conjurer aligned with the Arcana Pansophical.
- Honor Kinnabari: A novice spellwright in the League of Miracles.
- Ixrattu Khar: A vampire member of the Remnants, and holder of Condemner, a Vestige of Divergence.
- Melchior: Spireling of the Clasp.
- L'Arkhelle: Clasp enforcer in Stilben.
- Khavasta Almiji: Acting Margrave of Kymal.
- Nyx and Vryll: Twin mages from Westruun.
- Waken: The ruler of New O'Noa.
The Re-Slayer's Take[]
PCs[]
- Heera Agneheart: A rogue/warlock.
Exandria Unlimited[]
NPCs[]
- Eduard: A supposed headhunter and worker at the Black Swan in Emon.[55]
- Jinoir: A young pickpocket allied with Fy'ra Rai, and a reluctant member of the Nameless Ones.[56][57]
Campaign Three: Bells Hells[]
NPCs[]
- Jenaya: A male blue tiefling acquainted with Dugger.
- Geria: A female tiefling who works in the Diamond Horizon, in Jrusar.
- Xandis: A dark blue tiefling who captains the Silver Sun, a skyship owned by Lord Ariks Eshteross.
The Nine Eyes of Lucien[]
- Elric Tavelle (presumably): Lucien's older brother, killed by the Jagentoth family.
- Aldreda Seriblo: Elric and Lucien's younger sister, married to a silversmith in Rexxentrum.
- Marii Seriblo: Aldreda's daughter.
The Legend of Vox Machina[]
- Duala Juun: A female tiefling on the Tal'Dorei Council.
External links[]
Tiefling on D&D Beyond
Tiefling on Wikipedia
Tiefling on The Forgotten Realms Wiki (note)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Tiefling on D&D Beyond
- ↑ Jester Lavorre's skin is blue. See "Curious Beginnings" (2x01) at 0:31:05.
- ↑ Ophelia Mardoon's skin is "dark-grey". See "Converging Fury" (2x27) at 2:35:35.
- ↑ Eduard's skin is "almost black". See "A Glorious Return" (E1x03) at 40:48.
- ↑ Mollymauk Tealeaf's skin is lavender. See "Curious Beginnings" (2x01) at 0:44:58.
- ↑ Vanessa Cyndrial's skin is purple. See "Hubris" (1x17) at 3:19:54.
- ↑ Zahra Hydris's skin is "intense red". See "Trial of the Take: Part 1" (1x18) at 0:21:17.
- ↑ Jinoir's skin is carrot-colored. See "Exandria Unlimited: Kymal, Part 1" (E2x01) at 0:56:16.
- ↑ Lillith Daturai's skin is white. See "Crimson Diplomacy" (1x25) at 1:15:20.
- ↑ See "The Carnivorous Cube" (RTx01).
- ↑ See "Crimson Diplomacy" (1x25) at 2:41:31.
- ↑ Ophelia Mardoon's hair is black. See "Converging Fury" (2x27) at 2:35:35.
- ↑ Jester Lavorre's hair is blue. See "Curious Beginnings" (2x01) at 0:31:05.
- ↑ Vanessa Cyndrial's hair is brown. See "Hubris" (1x17) at 3:19:54.
- ↑ See "Vox Machina Go to Hell" (1x91) at 1:00:48.
- ↑ See "Path of Brass" (1x74) at 2:55:56.
- ↑ Zahra Hydris's hair is white. See "Trial of the Take: Part 1" (1x18) at 0:19:04.
- ↑ Mollymauk Tealeaf's eyes are red. See "Curious Beginnings" (2x01) at 0:44:58.
- ↑ Zahra Hydris's eyes are silver. See "Trial of the Take: Part 1" (1x18) at 0:19:04.
- ↑ Vanessa Cyndrial's eyes are white. See "Hubris" (1x17) at 3:19:54.
- ↑ Ophelia Mardoon's eyes are yellow. See "Converging Fury" (2x27) at 2:35:50.
- ↑ See "Hubris" (1x17) at 3:19:54.
- ↑ See "Path of Brass" (1x74) at 2:55:42.
- ↑ See "Vox Machina Go to Hell" (1x91) at 0:38:34.
- ↑ See "Hubris" (1x17).
- ↑ See "Crimson Diplomacy" (1x25).
- ↑ See "Trial of the Take: Part 1" (1x18).
- ↑ See "Curious Beginnings" (2x01).
- ↑ See "Have Bird, Will Travel" (2x23).
- ↑ See "Curious Beginnings" (2x01).
- ↑ Critical Role: The Mighty Nein - The Nine Eyes of Lucien, p. 179 and 180.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 179.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 163.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 28.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 180.
- ↑ See "Excelsior" (E3x01) at 0:36:24.
- ↑ See "In Love and War" (2x57) at 2:42:00.
- ↑ See "Give and Take" (E4x01) at 0:53:48. See also at 0:58:00.
- ↑ See D&D: Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, 5th ed., p. 21.
- ↑ Zahra cast Hellish Rebuke as a once-per-day ability. See "Trial of the Take: Part 2" (1x19) at 3:23:00.
- ↑ Zahra casts Thaumaturgy. See "Trial of the Take: Part 1" (1x18) at 2:01:32.
- ↑ See D&D: Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, 5th ed., p. 118.
- ↑ Mollymauk casts Vicious Mockery, and Matt says he gets that ability due to being a variant tiefling. See "The Midnight Chase" (2x03) at 3:18:08.
- ↑ Mollymauk later casts Charm Person. See "The Howling Mines" (2x06) at 1:15:52.
- ↑ Mollymauk casts Enthrall and Taliesin explains it's a racial ability. See "Labenda Awaits" (2x20) at 1:41:18.
- ↑ See "The Gates of Zadash" (2x08) at 3:09:36.
- ↑ See "The Open Road" (2x05) from 2:17:18 through 2:17:58.
- ↑ See "Excelsior" (E3x01) at 0:36:24.
- ↑ See "Brawl in the Arches" (1x76) from 3:33:20 through 3:33:32.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 241.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, pp. 43–47.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 106.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 54.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 57.
- ↑ See "A Glorious Return" (E1x03) at 0:40:48.
- ↑ See "Exandria Unlimited: Kymal, Part 1" (E2x01) from 0:56:16 through 1:04:54.
- ↑ See "Exandria Unlimited: Kymal, Part 2" (E2x02) at 0:48:32.
Art:
- ↑ Depiction of a tiefling, by Nikki Dawes from Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 180. Used with permission. This page contains unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
- ↑ Official art of a tiefling, by Azraelion from Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 163. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Fan art of Zahra Hydris restraining the fire giants guarding Thordak's lair, by Brandon Chang (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of the Ruby of the Sea, by Sam Hogg (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Depiction of Prolix Yusaf, by Isabel Gibney from Call of the Netherdeep, p. 55. This page contains unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||