Tieflings
The history of the Tieflings' is often told as a warning to children not to fall prey to hubris and temptation. Although once a Human nation, the once proud people of the nation of Bal-Morath fell under a terrible curse set by the Demon Prince, Orcus. This curse caused all the children to develop horns and a tail and to link a portion of their soul eternally to Orcus’ realm.
Appearance
Tieflings are as varied in appearance as humans, perhaps even more so, and so describing a 'typical' Tiefling is practically impossible.
Both males and females are of average Merebian human height and build. Their skin tone ranges from 'tanned' to an almost 'pillar-box' red. Their hair is typically jet black but can be red or brown. Tieflings are never naturally blond. Their eye colours tend to be brown or black. All Tieflings have horns protruding from their upper skull, above the brow-line. These horns can be quite small and only a few centimetres in length or, and more commonly, resemble ram horns and sweep back over the ears (see pictures on this page for examples). All Tieflings have non-prehensile tails ranging in length from 1-1.5m. Some Tieflings have hooves but most have 'normal' human feet.
Lifespan
Tieflings are identical to Humans with respects to lifespans. They reach maturity in their teens and can live for up to 100 years (although most are lucky to reach more than 80).
Origins
Originally, and unfairly, called “The Children of Orcus” this people now go by the collective term of “Tiefling” (pronounced either as “Ty-fling” or “Teef-ling”) and although the descendants of the original generation to bear the curse call Bal-Morath their home, they can now be found throughout much of the Imperial lands.
No-one is exactly sure how they came to be cursed. There was no recorded incident of any specific interaction with Orcus. Even the Cult of Orcus is surprisingly quiet on the whole situation, neither accepting nor denying responsibility. Instead the very specific geographical nature of the curse would suggest an arcane origin. Additionally, not all Morathians were affected - those that were not in their home country at the time of the curse, or even some entire families (such as the members of House Sarris), were unaffected and their descendants continue to be normal humans in every discernible respect.
All that is known is that some event in the middle of the 1st Century occurred which resulted in the formation of a new race.
Religion
Despite their cursed nature, Tieflings, as a people, do not worship Orcus. Instead they follow the Human religion of “The Twelve”.
Culture
Tiefling culture is built around the premise that each generation should be better than the one before. For most this translates into a desire to have a better career or a happier family. For some it means making a bargain with an otherworldly patron in exchange for dark magical power. Well, no-one said that they were an altogether stable people!
Tieflings
As Tieflings were originally humans they have human naming conventions. To those of us in the real world Tiefling names sound Spanish or Portuguese in origin.
Outlook
Oberon Tieflings consider themselves both superior to Humans but also accept their second-class status within the Empire, leading to mild resentment but not hostility. They are neutral to Dwarves and Elves. Although individual Gnomes may be endearing, as a race Tieflings find them a little tiresome. Tieflings and Ymirkin both know how it feels to be ‘outsiders’ and tend to bond over their common isolation.
