Tiefling

Tieflings are a humanoid race.

Tieflings, like several other races, are a by-product of the War of Worlds that lasted 300 years and ended about 5,000 years ago.

In that war, denizens of the non-mortal planes invaded the mortal world, including devils from the Nine Hells. Scholars are not sure if devils that settled in the mortal realm became more human-like, if the devils interbred with humans, or if humans were turned into Tieflings to serve devilish masters. At the end of the War of Worlds, non-Tiefling devils were driven back into the Nine Hells and Tieflings were dispersed throughout the world —never to find a homeland of their own.

Most people believe that Tieflings are the direct offspring of devils and worship Asmodeus, the ruler of the Nine Hells.

In reality, Tieflings are ancestor worshipers and their own myths claim that they were instrumental in defeating the devils. They do not worship any of the gods that other races worship, which is one reason they are mistrusted.

In the Northern continent, Tieflings are most common in the Tillian city-states, where they had a mixed history at best. They are often tolerated because they can be useful for the merchant class. Tieflings keep in close contact with each other across great distances and inhabit nearly every city along the Twin Seas. This makes them useful go-betweens and many Tieflings have gone into banking as one Tiefling will always honour a bill of credit co-signed by a respected Tiefling.

Tieflings also specialize in trade in war zones. Since they are believed to be loyal to no city, they are less harassed than non-Tiefling merchants in time of war. However, most inhabitants of Tillian city-states believe that Tieflings are inherently evil and untrustworthy. When bad things happen, it is often blamed on the treachery of Tieflings.

Legal restrictions are placed in Tieflings, such as forbidding them from holding public offices or living in some areas of the city. Several Tillian cities have at some point expelled entire Tiefling populations. Often expelled populations fall to piracy or banditry to survive, further fueling prejudice towards Tieflings. In the Franian kingdoms, Tieflings are much rarer and so are more tolerated. They can only be found in major centres of trade. They are almost never seen in Pettylin.