Is it possible for a couple of humans with latent fiendish genes in their DNA to give birth to a tiefling child? Like there was a small percentage of ancient fiendish blood in their veins, maybe dormant for many generations, and suddenly this blood awakens and one of their offspring is born a tiefling. I know this was possible in 3.5, but with the latest changes to the tiefling race I can't understand if it's still a viable option or not.
Yes, this is absolutely possible. The fiendish blood can run very thin and suddenly manifest itself as a tiefling. In Xanathar's Guide to Everything there's even a table for advice for backgrounds with a 50-50 chance of that being the case.
d8
Parents
1–4
Both parents were humans, their infernal heritage dormant until you came along.
5–6
One parent was a tiefling and the other was a human.
7
One parent was a tiefling and the other was a devil.
Really anything is possible if the DM agrees to it. For example, one could discuss the possibility that there is no dormant infernal heritage and your character made a deal with a devil that transforms you into a tiefling. This would be great for a Warlock backstory, for example.
Really anything is possible if the DM agrees to it. For example, one could discuss the possibility that there is no dormant infernal heritage and your character made a deal with a devil that transforms you into a tiefling. This would be great for a Warlock backstory, for example.
This is actually how 5e tieflings came to be. The Pact Infernal was struck by the Chosen of Asmodeus, transforming everyone who had a fiend as an ancestor into the core book tieflings. This, then, was passed down from parent to child. Grazz't was pissed that Asmodeus stole all his kids.
Later on, the other Lords of the Nine made their own pacts with mortals to make other tieflings subraces (Mordenkeinen's Tome of Foes). Feral tieflings (Sword Coast Adventure Guide) are pretty much the only ones who have the old school demon-cambion-brat-heritage anymore.
So, while I wont' say its common to run into someone who's started up a new tiefling lineage as the result of the pact, its not unheard of, and is probably something your ancestor did to get their power.
Seems strange that Asmodeus would agree to make a considerably weaker, watered down pseudo-demonic race when actual half-demons already exist. Why not just snap his fingers and make a butt-ton of cambions and alu-fiends?
Hrn? There are plenty of cambions in both the Nine Hells and in the Abyss, but they're considered fiends, not mortals, and don't exactly expand his influence on the mortal planes. The Pact Infernal warlock spell only targeted mortals, and was part of a plot for his ascension into Godhood. The plan wasn't to create some kind of ubermench race, but rather a way to gather more souls and other divine energy from being the patron of an entire race.
Seems strange that Asmodeus would agree to make a considerably weaker, watered down pseudo-demonic race when actual half-demons already exist. Why not just snap his fingers and make a butt-ton of cambions and alu-fiends?
This has mostly to do with the Blood War, an eternal struggle between Devils and Demons. This is a war of attrition for the Devils, since Demons simply "appear" where Devils must be "made" from evil souls. Even if a mortal walked into Asmodeus' lair itself, he would not be able to simply turn said human into a devil. That can only be done with the power of the "deal", the archetypical devil contract that is common in pop culture.
Please note that there is a difference between demons and devils (though the mistake is common). Demons are from the Abyss, an everchurning plane of shadow and evil that eternally spews out demons of varying power. Devils are from the Nine Hells, a very structured and almost bureaucratic plane where Devils reside. Demons spawn "as is", so they spend most of their existence in the same form. Devils are transformed from evil souls and most of them spawn as Lemures or other "lesser" demons, an must somehow find a way to be "promoted" by a greater devil in order to gain another form, such as an Imp. Then it is able to scheme to gain more power and over the centuries/millenia they can strive to become a horned devil or even a pit fiend.
Note that when demons die they simply discorporate and their "essence" flows back to the Abyss the be used as 'fuel" for a new demon. Devils are similar, however if they are destroyed on any of the Nine Hells they are gone for good. The Blood War basically keeps the evil in the multiverse in check; if there were no demons to keep the devils busy, they would take over the prime material and other planes. If there were no devils to keep the demons in check, demons would overrun and consume the entire multiverse.
It's a really cool bit of lore, a lot of it is in Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. I highly recommend reading it, it's very inspiring. Note that the above may not be cannon in your game; if I'm correct this is lore from Forgotten Realms, though that is the "basic" lore that the monster manual is taking into account.
I am certainly glad there is, because an entire faith in my backstory for my tiefling character revolves around it! They believe that when a Tiefling is born, it is a chosen one and is indoctrinated into their holy order to fulfil a destiny. It comes as something of a shock when my character left this village and made contact with civilization, to find themselves shunned and ostracized where they were once respected and praised!
The village is all humans, who I guess have latent fiendish genes, so a tiefling is born maybe every 30-40 years. It has, coincidentally, coincided with important events. I made it clear to the DM that the "chosen one" plot was superstition and had no bearing on my characters actual capabilities, only their drive to succeed!
Hello everyone.
Is it possible for a couple of humans with latent fiendish genes in their DNA to give birth to a tiefling child? Like there was a small percentage of ancient fiendish blood in their veins, maybe dormant for many generations, and suddenly this blood awakens and one of their offspring is born a tiefling. I know this was possible in 3.5, but with the latest changes to the tiefling race I can't understand if it's still a viable option or not.
Thank you in advance for your answers.
Yes, this is absolutely possible. The fiendish blood can run very thin and suddenly manifest itself as a tiefling. In Xanathar's Guide to Everything there's even a table for advice for backgrounds with a 50-50 chance of that being the case.
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
Really anything is possible if the DM agrees to it. For example, one could discuss the possibility that there is no dormant infernal heritage and your character made a deal with a devil that transforms you into a tiefling. This would be great for a Warlock backstory, for example.
This is actually how 5e tieflings came to be. The Pact Infernal was struck by the Chosen of Asmodeus, transforming everyone who had a fiend as an ancestor into the core book tieflings. This, then, was passed down from parent to child. Grazz't was pissed that Asmodeus stole all his kids.
Later on, the other Lords of the Nine made their own pacts with mortals to make other tieflings subraces (Mordenkeinen's Tome of Foes). Feral tieflings (Sword Coast Adventure Guide) are pretty much the only ones who have the old school demon-cambion-brat-heritage anymore.
So, while I wont' say its common to run into someone who's started up a new tiefling lineage as the result of the pact, its not unheard of, and is probably something your ancestor did to get their power.
Seems strange that Asmodeus would agree to make a considerably weaker, watered down pseudo-demonic race when actual half-demons already exist. Why not just snap his fingers and make a butt-ton of cambions and alu-fiends?
"The Epic Level Handbook wasn't that bad, guys.
Guys, pls."
Hrn? There are plenty of cambions in both the Nine Hells and in the Abyss, but they're considered fiends, not mortals, and don't exactly expand his influence on the mortal planes. The Pact Infernal warlock spell only targeted mortals, and was part of a plot for his ascension into Godhood. The plan wasn't to create some kind of ubermench race, but rather a way to gather more souls and other divine energy from being the patron of an entire race.
This has mostly to do with the Blood War, an eternal struggle between Devils and Demons. This is a war of attrition for the Devils, since Demons simply "appear" where Devils must be "made" from evil souls. Even if a mortal walked into Asmodeus' lair itself, he would not be able to simply turn said human into a devil. That can only be done with the power of the "deal", the archetypical devil contract that is common in pop culture.
Please note that there is a difference between demons and devils (though the mistake is common). Demons are from the Abyss, an everchurning plane of shadow and evil that eternally spews out demons of varying power. Devils are from the Nine Hells, a very structured and almost bureaucratic plane where Devils reside. Demons spawn "as is", so they spend most of their existence in the same form. Devils are transformed from evil souls and most of them spawn as Lemures or other "lesser" demons, an must somehow find a way to be "promoted" by a greater devil in order to gain another form, such as an Imp. Then it is able to scheme to gain more power and over the centuries/millenia they can strive to become a horned devil or even a pit fiend.
Note that when demons die they simply discorporate and their "essence" flows back to the Abyss the be used as 'fuel" for a new demon. Devils are similar, however if they are destroyed on any of the Nine Hells they are gone for good. The Blood War basically keeps the evil in the multiverse in check; if there were no demons to keep the devils busy, they would take over the prime material and other planes. If there were no devils to keep the demons in check, demons would overrun and consume the entire multiverse.
It's a really cool bit of lore, a lot of it is in Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. I highly recommend reading it, it's very inspiring. Note that the above may not be cannon in your game; if I'm correct this is lore from Forgotten Realms, though that is the "basic" lore that the monster manual is taking into account.
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
I would hate to be the human if they made a kid with a devil
according to XGtE there is zero chance both parents were tieflings. going by that tieflings are not even a race at all.
I am certainly glad there is, because an entire faith in my backstory for my tiefling character revolves around it! They believe that when a Tiefling is born, it is a chosen one and is indoctrinated into their holy order to fulfil a destiny. It comes as something of a shock when my character left this village and made contact with civilization, to find themselves shunned and ostracized where they were once respected and praised!
The village is all humans, who I guess have latent fiendish genes, so a tiefling is born maybe every 30-40 years. It has, coincidentally, coincided with important events. I made it clear to the DM that the "chosen one" plot was superstition and had no bearing on my characters actual capabilities, only their drive to succeed!
Make your Artificer work with any other class with 174 Multiclassing Feats for your Artificer Multiclass Character!
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