Had some ideas for some Chthonic Tiefling characters; had an idea to make one with some wolf motifs, but I was having some trouble finding a Neutral Evil wolf Fiend.
For those that don't know, the 2024 PHB mentions that Tieflings with "Chthonic" ancestry can inherit traits from Neutral Evil Fiends, such as Yugoloths; I had some ideas for making some wolf-based characters using this idea, but I was having some issues finding an actual wolf fiend to use for this. There's the Arcanaloths that come close, but they're noted to look like foxes, jackals, and "war dogs" rather than wolves. There's also Barghests, but the art and lore tends to paint them closer to goblins with lupine features rather than proper wolves.
Does anyone happen to have any idea about a "proper" Neutral Evil wolf Fiend that I might've missed? I'm not entirely sure on where to look next, so any inklings would be appreciated.
It sounds like there are no wolf like fiends to begin with. If that is true, you either need to change one that is close looking but not a wolf like or change the need for a wolf like appearance to a non wolf like appearance.
With such a small sample size, looking for NE just makes the search that much harder.
Unfortunately, I think all of those are either Lawful Evil or Chaotic Evil; Chthonic Tieflings require ancestry from a Neutral Evil Fiend, like the aforementioned Yugoloths.
Unfortunately, I think all of those are either Lawful Evil or Chaotic Evil; Chthonic Tieflings require ancestry from a Neutral Evil Fiend, like the aforementioned Yugoloths.
Which is why I mentioned looking for both wolf head and NE is too small of a sample to find.
How about a Cambion? These are corrupted mortals so if they started as a wolf-like species, they would retain those features. Now, are there any sufficiently wolf-like species?
Unfortunately, I think all of those are either Lawful Evil or Chaotic Evil; Chthonic Tieflings require ancestry from a Neutral Evil Fiend, like the aforementioned Yugoloths.
The Alignment is just a suggestion as explained in the Monster Manual and you're encourage to change a monster’s alignment to suit your storytelling needs:
Alignment
The alignment specified in a monster’s stat block is a default suggestion of how to roleplay the monster, inspired by its traditional role in the game or real-world folklore. Change a monster’s alignment to suit your storytelling needs. The Neutral alignment, in particular, is an invitation for you to consider whether an individual leans toward one of the other alignments.
There's also Barghests, but the art and lore tends to paint them closer to goblins with lupine features rather than proper wolves.
If you really want to stick with these parameters, the Barghests is closest you can get being Neutral Evil Fiend, which the true form is a large wolf in older lore or fiendish canine in 5E VGM.
Barghest whelps naturally appeared as larger, yellow-skinned goblins, eventually developing the ability to take on the form of a large wolf with powerful claws, their true form as this stage.
A barghest is born to goblin parents just as normal offspring are. The creature emerges in the form of a goblin, then develops the ability to assume its true form: that of a large, fiendish canine.
My first thought was gnoll. And ignore the alignment, as plaguescarred points out, it’s very optional. Especially in a case like this where the difference between neutral evil and chaotic evil is really paper thin.
Unfortunately, I think all of those are either Lawful Evil or Chaotic Evil; Chthonic Tieflings require ancestry from a Neutral Evil Fiend, like the aforementioned Yugoloths.
The Alignment is just a suggestion as explained in the Monster Manual and you're encourage to change a monster’s alignment to suit your storytelling needs:
Alignment
The alignment specified in a monster’s stat block is a default suggestion of how to roleplay the monster, inspired by its traditional role in the game or real-world folklore. Change a monster’s alignment to suit your storytelling needs. The Neutral alignment, in particular, is an invitation for you to consider whether an individual leans toward one of the other alignments.
I mean, I generally agree, but not for outerplanar things.
A devil is made of law and evil. It's not just a mental inclination for it. Outerplanes aren't physical spaces, they're mental spaces. Even sand in the Nine Hells isn't made of Silicon Dioxide, it's made of Law and Evil.
Unfortunately, I think all of those are either Lawful Evil or Chaotic Evil; Chthonic Tieflings require ancestry from a Neutral Evil Fiend, like the aforementioned Yugoloths.
The Alignment is just a suggestion as explained in the Monster Manual and you're encourage to change a monster’s alignment to suit your storytelling needs:
Alignment
The alignment specified in a monster’s stat block is a default suggestion of how to roleplay the monster, inspired by its traditional role in the game or real-world folklore. Change a monster’s alignment to suit your storytelling needs. The Neutral alignment, in particular, is an invitation for you to consider whether an individual leans toward one of the other alignments.
I mean, I generally agree, but not for outerplanar things.
A devil is made of law and evil. It's not just a mental inclination for it. Outerplanes aren't physical spaces, they're mental spaces. Even sand in the Nine Hells isn't made of Silicon Dioxide, it's made of Law and Evil.
It really depends. I think default D&D assumes that to be true, or at least used to, but I don't think it holds as true for Planescape, for example.
Unfortunately, I think all of those are either Lawful Evil or Chaotic Evil; Chthonic Tieflings require ancestry from a Neutral Evil Fiend, like the aforementioned Yugoloths.
The Alignment is just a suggestion as explained in the Monster Manual and you're encourage to change a monster’s alignment to suit your storytelling needs:
Alignment
The alignment specified in a monster’s stat block is a default suggestion of how to roleplay the monster, inspired by its traditional role in the game or real-world folklore. Change a monster’s alignment to suit your storytelling needs. The Neutral alignment, in particular, is an invitation for you to consider whether an individual leans toward one of the other alignments.
I mean, I generally agree, but not for outerplanar things.
A devil is made of law and evil. It's not just a mental inclination for it. Outerplanes aren't physical spaces, they're mental spaces. Even sand in the Nine Hells isn't made of Silicon Dioxide, it's made of Law and Evil.
The Monster Manual makes no exception, so suggested Alignment can be changed for any Creature Type unless noted otherwise. It's part of D&D customs loosening on Alignments.
Unfortunately, I think all of those are either Lawful Evil or Chaotic Evil; Chthonic Tieflings require ancestry from a Neutral Evil Fiend, like the aforementioned Yugoloths.
The Alignment is just a suggestion as explained in the Monster Manual and you're encourage to change a monster’s alignment to suit your storytelling needs:
Alignment
The alignment specified in a monster’s stat block is a default suggestion of how to roleplay the monster, inspired by its traditional role in the game or real-world folklore. Change a monster’s alignment to suit your storytelling needs. The Neutral alignment, in particular, is an invitation for you to consider whether an individual leans toward one of the other alignments.
I mean, I generally agree, but not for outerplanar things.
A devil is made of law and evil. It's not just a mental inclination for it. Outerplanes aren't physical spaces, they're mental spaces. Even sand in the Nine Hells isn't made of Silicon Dioxide, it's made of Law and Evil.
The Monster Manual makes no exception, so suggested Alignment can be changed for any Creature Type unless noted otherwise. It's part of D&D customs loosening on Alignments.
I don't think a general statement on alignment overrides the metaphysics of the outerplanes.
Alignments were always looser than the caricateur of them was. That note is not a loosening of alignment, there were similar notes in every edition back to at least 2nd AD+D, if not 1st (would have to check). ... okay, i can't speak to 4e, and I prefer to believe it never happened.
Had some ideas for some Chthonic Tiefling characters; had an idea to make one with some wolf motifs, but I was having some trouble finding a Neutral Evil wolf Fiend.
For those that don't know, the 2024 PHB mentions that Tieflings with "Chthonic" ancestry can inherit traits from Neutral Evil Fiends, such as Yugoloths; I had some ideas for making some wolf-based characters using this idea, but I was having some issues finding an actual wolf fiend to use for this. There's the Arcanaloths that come close, but they're noted to look like foxes, jackals, and "war dogs" rather than wolves. There's also Barghests, but the art and lore tends to paint them closer to goblins with lupine features rather than proper wolves.
Does anyone happen to have any idea about a "proper" Neutral Evil wolf Fiend that I might've missed? I'm not entirely sure on where to look next, so any inklings would be appreciated.
It sounds like there are no wolf like fiends to begin with. If that is true, you either need to change one that is close looking but not a wolf like or change the need for a wolf like appearance to a non wolf like appearance.
With such a small sample size, looking for NE just makes the search that much harder.
Barghests have a wolf form and a goblin form, not any goblin/wolf blend. I'd say that's your best bet.
Apart from the ones you mention, some i evil Fiends i can think of what had Wolf heads;
Miska, the Wolf-Spider
Molydeus Tanar'ri
Amon the Wolf
Othere dog like include;
Shoosuvas Demon (hyena dog-like).
Kezef Chaos Hound
Hell Hound
Unfortunately, I think all of those are either Lawful Evil or Chaotic Evil; Chthonic Tieflings require ancestry from a Neutral Evil Fiend, like the aforementioned Yugoloths.
Which is why I mentioned looking for both wolf head and NE is too small of a sample to find.
How about a Cambion? These are corrupted mortals so if they started as a wolf-like species, they would retain those features. Now, are there any sufficiently wolf-like species?
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
Only ones off the top of my head are werewolves, wolfweres, and shifters.
You could say that you are descended from a Cambion corrupted from one of those and in the process, the Wolf traits were accentuated.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
The Alignment is just a suggestion as explained in the Monster Manual and you're encourage to change a monster’s alignment to suit your storytelling needs:
If you really want to stick with these parameters, the Barghests is closest you can get being Neutral Evil Fiend, which the true form is a large wolf in older lore or fiendish canine in 5E VGM.
My first thought was gnoll. And ignore the alignment, as plaguescarred points out, it’s very optional. Especially in a case like this where the difference between neutral evil and chaotic evil is really paper thin.
I mean, I generally agree, but not for outerplanar things.
A devil is made of law and evil. It's not just a mental inclination for it. Outerplanes aren't physical spaces, they're mental spaces. Even sand in the Nine Hells isn't made of Silicon Dioxide, it's made of Law and Evil.
Managed to double post that... somehow
It really depends. I think default D&D assumes that to be true, or at least used to, but I don't think it holds as true for Planescape, for example.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
The Monster Manual makes no exception, so suggested Alignment can be changed for any Creature Type unless noted otherwise. It's part of D&D customs loosening on Alignments.
I don't think a general statement on alignment overrides the metaphysics of the outerplanes.
Alignments were always looser than the caricateur of them was. That note is not a loosening of alignment, there were similar notes in every edition back to at least 2nd AD+D, if not 1st (would have to check). ... okay, i can't speak to 4e, and I prefer to believe it never happened.
Please provide a RAW source for this.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.