Homebrew Elven Tiefling Species Details

“I have never imagined such beauty existed,” Goldmoon said softly. The day’s march had been difficult, but the reward at the end was beyond their dreams. The companions stood on a high cliff over the fabled city of Qualinost.

Four slender spires rose from the city’s corners like glistening spindles, their brilliant white stone marbled with shining silver. Graceful arches, swooping from spire to spire, soared through the air. Crafted by ancient dwarven metalsmiths, they were strong enough to hold the weight of an army, yet they appeared so delicate that a bird lighting on them might overthrow the balance. These glistening arches were the city’s only boundaries; there was no wall around Qualinost. The elven city opened its arms lovingly to the wilderness.

— Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman, Dragons of Autumn Twilight

Elven tieflings, despite their demonic looks, hold an otherworldly grace, as though their existence is only part of the world. Preferring places of quiet beauty, they live in the midst of ancient forests or craggy mountains, where the ambiance of life drifts through the air with the music they create. Elven tieflings pick up their love for nature and magic, art and artistry, music and poetry, from their ancestors, but the boil of infernal fires still pumps through their veins.

 

Slender and Deft

With their unearthly grace and fine features, elven tieflings appear eerily beautiful to humans and members of many other races. They are slightly shorter than humans on average, ranging from just under 5 feet tall to just over 6 feet. They are more slender than humans, weighing only 100 to 145 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, and males are only marginally heavier than females. They have small horns that jut from their foreheads that vary in shape: some have curling horns like a ram while others have straight horns like a goat's, and in very rare cases where horns grow too large, they spiral upward similar to an antelopes' horns. They have thin tails, two to three feet long, which lash or coil around their legs when they get upset or nervous.

Elven tieflings’ coloration encompasses the normal human range and also includes shades of copper, bronze, and red, hair of unusually dark shades that cascade down behind their horns, and eyes like pools of liquid gold, silver, or ebony. Elven tieflings' have no facial and little body hair. They favor elegant clothing in bright colors, and they enjoy simple yet lovely jewelry.

Self-Reliant and Suspicious

Elven tieflings subsist in the smallest of minorities found mostly in human cities or towns, often in the roughest quarters of those places, where they grow up to be swindlers, thieves, or crime lords. Sometimes they live among other minority populations in enclaves where they are treated with more respect.

Lacking a homeland, elven tieflings know that they have to make their own way in the world and that they have to be strong to survive. They are not quick to trust anyone who claims to be a friend, but when an elven tiefling’s companions demonstrate that they trust him or her, the elven tiefling learns to extend the same trust to them. And once an elven tiefling gives someone loyalty, the elven tiefling is a firm friend or ally for life.

 

Hidden Woodland Realms

Elven tielfings' hunt game, gather food, and grow vegetables, and their skill and magic allow them to support themselves without the need for clearing and plowing land. They pick up on crafts from their ancestors and are talented artisans, crafting finely worked clothes and art objects. Their contact with outsiders is limited as they are usually shielded from outside factors to protect them and their family name.

Elven tieflings encountered outside their own lands are traveling minstrels, artists, or sages.

Elven tieflings take up adventuring out of wanderlust. They live longer than humans, allowing them to enjoy exploration and discovery. They dislike the pace of human society, which is regimented from day to day but constantly changing over decades, so they find careers that let them travel freely and set their own pace. Elven tieflings also enjoy exercising their martial prowess or gaining greater magical power, and adventuring allows them to do so. In extremely rare instances, they might join with rebels fighting against oppression.

MET WITH MISTRUST

Ignorant people tend to be suspicious of tieflings, more so those of elven heritage, assuming that their infernal heritage has left its mark on their personality and morality, not just their appearance. The reality is that an elven tiefling’s bloodline doesn’t affect their personality. They are gifted with magic from the infernal realms but chart their own course in life.

Elven Tiefling Names

Elves are considered children until they declare themselves adults and are called by child names.

On declaring adulthood, an elf selects an adult name, although those who knew him or her as a youngster might continue to use the child name. Each elf’s adult name is a unique creation, though it might reflect the names of respected individuals or other family members. Little distinction exists between male names and female names; the groupings here reflect only general tendencies. The naming for elven tieflings is the same, as their infernal heritage is often attempted to be ignored.

Child Names: Ara, Bryn, Del, Eryn, Faen, Innil, Lael, Mella, Naill, Naeris, Phann, Rael, Rinn, Sai, Syllin, Thia, Vall

Male Adult Names: Adran, Aelar, Aramil, Arannis, Aust, Beiro, Berrian, Carric, Enialis, Erdan, Erevan, Damakos, Hadarai, Heian, Himo, Immeral, Ivellios, Laucian, Mindartis, Paelias, Peren, Quarion, Riardon, Rolen, Soveliss, Thamior, Therai, Theren, Varis

Female Adult Names: Adrie, Althaea, Anastrianna, Andraste, Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn, Drusilia, Enna, Felosial, Ielenia, Jelenneth, Keyleth, Lerissa, Lia, Meriele, Mialee, Naivara, Quelenna, Rieta, Sariel, Shanairra, Shava, Silaqui, Theirastra, Thia, Vadania, Valanthe, Xanaphia

Family Names (Common Translations): Amakiir (Gemflower), Amastacia (Starflower), Galanodel (Moonwhisper), Holimion (Diamonddew), Ilphelkiir (Gemblossom), Liadon (Silverfrond), Meliamne (Oakenheel), Naïlo (Nightbreeze), Siannodel (Moonbrook), Xiloscient (Goldpetal)

 

Elven Tiefling Traits

Your character has a variety of natural abilities and share certain racial traits as a result of their infernal descent..

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

Age

Although elves reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans and mature at the same rate as humans, they live longer into their 120's.

Size

Elves range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Hellish Resistance

You take little to no damage when you are inflicted with fire.

Darkvision

Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Fey Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Elvish. Elvish is fluid, with subtle intonations and intricate grammar. Elven literature is rich and varied, and their songs and poems are famous among other races. Many bards learn their language so they can add Elvish ballads to their repertoires.