Homebrew Aaratiefling Species Details

Aaratiefling are born from an aarakocran lineage which has been tainted by the hereditary sin of the Nine Hells. This curse manifests as a physical and magical features on these creatures. Their plumage tends to shift towards black, red, and purple. Their faces may resemble a traditional tiefling or a twisted aarakocra. They often maintain their avian-like legs. Their tails are long and flexible, like other tiefling, however they are lined with varying amounts of feathers.

Infernal Bloodline

Aaratiefling are derived from aarakocran bloodlines, and they vary in appearance from feathery tiefling to demonic and twisted aarakocra. Their infernal heritage has left a clear imprint on their appearance. Aaratiefling have large horns that take any of a variety of shapes: some have curling horns like a ram, others have straight and tall horns like a gazelle’s, and some spiral upward like an antelopes’ horns. They have thick tails, four to five feet long, which are flexible and often covered in feathers. Their faces can look human, with canine teeth are sharply pointed, and their eyes are solid colors—black, red, white, silver, or gold—with no visible sclera or pupil. They can also retain a more traditionally aarakocran face, but with a serrated beak. Their skin tones cover the full range of traditional coloration, but also include various shades of red. Their hair, cascading down from behind their horns, is usually dark, from black or brown to dark red, blue, or purple. Their plumage follows similar color schemes to their hair.

Unusual Origins

Most aarakocra live on the Elemental Plane of Air while tieflings often occupy the Material Plane. Aarakocra can be drawn into the Material Plane, sometimes to pursue enemies or thwart their foes’ designs there. While in the Material Plane, they are not immune to committing unforgiveable sins or finding themselves in a romantic relation with tiefling. Once born, an aaratiefling would be discarded and shunned for its appearance, as it physically bears the sins of its ancestors. Like other tiefling, they lack a true homeland or a place to call home. They exist as minorities in either the Elemental Plane of Air or the Material Plane.

Aaratiefling Names

Like other tiefling, their names have a vast spectrum of which they can originate. Their birth names either tie to aarakocran lineage, infernal language, or a name from their tiefling parent's original ethnicity (if applicable). Some aaratiefling adopt a tiefling tradition of choosing a virtue name; a name which embodies something they value, strive for, or a quality they are fond of in themselves.

Aarakocra Names: Aera, Aial, Aur, Deekek, Errk, Heehk, Ikki, Kleeck, Oorr, Ouss, Quaf, Quierk, Salleek, Urreek, or Zeed. 

Male Infernal Names: Akmenos, Amnon, Barakas, Damakos, Ekemon, Iados, Kairon, Leucis, Melech, Mordai, Morthos, Pelaios, Skamos, Therai

Female Infernal Names: Akta, Anakis, Bryseis, Criella, Damaia, Ea, Kallista, Lerissa, Makaria, Nemeia, Orianna, Phelaia, Rieta

“Virtue” Names: Art, Carrion, Chant, Creed, Despair, Excellence, Fear, Glory, Hope, Ideal, Music, Nowhere, Open, Poetry, Quest, Random, Reverence, Sorrow, Temerity, Torment, Weary

Aaratiefling Traits

As an aaratiefling, you have certain traits in common with your aarakocra ancestors. Being able to fly starting at 1st level is exceptionally effective in certain circumstances and exceedingly dangerous in others. Your additional Tiefling heritage gives you racial traits as a result of their infernal descent.

Infernal Legacy

You know the thaumaturgy cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the hellish rebuke spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the darkness spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age

Like other tiefling, aaratiefling live to be around 300 years old on average.

Alignment

Depending on their personal ties to their parent races, these hybrids either find themselves adopting the neutral good nature of the aarakocra, or the chaotic natures of many tieflings. While these are the most common, the volatility of these hybrids makes it extremely difficult to generalize.

Size

These hybrids are about 5 feet tall. They have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 80 and 100 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Flight

You have a flying speed of 25 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor.

Talons

Your talons are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Aarakocra, and Infernal.