Homebrew Tiefling-Tabaxi Hybrid Species Details

“But you do see the way people look at you, devil’s child.”

Those black eyes, cold as a winter storm, were staring right into her heart and the sudden seriousness in his voice jolted her.

“What is it they say?” he asked. “One’s a curiosity, two’s a conspiracy—”

“Three’s a curse,” she finished. “You think I haven’t heard that rubbish before?”

“I know you have.” When she glared at him, he added, “It’s not as if I’m plumbing the depths of your mind, dear girl. That is the burden of every tiefling. Some break under it, some make it the millstone around their neck, some revel in it.” He tilted his head again, scrutinizing her, with that wicked glint in his eyes. “You fight it, don’t you? Like a little wildcat, I wager. Every little jab and comment just sharpens your claws.”

— Erin M. Evans, Brimstone Angels

To be greeted with stares and whispers, to suffer violence and insult on the street, to see mistrust and fear in every eye: this is the lot of the tiefling hybrid. And to twist the knife, tieflings know that this is because a pact struck generations ago infused the essence of Asmodeus—overlord of the Nine Hells—into their bloodline. Their appearance and their nature are not their fault but the result of an ancient sin, for which they and their children and their children’s children will always be held accountable.

Tiefling-Tabaxi are driven by the curiosity to collect the interesting artifacts and also gathering stories and tales, lay eyes on all over the world’s wonders. They will rarely stay in one place for a long time. 

Infernal Bloodline

Tieflings are derived from human bloodlines, and in the broadest possible sense, they still look human. However, when a tiefling mates with another race, such as a Tabaxi, a hybrid is born. While remaining largely catlike, their infernal heritage leaves a clear imprint on their appearance. Tiefling-Tabaxi 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 lash or coil around their legs when they get upset or nervous. Their canine teeth are sharply pointed, and their eyes are solid colors—black, red, white, silver, or gold—with no visible sclera or pupil. Their fur tones cover the full range of coloration, but are often dark and often include various shades of red. 

Self-Reliant, Wandering Outcasts

Tiefling-Tabaxi subsist in small, tight clan-like 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. Often, the tabaxi nature subjects them to wanderlust and they will roam far and wide, largely seeking lore, artifacts, and stories to keep their interests.

Lacking a homeland, tiefling-tabaxi 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 their companions demonstrate that they trust him or her, the tiefling-tabaxi will extend the same trust to them. And once a tiefling gives someone loyalty, the tiefling is a firm friend or ally for life.

Barterers Of Lore

Rather than the material things tiefling-tabaxi treasure knowledge. Acquiring food or a coil of rope might be helpful, but intrinsically, it is not interesting.

Although material wealth might hold little attraction, and they have an insatiable desire to find and inspect ancient relics, magical items, and other rare items. This may be due to the power such items might confer but the tiefling-tabaxi will take the great joy in unraveling the stories of the item's history, both of their use and of their users.

Fleeting Fancies

These wandering tiefling-tabaxies are mercurial creatures and they often switch between one passion or obsession for the next on a whim. A tabaxi rogue can deliberately spend months plotting to steal a strange gem from a noble background only to trade it away for passage on any ship or a week’s of lodging once its secrets and nature have been laid bare.

Tiefling-Tabaxi Names

Tiefling names fall into three broad categories. Tieflings born into another culture typically have names reflective of that culture. Some have names derived from the Infernal language, passed down through generations, that reflect their fiendish heritage. And some younger tieflings, striving to find a place in the world, adopt a name that signifies a virtue or other concept and then try to embody that concept. For some, the chosen name is a noble quest. For others, it’s a grim destiny.

For the tiefling-tabaxi hybrids, the tabaxi culture tends to have a single name determined by the clan and based on a complex formula that involves astrology, prophecy, clan history, and other esoteric factors. Said names are often gender-neutral and most go by a nickname inspired by or derived from their full name. 

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

Tabaxi Names: Smoking Mirror (Smoke), Skirt of Snakes (Snake), Seven Thundercloud (Thunder), Left-Handed Hummingbird (Bird), Jade Shoe (Jade), Five Timber (Timber) and Cloud on the Mountaintop (Cloud).

MUTUAL MISTRUST

People tend to be suspicious of tieflings, assuming that their infernal heritage has left its mark on their personality and morality, not just their appearance. Shopkeepers keep a close eye on their goods when tieflings enter their stores, the town watch might follow a tiefling around for a while, and demagogues blame tieflings for strange happenings. The reality, though, is that a tiefling’s bloodline doesn’t affect his or her personality to any great degree. Years of dealing with mistrust does leave its mark on most tieflings, and they respond to it in different ways. Some choose to live up to the wicked stereotype, but others are virtuous. Most are simply very aware of how people respond to them. After dealing with this mistrust throughout youth, a tiefling often develops the ability to overcome prejudice through charm or intimidation.

Tiefling-Tabaxi Hybrid Traits

Tieflings share certain racial traits as a result of their infernal descent.

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma, and Dexterity scores increase by 2.

Age

Tieflings mature at the same rate as humans but live a few years longer.

Alignment

Tiefling-tabaxi hybrids might not have an innate tendency toward evil, but many of them end up there due to mistreatment. Their independent nature inclines many toward a chaotic alignment.

Size

Tiefling-Tabaxis can reach 6 to 7 feet tall but are often roughly the size of the average human. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages

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

Darkvision

In the dark, you have a cat’s keen senses and, thanks to your infernal heritage, 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.

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.

Cat's Talent

You have proficiency in Stealth and Perception skills

Cat's Claws

You can able to climb with the speed of 20 feet and this speed is just because of your claws. Additionally, Your claws are natural weapons and with those weapons you can make unarmed strikes.

The advantage of those weapons is, if you hit those weapons you deal slashing damage would be equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier and it is normal for an unarmed strike instead of the bludgeoning damage.

Feline Agility

With the added benefit of cat-like reflexes, Tiefling-Tabaxies can gain an extra burst of speed that allows them to move with double speed that lasts until the end of their turn. You can use this trait again when you forgo the movement on one of your next turns.