Homebrew Dark Tiefling (Underdevil) Species Details

"I see now my true self, the product of two shadows, the devil-borne and dark fey, this creature of double natures, with not one, but two dark lineages to bear. Black as the deepest shadows of the deepest places, with the infernal blood of the unholies within. Shade and torment, dark and devils, what is a shadow of two worlds combined but the epitome of all capacity for evil? I suppose I am the dark, wed to my own sin, chained to my own damnation."

- Darker Devils, Aikaria of the Fyredawn

 Of all the races, the dark tieflings are perhaps the most cursed, bearing both the lineages of devils and drow. Often called 'underdevils', dark tieflings have the traits of both their parent races and are nearly unescapably drawn toward darkness, evil, and damnation.

Bloodline of Two Shadows

Dark tieflings, as a product of drow and tiefling, bear resemblance of both races. They have horns like their tiefling forebears, though often smaller, that take any of a variety of shapes. They also bear the tails of tieflings, strong and 4 to 5 feet long, and have wickedly sharp canines. Diverging from tiefling heritage however, their eyes are often pale, like those of drow, ranging in color from silver to lilac and red to blue. Their skin tones are nearly invariably black, though they may range into dark shades of grey, red, or blue. Their hair also owes itself to the drow bloodline, often being stark white, though colors may also be pale shades of other colors.

Darkness Within

Due to their doubly dark lineage, dark tieflings are strongly drawn to evil. So much so, in fact, there has never been a classically 'good' dark tiefling, though this may simply be due to the fact that dark tieflings are so rare. A dark tiefling may struggle against their evil nature, or embrace it, but even on the lighter path, it always stirring within them.

A Cursed People

Dark Tieflings are hated by most, especially the drow, who view them as an abomination. When the first dark tiefling was born, the Elder Priestesses of Lolth gathered together and imbued a curse upon the unholy bloodline, causing the arachnids of the earth to seek out and destroy those of the underdevil race, spreading a terrible disease that purged the underdevils from much of the underdark.

Arachnidan Purgation (disease)

This disease is spread by the bite of spiders and only affects dark tieflings (also known as underdevils). While afflicted with this disease, victims feel a deep and violent cold in their veins and are plagued by fever and hallucinations, which often are of spiders and the victim's deepest fears. Symptoms manifest 2d4 hours after contracting the disease, during which time the victim quickly becomes weaker and appears gaunt and skeletal as the disease takes hold.

At this point, the victim automatically fails all strength checks and saves and has disadvantage on attack rolls until the disease is cured. Every hour thereafter, the victim must succeed on a DC 20 Constitution saving throw or take 10 (2d10) poison damage, or half that on a success, their hit point maximum reduced by the same amount. If this effect brings a victim's hit point maximum to 0, they instantly die.

This disease can only be cured with a Greater Restoration or Wish spell.

Dark Tiefling (Underdevil) Traits

Of all the races, the dark tieflings are perhaps the most cursed, bearing both the lineages of devils and drow. Often called 'underdevils', dark tieflings have the traits of both their parent races and are nearly unescapably drawn toward darkness, evil, and damnation.

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma score increases by 2.

Age

Owing to their elven heritage, dark tieflings follow an elven lifecycle, physically maturing around the same time as humans and living up to 750 years.

Alignment

Dark Tieflings nearly invariably tend towards evil and chaotic alignments, due to their drow and tiefling double natures.

Size

Dark tieflings are about the same size and build as humans. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Superior Darkvision

Thanks to your drow heritage, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light.

Hellish Resistance

You have resistance to fire damage.

Dark Magic

You know the thaumaturgy cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the hellish rebuke and faerie fire spells once each 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.

Languages

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

Fey Ancestry

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

Trance

Due to their elven heritage, dark tieflings don't need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are mental exercises that have become reflexive through many years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.

Sunlight Sensitivity

You have disadvantage on attack rolls and Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.

Curse of Lolth

Your race bears the ancient curse of Lolth, the Spider God. Arachnids hate you, will attack you on sight, and deal an additional damage die on all attacks. In addition, when you are bitten by an arachnid, you must make a Constitution saving throw against a DC equal to the damage dealt, contracting Arachnidan Purgation on a failure.