Planetouched

[Mr. Cheez-It]

Part mortal, part something else, the planetouched are loners and individuals, rarely so lucky as to meet another of their kind.  The origins of the various kinds of planetouched races are as different as the forms of planetouched themselves.  The planetouched races have no common history, although planetouched of the same type from the same region often have a common ancestor or relation.

The child of an outsider and another creature is half-fiend, half-celestial, or half-elemental.  If one of these half-blooded creatures has offspring with a humanoid, the result is usually a planetouched creature.  The offspring of two planetouched is always a planetouched.  Mixed-heritage planetouched of this sort take after one or the other parent (seemingly equal chances) but carry the traits of the other parent, which may show up in their own children.  The offspring of a planetouched and a normal creature of its type has an equal chance of being planetouched or “normal,” but carries the potential for planetouched children in either case.  Sometimes the outsider bloodline become dormant for one or more generations, only to manifest many years later.

[Mr. Cheez-It]

Aasimar

The aasimar bear the legacy of a celestial being or even a deity in their ancestry, and have incredible potential to do good in the world.  At the same time, their heritage marks them as different and often leads to persecution, ridicule, or exile from superstitious or backward communities.  It is not unknown for an aasimar to give in to bitterness in the face of adversity and turn to evil.

Aasimar are the descendants of humans and some good outsider, such as a true celestial, a celestial creature, couatl, lillend, or even a servant of avatar of a good deity.  (Some of these creatures must use magic to assume a form that is compatible with a human mate, of course.)  While elves, dwarves, gnomes, and halflings with good outsider ancestry  are reputed to exist, those crossbreeds are not true aasimar.

Aasimar look human except for one distinguishing feature related to their unusual ancestor.  Some examples of these features (and the ancestors that cause them) are:

• golden eyes
• silver hair
• emerald skin (planetar)
• feather at the shoulder (astral deva, avoral celestial, planetar, solar, trumpet archon)
• feathers in hair (avoral celestial)
• pearly opalescent eyes (ghaele celestial)
• powerful ringing voice (lillend, trumpet archon)
• brilliant topaz eyes (solar)
• silvery or golden skin (solar)
• iridescent scales in small patches (couatl or lillend)

Aasimar understand that they are special, even if they do not understand their true heritage.  Many aasimar from a latent bloodline don't even know what creature engendered the line in the first place.  Two aasimar from the same bloodline often have the same distinguishing features.

Outlook

Most aasimar are wary of their human neighbors.  Even those raised by parents who understand their heritage cannot escape the stares of other children and adults, for humans fear that which is different.  Aasimar usually experience a great deal of prejudice, which is all the more painful to the good-inclined aasimar who truly wants to help others survive in a hostile world.  Aasimar are often seen as aloof, when in many cases this is a protective measure born of years of misunderstandings.  Aasimar often look upon true celestials and other good outsiders with a mixed envy and respect.  The lucky ones receive occasional guidance and advice from their celestial ancestor, and these aasimar are more likely to exemplify the stereotypical celestial virtues.

Because an aasimar's favored class is paladin, a majority of them follow that path, at least for a time.  The philosophy of the paladin class resonates in the aasimar's hearts, and they are innately suited for a career championing law and good.  Some aasimar particularly those descended from a nonlawful outsider, instead become clerics, since they are naturally wiser and more charismatic than most humans.  Even aasimar who don't become divine spellcasters gravitate toward divine-related classes such as divine champion, for the call of the light is very strong.

Not all aasimar live up to their potential.  An aasimar blackguard or sorcerer of evil is a terrible opponent, and deities such as Shar and Set love to corrupt an aasimar, turning her into a bitter, angry creature nursing old grudges from unjust persecution.

Characters

Because they feel the pull of deific powers so keenly, aasimar are often clerics or paladins.  Some aasimar bring their otherworldly sensibilities to the art of music, becoming accomplished bards.  Rarer still are aasimar who fall in love with Faerun's deep wilderness, becoming druids and rangers.

Society

Aasimar rarely have siblings who are other aasimar, for the heredity of the supernatural is a chancy thing.  Because of this, few aasimar get to know another of their kind.  On the rare times they encounter another aasimar, there is a sort of unspoken understanding between them, and an aasimar is likely to take another aasimar's side in an argument, regardless of other affiliations, just for a taste of kinship.

Aasimar, being more rare than even half-elves, have no true society of their own.  Few have the opportunity to meet other aasimar or celestial beings, so they attempt to blend into the culture of their parents.  If they had such a thing, aasimar would have a lawful good or neutral good society, focusing on charitable works, helping the needy, and campaigning to eradicate evil.  In a few rare places, aasimar can find true acceptance and search for news of other aasimar born in other lands, hoping to make arrangements to have the child brought to the sanctuary and raised in an environment where he or she is cherished, not considered strange.

Deities

Aasimar have no common racial deity but often worship whatever deity their supernatural ancestor serves (or that being itself, if the ancestor is a deity).  Because most aasimar in Faerun are descended from Mulhorandi powers, a large number of them serve those gods.  An aasimar born outside the Old Empires, or whose travels have taken her far from those lands, might take a like-minded patron appropriate to her new country.

Because several Mulhorandi deities are portrayed with animal heads or have strong ties to certain animals, aasimar descended from these deities or their supernatural agents often have an affinity for that sort of animal, and sometimes have a faint resemblance to a creature of that type.

Relations with Other Races

Although aasimar are mostly human, they rarely feel like they fit in among human society.  Instead, they get along best with other half-breeds â€" namely, half-elves and half-orcs â€" because they and aasimar usually share the same sort of semi-outcast background.

Dwarves, elves, gnomes, and halflings are neither embraced nor shunned by aasimar, for while these races have no history of persecuting the planetouched, they don't have a reputation of sheltering them either.  Genasi of all types are too alien compared to an aasimar to elict sympathy or a sense of kinship.

Tieflings are the one race that garners the most suspicion from an aasimar, for those touched by the holy understand its calling and therefore can guess what sort of temptation those with unholy blood must hear.

[Mr. Cheez-It]

Earth Genasi

Earth genasi are patient, stubborn, and contemplative in their decision-making.  Marked at birth with obvious traits reflecting their heritage, earth genasi are often shunned by others, but their physical gifts make them able to defend themselves against most attackers.  Their strength and girth means that they sometimes become bullies, attracting sycophants out of fear and respect for their power.

At least three-quarters of the earth genasi in Faerun are the descendants of outsiders native to the Elemental Plane of Earth and humans.  The rest are descended from earth deities or servants thereof instead of elemental outsiders.  Most of the elemental bloodlines originate in the North, particularly near the Spine of the World, as natural portals to the Elemental Plane of Earth form there, allowing meetings between natives of both planes.  The bloodlines spring up wherever worship of earth deities is common.  It is thought that the Ludwakazar clan of shield dwarves deep in the Earthspurs in Impiltur and the Tobarin family of rock gnomes in the Great Dale have elemental blood, but both are mute on the question and neither would be true earth genasi, but something quite different.

Earth genasi are obviously not human, but have mostly human features except for one or two distinguishing traits related to their elemental ancestor.  Some examples of these features are:

• earthlike skin
• eyes like black pits
• eyes like gems
• gravelly voice
• very large hand and feet
• iron gray hair
• sweats mud instead of water
• metallic sheen to skin or hair

Earth genasi, like all elemental planetouched, are proud of their nature and abilites, but their pride is a quiet, confident sort rather than a boastful one.  Earth genasi are pragmatic about their parentage, usually not going out of their way to learn their ancestry but not avoiding the topic either.  Earth genasi have no special relationship with others of their kind, although they seem to prefer others who share their physical differences.

Outlook

Proud of their heritage despite the opinions of others, earth genasi know they are born of beings touched by the might of the earth itself.  Although they know the circumstances of their outsider heritage are rare and mark them as unlike anyone they might meet, each still feels a strong kinship to the earth itself.  Earth genasi feel most comfortable when their feet are on the ground and prefer to go barefoot if appropriate for the weather and environment (earth genasi develop thick calluses and can even walk on gravel without discomfort).  They are used to being treated differently, but have the strength to defend themselves if harassed.  Earth genasi respect their earth elemental cousins for their strength but are usually indifferent to other earth elemental creatures.

Earth genasi like to stake out a piece of land as their own and defend it, which makes them particularly valuable to homesteaders in frontier regions like the Silver Marches.  A few unusual ones come down with a strange form of wanderlust, wishing to plant their feet on every nation's soil before they die.  Such a journey might take thirty years, but with methodical determination certain genasi have become famous for their long-distance travels.

Characters

Most adventuring earth genasi are combat-orientated, whether fighter, warrior, ranger, of barbarian.  They usually learn styles of combat that rely on their gifts, so an earth genasi armsman is either capable of incredible bloodshed or capable of enduring devastating attacks and remaining unshaken.  Earth genasi wizards are uncommon, but those who do embrace arcane magic often learn spells to enhance their fighting skills or become masters or earth magic.

Society

Earth genasi are among the most isolated of the elemental planetouched.  They are indifferent to others of their kind, believing that each should rely on his or her own strength to persevere.  The only time this emotional barrier is easily breached is when two or more genasi with the same physical traits meet.  The superficial resemblance awakens an echo of sympathy and kinship in the earth genasi, and these similarities often lead to deep friendships and even marriages.

It is among these groups that small clans of earth genasi form, usually military-based groups such as a mercenary company, a squadron of rangers, or a gang of barbarian thugs.  The bonds between these individuals can grow very strong, and the bards tell on entire bands of earth genasi meeting to punish a cruel lover or person responsible for the death of one of the band.  Because earth genasi are patient, sometimes this revenge comes about months or even years after the event, usually in a surprising and painful encounter.

Because of their strength, earth genasi often fall into relationships where they are the dominant person.  This means that earth genasi are known to collect like-minded warriors about them, genasi or not, and carve out small baronies for themselves in isolated lands.  Several leaders in the history of the Border Kingdoms have been earth genasi.

Deities

Earth genasi have no racial deity or pantheon.  Because earth genasi clerics must choose deities who grant the Earth domain, all earth genasi clerics worship Callarduran Smoothhands, Chauntea, Dumathion, Geb, Gond, Grumbar, Luthic, Moradin, Segojan Earthcaller, Urdlen, of Urogalan.  Those who are not devout enough to be clerics still worship those deities or an earth-or-nature themed deity appropriate to their region.

Revered by earth genasi as the fusion of the powers of earth and life itself, Chauntea is a popular choice among this race.  Many of the earth genasi who worship this deity ignore her agricultural aspect and instead focus on her role as the benign Earthmother, a foundation of life and strength that suffuses the ground they walk on.  The more gentle worshipers of Chauntea are all too happy to hire and earth genasi of the faith as a guard.

Mulhorand and the lands adjacent to it have a small earth genasi population, most of whom revere Geb, for the children of his divine line become earth genasi instead of aasimar.  Earth genasi from Geb's bloodline often have an affinity for bears and sometimes have a faint resemblance to a creature of the type.

Many earth genasi worship Grumbar, the lord of earth elementals.  Although he shows them no more favor than any other worshiper, the genasi respect this and see it as proof that each should rely on his or her own abilities to succeed.

Relations with Other Races

Earth genasi get along well with gnomes and dwarves but find elves and half-elves too weak and puny to be taken seriously.  Halflings would almost be in the same category as elves except that they show a remarkable talent for survival, which the genasi respect.  Oddly enough, most elves and half-elves appreciate an earth genasi's ties to the land, even though the feeling is note reciprocated.

As earth genasi usually have human parents, they get along fine with humans.  They have no bias for or against other kinds of planetouched, even the air genasi, whom they consider flighty but skilled.  Half-orcs are intriguing to earth genasi, for they have the hot blood of a much stronger race tempered with human nature much as earth genasi do, so planetouched consider them lesser but similar to kin.

[Mr. Cheez-It]

Tiefling

Carrying the taint of evil in their very souls, tieflings are persecuted and feared in most parts of Faerun.  Those with gross physical alterations are often killed at birth, and even those with less noticeable physical traits are sometimes killed by their own horrified parents.  Occasionally a tiefling is born to someone indifferent to its apperance, determined to redeem it, willing to exploit it, or evil enough not to care about its nature, and these tieflings are most likely to survive to adulthood.  Most tieflings are evil, but a few have managed to overcome their bloodline's influence to make their own choices about good and evil.

Tieflings are the distant descendants of a human and some evil outsider, such as a demon (usually a marilith or succubus), devil (Usually an erinyes, gelugon, or pit fiend), night hag, rakshasa, or even a servant of an evil deity (some of these creatures must use magic to assume a form that is compatible with a human mate, of course).  Fiend-touched and similarly tainted mixes of elves (notably the fey'ri), orcs (such as the tanarukk), and other  races are known, but those are distinct lines and are not true tieflings.

Tieflings look human except for one or two distinguishing features related to their unusual ancestor.  Some examples of these features (and the ancestors that cause them) are:

• small horns on head (demon, devil, night hag)
• fangs or pointed teeth
• forked tongue (demon, devil)
• glowing red eyes (demon, devil, night hag)
• cat eyes (rakshasa)
• more or less than 5 fingers (demon, devil)
• goatlike legs (devil)
• hooves (devil)
• non-prehensile tail (demon, devil)
• furry, leathery, or scaly skin (demon, devil, rakshasa)
• red skin (demon, devil)
• bruised blue skin (night hag)
• casts no shadow (demon, devil)
• throws no reflection (demon, devil)
• skin is hot to the touch (demon, devil)
• smell of brimstone (demon, devil)

Tieflings are aware at an early age that they are different from the people around them, and often have strange urges, desires, or needs because of their evil heritage.  Because tieflings are born of many different creatures, it is difficult to tell if any two of them are related, and because many of them come from demonic bloodlines, even two tieflings descended from similar demons or the very same demon might look very different.

Outlook

Tieflings live as outcasts.  Feared for their evil heritage and often acting appropriately to their ancestry, they learn to keep people at a distance and hide that which makes them different.  Like all the planetouched, they are different from their own parents; rarely has a tiefling been raised in a home filled with love.  Tieflings are bitter folk who expect eventual rejection from even their best friends and easily fall into lives of crime, depravity, and cruelty.  Tieflings look upon true friends and other evil outsiders with envy and fear.

Some tieflings reject their tainted blood and seek the light.  Not many succeed for long, and far more slide to a comfortable place midway between evil and good.  But of the creatures who work to be good, good-aligned tieflings probably work the hardest.

Characters

Many tieflings multiclass between rogue and another class; even the most skilled tiefling wizard might have a knack for tumbling, opening locks, or sneaking about.  A tiefling is versitale enough to be just about anything, although they make poor sorcerers.

Society

Because of the varied circumstances of their births, most tieflings become adults without knowing another of their kind.  Given their scattered heritage and tendency toward evil, tieflings mistrust each other, while at the same time wanting another of their kind to experience a limited kinship.  Therefore it is not unusual to find a small group of like-minded tieflings at the head of a thieves' guild.  Sometimes a good tiefling will search out others of her kind in the hopes of rescuing them from evil or persecution, but most tieflings are so used to looking out for only themselves that such a thought never occurs to them.

Thay is unusual because of its number of tiefling slaves.  An unknown number of fiendish bloodlines exist in They, some of them lost for generations.  When a true tiefling arises from a latent bloodline, there is often a scramble as the Red Wizards struggle to collect the planetouched offspring.  Some Red Wizards train these young tieflings with other of their kind, either to work as spies in other households, personal assassins, or as some sort of sacrifice to an evil being.  These tieflings can develop a sense of community among their fellows.  If they are lucky, they may manage to escape their evil masters, scattering to the four winds to elude pursuit.  Some of these slaves start revolts to cover their tracks, others return to kill their former owners, and still others leave and never look back.  In this way, certain tieflings have extended families, although how to find their adopted siblings usually poses a problem.

Deities

Tieflings have no common racial deity, but sometimes worship powerful demons, devils, or whatever divine being their ancestor serves (of that being itself, it the ancestor is a deity).  A tiefling born outside the Old Empires of Thay, or one whose travels have taken her far from those lands, usually takes a like-minded patron appropriate to her new country.  The following deities are the most common patrons of evil tieflings but are certainly not the only ones.

Beshaba, the Maid of Misfortune, appeals to a number of tieflings.  This wicked and beautiful goddess have created a few tiefling bloodlines over the ages, many of which have white hair and manifest antlers instead of other kinds of horns.  Tieflings who worship Beshaba do so because they believe they are unlucky to have been born as what they are and seek to pass this misfortune on to others.  While Cyric has not fathered any tiefling bloodlines since his apotheosis, tiefling assassin, illusionists, and those drawn to conflict and aggression because of their heritage often worship Cyric.

Gargauth, the god of corruption, betrayal, and cruelty, has been known to disguise himself as a helpful stranger, befriend a good woman in difficult circumstances, and leave her just before she gives birth to their halfbreed child.  These children of evil emulate their father's practices, and so the bloodline of Gargauth has many scions in Faerun.  He is worshiped by tieflings looking to destroy a hated rival (possibly a good-aligned temple that harassed them as a youth) or those looking to gain power very quickly.

As many tieflings naturally gravitate toward the arts of the rogue, a number of them have taken Mask for their patron.  Only one Maskarran tiefling bloodline is known, a line from Thesk noted for never casting reflections, but Mask's secretive nature means that others could be almost anywhere.  Mask is worshiped by tiefling thieves of those who must do their work concealed by shadows.  Shar is not known to have any planetouched offspring, but she draws the worship of those who wish to forget their old pains and hurts.  She particularly enjoys pitting her tiefling worshipers against the aasimar servants of Selune.


Relations with Other Races

Tieflings treat most other races equally â€" at arm's length.  They are very slow to trust others and always wary of a friend suddenly becoming an enemy.  Aasimar often trigger an instinctive fear of revulsion in tieflings, making it difficult for them to work together at all.

Half-orcs are the only race tieflings easily tolerate, since they are the only common mixed-breed race that is derided as much as tieflings.  Still, a tiefling isn't more likely to trust a half-orc; she's just more likely to understand his perspective.