Happy Halloween readers! Halloween has always been my favorite holiday, not in small part due to it’s proximity to my birthday (October 29th), but primarily for the atmosphere. As much as Halloween has been drug through the mud sometimes, it is very liberating to be able to be something else for a day. A shining knight, a fearsome creature, a superhero wearing spandex, whatever you imagine you can be.
In honor of this holiday, I’ve decided to dress up one of the core races in a Halloween style garb of new flavor. After all it’s not just humans who can dress up…
The Demonblooded
“They hide among us. The unmentionables, the darkness in the streets, the demons. They look like us, but don’t be fooled. Beneath their skin lays the stuff that nightmares are made of.”
To most the touch of the infernal is a mutating, corrupting experience. But over the years some demons have learned to measure their touch, to hide their infernal taint. They appear like us, but behind their quick smile and clever words is an unmistakable hunger in their eyes. These demons dwell among us, using their wit, charms, and ancient powers on corrupting society as a whole. Most frightening though are their spawn, halfbreed children who show no more of their heritage then the demonic parent himself.
These children are often quiet and withdrawn, filled with odd urges and an unquenchable hunger. Most are quickly taught to control their demon side, though those not in touch with their parent have to learn themselves to control or suppress their dark side.
Physically they resemble their parents (or at least their parents human form), with only a red glow in their eyes during times of intense stress or danger to give their heritage away.
While no more likely then a normal Tiefling to have inherited their parents evil mindset, the Demonblooded do have a few things going against them. First, they are almost exclusively first generation crossbreeds as the hidden taint fades far faster through the generations then a typical union. Second, demons who take the care to hide their taint do so for a reason. Many Demonblooded created for the express purpose of being their infernal parents eyes and ears in society. Others are caught up in the hidden schemes and machinations of their parent from a very early age.
Those Demonblooded who escaped from their parents schemes try to hide their heritage and live an uneventful life. Others actively rebel against their heritage and become demon hunters and exorcists, fighting fire with fire.
No Demonblooded is born as a mistake. Creating one is a willful act and most Demonblooded dread the day they find out what true purpose is.
“It’s as if they were made in our image… or we in theirs.”
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Yes, reflavoring of Tieflings to the Demonblooded isn’t a large change, but it’s an idea that had been banging around my head for quite some time. I just needed to get the idea down on paper.
The Demonblooded was inspired in no small part by Mackenzie Blaise from Tales of MU, a longrunning story by Alexandra Erin. I’ve fallen in love with it, and if you are 18 years old (the story deals frankly with adult situations) I highly recommend you take a look.