Inner Demons

Last week we introduced the new base ancestries included in the Tome of Whispers. Today, let's explore the new hybrid ancestries. Just like the hybrid ancestries in the core rules, these hybrid ancestries can be combined with any base ancestry from the core rules and Tome of Whispers as well as the cryptic ancestries also included in the Tome. The end result is a dramatic increase to the possible character combinations.

Just as the new base ancestries shared a common theme, so too do these hybrid ancestries. Each one of these new options can be thought of as alignment-kin. These hybrids might be the result of direct interbreeding with aligned outsiders like angels and demons, or could simply be the manifestation of a bloodline's taint arising from exposure to alignment energies. Whatever their origin, a character with one of these hybrid ancestries physically embodies their associated alignment. While this does give the character an alignment trait, it does not enforce any behavior. A character's actual alignment is their own, though they will always struggle against the tendencies of their genetics.

Hellion

Hellions are one of two possible manifestations of evil ancestry. While mortal relations with devils are usually strictly business dealings, sometimes children are born to such pairings. More commonly, a family with frequent dabbling with infernal contracts may develop a genetic taint. Perhaps most rarely, diabolical cults sometimes intentionally inflict the curse of devil blood onto a baby in the hope the child will fulfill some terrible prophesy or bring about the end times. Regardless of purpose or accident, those born with the fires of Hell in their veins manifest unnatural powers and are usually feared and shunned by society, and sometimes their own families. Hellions are rarely well-adjusted individuals as a result.

Hellions live long and age slowly, retaining a creepy child-like appearance for much longer than normal members of their ancestry. Each individual hellion's appearance has its own unique devilishness. Some might be only distinguishable from their base ancestry by jet-black irises and blood-red sclera. Others might have deep crimson skin and horns like those of a goat or bull. All hellions have the evil trait and are immune to evil damage, even if their actual alignment is not evil. They also have resistance to cold and fire damage that grows as they gain levels, but weakness to good and silver which does as well.

Maximite

Relationships between mortals and axiomites are not as uncommon as one might suspect. Because the planar city of Axis allows free immigration for any that manage to find their way to the lawful plane, mixed families of mortals and axiomites are fairly common there, and a significant portion of the First City's population are maximites. Such relationships are much less common outside of the lawful plane, however. When an axiomite conceives children on the material plane, it is almost always to fulfill some purpose through the child. An individual might consider having a design for its life comforting, or horribly stifling.

It can be difficult to recognize a maximite in the company of other mortals of the same ancestry. One of the few tells is an aggressive, almost uncanny symmetry to their features, which lack the organic quirks that come to define an individual's unique appearance. A maximite's genetic predilection for order tends to come with a strong aversion to odd, and especially prime, numbers. For those who keep track of such things, it has been a curious matter of record that maximites who die of natural causes have only done so if their current age is prime. All maximites have the law trait and are always immune to lawful damage, even if their actual alignment is not lawful. They also have resistance to even amounts of damage that scales with their level, but weakness to prime amounts of damage and all lawful damage, regardless of the numerical amount.

Nephilim

Relationships between mortals and angels are supposed to be quite rare, often requiring extraordinary circumstances. Such pairings are nevertheless more likely among those angels that spend much of their time on the material plane in the company of mortals, like the aesir or devas. Valkyries are perhaps the most susceptible to falling in love with the mortals they guard. While nephilim are most commonly a result of such pairings, they can also be sometimes born to families with a consistent history of being champions for the cause of good. Nephilim births are often considered auspicious blessings, though the pressure of expectations that a nephilim is subjected to from parents are community rarely results in a well-adjusted adult.

Nephilim can have a subtly or obviously angelic appearance, but even those that look almost normal can still be recognized by their shining halos. Every nephilim is born with a bright halo, but its intensity dulls over time with each ethically dubious act. This external signifier of one's internal morality is often a source of deep mental anguish and anxiety. If a nephilim has a good alignment, its halo shines with the intensity of a torch. If neutral, the halo shines more like a candle. Evil nephilim have halos that do not shine at all. Every nephilim has the good trait and is immune to good damage, even if their actual alignment is not good. They also have resistance to cold and fire damage that scales as they grow in level, but also weakness to evil damage that does as well.

Sinspawn

Sinspawn are one of two ways that evil can manifest in a character's ancestry. Of all outsiders, demons are the least respectful of personal boundaries. Though mortals are unlikely to choose relationships with demons, lust is one of the "mortal sins" that demons can embody. Of all possible outsider-kin, demon heritage is the most common, and lust seems like it should be the most represented. Demonic taint can also be introduced into a bloodline through sheer depravity, however, and all variants of sinspawn are equally likely.

Each sinspawn's heritage manifests differently based on the specific sin that flows through their blood. Bearing external markers of vice does little for the popularity of sinspawn, and bearing a child with the demonic taint is often seen as a great personal shame for parents, even if not a sign of infidelity. It can be difficult for sinspawn to resist the urges of their bloodlines. Even the most virtuous of sinspawn have a difficult time overcoming the stigma associated with their birth. All sinspawn have the evil trait and are immune to evil damage, even if their actual alignment is not evil. They also have resistance to cold and fire damage that grows with their level, but weakness to good and silver that does as well. Other effects of this ancestry depend on whether the individual's genetic sin is envy, gluttony, greed, lust, pride, sloth, or wrath.

Termagant

Proteans are some of the most unusual and difficult outsiders to understand. As beings of pure chaos, their goals and feelings are prone to change quickly and dramatically. This makes maintaining a long term relationship with one tricky, but short-term dalliances are not uncommon. Many relationships with proteans happen unconsciously in the mystical dimension of dreams, and sometimes real children are born as a result of dreams. While this does not seem like it should be possible, chaos is unpredictable and rarely follows sensible rules.

It can be difficult to recognize a termagant based on their physical appearance, which they frequently change based on their whims. It is easier to spot these outsider-kin by their personalities. A termagant's chaotic blood makes it difficult to focus on any one thing for a long time. One might begin a project with great enthusiasm, only to abandon it for a new obsession shortly thereafter. A termagant's body itself is also chaotic, and an individual can change their appearance, and even their biology, on a daily basis. All termagants have the chaos trait and are immune to chaotic damage, even if their actual alignment is not chaotic. They are always weak to lawful damage but might have resistance or weakness to any other damage type at random. This can cause a termagant to be weak to one damage type immediately after resisting it, and vice versa, unpredictably.