Half-fiend

From PathfinderWiki
Half-fiend
Half-fiend
(Creature)

Type
Outsider
(native)
CR
Varies
Environment
Any
Alignment
Adjective
Half-fiendish
Source: Bestiary, pg(s). 171
This article is about the offspring of a fiend and a mortal. For offspring of a fiend and a nymph, see forlarren. For creatures with a fiendish template, see fiendish creature.

A half-fiend is the direct offspring of an evil outsider and a mortal; children of a half-fiend may be cambions1 or seemingly normal mortals.234 However, half-fiends may be created by magical means instead of birth; two such examples are Rashimos, who was transformed by her god the demon lord Ibdurengian,5 and Areelu Vorlesh, who used a ritual that transformed her into a half-succubus.6 Half-fiends can arise from any species.47

Half-fiends should not be confused with fiendish creatures, which are native to the lower planes but otherwise similar to their mortal counterparts.4

Variants

There are many types of half-fiend dependent on the progenitor fiend. Most unions between mortals and fiends will produce a generic half-fiend, except in a few rare cases that result in a specific sub-category of half-fiends, like half-demons. Most such specific half-fiends are half-humanoid (it is very rare for non-humanoids to give birth to them), and share their fiendish parent's alignment. Their birth can be ensured by certain rituals usually practiced by fiend-worshipping cults, or these fiends themselves when they need to sire a child.8

Half-daemons

Half-erodaemon

Half-erodaemons are blue-skinned and possess protruding, stub-like horns. Half-erodaemon urdefhans have black ram horns and white, instead of blue, blood.9

Half-demons

Half-babau

A half-babau is crimson-skinned and skeletally thin, commonly having pointy ears, a single horn, and sharp, jagged teeth. Half-babaus often become sadistic murderers or soldiers.10

Half-balor

A half-balor is muscular and usually at least a foot taller than its progenitor race's average height. Half-balors have massive wings, great horns, hooves, and scales, and can blast fire at enemies. They often become great arch-villains.11

Half-glabrezu

Half-glabrezus gain the pincer arms of a glabrezu in addition to their own arms, as well as numerous horns, legs that bend in three places, and scaly green ridges on their back and shoulders. They usually advise others in undermining the status quo.12

Half-hezrou

A half-hezrou is bulky and obese, with rubbery skin, webbed hands and feet, hanging jowls, and bulging eyes. Crusty scales constantly grow and are shed from its shoulders and back. Most half-hezrous are loners, involved in shady alchemy or drug-dealing, or guarding swamp-dwelling masters.13

Half-invidiak

Half-invidiaks are the rarest half-demons, as their progenitors are incorporeal and rarely have the opportunity to sire children. Half-invidiaks are often gaunt, with dark grey skin, red eyes, sharp talons and fangs, and large shadowy wings. Their jealousy and obsessiveness in trying to exceed their associates are legendary, and they excel in commanding many minions.14

Half-marilith

A half-marilith has pale eyes, four arms, the lower body of a snake, and a short row of horns running along the top of her head. Half-mariliths are arrogant, and usually work as army commanders or assassins.15

Half-nabasu

Half-nabasus have thick fur on their shoulders and back, taloned fingers, fanged mouths, and bat-like ears and wings. Their eyes are red and sunken, and glow when they are hungry. Half-nabasus are always ravenous, preferring the flesh of those that share the heritage of its non-demonic side. They often become lone serial killers.16

Half-nalfeshnee

Half-nalfeshnees are typically tall, with sharp nails, small feathered wings, and bristly fur on their back and limbs. Their porcine face has jutting lower teeth and tiny beady eyes. Half-nalfeshnees are greedy and often lead guilds of thieves or merchants.17

Half-succubus

The half-succubus is the most humanoid of all half-demons, looking almost identical to a succubus. Most half-succubi work in roles that allow them to satisfy their lust, but some manage to control it and become spies or assassins.18

Half-vrock

Half-vrocks are hairless, and have sharp talons, a long, thin tail, the hideous, hooked face of a vulture, and large black feathered wings. Half-vrocks react to any perceived slight with violence, and often work in similarly violent jobs.19

Half-devils

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.

  1. Paizo referred to cambion planar scions as tieflings until the publication of Player Core. These cambions are unrelated to the type of demon with the same name.
  2. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Monsters A to Z” in Bestiary, 171. Paizo Inc., 2009
  3. Colin McComb & Hal Maclean. “Blood of Fiends” in Blood of Fiends, 3. Paizo Inc., 2012
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Colin McComb & Hal Maclean. “Blood of Fiends” in Blood of Fiends, 4. Paizo Inc., 2012
  5. Thurston Hillman. “Beyond the Veiled Past” in Beyond the Veiled Past, 47–48. Paizo Inc., 2018
  6. James Jacobs, et al. The Worldwound, inside rear cover. Paizo Inc., 2013
  7. Blood of Fiends stated that only half-fiends born from humanoid species can have cambion children, and that the children of those born among other species would typically be either half-fiends themselves or normal members of their kind. Pathfinder Second Edition retconned this PF1e lore.[citation needed]
  8. James Jacobs. Demons Revisited, 3. Paizo Inc., 2013
  9. Thurston Hillman. Urdefhan” in Darklands Revisited, 55. Paizo Inc., 2016
  10. James Jacobs. Demons Revisited, 6. Paizo Inc., 2013
  11. James Jacobs. Demons Revisited, 12. Paizo Inc., 2013
  12. James Jacobs. Demons Revisited, 19. Paizo Inc., 2013
  13. James Jacobs. Demons Revisited, 24. Paizo Inc., 2013
  14. James Jacobs. Demons Revisited, 30. Paizo Inc., 2013
  15. James Jacobs. Demons Revisited, 36. Paizo Inc., 2013
  16. James Jacobs. Demons Revisited, 42. Paizo Inc., 2013
  17. James Jacobs. Demons Revisited, 48. Paizo Inc., 2013
  18. James Jacobs. Demons Revisited, 54. Paizo Inc., 2013
  19. James Jacobs. Demons Revisited, 60. Paizo Inc., 2013