Perhaps 'Abyssal Descendant' can be used as another name for tiefling in a story. Tieflings are often thought to have some sort of connection to the Abyss, a place of chaos and demons in many fictional universes. By calling them 'Abyssal Descendant', it not only implies their otherworldly origin but also adds an air of mystery and danger to the characters. This name can be useful when you want to create a more menacing or exotic image for the tieflings in your story.
Stealing or thievery could be used instead. For example, if you don't want to use the made - up word 'tiefing', you can simply say that a character in the story is involved in stealing. It's a more common and easily understood term.
It can add mystery or confusion. Sometimes it's to keep the reader guessing or to build suspense.
The tiefling origin story is often rooted in the idea of a fiendish or infernal bloodline. They are typically descendants of humans who made pacts with devils or other powerful fiends in the distant past. This connection to the infernal gives them their distinct features like horns, tails, and strange eyes.
A Tiefling Warlock could have a back story where he was an orphan. Left on the streets, he was taken in by a group of thieves. One day, while stealing from a wizard's tower, he found a strange amulet. When he put it on, he was contacted by a powerful entity from another plane. This entity was intrigued by the Tiefling's tenacity and offered him power. In return, the Tiefling had to use his newfound abilities to steal magical artifacts for the entity. So, he became a Warlock, using his powers to carry out these tasks while also trying to figure out a way to free himself from this deal.
A Tiefling Warlock could have a back story like this: A young Tiefling was outcast from his community due to his fiendish heritage. While wandering alone in the wilderness, he stumbled upon an ancient, dark tome. As he opened it, a powerful, otherworldly entity made contact. This entity promised the Tiefling power in exchange for his loyalty. Desperate for a sense of purpose and power to overcome his outcast status, the Tiefling agreed and thus became a Warlock, with his newfound powers fueling his journey to prove himself and perhaps one day, return to his community on his own terms.
Food pilfering is also a good option. This implies that the character is secretly taking food, which is quite similar to tiefing in the context of food. It gives an idea that the act might be a bit underhanded.
A yarn can also be another name for a story. This term is often used in a more informal or folksy way. People might say 'spin a yarn' which means to tell a story, usually one that is interesting or perhaps a little exaggerated.
You can use 'Fiend - kin'. It clearly shows their relation to fiendish or devilish entities.
One common Tiefling back story could be that they are descendants of humans who made pacts with devils long ago. Their infernal heritage has led to their unique appearance and often a life of being shunned in some societies. They might struggle to find acceptance due to the fear others have of their devil - like features.