Homebrew Black-Blooded Dhampir Species Details

Dhampir live and die just like any other mortal creatures, despite possessing a supernatural longevity akin to that of elves. Hardship and suffering fill a dhampir’s formative years. Most grow up as orphans, and despite their exquisite features and innate charm, they face a lifetime of prejudice, mistrust, fear, and persecution. Humans who witness the seemingly sinister nature of a dhampir child’s supernatural powers or sensitivity to daylight display an array of reactions ranging from awe to terror to outright hatred. Eventually, a dhampir must learn to cope with these difficulties in order to find his place in the world. While most dhampirs succumb to the innate evil of their undead heritage and devolve into the monstrous fiends depicted by society, a few reject their unholy conceptions, instead vowing to avenge their mothers by hunting the very creatures that sired them. Dhampirs keep few, if any, close companions. Ultimately, the majority of evil dhampirs regard their allies as little more than tools or fodder. Those whom they deem useful are judged by their merits as individuals, not by their race. However, even with those they feel attached to, most dhampirs are sullen and reserved. Some fear the persecution heaped upon them may be transferred to their companions, whereas others worry their own bloodlust will one day overwhelm them and they’ll inadvertently turn upon their friends. In any case, an alliance with a dhampir almost always leads to an ill-fated conclusion.

An unlucky few find themselves further tainted by the Curse of the Black Blood. Their blood has been completely replaced by the necromantic fluid, making them unusually feeble but providing unique opportunities by virtue of it's properties. The nature of the black blood is not well understood beyond it's ability to replace most material requirements in necrotic rituals. It mars flesh and scale alike in a reaction similar to acid, but functions as normal blood for those who are cursed. How one comes to receive this curse is still a mystery.

Tall and slender and with well-defined musculature, dhampirs look like statuesque humans of unearthly beauty. Their hair, eye, and skin colors resemble unnerving versions of their mothers’; many possess a ghastly pallor, particularly in the sunlight, while those with dark complexions often possess skin the color of a bruise. While many dhampirs can pass as humans in ideal conditions, their features are inevitably more pronounced and they move with an unnaturally fluid grace. All dhampirs have elongated incisors. While not true fangs, these teeth are sharp enough to draw blood, and many suffer a reprehensible desire to indulge in sanguinary delights, despite the fact that the act provides most no physical benefit.

Black-Blooded Dhampir Traits

More akin to their vampiric progenitor, the black-blooded dhampir takes some of the more prolific vampire traits while maintaining the weaker form of their human ancestor.

Ability Score Increase

The vampire is famous for it's unearthly charm and half-vampires are no different. Though they cannot control minds with the ease of their ancestor, they are unusually charismatic and have a keen mind. Unfortunately, the curse festering in their veins contradicts any grace they might have otherwise been born with.

Undead Form

Being both partially dead and imbued with necrotic energy, it cannot hurt them. Similarly, sicknesses have trouble taking root in their not-exactly-living internal ecology. This conversely makes them particularly susceptible to radiant damage.

Vampiric Empathy

Dhampirs gain the ability to communicate with bats, rats, and wolves as if under the effects of a speak with animals spell. In addition, they gain a +2 racial bonus on Persuasion checks when dealing with these animals. Whenever these dhampirs initiate an exchange, animals begin with a starting attitude of indifferent. 

My Father's Smile

Whenever the dhampir successfully grapples an opponent, they can choose to bite their opponent, dealing 1d4 points of damage as if using a natural bite attack. As part of your attack action, the dhampir can bite a creature that is bound, helpless, paralyzed, or similarly unable to defend itself.

Supernatural Senses

Dhampirs can see perfectly in total darkness for up to 60 feet. In low-light conditions, they are able to see twice as far as the average human. In direct sunlight, however, they have disadvantage on attack rolls and wisdom rolls that rely on sight.

Languages

Rarely accepted by society, dhampirs are often forced into a life of wandering, unable to settle in one place for too long. They tend to pick up a second language somewhere along the way.

Black Blood Spray

They must make a melee attack to hit the target (if they are attacking the creature that caused the wound, they gains a +2 circumstance bonus on their attack roll). If they hit, they deal 1d8 points of necrotic damage. They can use this ability once per long rest.

This attack scales to 2d8 at 5th level, 3d8 at 11th level, and 4d8 at 17th level.