Homebrew Dhampyre Species Details

Physical Description

While they seem more or less human, many dhampyres have paler skin and dark hair. At birth, many are mistaken for stillborn; however, they do have a faint heartbeat. They do not have the typical sharp teeth or claws that would be expected of a vampire. These traits often do not start to take form until late into childhood. Although their fangs begin to form, their thirst for blood often doesn't take root until their teenage years. They feed the same as humans, but do not truly begin coming into their demonic powers until they begin imbibing blood. They do not possess the extent of powers that vampires have, but are instead granted with the gifts of not requiring blood and being able to walk in daylight.

Dhampyres look much like normal humans, only much more graceful in appearance. Their smaller, humanoid figure belies their supernatural strength and speed.

History

Being the offspring of a vampire and human parent, the dhampyre is usually the child of a tragic romance...or something far more sinister. Although it isn't always the case, most human mothers that give birth to a dhampyre often die during childbirth, resulting from the immense strain of creating life from undeath.

They often search for their reason for being created. This often leads them to seek out or hunt down their immortal parent for answers.

Society and Relations

Dhampyres have no culture of their own, nor do they have any known land or even communities. Due to their often orphaned nature as well as the slight difference in their physical appearance, they are often shunned by communities, leading lives as outcasts or exiles. Individuals acquire the cultural beliefs and teachings of the regions in which they grew up, and adopt additional philosophies over the course of their complex lives. This ability to adapt to a verity of circumstances provides dhampirs with a social camouflage that hides them from both predators and prey.

As scions of evil, they are often looked upon with a harshly negative view by society. They share an affinity for those half-breeds whose sinister ancestry also sets them apart from human society, particularly tieflings and half-orcs.

Names

With no true lineage of their own, damphyres often share human names. Most adult damphyres have been known to shed their orphanage-given name and take on unique Aliases as part of defining themselves.

Dhampyre Traits

Damphyres share certain racial traits as a result of their undead lineage.

Alignment

Although they are inherently a blank slate, most dhampyres tend to succumb to evil due to years of being shunned by society. Even so, a few have been known to take up arms against their evil scions, often leading good lives and taking a vow of blood abstinence.

Size

Dhampyres are of similar height and build to humans. Your size is Medium.

Languages

Your shunned nature has caused you to become incredibly adaptive. You can speak, read, and write Common, Vampire, and 1 other language of your choice.

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Age

Dhampirs mature at roughly the same rate as humans but do not age further after reaching maturity, and they do not die of old age.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Thanks to your immortal heritage, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Vampire's Bite

You have the ability to make a bite attack against either a willing creature, a creature that is charmed grappled by you, or a creature that is incapacitated or restrained. You can use strength or dexterity for your bite's attack roll. On a hit, your bite deals 1 piercing damages plus necrotic damage equal to 1d6 + the used attack modifier. The creature's maximum hit points is then reduced by the amount of necrotic damage, while you gain temporary hit points equal to the amount of necrotic damage dealt with this attack.

A creature whose maximum hit points is reduced to zero in this way dies and rises again as a Null under the control of the dhampyre the next night.

Vampiric Gaze

You can cast the charm person spell once using this trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell. You require no components to cast this spell using this trait, but your target must be able to see you. You regain the ability to cast this spell when you finish a short or long rest.