Homebrew Dhampir Species Details

Sometimes spelled dhampyre, dhamphir, or dhampyr; Dhampirs are the unholy union between a human woman, and a male vampire. Vampires often stalk women at night, waiting for a perfect moment of vulnerability to strike. When the opportunity presents itself, the vampire swoops in, and bites the victim on the neck, making her his thrall, or his magically charmed, unwilling servant.

Vampires are insidious creatures, that play with their servants over a period of time. If the vampire so desires, he lures the charmed woman to his lair. It is there that he impregnates the woman. This is how Dhampires are born. For inexplicable reasons, the mother almost always perishes during the birthing process. If the dhampire infants are not killed immediately after birth, they are often orphaned, and forced to live a life of solitude and distrust.

Not Quite Human

Dhampires are elegant looking humans, with grace and confidance oozing from every step they take. They are often good looking humanoids, with sleek, black hair and cold, piercing eyes. They look nearly human, except they tend to be slightly thinner and taller than humans on average, they have remarkably pale skin, and have 2 menacing incisors that reveal themselves whenever a Dhampire smiles or bears it's teeth.

Dhampires can almost pass for human but in small communities, the subtle differences will eventually tip off the townsfolk. An angry mob might form with a mission to crucify the would be "vampire" or at the very least, drive it far away from town. In a large urban sprawl, a Dhampir can much more easily blend in with the crowd, especially since there are often much more visually striking oddities roaming around, catching everyone's attention. Regardless of the community they live in, or how human Dhampires look, they just can't shake the fact that they exude an overwhelming sense of dread or impending doom towards whoever they interact with. The feeling is visceral and supernatural in nature

Children of the Night

As a result of being orphaned, ignored, shunned, or hated; Dhampires tend to be loners. They struggle making friends, or really any meaningful connections with others. They are quiet, preferring to keep to themselves to avoid trouble. A loud, boistrous Dhampire is asking to be put in an early grave by holy folk or fearful serfs.

On the flipside, Dhampires consider those who do accept them as diamonds in the rough--that is-- rare cronies that don't want to see them burned alive. These friends of a Dhampire, either do not succumb to their feelings of dread, or do not apparently suffer from these feelings at all. Once a Dhampir makes a friend, unless some unfortunate occurence drives them apart, they tend to be friends for life, and a Dhampir will do whatever they can to keep them healthy and happy.

Spurned by the World

Often left for dead, the lucky few Dhampires that do get saved from the elements eventually form an uneasy bond with their caregivers. As a Dhampir reaches maturity, their caregivers see them more and more as monsters. Their vampiric origins become apparent, and while they were once offered a loving home, it is overwhelmingly common for Dhampires to be driven out of such homes-- sometimes with weapons pointed at them, threatening their life. So these rejects of society are forced to roam the world, tirelessly looking for a place to belong.

Contrary to popular opinion, Dhampires are not necessarily evil. Though many do succumb to their darker nature, or are driven there by how society treats them, many grow to abhor the very creatures responsible for creating them, and seek to destroy them in any way they can. Their motivations may be primarily vengeance, but such Dhampires often do so because they want to rid the world of evil, and destroying vampires is a logical place to start since they already have a personal vendetta with one.

Other good dhampires may simply just want to fit in and live a normal life. They are driven by an insatiable need for normalcy, even monotony in their lives. Dhampires may not be driven to destroy evil or protect others, but rather to just subsist and interact with others without having to flee from town to town or having to worry about plots being devised to destroy them.

Dhampir Names

The name a dhampir takes is largely based on the society their original care takers are from. The majority come from human homes due to their resemblance to true humans and as such most have human names.

Dhampir Traits

Your dhampir character has certain characteristics derived from your undead ancestry.

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma score increases by 2, Your Dexterity increases by 1, and one other ability scores of your choice increases by 1.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30

Age

Dhampirs are long-lived thanks to their vampire heritage. They reach adulthood at the same rate as humans but can live for several hundred years. 

Size

 Dhampirs are the same size and build as humans. Your size is medium.

Vampiric Resistance

You have resistance to necrotic damage.

Darkvision

As a result of your vampiric heritage, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light up to 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern colors in darkness, only shades of gray.

Sunlight Sensitivity

You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.

Vampiric Charm

You gain proficiency in two skills of your choice. Both of which must be Deception, Intimidation, or Persuasion.

Vampiric Legacy

You know the thaumaturgy cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the charm person spell as a 2nd level spell once per day. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the misty step spell once per day. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Bite

Your fangs are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike

Blood Thirst

Starting at level 5, in the heat of battle, you can throw yourself into a bloodlust. As a bonus action, you can make a special attack with your bite. If the attack hits, it deals its normal damage plus an additional d6 of necrotic damage, and you gain temporary hit points (minimum of 1) equal to the necrotic damage dealt this way, and you can’t use this trait again until you finish a short or long rest.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one language of your choosing. Dhampir are natural wanderers due to the fear they cause and as such often pick up the language of another race while on the road.