Homebrew Dhampyr Species Details

Lithe and Graceful

Dhampyr appear much like humans at first glance. Adults stand between 5 and 6 feet tall but are more slender on average than humans; males weigh around 160 pounds. Female dhampyr are only slightly shorter but are a fair bit leaner, weighing around 120 pounds. Their skin and hair color runs the vast spectrum of tones available to humans, though they tend to be slightly pale. Their flawless features are tinged with some unnameable exotic quality. Despite the fear and uncertainty that follow them, the half-dead possess a seductive appearance. Listeners find themselves unconsciously giving weight to a dhampyr's words and are drawn to his or her presence. Dhampyr glide through life with a seemingly effortless grace that belies their struggle.

Candles in the Dark

Dhampyr constantly struggle with their nature. They suffer from a troubled upbringing and intrinsic corruption that gnaws at civilized thoughts and behavior. The truth of their heritage weighs on them. Many experience disturbing urges to consume blood or to control others. They shun the light and find safety and comfort in darkness. Enticed and repulsed by mortals at the same time, this constant struggle is at the core of a dhampyr’s existence. Many dhampyr use this struggle as fuel to action. Good dhampyr are horrified by their own corrupted existence and dedicate themselves to living in opposition to it. They become priests who venerate gods of light, or they vow to destroy all undead who perpetuate their misery. Others are broken by their turmoil. They lash out at the world in a rage of bloodlust and hatred. Many evil dhampyr turn to worship of demons and other gods of darkness and pain, seeking to conquer and subjugate their mortal peers.

 

Half-Dead

The origin of Dhampyr is still a point of debate and discussion among scholars. Some believe that they are the result of relations between a human woman and a male vampire, while others speculate that they are born of women who are bitten by a vampire while pregnant. Still others believe that they are a unique race of humans who suffer from an unholy affliction of some sort. Whatever the truth might be, Dhampyr have a very hard time reproducing themselves, and their progeny are always human (often with sorcerous abilities).

 

Usually rejected and mistrusted for its lineage, a Dhampyr is rarely accepted into normal society. Most grow up as orphans, as few mothers survive birthing the young Dhampyr, and most have difficulty forming real relationships with others in spite of their unnatural charm and grace. Ultimately, most Dhampyrs feel the pull to evil, or at least moral ambiguity, and view those around them as tools and pawns. A handful have been known to reject this, however, vowing to destroy the undead horrors responsible for their conception.

 

Dhampyr Names

Most dhampirs bear names appropriate to their mothers’ human culture. Some, particularly those belonging to cultivated bloodlines, might have archaic names chosen by, or in honor of, their family’s vampire patron. Surnames follow a similar pattern. Dhampyr might use the family name of their mortal relatives, or they might adopt the family name of a powerful vampire as a badge of office. Nomadic dhampyr uniformly take the surname “Crow.”

Dhampyr Traits

Borkbork

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Constitution score, Strength or Dexterity score increases by 1.

Darkvision

Thanks to your undead ancestry, 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.

Dark Resistance

You have resistance to necrotic damage and advantage on saving throws against disease and the charmed condition.

Cursed Consumption

You can drain blood and life energy from a willing creature, or one that is grappled by you, incapacitated, or restrained. Make a melee attack against the target. If you hit, you deal 1 piercing damage and 1d6 necrotic damage. The target’s hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the necrotic damage taken, and you regain hit points equal to that amount. The reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0.

Feast of Blood

When you drain blood with your Cursed Consumption ability, you experience a surge of vitality. Once per turn, you can gain deal extra damage equal to your Charisma modifier, and you gain advantage on Strength and Dexterity checks and saving throws for 1 minute. The extra damage is necrotic damage. Once you successfully gain the benefit of this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Languages

You know Common and one language of your choice.