Homebrew Dhampyr Species Details

Physical Description:

Tall and slender and with well-defined musculature, dhampyrs 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 dhampyrs can pass as humans in ideal conditions, their features are inevitably more pronounced and they move with an unnaturally fluid grace. All dhampyrs have elongated incisors. 

Society:

Dhampyrs have no culture of their own, nor do they have any known lands or even communities. Often born in secret and abandoned at orphanages or left to die on the outskirts of town, they tend to live solitary lives as exiles and outcasts. 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 dhampyrs with a social camouflage that hides them from both predators and prey. In rare instances, dhampyrs might gather to form small groups or cabals dedicated to resolving their joint issues. Even so, the philosophies of such groups reflect the interests of the individuals involved, not any common dhampyr culture.

Relations:

As dhampyrs are scions of evil, few races view them favorably. They share an affinity for those half-breeds whose sinister ancestry also sets them apart from human society, particularly tieflings and half-orcs. Half-elves view them with some level of fear, but at the same time they understand the feeling of not belonging, often they get along fine with dhamyrs. Humans view them with a combination of fear and pity, though such feelings often devolve into hatred and violence. Other humanoid races, such as dwarves, elves, and halflings, simply shun them. Similarly, dhampyrs bear a deep-seeded loathing for living creatures, their hatred planted by jealousy and fed by frustration.

Alignment and Religion:

Dhampyrs have no natural affinity, they can be good, evil, and everything in-between. However, some dhampyrs succumb to the evil within their blood as they are unnatural creatures, and the foul influence of their undead heritage makes an evil outlook difficult to overcome. 

Adventurers:

The life of an adventurer comes naturally to most dhampyrs, since constant persecution condemns many to spend their days wandering. Evil dhampyrs keep moving to maintain their secrecy and evade lynch mobs, while those who follow the path of vengeance venture forth in search of their despised fathers. Regardless of their reasons, most dhampyrs simply feel more at home on the road than in a settlement. Having little formal training, a great many of these journeyers become fighters and rogues.

Almost universally, those inclined toward magic pursue the field of necromancy, though dhampyr alchemists have been known to obsess over transforming their own bodies. Those who feel the call of the hunt often become Paladins.

Names:

Lacking a culture and unified traditions, dhampyrs share humans’ predilection for a diversity of names, and most keep their human birth names. Many dhampyrs take their mother’s surname, while others take the surname of the towns or regions in which they were born, or use a surname derived from a significant event.

 

Dhampyr Traits

It’s hard to make generalizations about dhampyrs, but your dhampyr character has these traits.

Skill Proficiency

You can choose one skill to be proficient in.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength increases by 2 and Charisma by 1.

Age

Dhampyrs are long lived thanks to their vampire heritage. They reach adulthood at the same rate as a human, but can live for several hundred years.

Alignment

Dhampyrs have no natural affinity, they can be good, evil, and everything in-between. However, some dhampyrs succumb to the evil within their blood as they are unnatural creatures, and the foul influence of their undead heritage makes an evil outlook difficult to overcome. 

Size

Dhampyr have the same range of height and weight as humans. So from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 35 feet.

Darkvision

Cursed by your vampire heritage, you can easily see through darkness. You can see in dim light within 120 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.

Undead Fortitude

You have resistance to Necrotic damage.

Charm Person

You attempt to charm a humanoid you can see within range. It must make a Wisdom saving throw, and does so with advantage if you or your companions are fighting it. If it fails the saving throw, it is charmed by you until the spell ends or until you or your companions do anything harmful to it. The charmed creature regards you as a friendly acquaintance. When the spell ends, the creature knows it was charmed by you. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

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.

Unarmed Strike

Your fists are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the normal 1 + your Strength modifier.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common.

Misty Step

Due to your vampiric heritage, once per long rest you can briefly surround yourself by silvery mist, and you teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space that you can see.