Homebrew Dhampir Species Details

"People fear the night for all the creatures that are unable to tread while the sun is out, and worship radiant powers that keep the undead at bay. Vampires are among the most feared of the undead, yet a few fatal weaknesses protect the common folk from these bloodthirsty, undying beings. 

That is why many might be unnerved to see fangs gleaming beneath pale lips, red eyes peering at them under the same sunlight that they stand in. Most are unaware of a being that may call both the night and day their domain. We call them Daywalkers."

— Joharice Aribael, A Treatise on Vampiric Creatures

Daywalker

Dhampirs are humanoid creatures that inherited the tainted blood of vampires. Born out of an unholy union between vampire and mortal, these creatures resemble both parents, yet are far from true vampires. Dhampirs are ofted called daywalkers due to their ability to withstand the sun despite their vampiric ancestry. They do not suffer the same repercussions from sunlight and radiant magic as pure vampires thanks to their mortal heritage. They are not bound to coffins or unholy terrain like pure vampires, and enjoy the freedom that many mortals have.

They may walk freely during daylight, though if the mortal equivalent of their heritage happened to be sensitive to sunlight, like drows, this dhampir would most likely share the same sensitivity. However, dhampirs are known to be tougher than the average mortal. 

Mortal undead

Dhampirs vary a lot in appearance, yet mostly resemble their mortal parents. They will be born akin to a stillborn, deathly paler, or in darker, macabre shades. Some may inherit more from their humanoid parents and have a healthier glow to their skin. Yet, most dhampirs are not this lucky and will differ from your average mortal visibly. Their eyes are most often than not a red hue, bearing a striking resemblance to that of a vampire. Dhampirs may also be born with the statuesque beauty of their vampiric parents, with the morbid allure that many gain upon their undeath. The degree of vampiric features is unique to each dhampir. Some might be fully able to pass as mortals, yet nearly all dhampirs have inherited elongated canines. Some may also grow the claws that are a recognizable feature of vampires.

While not true undead, they have gained a constitution that is superior to mortals. Their lifespan is extended by a few centuries but they are not truly deathless — some may see this as a curse, others a blessing. While their mortal ancestry negates the harm from sunlight and radiant magic, their vampiric ancestry instead protects them from necrotic powers. In light of their mixed ancestry, mortals may view them as stronger while most vampires will regard these hybrids as a lesser creature. 

Dhampirs may bear more similarities to mortals, but have one quality that distances them from their mortal heritage in a way that most find vile. Dhampirs retain the ability to feast on blood. The degree of bloodthirst that the mortal-vampire hybrid feels is much weaker than that of a true vampire, and varies individually. Some dhampirs can live their life without feeling the call of blood, and some may be thrown into a frenzy at the sight of it. The thirst for blood is a quality that many dhampirs find to impact their life in a major way, and it may just decide which part of their ancestry they might pursue.

Between Two Worlds

Dhampirs are not walking on the line between life and death like their vampire parent, yet live between two worlds. Many dhampirs will find it difficult to adapt, and feel themselves to be outcasts. Both sides of their heritage tend to shun the dhampir, leading them to live a solitary life. While this tends to affect the psyche of a dhampir, many will find a clear path for themselves. Mortals tend to be quicker to shun their vampiric children, and dhampirs may not always live long beyond birth. Some do find acceptance in the midst of the living, usually aided by the charisma and allure they gained from vampire blood. Some reject the vampiric blood and turn to hunting the undead, turning their hybrid nature into an advantage. Vampires may also find the mortality of their lesser spawn an advantage, placing convenient agents under the sun where they dare not tread. Some dhampirs shunned by mortals may also turn to protecting their undead side of the family, and find them more accepting of their bloodthirst.

Some may suffer from the weight of exclusion and the thirst for blood, and grow to be unhinged hunters skirting the edges of both societies. Dhampirs are relatively free to choose their own fate, exempt from the expectations and restraints their parents had — for better or worse.

 Dhampir names

Many dhampirs are named after the conventions of their mortal parents, though most will not give their family name to their children due to their nature. Those that go unnamed may later name themselves. Vampiric parents may also name their spawn, if they are accepted. In rare cases, a dhampir may also be allowed to use the vampiric clan name of a vampire bloodline. 

 Subrace

As a hybrid between a vampire and a mortal, your mortal blood determines your other half. Choose one of the subraces below to determine your second parent.

Dhampir Traits

As a spawn of both mortal and undead, you gain the best of both worlds.

Ability Score Increase

Your constitution score increases by 2.

Darkvision

You have inherited the superior sight of your vampiric parent. 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.

Age

Blessed or cursed by your vampiric blood, you live longer than your mortal parents. Dhampirs tend to live a few centuries longer than their mortal heritage allows.

Alignment

Dhampirs are outcasts that differ from both sides of their ancestry, this makes them relatively free. A dhampir's alignment would strongly depend on their birth conditions. A dhampir raised by humans might be good-aligned, while a dhampir raised by vampires might lean toward the evil side of the spectrum. Whether good, or evil, a dhampir usually falls into the chaotic or neutral side of the alignments.

Language

Depending on the circumstances of your birth, you know one language that you grew up hearing. You can speak, read and write it.

Size

Dhampirs are around the same height as their mortal parents. Your size is medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Necrotic resistance

While you are less powerful than your vampiric parent, you retain the resistance to necrotic damage. Your undead blood negates some of the harm inflicted upon you by necrotic forces.

Bite

With a taste for blood gained from your undead parent, you have naturally sharp canines that you may use to feed, or utilize as weapons. You can make an unarmed attack with your fangs, using your dexterity modifier for the attack. Your fangs deal necrotic damage equal to 1d6 + dexterity modifier.

Once per long rest, you may choose to regain hitpoints equal to the amount of necrotic damage you inflicted, feeding on your target's blood. If your target has no blood, this feature cannot be used.

Sleep Like The Dead

Partly undead as you are, you do not sleep like mortals do. You need to merely remain semi-conscious in a sleep-like state for 4 hours. During this rest, you dream as most mortals do. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.