Homebrew Dhampyr Species Details

(All credit to magehandpress.com)

Inscrutable Origins:

The Dhampyr are a mysterious race. Some scholars hypothesize that they were created when a vampire bit a pregnant elf, while others believe that they were the result of an unholy union between the living and the undead. Even more complex is the relationship the Dhampyr bears to Undeath. They are not truly dead yet not truly alive and interact unpredictably with the blood of an actual vampire. In some instances the Dhampyr can become a full-fledged vampire while other die as if poisoned by the taste of the blood.

Living Undead:

Dhampyr are usually pale of skin with thin builds and slightly pointed ears, but their most prominent features are their pronounced canines and blood red eyes which glow in the moonlight like a predator's. Dhampyr are exceedingly fast and strong, a result of the supernatural speed and fortitude of their unliving kin. Due to their nature as spawn of the undead they are shunned by most living creatures, if discovered; likewise, due to their partially live nature they are spurned by their vampiric ancestors.

Blood Thirst:

While Dhampyr can walk in the sunlight and are unfettered by doors and water, they are still subject to the Curse of Bloodthirst. The Bloodlust of a Dhampyr is lesser than that of a true child of the night, but is still persistently felt. As a half-breed, a Dhampyr can draw sustenance from normal food and drink, yet when the need arises they are able to consume blood from living creatures.

Dhampyr Names:

Dhampyr names often pay homage to powerful vampires and other undead, serving to remind a young Dhampyr of it's proud heritage.

• Male Names: Acerack, Dracul, Nosferatu, Strahd, Vladimir
• Female Names: Drusilla, Lillith, Rayne, Salem, Vega

Dhampyr Traits:

As a Dhampyr, your character has the following traits:

• Ability Score Increase: Your Dexterity, Constitution, and Charisma scores all increase by 1
• Age: Dhampyr are exceptionally long-lived, but not immortal, typically reaching adulthood at the age of 50 and living to be 500 years old
• Alignment: Dhampyr can be of any alignment, but their undead nature and bloodthirst predisposes them to evil. Even with these impulses checked, they can never be fully extinguished.
• Size: Dhampyr stand at the normal height of a human, invariably have slim builds and more gaunt features. Your size is medium.
• Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 feet
• Superior Darkvision: Your blood red eyes pierce through the 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 grey.
• Sunlight Sensitivity: Due to the Superior vision of a Dhampyr you take a disadvantage to attacks and Perception checks when in direct sunlight.
• Curse of Thirst: You have a pair of extended incisors, a gift from your vampiric kin. As an action on your turn, you can bite a creature that is willing, grappled, incapacitated, or restrained, dealing 1d8 points of piercing damage and 1d4 points of necrotic damage. You gain temporary hit points equal to the necrotic damage dealt + your constitution modifier. Additionally, you no longer need to eat for the next 24 hours. The necrotic damage increases to 2d4 at 6th level, 3d4 at 11th level, and 4d4 at 16th level.
• Child of the Night: You know the cantrip Minor Illusion and can cast it at will. At 3rd level, you can cast the Charm Person spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Spider Climb spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
• Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common and Dhampyr. Dhampyr is a subtle language practiced in secret by vampires for centuries, and makes use of the elvish script. To the ear, it's smooth and sibilant; almost seductive, no matter the context.

Dhampyr Traits

As a Dhampyr, your character has the following traits

Ability Score Increase

 Your Dexterity, Constitution, and Charisma scores all increase by 1

Superior Darkvision

• Your blood red eyes pierce through the 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 grey.

Sunlight Sensitivity

• Due to the Superior vision of a Dhampyr you take a disadvantage to attacks and Perception checks when in direct sunlight.

Curse of Thirst

You have a pair of extended incisors, a gift from your vampiric kin. As an action on your turn, you can bite a creature that is willing, grappled, incapacitated, or restrained, dealing 1d8 points of piercing damage and 1d4 points of necrotic damage. You gain temporary hit points equal to the necrotic damage dealt + your constitution modifier. Additionally, you no longer need to eat for the next 24 hours. The necrotic damage increases to 2d4 at 6th level, 3d4 at 11th level, and 4d4 at 16th level.

Child of the Night

You know the cantrip Minor Illusion and can cast it at will. At 3rd level, you can cast the Charm Person spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Spider Climb spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Language

You can speak, read, and write Common and Dhampyr. Dhampyr is a subtle language practiced in secret by vampires for centuries, and makes use of elvish script. To the ear, it's smooth and sibilant; almost seductive, no matter the context.