Dhampir

Dhampirs are near-immortal creatures created in rare instances by the attack of a vampire (or sometimes by a necromantic ritual). The Dhampirs of Edras are not undead, however, though share many similarities with the monstrous undead that created them - flesh cold as ice, pale skin that feels dead to the touch, and the ability to drain concentrated magical energy from the blood of other living creatures.

Personality

There is little that can be said about dhampirs as a whole, for they are rare enough that each one is fairly unique in nature. That being said, dhampirs do tend to be a dour and solemn people, generally preferring solitude to the company of others. But they do not idle. They plan and experiment, and push the boundaries of their strengths. Some revel in their newfound necromantic prowess, while others are horrified by what they have become and instead devote their lives to slaying vampires and other undead.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Dhampirs have distinctive eyes, appearing as pools of gold or silver surrounded by black. Their hair is often black but can also be deep purple, dark magenta, burgundy, or even dark blue-green. They have pale skin that is cool to the touch. Their canine teeth are slightly pronounced at all times, and they extend significantly when they bite to feed. Dhampirs also tend to have long and slightly curved fingernails.

Genetics and Reproduction

Dhampirs are incapable of reproduction outside of a few rare and eldritch magicks. The curse that made them half-dead also steals from them their fertility.

Growth Rate & Stages

Dhampirs reach adulthood around 18 years of age and then continue to age until somewhere in their second or third decade of life. At this point, their aging is halted for the next thousand years or so, assuming they are well fed. After the first millennia of life, the dhampir will rapidly age and deteriorate, surviving for less than a hundred additional years of life.

Dietary Needs and Habits

A dhampir needs to consume the blood of living Soulborn for sustenance. At a minimum, during any given cycle of the moons, a dhampir must drink as much blood as an average adult contains (about five liters). Without enough blood, the dhampir dries and shrivels, eventually crumbling to dust. Given the opportunity, most dhampirs will happily consume more blood than they strictly need.

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

The Nosferatu: Much like how other Soulborn races may seek to become liches, for some dhampirs 1,100 years and the powers of a mere Soulborn are simply not enough. These are dhampir who have mastered the necromantic and blood sorcery rituals necessary to turn themselves into true undead - and after centuries of preparation have succeeded in the process. Undead, immortal, and far more powerful than a Soulborn - the Nosferatu are the terrors of the night spoken of in legends and myths.
Unlike liches, nosferatu do not possess phylacteries. The soul of a nosferatu is obliterated (or perhaps sacrificed to Kanchelsis) upon completing the ritual, so there is no need to protect it with a magical cage like a lich. In exchange for the unholy powers granted, however, the nosferatu becomes afflicted with a troublesome series of new weakness - vulnerability to sunlight, inability to cross running water, etc.

Beauty Ideals

Due to their long lifespan, dhampir, especially noble dhampir, often take extreme interest and care into their appearance and honing a distinct style. Most of them appreciate ornate and subtle dark beauty.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Dhampir are too rare to have any shared culture or heritage.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Evil dhampir regularly pray on pixies. Their blood is known as Dustblood, or just Dust. It is highly addictive and causes an incredible high in dhampir, leading to contentious relations between the two species. The nobility now strictly regulates the trade of Dustblood and, supposedly, it is only legal to procure it from donors, but many Pixies are still kidnapped and enslaved, their blood forcibly drawn for sale until they die.

Origin/Ancestry

Verathrox, the Sepulcher Agape

Lifespan

1,100 years

Average Height

5'2" - 6'1"

Average Weight

115 - 185 lbs.

Founding Emanation

Kanchelsis, Lord of Vampires

Racial Stats
Dhampir

Dhampir

Ability Score Increase +2 Cha, +1 Wis

Size Medium

Speed 30ft

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Darkvision

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.

Bloodthirst

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 it's hit point maximum to 0.

Feast of Blood

When you drain blood with your Bloodthirst ability, you experience a surge of vitality. Your speed increases by 10 feet, and you gain advantage on Strength and Dexterity checks and saving throws for 1 minute.

Vampiric Resistance

You have resistance to necrotic damage.

Languages. Eolian and Thresk