Races

Dhampir - by T.A. Saunders ©2010 v1.0

Racial Articles Living and Dying as a Dhampir

The Dhampir that have come out openly have been met with fear, hostility and outright violence more often than not. This, along with embracing their vampiric nature a bit too zealously has further darkened their reputation with mortals and driven many more towards becoming full-fledged vampires. There are a very small handful that operate openly to what they are and maintain a sense of control and humanity. Many of these Dhampir are recruited by the Church of the Flamebringer, indoctrinated in the ways of the Old Gods and made into vampire hunters empowered by Kaal himself. Some choose a more sedate life as monks, or priests.

There are those that hunt vampires not to destroy them, but to partake of their blood. This allows them to make their own powers more potent and alleviates for a longer period of time the need to drink blood of any kind. The Dhampir that participate in this practice also fall to the darkness within with much greater fervor; while never seeking to become vampires themselves, but rather becoming fiercely addicted to vampire blood to the point that no other blood will revitalize their talents.

Most Dhampir abhor what they are and seek to suppress their vampiric natures so that they may blend better into society. By not using their powers, they can avoid drinking blood for weeks at a time, making it virtually impossible to discern their true selves, even to the most trained eye…save for a vampire's of course. Drinking animal blood mixed with wine, or ordering a bloody rare steak are common tricks, but there are others.

Dhampir can marry, have children and lead a very normal life if they choose; any children born to a Dhampir parent will not inherit the supernatural gifts so there is no fear of passing on what many Dhampir consider a curse, onto their offspring. There has been a handful of documented cases of two Dhampir producing a child and the traits carrying on, but such examples are exceedingly rare and should not be taken as a norm. If one parent is a humanoid of any kind, the Dhampir's child will be quite normal.

Dhampir are also mortal. They will live longer than expected lives, but eventually those lives will end. It's for this reason that many actively seek out becoming a vampire. While they can withstand a great deal of punishment and survive things that normal people would not, a flintlock fired into the back of a Dhampir's head, will most assuredly kill that Dhampir as easily as it would anybody else. When a Dhampir dies, there is no discernible sign that they had ever been a Dhampir; they do not ash and they can be buried on holy ground without incident.