Dhampires

**Rarity**

Extremely Rare (not recommended as a first character, numbers within the server should be limited)

*Dhampirs must be born - they cannot be turned or made after the fact.*

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**Origin**

Unlike their vampire kin, Dhampirs are not tied to any maker or older vampire. Dhampirs are born of a vampire and a humanoid species of non-supernatural origin using necromancy to create a brief mimicry of fertility. Most often, dhampirs are half human but in a highly unusual occurrence, they can be half elf.

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**Lifespan**

Dhampirs age as a normal member of their non-supernatural humanoid ancestry might until the age of maturation. For humans, this is between the ages of 19 and 22. At the age of maturity, a Dhampir essentially “dies” as the vampiric virus in their veins takes control. However, because they have not been turned through normal means, they will age gradually. Dhampirs will live to a max age of 200 years. Their lifespans cannot be extended as the vampiric virus is unstable.

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**Description**

Most often, Dhampirs appear to be a normal member of their non-supernatural ancestry. However, they possess small fangs that will always be visible if one knows where to look. When feeling strong emotions (including anger, rage, bloodlust, etc.), red rings may appear around the outer edges of their eyes but will not overtake their entire iris.

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**General Niches**

- DECELERATED AGEING: Dhampirs age much slower than the average mortal,but not quite as slowly as a vampire. Their full life span of 60 years being that of a mere ’20’ of their own. This means that Dhampirs live extended lives when compared to other mortal species. Their hair and nails grow at a ‘normal’ pace, however.

- VAMPIRISM: Dhampirs possess a weakened and unstable strain of the vampiric virus within their blood. They cannot transfer enough of their strain of the virus through a bite or blood exchange to turn another, however. The strain they possess is strong enough to give them certain vampiris abilities as listed below.

- FEEDING: Dhampirs require a small amount of mortal blood to survive. However, they may desire and crave larger amounts of blood which may cause a misidentification as a full vampire. It is important to know that Dhampirs can become **bloodsick** if too much blood is consumed and the mortal part of their ancestry rebels against the virus. They cannot drink dead blood but they must eat certain levels of human food in order to survive. They may also become drunk off of too much blood that may result in a loss of sanity.

- SUNLIGHT: Dhampirs that have not been otherwise corrupted from a form of necromancy or blighted magick are not affected by the sunlight. However, their eyes  and skin are more sensitive to light and they will often shield their eyes or skin when in direct sunlight.

- ‘SLEEPING’: Dhampirs require less sleep than their mortal counterparts but more often than a full vampire may. This is most often seen as a complete night of sleep once a week. *Dhampirs cannot go longer than ten days without sleep.*

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**Abilities**

**-** NIGHT VISION: All Dhampirs are better suited to seeing in the dark - though not to quite the extent as a vampire with enhanced vision. Most prefer night and operate as a nocturnal creature out of preference rather than necessity.

- Physical enhancements; Speed/Strength/Healing/Durability/Senses (If you wish to have  multiple enhancements then a substantial amount of independent weaknesses/flaws  must be given for each enhancement. If you have fewer enhancements then those  enhancements can be stronger i.e a dhampir who inherited a focus of speed and their senses may be incredibly abhorrent when it comes to strength/durability for rp purposes.)

- REGENERATION: Dhampirs are highly varient on their level of regeneration. As a general rule, the more blood in their system (at a healthy level that does not cause sickness or drunkenness), the more likely they are to be able to heal at a slightly regenerative pace. This does not mean that they may heal from any sort of mortal wound. This ability does not work if the wound is caused by a blessed or holy object.

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**Limitations**

*THESE CANNOT BE USED FOR FLAWS/WEAKNESSES FOR YOUR  PERSONALITY, THESE ARE GENERAL LIMITATIONS FOR ALL DHAMPIRS.*

- Wooden stake through the heart. Because Dhampirs are not as strong as their vampire ancestry, this attack will always be fatal.

- Straight up decapitation.

- Dhampirs may not enter a holy or blessed dwelling without invitation. This does not apply to all home or business, only those that have specially been blessed or are holy sites. This is due to them being born of corruption.

- Objects of intense belief. This doesn’t necessarily mean a ‘cross’ or a religious artefact, but  simply the power of the belief itself. For example, if someone truly believed a pencil was  magically imbued with power that could repel evil and their belief was concrete with little doubt,  it would hurt them (especially holy powers themselves).

- This extends to ‘holy’ magic and items enchanted or imbued with such magic.

- Garlic and silver can both cause burns and rashes.

- The consumption of an excessive amount of blood. More than a few mouthfuls of blood in the span of a week will result in one of the following:

- Bloodsickeness: This occurs when a Dhampir has gorged themself on so much blood that their mortal ancestry chooses to expel the blood. This results in the Dhampir becoming physically ill and can last anywhere from hours to several days depending on the severity and amount of blood consumed.

- Blood Drunkenness: By consuming *slightly* too much blood, a Dhampir may become blood-drunk. Because their metabolism is naturally high, this is the only what a Dhampir may ever experience such an occurrence and is often an addictive feeling that leaves Dhampirs unhinged and blood crazed. Any blood-drunk dhampir is dangerous and should be approached with caution.

- **Necromancy**: As Dhampirs are created through necromantic magic, they are inherently susceptible to necromancy. Depending on their level of corruption and how in-touch they are with their vampiris ancestry, a Dhampir may have slightly reduced weakness to such magic.

- Dhampirs cannot use holy magic. It is rare that they possess magic of any kind. However, some have become versed in limited abilities in corruption, blighted, necromancy or other dark practices.

**History**

 It is unknown how long ago Dhampirs first appeared. However, there is an old story that travels across the Aether that rumors as to how such creatures came to be. It is said that a vampire was made from a lie of love. A lie that another vampire loved them and would spend eternity with them. However, once turned, the new vampire realized they were but a pawn to their maker and not a lover. Taken too early and under false pretenses from their human lover, the vampire determined to be with them despite the dangers. The Maker became jealous and had the mortal woman cursed by a necromantic witch that allowed her to carry the child of her vampire lover. The creature that was born was a curse upon the Aether - neither alive nor dead.

Neither human nor vampire, Dhampirs are outcasts and often alienated from those around them. Blood cravings begin for them early on, most often as children. Such desires do not make them friends or do them favors. Most often, dhampirs grow up on their own or under the adoptive care of a supernatural race. Rarely, they may be raised by their vampiric parent. It is perhaps most common for Dhampirs to come to detest their vampiric heritage and chose a life that pits them against their creators. After all, what better way to hunt a vampire than with their own creation? It is for this reason that it is common to see Dhampirs covering their lower faces to hide their fangs as well as they do not appreciate being mistaken for what they have come to hunt.

Dhampires may be to blame, at least in part, for the decline in the numbers of vampires across the Aether. The decline in vampires has also led to a decline in their own numbers. Essentially a hardier version of a mortal with an elongated lifespan, Dhampirs are a force to be reconned with when they set their sites on a goal. Stories abound about their rage and the dangers of crossing swords with one.

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**Created by HuntieyyCat**

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