In the Starfall Galaxy, where life and void energies constantly clash, some individuals are born into a liminal state, caught between vitality and the chilling touch of undeath. These are the Dhampirs, the mortal offspring of powerful void-entities, psychic parasites, or rogue bio-engineered constructs that feed on life force or Mana. Dhampirs enjoy extended lifespans and an otherworldly charm, but their ghostly pallor and the unsettling nature of their parentage make their lives in humanoid societies difficult.
Many call void-entities the shadows of the cosmos, but it's dhampirs who truly walk that line. These mortal offspring exist physiologically, socially, and temperamentally between life and undeath. The circumstances surrounding a dhampir's birth are rare, complex, and often shrouded in horrific rumors. Some dhampirs are the child of one mortal and one void-touched parent, while others are born to those who were exposed to void-siphoning energies or transformed into void-entities while pregnant. Still others rise from occult rituals or other supernatural influences that impose a life-siphoning curse onto a mortal infant. The life of a dhampir is often difficult; few void-touched parents have the inclination to raise a mortal child, while mortal communities find a dhampir's sallow flesh, piercing eyes, and unnerving presence off-putting at best.
Despite being living creatures, dhampirs respond to vitality and void energy as if they were undead, making them unwelcome in many healing communities and often driving them toward void-based arts or the study of life-siphoning phenomena. Dhampirs aren't immortal, but age far more slowly than most mortals, with a lifespan similar to that of a Strix. Dhampirs have difficulty producing children of their own, and those few born to a dhampir are never dhampirs themselves. A dhampir generally resembles a member of their non-void-touched parent's ancestry, but with a ghostly pallor and eyes so light it seems they have only pinpoint pupils and no iris. All dhampirs have elongated incisors, some nearly as long as those of a true void-entity. Many command grace, beauty, and charm despite their unsettling appearance.
YOU MIGHT...
Distance yourself from your heritage by trying to blend into society or even hunting void-entities.
Take special precautions to avoid being exposed to "helpful" vitality-based healing.
Find yourself fascinated by the sight, smell, or taste of vital fluids or raw Mana.
OTHERS PROBABLY...
Feel unsettled by your ghostly pallor and sharp teeth.
Wonder about or even romanticize your origins and motivations.
Find themselves strangely drawn to your grace, charm, and appearance.
Physical Description
Dhampirs appear as they did in life, but with a ghostly pallor and eyes so light it seems they have only pinpoint pupils and no iris. All dhampirs have elongated incisors, some nearly as long as those of a true void-entity. Their blood might be infused with Mana-siphoned ichor, giving it an unnaturally dark or thin consistency. They age far more slowly than most mortals, with a lifespan similar to that of a Vaelen or Strix.
Society
Dhampirs are born across the Starfall Galaxy, their origins tied to various void-entities, psychic parasites, or rogue bio-engineered constructs. Their scattered population means they rarely form their own societies. Many dhampirs begin their lives attempting to conceal their true nature, using cosmetics, illusions, or augmentations to hide their distinctive eyes or other emerging traits. This is frequently doomed to failure, either because those around them reject their unique state, or because the dhampir feels out of place and distant from their life.
While some dhampirs choose to travel the galaxy, others migrate to regions more accepting of unusual beings, such as the Ruins of the Tibburat Marches (where Bone-Echoes are common) or isolated sectors where Rift-zones or void-anomalies foster strange life. Dhampirs often find common ground with other outcasts, like Borai or Changelings, who also straddle the line between conventional existence and something more. Dhampirs who've lived over a decade tend to consider family a matter of friendship, loyalty, and love rather than genetics or lineage. Found Families and sprawling friendship groups are common, though some instead find companionship in mercenary or military units, among members of the same social movements or philosophical institutions, or within the cutthroat hierarchy of a corporation or consortium. Some dhampirs embrace their ominous presence and disconcerting aspects, finding employment as terrifying enforcers or imposing bodyguards, while others seek to overcome and erase the stigma of their unusual nature by holding diplomatic positions or taking jobs where they interact with the public.
Beliefs
Dhampirs are influenced by the cultures and societies they were born into, and many continue to worship the same cosmic entities and cleave to the same philosophies as they did in life. However, their unique heritage often draws them to deities or philosophies of duality, secrets, transformation, or the void. They might find solace in the teachings of a Cosmic Wanderer who explores hidden truths, or a philosophy that embraces the chaotic nature of the Rift.
Popular Edicts: Distance yourself from destructive influences, seek understanding of the void, protect those you care for.
Popular Anathema: Succumb to void-entity corruption, intentionally drain the life force of innocents.
Dhampir Mechanics
Dhampir Heritage
You are the scion of a powerful void-entity, psychic parasite, or bio-engineered construct, half living and half void-touched, gifted with uncanny charm and grace, a bloodless pallor, and elongated incisors. You gain the dhampir trait, in addition to the traits from your ancestry. You have the void healing ability, which means you are harmed by vitality damage and healed by void effects as if you were undead. You also gain low-light vision, or you gain darkvision if your ancestry already has low-light vision. You can select from dhampir feats and feats from your ancestry whenever you gain an ancestry feat.
Dhampir Lineages
Dhampirs can select any of the following lineages at 1st level, reflecting the nature of the entity that influenced their birth.
Psychic Siphon Scion (Feat 1)
Dhampir, Lineage
You descend from rare psychic parasites or Aether Synapse anomalies that feed on mental energy. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Will saves against mental effects.
Ancient Void-Feeder Scion (Feat 1)
Dhampir, Lineage
You are a scion of an ancient void-feeder, one of the primordial entities that consume life force in the deepest cosmos. You gain resistance 1 to void damage.
Reanimated Construct Scion (Feat 1)
Dhampir, Lineage
You were born to a reanimated construct or a bio-engineered entity that moves with unnatural, almost jerky grace. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Acrobatics checks.
Primordial Void-Stalker Scion (Feat 1)
Dhampir, Lineage
You descend from one of the truly ancient void-stalkers, a primordial entity cursed to eternal life but not eternal youth. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Stealth checks in dim light or darkness.
Mana-Siphon Scion (Feat 1)
Dhampir, Lineage
You were born to a Mana-siphon entity, the most common void-entities, and you share their supernatural fortitude and power of persuasion. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy checks.
Dhampir Ancestry Feats (1st Level)
The following feats are available to dhampir characters.
Eyes of Night (Feat 1)
Dhampir
You can see in the darkness as easily as a true void-entity. You gain darkvision. If your ancestry already has darkvision, you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Perception checks in dim light or darkness.
Fangs (Feat 1)
Dhampir
Your incisors have grown into true fangs: long, sharp, and well-suited to drawing vital fluids. You gain a fangs unarmed attack that deals 1d4 piercing damage. Your fangs are in the brawling weapon group and have the agile and finesse traits.
Nocturnal Charm (Feat 1)
Dhampir
The supernatural charm of your void-touched progenitor hangs about you, and you've learned to use it on mortals. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy checks to Make an Impression.
Old Soul (Feat 1)
Dhampir
Prerequisites: At least 100 years old
Your void-touched lineage has granted you a lifespan much longer than most mortals, and you've learned a lot along the way. You become trained in a skill of your choice.
Void-Entity Lore (Feat 1)
Dhampir
You were raised by your void-touched parent, or you've invested substantial time and energy researching the secrets of your life-siphoning progenitors. You become trained in Occultism and Cosmic Lore. If you would automatically become trained in one of those skills (from your background or class, for example), you instead become trained in a skill of your choice.
You gain the Additional Lore general feat for Void-Entity Lore.
Voice of the Void (Feat 1)
Dhampir
You hear and understand the words of creatures you share the darkness or void with. You can communicate mentally with creatures with the void trait or undead trait within 30 feet. You don't need to share a language to communicate with such creatures in this way.
Dhampir Ancestry Feats (5th Level)
Enthralling Allure (Feat 5)
Dhampir
The powers of domination employed by your progenitors have manifested in you as well. You gain charming touch as a 1st-rank innate occult spell. You can cast this spell once per day.
Feed on Pain (Feat 5)
Dhampir, Necromancy, Void
Prerequisites: Psychic Siphon Scion
The psychic feedback of another creature's pain fills you with false life. When you deal psychic damage to a creature, you regain 1 Hit Point. This can only happen once per round.
Unnatural Stride (Feat 5)
Dhampir
Prerequisites: Reanimated Construct Scion
You've internalized the unnatural gait of your reanimated forebear. Your Speed increases by 5 feet.
Void-Infused Physiology (Feat 5)
Dhampir
Your unusual physiology has developed in a way that makes it difficult for parasites and other infestations to prey upon you. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Fortitude saves against disease and parasites.
Siphon Vitality (Feat 5)
Dhampir, Necromancy, Void
Prerequisites: Mana-Siphon Scion, Ancient Void-Feeder Scion, Primordial Void-Stalker Scion, or another lineage from a void-entity with a life-siphoning ability
You retain not only your void-touched parent's affinity for vital fluids but their ability to gain vitality from it. As a 1-action activity, you can make a fangs Strike against a creature. If you hit, you regain 1d4 Hit Points. You can use this once per encounter.
Void-Slayer (Feat 5)
Dhampir
Your knowledge of your own not-quite-living anatomy, combined with your experience in combat, helps you take down void-entities and reanimated constructs with ease. You deal 1 additional damage with Strikes against creatures with the void or undead trait.
Dhampir Ancestry Feats (9th Level)
Bloodletting Fangs (Feat 9)
Dhampir, Fangs Unarmed Attack
Prerequisites: Fangs
You emulate your void-touched parent's techniques for drawing vital fluids from a victim. When you critically hit with your fangs unarmed attack, the target takes 1d6 persistent bleed damage.
Night Magic (Feat 9)
Dhampir
You can tap into the void-magic that runs through your blood. You gain darkness and chill touch as 2nd-rank innate occult spells. You can cast each of these spells once per day.
Slip into Shadow (Feat 9)
Dhampir
Prerequisites: Ability to cast at least one spell with the darkness trait
Your shadow magic bleeds into the space around you. When you cast a spell with the darkness trait, you become concealed until the end of your next turn.
Dhampir Ancestry Feats (13th Level)
Daywalker (Feat 13)
Dhampir
Whether through painstaking exposure to solar radiation, devoted meditation on vitality, or simple luck, you've found a greater affinity for life through the sun's light. You lose the void healing ability while in bright light. Instead, you are healed by vitality damage and harmed by void effects as a living creature. This effect ends if you enter dim light or darkness.
Form of the Void-Bat (Feat 13)
Concentrate, Dhampir, Divine, Polymorph
You can transform into a harmless void-bat. As a 2-action activity, you can transform into a Tiny bat-like creature with the void trait. While in this form, you have a fly Speed of 20 feet, a land Speed of 5 feet, and you are unnoticed by creatures unless they have darkvision or a special sense that detects void-entities. You can remain in this form for 10 minutes or until you use another action that requires hands or speech. You can use this once per day.
Dhampir Ancestry Feats (17th Level)
Symphony of Siphoned Life (Feat 17)
Dhampir
You call forth the vital fluids of your foes to grant you vigor. As a 2-action activity, you can target all enemies in a 30-foot emanation. Each target takes 6d6 void damage (basic Fortitude save). You regain Hit Points equal to half the total void damage dealt. You can use this once per day.
Twist Healing (Feat 17)
Dhampir
Prerequisites: Ability to cast heal and harm
Your connection to both life and undeath lets you twist the healing power of magic items to suit your own needs and aims. When you use a magic item that casts heal or harm, you can choose to have it cast the other spell instead. For example, if you use a healing potion, you can choose to have it cast harm instead, dealing void damage to a creature.
Here are a few adventure hooks tailored to appeal specifically to a Dhampir player character, leveraging their unique physiology, their connection to void-entities, and their struggle with their dual nature in the Starfall Galaxy.
Adventure Hooks for Dhampir Player Characters
1. The Siphoned Colony and the Ancestral Call
Hook: A newly established human colony on a resource-rich, but otherwise unremarkable, frontier world has fallen silent. When a scout team investigates, they find the colonists alive but eerily listless, their vitality slowly being siphoned away, leaving behind a chilling void-signature. The Dhampir PC feels an unsettling, almost ancestral pull towards this specific void-signature – a faint, psychic "call" that resonates with their own lineage, potentially from the very void-entity or psychic parasite that influenced their birth. This entity isn't overtly hostile, but its feeding is systematic and relentless, turning the colony into a silent, living larder. A Borai who recognizes the signs of soul-siphoning, or an Enfong who detects unusual bio-energetic depletion, seeks the PC's unique insight. The mission: infiltrate the silent colony, identify the void-entity responsible, and find a way to sever its connection to the colonists without causing irreparable harm, potentially forcing the Dhampir to confront their own "parent" or a powerful kin.
Dhampir Appeal: This hook directly confronts the Dhampir's origin and the nature of their void-touched lineage. The personal resonance of the "ancestral call" would be a powerful motivator. It forces them to use their unique understanding of void energy and life-siphoning to protect innocents, potentially even turning their inherent abilities against a kindred being. The moral dilemma of dealing with a non-malicious but destructive entity would be compelling.
2. The Dying Mana-Well and the Void-Infused Flora
Hook: A vital Mana-well, crucial for sustaining a remote research outpost or a small Florin settlement, is rapidly dying. Its vibrant Mana-currents are turning stagnant, and the surrounding Cosmic Flora is twisting into grotesque, void-infused forms that drain life instead of nurturing it. Standard attempts to revitalize it with vitality-based Mana-rituals are having the opposite effect, causing further decay. The Dhampir PC, with their unique reaction to vitality and void energy, is approached by desperate scientists or Ardande caretakers. They believe the Dhampir's physiology might hold the key to understanding the blight – perhaps a localized Rift-rupture is bleeding void energy into the Mana-well, or an ancient Void-Entity has slumbered beneath it for millennia. The mission: venture into the blighted zone, identify the source of the void corruption, and find a way to purify the Mana-well, potentially requiring the Dhampir to use their void-healing or void-siphoning abilities in an unconventional, restorative manner.
Dhampir Appeal: This hook directly challenges the Dhampir's unique physiological responses. Their inability to benefit from normal healing and their affinity for void energy become assets, not weaknesses. The quest to restore a vital life source, even one that harms them, appeals to a desire to distance themselves from their destructive heritage or to prove their capacity for good. It's a chance to explore the complex interplay of Mana and Void in the Starfall Galaxy.
3. The Aether Synapse Anomaly and the Fragmented Souls
Hook: Strange, fragmented psychic echoes are rippling through the Aether Synapse, causing widespread distress among psychic individuals and even disrupting long-range telepathic communications. These echoes are not coherent messages, but rather agonizing screams and confused whispers from souls that seem to be trapped or fractured, unable to complete their journey through the Cycle of Souls. The Dhampir PC, whose own soul exists in a liminal state, feels these echoes more acutely than others, experiencing phantom pains or fragmented memories that hint at a deeper cosmic imbalance. A Cerebral Nexus who detects the psychic anomaly, or a Duskwalker who senses a disruption in the soul-cycle, seeks the PC's help. They suspect a powerful psychic parasite, a rogue A.I. Construct attempting to "archive" souls, or even a desperate Rift-Entity is manipulating the Aether Synapse, trapping souls for its own purposes. The mission: delve into the psychic anomaly, understand the nature of the trapped souls, and find a way to release them, potentially requiring the Dhampir to navigate the treacherous psychic landscape of the Aether Synapse and confront a being that preys on the very essence of existence.
Dhampir Appeal: This hook delves into the existential nature of the Dhampir's being – their connection to souls and the afterlife. The threat to the Cycle of Souls is deeply personal. It offers a chance to use their unique insight into the boundaries of life and death to help others, potentially finding answers about their own ultimate fate. The exploration of the Aether Synapse and the confrontation with a soul-manipulating entity would be a profound and challenging experience.
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