Sources of art on this subject have been indexed.

Dhampir

From PathfinderWiki
Dhampir
A nosferatu-born dhampir.
(Creature)

Dhampirs are the cursed, mortal progeny of vampires.2 They are sometimes termed half-vampire or, more cruelly, half-dead.1

Description

Most dhampirs are tall and slender, possessing physical grace and unearthly beauty. While eye colour, skin hue, and hair colour resembles that of the mother, they also possess a ghostly pallor which people find unnerving. They tend to move with unworldly fluidity, and have a piercing gaze. Finally, all dhampirs possess elongated incisors, a trait passed down from the vampiric progenitor.2[citation needed]

Regardless of their heritage, dhampirs are still mortal creatures, although their aging process slows down to the rate comparable to that of elves.3[citation needed]

Adventurers

Outsider status combined with supernatural abilities make dhampirs natural adventurers. Magic-using dhampirs are often undead-bloodline sorcerers, wizards of the necromancy school, or occasionally oracles or witches. Self-sufficient dhampirs might be rogues or swashbucklers, and those who seek to destroy undead might choose champion or ranger.4

Ecology

The origin of dhampirs is still a point of debate and discussion among scholars. Some believe that they are result of relations between a human woman and a male vampire, while others speculate that they are born of women who are bitten by a vampire while pregnant. Still others believe that they are a unique race of humans who suffer from an unholy affliction of some sort. Whatever the truth might be, dhampirs have a very hard time reproducing themselves, and their progeny are always human (often with sorcerous abilities).2[citation needed]

Usually rejected and mistrusted for its lineage, a dhampir is rarely accepted into normal society. Most grow up as orphans, as few mothers survive birthing the young dhampir, and most have difficulty forming real relationships with others in spite of their unnatural charm and grace. Ultimately, most dhampirs feel the pull to evil, or at least moral ambiguity, and view those around them as tools and pawns. A handful have been known to reject this, however, vowing to destroy the undead horrors responsible for their conception.2[citation needed]

Dhampir heritages

A vetala-born dhampir.

Most of the dhampirs encountered in the Inner Sea region are related to the common vampire, also known as the moroi, but since there are other, related vampire species around the world, there are also other varieties of dhampirs.5

Jiang-shi-born or Ru-shi
The Ru-shi are the indirect offspring of the terrifying jiang-shi vampires, most commonly found on the continent of Tian Xia. They are generally mechanically gifted but avoid all physical contact with others.5
Moroi-born or Svetocher
These dhampirs are the direct progeny of the charming moroi vampires, the most commonly encountered vampiric race found in the Inner Sea region.5
Nosferatu-born or Ancient-born
The unnatural offspring of humans and the desiccated nosferatu vampires, ancient-born inherit their parent's wasting condition, and often harbor a deep hatred of humanity. They are most-commonly found in Ustalav.5
Vetala-born or Ajibachana
Ajibachana are the children of the vetala, the vampires of Vudra. They are quite dexterous and fond of scholarly pursuits.5

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 F. Wesley Schneider. Bloodbound. Tor Books, 2015
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Chapter 2: Featured Races” in Advanced Race Guide, 96–97. Paizo Inc., 2012
  3. Paizo Inc., et al. “Monsters A to Z” in Bestiary 2, 96. Paizo Inc., 2010
  4. Lyz Liddell. Dhampir” in Ancestry Guide, 25. Paizo Inc., 2021
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Tork Shaw. “Dhampir Heritages” in Blood of the Night, 20–21. Paizo Inc., 2012