                                   DHAMPIR



   By Mark Kinney



                Children of the Night
        So close to the Beast, yet still so Human
                Though they know it not.

                But the Calling arises
                In their dreams
                In their senses
                In their lives
        Every waking moment calls them to duty.

                The Calling is strong
                And the goal is Eternal:

                The Final Death of the Beast
                That Begat them.



   Dearest son,

   Now that you are of age, you can finally know what you are and why I
   was forced to leave you so long ago. I write this hoping that I will
   return, and yet I know I won't, and thus hope that your uncle will
   take care of you, and that he has been able to deal with the feelings
   I know will have been racking your soul.

   I met your father nearly twenty years ago at an arts festival. I was
   young and impressionable, and his very presence just seemed to reach
   out and grab me. We stayed up until almost dawn discussing our
   interests in what we had seen, and although he was in a rush to leave,
   we did exchange phone numbers and I was able to get back together with
   him. After I had been seeing him for several months, I realized I was
   with child -- you, my son. It was when I went to tell him that I found
   out his secret.

   I hesitate to tell you this, for I fear you will not believe me, but
   not only is it true, it is imperative that you know. I walked in on
   him and another...victim, I suppose is the proper word. He looked up
   at me, the blood still on his chin.

   I couldn't think. I just ran. He came after me, and I was only able to
   get away thanks to a policeman who happened by then. He had to deal
   with the cop, and that gave me time, for otherwise he would surely
   have run me down, and who knows what would have happened after that.

   Your uncle, my brother Algernon, was the only one who believed my
   story. He has always dabbled in such things, and helped me to learn
   what I know about all this through some contacts in what he simply
   called "The Order", and now I pass it on to you.

   You are a dhampir; the offspring of a mortal woman and a vampire
   father. Most of the Order's research claimed that vampires cannot
   procreate biologically, but enchantments do exist, whether spells or
   potions of some sort, that allow the vampire to temporarily become
   human. It is rare, but occasionally a child can result from a
   rendezvous during that time. Nature, however, does not ignore the fact
   that he is still a vampire.

   As such, you are able to use their abilities; Algernon says your
   father was probably of a group of vampires known as the Toreador, and
   typical of their abilities is quick movement, enhanced senses, and
   unnatural charisma such as what attracted me to him. Also, if I have
   not finished the job, you will know your father instinctively if you
   meet him, as you will know other of the undead if you develop that
   ability.

   All of this is not without a price. These abilities are mostly powered
   by the blood consumed by the vampire, and it is also so with the
   dhampir. There are some documented cases where the dhampir was able to
   use sheer force of will to activate the abilities, but they are rare.
   I hope that you have not tasted anothers blood; you should have no
   reason to, but Algernon has showed me that coincidence is nothing to
   be taken lightly. If so, you will develop a hunger for blood, becoming
   more like your father in that regard.

   You will also notice the dreams you are beginning to have, featuring
   probably a thin, red-haired man. This man is your father, and not only
   will your dreams bring you closer to him, you will find yourself drawn
   to find him. The Order doesn't know why, but apparently it is nature's
   way of revenge against the dead's rape of the living: in every case on
   record, the dhampir have risen up to destroy their fathers.

   That is why I have left: to spare you that torment, for I am going to
   try to destroy him myself. If I live and have destroyed him, there
   will be no need for this letter; if you read it, you know that I have
   failed. If you do go on a hunt of your own, listen to what Algernon
   tells you; apparently there are those that will help you, but your
   nature may make you a target yourself. Also, keep in mind that where
   one vampire is found, you can usually count on there being more.

   Farewell, and always remember I loved you.

   Eliza Donnely

   Dhampir are the mortal children of a vampire male and a mortal female.
   A vampire, using various means, can become human temporarily, making
   this possible.

   Dhampir are as mortal as any human, but posess several special
   abilities. They can develop physical disciplines much the same way
   ghouls can, plus they can develop their father's clan disciplines, but
   no others. These abilities must still be powered by blood if such is
   called for; a dhampir can drink to a blood pool equivalent to that of
   their father's. This need not be vampire blood. After tasting blood
   for the first time, a dhampir must make a willpower check to keep from
   drinking when the opportunity p resents itself. Willpower can be
   substituted for blood if the dhampir passes a Humanity or Path check.
   This blood has no effect on their health level, and the willpower
   check described above is the closest they come to Frenzy because of
   lack of blood.

   Dhampir not are effected by sunlight and fire. They do not suffer
   Rotschrek. Except for these exceptions, check for frenzy normally.

   Dhampir also have the ability to Detect Kindred. When in a situation
   that the power would apply, the Storyteller should roll (actually,
   check often to make them paranoid) with the following results at
   difficulties of six.


        Botch   General bad feeling, no matter what the situation is.
        *       Father or higher pinpointed exactly.  Otherwise, the dhampir
                has a general feeling there is something wrong if there are
                Kindred around.
        **      A general feeling that something is wrong if there are
                Kindred in the area.
        ***     The closest Kindred in the area is pinpointed.
        ****    Multiple kindred in the area are pinpointed exactly.  The
                dhampir can tell whose heart beats and whose doesn't.
        *****   Ghouls, revenants, and other dhampir are detected.



   This ability starts at one automatically, and is increased with
   freebie points and experience as a clan discipline.

   Also, against their father and his sire, up to but not including the
   Antediluvian, a dhampir gains +1 to all physical abilities and skills,
   but not disciplines. This facilitates their goal given by nature: the
   death of their fathers. Through dreams, coincidence, whatever, that
   goal is continually brought to their attention. Some have gone insane
   in the process, and others have become renowned hunters.

   The most common clans dhampir come from are Gangrel, Ravnos, Toreador,
   and Tzimisce. There are almost no Assamite dhampir, and any Tremere
   found to have fathered one is immediately put to the flame, and the
   child hunted down before it presents a threat. No Nosferatu or Samedi
   dhampir are known to exist.

   Dhampir blood is considered normal blood, and dhampir become normal
   Kindred if embraced. Dhampir cannot gain "generation" through
   diablerie, nor can generation be gained from them. Dhampir gain no
   additional powers except longevity by being ghouled.

   Stereotypes:

   Camarilla: These guys hide a lot, but that doesn't mean they're not
   responsible for some of us.

   "They are a blatant violation of the Masquerade in and of themselves.
   On top of that, their purpose of existance is to destroy us. We must
   do so first, and punish the one who fathered it." -- a Ventrue
   Justicar

   Sabbat: These aren't usually out to create us, but still watch out;
   these guys run in packs, and you'll usually need help against them.

   "Just embrace 'em and finish the job. We need the troops." -- A Black
   Hand Dominion

   Garou: Some of them will deal with us, but they say we have this
   "Worm" thing. Some will kill us because of it. Handle with care.

   "The Wyrm is insane. Sometimes it doesn't know what it does, and
   provides tools against itself. In the end, though, it's them or us."
   -- an Uktena shaman

   Traditions: These are the most likely to help us, especially the
   Euthanatos. Treat them well.

   "I don't know what to make of them, but hey, at least they don't want
   to kill us. Maybe they can help us with something..." -- a Son of
   Ether

   Technocracy: Creepy. I think the Traditions have the right idea on
   this one...

   "They don't fit in the Paradigm. Destroy them." -- a Syndicate boss

   Arcanum: All they do is write their damn books. Don't expect help, but
   they're great for research if they don't know what you are; otherwise
   they'll just ask stupid questions.

   "This is different, alright. See what you can find out. Oh, and, make
   sure he doesn't pull a Boston on us, okay?" -- an Arcanum House head

   The Inquisition: Stay the *hell* away from these guys. They'll put a
   stake in you as soon as look at you.

   "These 'dhampir' things are mere hopeful legend from some Balkan
   villiage. If it bares fangs at me, it gets a stake." -- an Inquisition
   hunter

   Additional:

   Inconnu: "These will be our undoing. Unlike the Camarilla, though, we
   need to find out how they come about."

   Childen of Osiris: "Don't create them yourself, but if you encounter
   one, try to convince him of the merits of working with us. I'm afraid
   we'll have to dispose of them if they disagree, but we can't afford to
   tip our hand too much right now."
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