Playable Race – Halfling (Vampiric)

Vampiric Halflings are thought to be the origin of the vampire infliction that can be found throughout the other Realms. This race of short, squat humanoids possess an unnatural strength and speed for their size and rely solely on the blood of living creatures for sustenance.

Paltry and Pale

While all sub-species of Halfling are short and rugged, the Vampiric Halflings are particularly pale and gaunt. They lack the round belly of most other well-fed, comfortable Halflings, and instead sport the features of a creature built to hunt and fight for survival. This manifests in pointed nails and teeth, red eyes with slit pupils, shallow, pale skin pulled close to the bones, and a deceptive lack of muscle that hides their supernatural strength.

Vampiric Halflings are typically white-skinned (as appose to the dark-skinned Golden Halflings from The Golden Lands) with dark, straight hair. They wear surprisingly formal clothing and armour, despite the supposed lack of resources to create them. Jewellery is popular among them and is usually taken from their meals, as appose to being built by their own hand.

An Unnatural Family Bond

The Vampiric Halflings have children much like other races do. They differ, however, in the supernatural, undeniable bond that is created between parent and child. Likely the source of many thrall-based rumours surrounding vampires, in a relationship between child and parent, the child is unable to defy their parent’s commands and is unable to cause them direct harm.

The source of this mental block is unknown but it has led to most Vampiric Halflings living as a single, family unit, and refusing to cohabitate with others of their species. Through this hierarchy, an elder couple holds absolute and unchallenged authority over innumerable offspring.

The Origin of the Vampire?

While the Vampiric Halfling is certainly a naturally created creature, they are cited as the origin of the modern vampire in many academic circles. While it is incredibly rare, a survivor of a Vampiric Halfing attack can slowly adopt the physical characteristics of the race. Sunken, pale skin, unnatural strength and speed, and a desire to feed upon humanoid blood to name a few.

While the Halflings lack the known weaknesses of Vampires, such as sunlight and running water, it is theorised that these flaws are caused by the unintentional corrupting of the victim. The new vampire’s body is unable to host the changes and lacks important biological features needed to withstand the power.

Whether this theory is true, however, is unconfirmed in the current year of 1273.

Halfling (Vampiric) Names

Halfling names are typically homely and easy to pronounce. This a trait that encompasses even Vampiric Halfling’s names. You may choose a name from the following list or come up with your own.

Masculine	Feminine
Errich	Callie
Garret	Lidda
Igor	Portia
Vlad	Gillian
Belmon	Lyra

Halfling (Vampiric) Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2 and your Wisdom increases by 1.

Age. Vampiric Halflings mature at the age of 13 and live to the age of 140.

Alignment. This race of Halflings requires blood to survive and are willing to acquire it however they need to. They tend towards evil alignments.

Size. Halflings are short, squat people and grow to a height of 3.5 feet. Your size is small.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 40 feet, and you have a climb speed of 40 feet.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Hieroglyphic.

Drain. As an action, you can attempt to latch onto a size medium or larger creature and begin to drain them of blood. Make a contested grapple check against the creature, if you succeed you attach yourself to the target and deal 2d4 necrotic damage at the end of your turn. The creature may attempt to repeat the grapple check to remove you after taking the damage. You can use this feature once before needing to take a short or long rest. If you fail to grapple the creature, you do not expend this feature.

Vampiric Blink. You can cast the misty step spell up to three times using this trait. You regain the ability to do so when you finish a short or long rest.

Halfling Nimbleness. You can move through the space of any creature that is of a size larger than yours.

Not Dead, Not Alive. You do not need to breath to live. In addition, you are resistant to poison damage and have advantage on saving throws to avoid becoming poisoned.

Final Thoughts

Thanks for reading! Halflings certainly have an established vibe to them and I wanted to mix it up a bit with these guys. Don’t worry, a more standard version of the Halfling will be coming with the Golden Halfling! I hope you enjoyed reading about these little bloodsuckers! Have a great day!