Sanguis

Seeking a means to extend their lifespan without the taint of undeath, the human kingdom Nephistrad was approached by a beautiful yet mysterious entity calling herself the Scarlet Walker. Hearing their prayers, the Scarlet Walker offered the first Crimson Cup and the chance for immortality. Unfortunately, the Scarlet Walker conveniently left out the pains of insatiable thirst…

Many rumors swirl about the enigmatic Sanguis people since their first blood bonding ritual of 319 EoIF (Era of Inner Flame). In truth, the history of the Sanguis race is a tale of ambitious humans gifted in the art of tethering and unhappy with their mortal lifespan. A growing belief among the group was how many other races enjoyed longevity, allowing them to explore and uncover ancient knowledge of the previous era. Why shouldn't they have the same opportunities?
The Scarlet Walker conveniently offered a solution, changing the Sanguis people into something "greater" if they would help her reintroduce Hematurgy Magic to the world. They agreed and were granted the freedom of a long life, as long as they fed on blood, the life essence of others.

Blood Thirst

A Sanguis is blood dependent and must feed on the blood of a living or recently deceased creature, preferably every other day. Many Sanguis who fully embrace their heritage enjoy eating small amounts of flesh with their meal.
If a Sanguis starves for 3 months without drinking blood, they turn into a hideous Thrall and remain so until their death. As an undead Thrall, their body slowly deteriorates, eventually leading to their death in 50 years. A Thrall approaching the 50-year mark will likely have lost limbs and appear as if their skin is melting away to reveal muscle and sinew underneath.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Sanguis were once human and appear human-like at first glance. Standing between 5 feet and 6 feet tall, Sanguis are often slender, averaging 100 - 180 pounds. Their hair varies from shades of grey and white to crimson red. Their skin is pale with dark grey eyes that turn red when angry or excited.
Despite their exotic qualities and the fear of uncertainty they exude, Sanguis are naturally seductive and tend to have flawless facial features. All Sanguis have upper canines more pronounced than the human norm to feed, which elongate before biting into flesh.

Civilization and Culture

Relationship Ideals

Sanguis are passionate creatures, equally capable of blissful love and seething rage. Known to hold long-lasting grudges, their passion can often lead to feelings of unrest.
Their once human mindset appreciates the advance of years more than other long-lived species. A Sanguis is more inclined to find interesting ways to spend their time in a constant search to entertain themselves. Some turn to intellectual endeavors such as becoming a renowned artist, poet, or scholar. Others seek gratification by being an adventurer or explorer searching long lost ruins.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Some communities look upon Sanguis with superstition but tolerate their lifestyle rather than show true acceptance. Others outright refuse to associate with a Sanguis due to their ties with Hematurgy magic. This leads traveling Sanguis who wish to leave their mark to hide their ancestry and cultivate a different lifestyle, never revealing what they truly are underneath the guise.
Other Sanguis embrace their heritage, treating races as cattle, and see themselves as a new age of Vampire blessed by the Scarlet Walker. They quickly become the embodiment of monsters, enjoying the fear of their meal before feasting.
Regardless of which path a Sanguis may follow, their lineage is held in the highest regard. Family bloodlines are all they have, and they band together for safety, camaraderie, and understanding. A Sanguis must feed or face the horrors of becoming Thrall. For most Sanguis, death is preferred.

Lifespan

Sanguis reach adulthood in their late teens, and as long as they feed, suffer no frailty and cannot die of old age. A Sanguis transformed into a Thrall live in a state of deterioration and can live for almost 50 years.

Average Height

5ft - 6ft

Average Weight

100 - 180 pounds

by Dean Spencer

Becoming Sanguis

Where vampires spread vampirism by killing and draining the blood of another, a Sanguis can only reproduce in two ways. Relations with a human will always result in a Sanguis child needing to be suckled with blood instead of milk. The Sanguis child reaches adulthood in their mid-teens and remains in that age state until death.
A human can also drink from the Crimson Cup ritual and become Sanguis. This hematurgy ritual is difficult and expensive to undertake but possible with the aid of a master hematurgist. After drinking from the Crimson Cup and feeling the pains of thirst, the human becomes Sanguis, locked into their age state until death.

by Dean Spencer

Sanguis Traits

Your Sanguis character has a variety of natural abilities common with your ancestry. You could also choose to become a Thrall instead.
Sanguis 5E Racial Traits

Sanguis

Ability Score Increase Choose one of: (a) Choose any +2; choose any other +1 (b) Choose any +1; choose any other +1; choose any other +1

Size Medium

Speed 30 ft

---

Blood Dependent

You have a pool of blood points equal to your character level. Every 48-hours, you expend one blood point from your pool. When using your Thirst trait, you regain blood points. While you have 0 blood points, you regain half as much from all healing effects until you feed with your Thirst trait.

Darkvision

Thanks to your ancestry, you can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Deathless Nature

You don't need to breathe.

Hematurgy Influence

You know the cantrip minor illusion and can cast it at will. At 3rd level, you can cast the charm person spell with this trait. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the misty step spell with this trait. Once you cast the charm person or misty step spell with this trait, you can't cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest.
You can also cast these spells using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level. Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell. None of these spells require spell components when you cast them with this trait.

Human Heritage

You have advantage on any deception checks made to pass as a human.

Thirst

As part of the attack action on your turn, you can bite a creature that is grappled, incapacitated, restrained or willing. You add your Constitution modifier, instead of your Strength modifier, to the attack and damage rolls when you attack with this bite. When you hit, the target takes 1d6 piercing damage and if the creature isn't a construct or undead, you collect 1 blood point as shown in your Blood Dependent trait and regain hit points equal to your proficiency bonus.
You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Languages. Common and one additional language of your choice

---

Becoming Thrall

If a Sanguis starves for 3 months without drinking blood, they turn into a hideous Thrall and remain so until their death. As an undead Thrall, their body slowly deteriorates, eventually leading to their death. Thrall resemble their Sanguis persona but are more monstrous in appearance. Jaws filled with sharp dagger-like teeth and a distorted nasal passage give them a guttural tone when speaking. Their tongues elongate and frequently hang from their mouth when not in use.
These bestial features are accompanied by a constant hunched over stance, lengthened fingers and toes ending in clawed nails, and exaggerated broad shoulders with patchy yet mangy hair. The stench of decay follows the Thrall like a carrion perfume. Instead of a need to drink blood, a hungry Thrall prefers the taste of flesh. When consuming a corpse lacking a soul, the Thrall enters a euphoric high that grants the Thrall vivid visions of the corpse's memories.
As a Thrall you lose all of your previous Sanguis traits and gain the new traits below.

Thrall Traits

Your Thrall character has a variety of natural abilities common with your ancestry.
Thrall 5E Racial Traits

Thrall

Ability Score Increase Choose one of: (a) Choose any +2; choose any other +1 (b) Choose any +1; choose any other +1; choose any other +1

Size Medium

Speed 30 ft

---

Accursed

Most commonfolk attempt to avoid you out of fear. You have disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks.

Claw

Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make an unarmed strike. When you hit, the target takes slashing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier.

Consuming Flesh

Able to reveal secrets lost by consuming humanoid flesh, Thrall are given a vision after spending 1 minute eating a corpse, as long as the corpse has been dead for 24 hours. Ironically, the more decayed the corpse upon consumption, the more vivid the vision.
After having a vision, the Thrall cannot benefit from consuming humanoid flesh for at least 24 hours. If the vision is particularly compelling, this may exceed up to 48 hours before another vision is possible. Visions are provided at the DM’s discretion and can be a compelling tool for players!

Deathless Nature

You don't need to breathe.

Ghoulish Tendancies

You have resistance to necrotic damage.

Superior Darkvision

Accustomed to life in the shadows, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Languages. Common and one additional language of your choice