Blood Magic

Blood magic is a group of powers based in the blood. While any creature with blood can use the power in their blood, only a Vampire can unlock the true potential of this type of magic. Through a Thrall, a blood bound servant, a vampire can unlock “Higher Blood Powers.” Vampires also have the advantage of being able to collect and save another’s blood to use in magic, rather than their own, as others must use. This is represented in a vampire’s Claret pool. All other blood mages must generally use their own blood, although sometimes, someone else’s spilled blood will do, if it is fresh. 1 Claret would be replaced by 1 Health Point. This damage can be healed with use of Regenerate, or in about a day’s time x each level of damage for most creatures. In general, Blood Magic requires the blood mage to manipulate their blood through with their Will. Therefore, Blood magic Powers require a Claret spent and or Determination checked which is listed in each power. Lower Blood Powers cost 8 EXP per rank, minimum 8 except in certain circumstances. Higher Blood Powers are all treated as 1 rank higher for Experience costs. Use of Blood magic is generally undetectable through normal methods of detecting magic.

Elemental Metamorphosis

A Blood Mage can transform spells that they know from Elemental into Blood Magic. The main advantage of this metamorphosis is that if the Elemental magic was a potion or ritual, the Blood Magic version does not require any component or preparation time and space, except their blood. It can also be cast without an incantation, but that will require a check to cast any level higher than the Blood Mage’s Determination. The drawback is of course that it does require a Claret per rank cast, which can make it quite a bit more costly than its Elemental version. A Blood Power cannot be transformed into Elemental.

Blood Healing

Vampires can heal themselves or another through use of claret at a rate of 1 damage of any type for 1 claret. Blood Mages of any species may also do this. One of the largest benefits of this is that there isn’t a time limit on healing the damage, as long as there is still a wound, it can be healed with Claret. Further, Claret can be used to heal the undead, which generally cannot be healed with Life Magic.

The Altar of Domain

An Altar of Domain is a home. It is space the Blood Mage controls. It must be Consecrated in the blood of the Blood Mage in at least four points of the space and must remain under the Blood Mage’s control. Only people the Blood Mage allows may enter it. If someone uninvited enters, it will have to be reconsecrated. An Altar of Domain grants the Blood Mage an extra Determination for each rank in the Altar for use while in the Blood Mage’s Domain.

A Blood Mage may only have 1 Altar of Domain, but it can also be an Altar of Conquest. It may also be overlapped with a Fae Domain as per The Hierophant Card.  It requires Advantage: Holding, Workshop or Shop. Each rank requires 1 Claret per rank to Consecrate and is about 10 ft x 10 ft. It must be consecrated once per month, traditionally on the new moon.

Altar of Conquest

An Altar of Conquest is a tool of Power. It is Consecrated in the blood of a slain foe. If someone uninvited enters, it will not have to be reconsecrated. An Altar of Conquest grants the Blood Mage an extra Claret for each rank in the Altar for use while at the Blood Mage’s Altar. The more foes the more power

To claim a body as a slain foe, the Blood Mage must have participated in the fight that cost the foe their life and must have struck the foe either physically or with magic in some harmful way. If the Blood Mage was assisted, they must ask all those who aided them if they may claim the body or their choice parts. Thralls do not need to give their permission, it is expected. However, a Vincere may grant their Thrall permission to take the body for their own Altar. A body may only be used for 1 Altar, however the rest can be used for multiple other purposes, including magical components or ingredients, eaten or sold. It is traditional to drain a slain foe of every drop of claret.

An Altar of Conquest grants the Blood Mage an extra Claret for each rank in the Altar for use while at the Blood Mage’s altar. This reservoir of claret refills nightly. A Blood Mage may only have 1 Altar of Conquest, but it can also be an Altar of Domain. It may also be overlapped with a Fae Domain as per The Hierophant Card. It requires Advantage: Holding, Workshop or Shop. Each rank requires at least 1 body part of a slain foe, long bones and skulls are traditional, per rank to Consecrate and is about 10 ft x 10 ft. Only someone Stealing or destroying the remains can break the consecration.