Blood Magic: A Basic (VERY BASIC) Overview
Before the first Sages found themselves capable of bending the laws of reality through force of will and word, there existed Blood Magic.
Powerful, and ancient, the sanguineous rituals associated with Blood Magic have been used to great -- and oft time devastating -- effect since its appearance in the mortal realm, thanks in no small part to the prevalence of the medium by which the art is performed. Yet while there is much in the way of speculation; its true origins, and really, how it came to be discovered by those of a mortal bent are unknown. For this reason, and the fact that it is as dangerous as it is powerful: Blood Magic has remained fairly obscure, generally passed on orally from those well versed in its practice. A thing touched upon by an Ancient Sage in the following passage from his final writing, the
Comependia Arcanum:
"It is impossible to speak with any authority, of an art in which, after successful completion of a rutiaul spell, the caster, or casters, has suffered total exsanguination." - Confusa, the Fool
There are however, some things, and even one or two divergent 'strains' of Blood Magic that can be discussed. Take for example, the matter of the medium.
The Price
A large part of the foundation by which the art itself is build, blood (I mean obviously) serves as the conduit by which all sanguineous rituals are performed. How it was discovered that blood was the perfect energy medium no one can say for sure, but there is no denying the power it holds. That it is plentiful simply adds to the allure, as, most things living -- and a considerable amount of things not technically 'alive' -- are chock full of the stuff ... however. While most forms of Blood Magic build upon the foundation provided by the crimson medium, there are several factors that determine the efficacy of the spell itself. The most important of which, is the quality of blood.
No matter the type, the blood to be used in the rituals or spells, must be fresh. This is so that both the energy that is contained within the blood does not 'bleed' out, and so that the blood itself is not unduly influenced by other magical influences ... ensuring optimal efficacy, while also allowing for free reign to to craft a spell to perform whatever one wishes (magical energy from an outside source serving to subvert this process). This means that in addition to the inherent danger of exsanguination, there is the added danger that one might bleed out before the spell itself is completed, as fresh blood typicality requires an open and
recent wound. This is referred to by many surviving practitioners as, "The Price"; and it is because of this cost that most who choose to walk the path of the Sanguinomancer tend to rely on a source of blood that is not, in fact, themselves. Part of this is simply because that mortal blood is limited in scope, and can be burned through fairly quickly if one is not careful, meaning that the type is important as well. Immortal blood is by far the best, or any type of blood that is innately magic. Second, is blood from a sufficiently powerful -- if mortal -- source, humanoid life clearly being more prevalent than immortals in the Universe, this is generally the recommended.. Least of the sources however is animal life, a thing that is perhaps more plentiful ... and yet requires nearly twice as much in quantity as the mortal life ... Though there is another, more important reason why choosing a willing -- or more typically unwilling -- sacrifice is preferred, namely that: in the same way that concrete cannot mixed without the addition of water, so to can Blood Magic not be performed without pain, and anguish.
And terrible comparison aside, this is a simple facet of the complicated art. There must be at least a modicum of suffering in order for the spell to work flawlessly, and this has existed as far back as can be remembered. Which means that, should one wish to cast a spell by means of Blood Magic that is leagues more than the spells one might cast otherwise it is suggested by the selfsame Sage that penned the previously mentioned entry in the
Compendia Arcanum,
"... one must not offer just a sacrifice of blood, but of life itself." - Confusa, the Fool
With the matter of
The Price discussed, at least in basic ... we will next discuss divergent 'strains' of Blood Magic ...
(at a later date, surely)