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Vials of Blood
https://forums.paradigmconcepts.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1900		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  Nierite [ Fri Jun 26, 2015 11:22 am ]
Post subject:  Vials of Blood
With so many Sarishans/val'Mehan kicking around the campaign taking samples of blood from literally every PC and NPC in the campaign, I think it has come the time to start imposing campaign limits as to how long PC's can keep this blood for future adventures.

Background: There are talents which allow Sarishans and val'Mehan to take samples of blood that they found to track individuals (Blood Calls to Blood (ta)). I have seen almost every val'Mehan taking dozens of samples over the course of various adventures, which means they can (in theory) track everyone they have ever met who is gullible enough (or wounded enough) to give them a sample of their blood.

While the Blood Calls to Blood talent states that the ability works no matter how old the sample of blood is, blood is a natural tissue and (especially with middle-ages era medical practices) will rapidly degrade. I suggest one (or more) of three restrictions to keep this from getting too far out of hand:

1) Each Hero can only possess X samples of blood on their person at any one time. This will not restrict them from using fresh blood from an adventure for the ability, only what they have decided to keep on them.

2) Specify that each vial MUST be tracked by the Hero in terms of Bulk and Encumbrance, given each one an Encumbrance of 1 (glass vials and whatnot). They must keep a written record on each of their CP's as to what they have on them at any one time.

3) Make a reference of when a blood sample is taken on the CP. Because of the risk of the blood degrading or becoming a breeding ground of disease (blood is VERY nutritious for Bacteria!), each time a Hero 'takes a swig' of the blood, there is a 10% chance/adventure after it is taken that they will get sick. For example: A Hero got a sample of Duoppol's blood 4 adventures ago and feels the need to track him. The val'Mehan will roll 1d10 and on a 1, 2, 3, and 4 will suffer an illness from drinking contaminated blood.
Author:  Harliquinn [ Fri Jun 26, 2015 11:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vials of Blood
I've never heard of this personally, but I think it needs to be a consensual thing if it involves another PC. Sure there's lots of blood after a fight, but knowing "that drop of blood came from this PC" isn't possible. Therefore, if a Sarishan expects to have a drop (or vial) of blood from a PC, it needs to be signed off on in my opinion.

John
Author:  Nierite [ Fri Jun 26, 2015 11:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vials of Blood
Most Sarishan's I've played with are not going to press the issue if another PC says no (not always, though, especially if they play their guy as more 'evil'), but for NPC's I've seen noticeable hoarder behaviour from at least a half dozen val'Mehan :P
Author:  Harliquinn [ Fri Jun 26, 2015 12:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vials of Blood
Nierite wrote:
Most Sarishan's I've played with are not going to press the issue if another PC says no (not always, though, especially if they play their guy as more 'evil'), but for NPC's I've seen noticeable hoarder behaviour from at least a half dozen val'Mehan :P


Interesting...My experience has been that any NPC who bleeds enough to get a vial of blood is probably dead at the end of the module :)

John
Author:  Alessia Val'Mehan [ Fri Jun 26, 2015 12:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vials of Blood
And that's where your mistaken... They do not need a vial of blood. And lets be honest most PCs or NPCs are not going to volunteer to fill up a vial! However A small drop on a bandage will suffice and isn't so hard to get... If you get injured and ask a Sarishian for healing more then likely you have provided them a sample.

Blood doesn't evaporate the water in it does but it leaves behind everything else which if let alone will pretty much remain indefinitely.

So getting a swatch of blood or a bandage with blood on it would provide a Val'Mehan or Sarishan the material they require for that bloodline talent for a very long period of time, as long as they took care to preserve it...

I have all mine cataloged and sealed in wax. :)
Author:  Nierite [ Fri Jun 26, 2015 1:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vials of Blood
While it is true blood can be dried, it doesn't mean it wont suffer from all the other natural decay processes of time. You are not storing this in a dry mausoleum, but on yourself as you travel through the Blessed Lands, Kraldjurr Morass, or even under water! Simply put, short of magical intervention there is no way that a Hero could preserve blood in any kind of useable state over a long term in this world. Also, if you are going to have the blood of hundreds on you at all time, that starts to add up in bulk/encumbrance, so I do hope you are keeping track of that as well. Eventually it will start impairing your ability to move (pace) and dodge (avoidance) as per Bulk rules.
Author:  mighty28 [ Fri Jun 26, 2015 5:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vials of Blood
I say let them do and let the decisions have consequences. If Sarishans arre doing this, sounds like a good opportunity to either let the Sarishann clergy to police their own, or maybe some political or Inquisatorial forces might have to do it for them.
Author:  val Holryn [ Fri Jun 26, 2015 5:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vials of Blood
Players can live their own choices. Tukufu does NOT volunteer his blood thank you very much. And as a psion he heals himself. Other PCs are welcome to make other choices...and maybe someday deal with the consequences. :P

NPCs are a somewhat different matter. Unless its on a relic or CP signed off by a judge (and/or I think it seems reasonable) I don't particularly feel bound by any given Sarishian's alleged collection. Though careful "account keeping" might help I'm going to make a ruling on what I think is reasonable and roll from there. If for example Arch Prelate Leona goes missing and a PC says AHA I met in module X and she gave me a drop a blood ... well, I've probably played, read and judged X. If she's not injured in the mod AND I don't see how or why you'd ever get a drop of blood from her...then I don't feel that as a judge I have to honor that claim even if some other judged signed off something like ... "yeah she volunteered a drop."

That said I generally don't care to nerf PC powers. Especially the ones that don't turn up much. So if it made sense I *might* try to throw a blood tracker a bone even if the module didn't really take that possibility into account. I would note that I've never seen a module "broken" as a result of this so I am not that worried...

Last thought. IMO important NPCs don't make themselves available to PCs "convenience." They use PCs when its convenient to them. If a PC asks for a drop of blood I'd politely decline but offer to hold a drop of the PCs blood instead. :evil:
Author:  SamhainIA [ Fri Jun 26, 2015 5:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vials of Blood
whois even doing this? this seems like we need some sort of snopes for Arcanis.... however if you tried this on me, I might be forced to consider that as a hostile action ( in character)
Author:  Haakon_val'Ishi [ Fri Jun 26, 2015 5:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vials of Blood
I have had val'Mehans at tables ask for blood from all the PCs at the table. As a general rule we decline. In character I find val'Mehan's to be slightly shady (blame it on my Milandisian upbringing). As a Beltinian I find the practice...distasteful... Out of character I understand why they do it, and nobody's gotten really bent out of shape over it. Still it does feel kinda wierd when they ask...
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