Editing User:Windrunner/TES

{{/magic

|system=Bloodsealing

|related=The [[Dor]]

|focus=Forms

|world=Sel

|books=[[The Emperor's Soul]]

}}

'''Bloodsealing''' is a manifestation of [[Investiture]] practiced by the '''Bloodsealers''' of [[Dzhamar]] on [[Sel]].{{book ref|tes|day|42}} Much like the better known [[Forgery]], Bloodsealing makes use of stamps to create Bloodseals, seals powered by the Investiture of the [[Dor]] which create a range of magical effects. However, there the similarities end. Instead of the organic inks of Forgery, Bloodsealers make use of human blood as the ink in their stamp.

== Process ==

The strict processes of and restrictions on Bloodsealing, as well as any limits to its capabilities are so far unknown, but a few constants and hints appear. The use of a stamp seems to be required, as well as the blood of a human being. The only stamp used to make a Bloodseal so far was made of bone, but it is uncertain if this is a requirement. In addition, while human blood has always been used so far, it is unknown if the blood of an animal will suffice to create a Bloodseal. Another rule is that the blood being used must be fresh, harvested from the person within the past twenty-four hours. After this time period, the blood grows stale and fresh blood must be used in order to perform additional Bloodsealing.{{book ref|tes|day|98}}

From here, evidence of Bloodsealing is based more on hearsay and rumor than actual evidence. Shai mentions that

mention hair and nails specific skeletons

mention strange appearance of bloodsealers

=== Speculation ===

{{theory}}

Diminishing returns

Shape of Dzhamar

== Uses ==

=== Wards ===

=== Skeletals ===

''Main article: [[Skeletal]]s''

Bloodsealers use [[soulstamp]]s made of bone and their target's blood as ink. These soulstamps are sometimes referred as Bloodseals.{{book ref|tes|day|76}} Among their abilities are creating constructs of human or animal bones known as [[skeletal]]s, tracking a target with blood{{book ref|tes|day|98}} and making wards that would alert the Bloodsealer if their targets leave the vicinity of the Bloodseal.{{book ref|tes|day|3}} After a day or so, the blood is useless to a Bloodsealer, so fresh blood is a requirement.{{book ref|tes|day|97}} Bloodsealing is very similar to [[Forgery]] in application. [[Grand]]s consider Bloodsealing a dark art but make use of it if they need it.{{book ref|tes|day|97}}

== Culture ==

As a whole, Bloodsealing seems to be a controversial art in the Rose Empire. It is only known to be practiced in Dzhamar, who have not been mentioned to have any issues with its use. The [[Grand]]s, ruling class of the empire seem to have a certain distaste for the Investiture, but have displayed their willingness to make use of it over [[Forgery]]. Both the [[MaiPon]] and the [[Mulla'dil]] or [[Striker]]s have a strong and lasting hatred for Bloodsealers and their magic. MaiPon see it as twisted and unnatural. The mountainous homeland of the Strikers borders Dzhamar, so there is also a lasting enmity between these two groups. For their part, the Bloodsealers also fear and hate the Forgers of MaiPon.

On a global scale, as of the [[Late Era]] of [[Sel]], Bloodsealing appears to be relatively unknown beyond the borders of the [[Rose Empire]]. It is uncertain what if any attitudes there is towards Bloodsealing in [[Teod]] or the nations of [[Opelon]]. It is possible that this is due to the diminishing returns on power often associated with moving beyond the

== Cosmere Connections ==

=== Relationship to Forgery ===

Like all forms of Investiture on Sel, Bloodsealing uses patterns and shapes to draw upon the power of the Dor. However, Bloodsealing and Forgery bear a striking resemblance to one another in method. While the creation of magical seals is something they have in common, what the two systems seem capable of is vastly different. The whole idea behind a Forgery is to build a plausible lie, in order to make both the Cognitive aspect of an object as well as other people believe an untruth. However, this idea has nothing to do with the two previously outlined contexts in which we have seen Bloodsealing used. Skeletals in particular, being walking skeletons devoi d of any muscle or flesh seem to very directly contradict the plausibility requirement necessary for a successful Forgery. These two systems at first glance appear very like one another but upon closer analysis they are still distinct, albeit closely related systems.{{ref http://www.17thshard.com/forum/topic/4290-heres-some-late-stuff/}

All Selish magics are related and "same system"

=== Similarities to Awakening ===

There are a few notable similarities between Bloodsealing and the [[Investiture]] of [[Awakening]] on [[Nalthis]]. The most overt are [[skeletal]]s and the Type III BioChromatic entities known as [[Lifeless]]. Both involve the reanimation of corpses to serve the living. Both Investitures cease to function if the the body they work on is heavily damaged. In Awakening this twisted resurrection is fueled by [[BioChromatic Breath]] instead of the Dor, but there is no denying that they are similar. It is however interesting to note, that while it is possible to reanimate a skeleton with Breath, it requires much more Breath and it would be much simpler to simply Awaken a full corpse, rather than a simply skeleton.

The comparison with Lifeless raises two interesting possibilities. If the two are analogous it is possible that bodies other than humans can be reanimated with Bloodsealing. The other is an insight into how the Skeletal is created. Lifeless are returned to life and given a Command, which is a combination of a spoken order and a cognitive concept of what it is they are to do. If skeletals need this same sort of thing it would appear that this is one of the functions of the Bloodseal imprinted on their foreheads.

The other notable relationship to Awakening is based on a lie that Shai tells. She tells the strikers that the Bloodsealer guarding her has been stealing bits of hair and fingernail from them to use in some ritual. While she claims that the Bloodsealer would be able to do little with only those bits, the possibility remains that those pieces too can be used in Bloodsealing in some manner. If this is true, then there exists another notable parallel with Awakening. As per the law of Biochromatic Parallelism, the number of Breaths required to Awaken things is reduced when an object being Awakened is made closer to the form of life, often by using blood, nails, or hair.

==Known Bloodsealers==

*[[Weedfingers]] - Unnamed Bloodsealer that used the Investiture to imprison [[Wan ShaiLu]] while she worked on the [[Essence Mark]] of Emperor [[Ashravan]]{{book ref|tes|day|3}} and later attempts to capture her during her escape.{{book ref|tes|day|98}}

== Notes ==

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{{/The Emperor's Soul}}

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{{The Emperor's Soul/}}

[[category: magic/]]