Difference between revisions of "Bloodsealing"

{{magic system

One of the primary uses of Bloodsealing is to craft wards used to imprison a specific person.{{booktes ref|tes|day|3}} The rune this process requires looks very similar to an eye. When inked with someone's blood, and placed on a door, the symbol begins to glow with a red light. The person whose blood was used also feels a brief sharp pain. If that person leaves the room in which they are imprisoned or attempts to alter the rune on the door, the Bloodsealer that placed it will know. The blood used to craft the Bloodseal must belong to the person who the ward imprisons.{{wob ref|12557}} As time goes on, the Bloodseal will begin to fail.{{booktes ref|tes|day|98}} The rune's glow will fade,{{booktes ref|tes|day|17}} pulse, and then eventually vanish altogether if it is not renewed.{{booktes ref|tes|day|98}}

Another, perhaps unintentional impact of a ward created by Bloodsealing is to render an object [[Forgery|unForgeable]].{{booktes ref|tes|day|76}} Just as [[ralkalest]] is incapable of being Forged, a Soulstamp will not take on any object with a Bloodseal upon it. Whether this also works the other way is unknown, but seems probable.

{{quote|There are . . . times when one must accept the aid of darkness in order to contain a greater darkness.|[[Gaotona]] on Bloodsealing{{book ref|tes|day|3}}}}

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 borders of an Investiture's homeland.{{qawob ref|949|74680}}

Like all forms of Investiture on Sel, Bloodsealing uses patterns and shapes to draw upon the power of the Dor.{{qawob ref|1019|59831}} However, Bloodsealing and Forgery bear a striking resemblance to one another in the method.{{wob ref|9835}} While the creation of magical seals is something they have in common,{{booktes ref|tes|day|3}}{{booktes ref|tes|day|12}} what the two systems seem capable of is vastly different. The whole idea behind a Forgery is to build a plausible lie,{{booktes ref|tes|day|30}} in order to make both the [[Cognitive Realm|Cognitive]] aspect of an object{{booktes ref|tes|day|12}} as well as other people{{booktes ref|tes|day|3}} 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 devoid of any muscle or flesh,{{booktes ref|tes|day|98}} 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.{{17swob ref|post|67401|SpoCon Report|date=October 11, 20139829}}

There are several notable similarities between Bloodsealing and the [[Investiture]] of [[Awakening]] on [[Nalthis]]. The most overt comparisons can be drawn between [[skeletal]]sskeletals and the Type II BioChromatic entities known as [[Lifeless]]. Both involve the reanimation of corpses to serve the living.{{booktes ref|tes|day|3}}{{book ref|warbreaker|46}} Both Investitures cease to function if the the body they work on is heavily damaged.{{booktes ref|tes|day|98}}{{book ref|warbreaker|33}} In Awakening, this twisted resurrection is fueled by [[BioChromatic Breath]]{{book ref|warbreaker|21}} instead of the Dor, but there is no denying that they are similar. It is however important 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 simply a skeleton.{{book ref|warbreaker|46}} Indeed, the two processes are very similar in how they function, drawing upon an external source of Investiture to cause the body to believe it lives again.{{wob ref|12558}} The primary difference between the two is that the creation of a Lifeless uses a part of the body's own soul, whereas a skeletal does not. The bones themselves are very important in the creating of the skeletal. The comparison with Lifeless raises an interesting possibility. It may offer an insight into how a 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 the Awakened object is to do.{{book ref|warbreaker|46}} If skeletals need a similar Cognitive concept, it would appear the Bloodseal on the forehead serves this same function.