Blood Stone
Blood stones are a magical crystal stone. The smallest useful stones are about half a cubic centimeter, while larger ones offer more power for those bonded to them. Blood stones are a key component to magical technology (Magitech), unlocking the barrier between magic and modern technology, allowing things like cybernetics and portable steam engines to exist. More traditional uses for blood stones include magitech swords, armor, and jewelry. Through use and the power of the user, a blood stone will increase in size over time.
Blood stones get their name from the bonding that needs to happen for the stones to be used. A blood stone may be bound to only one person at a time, and a person may have only one blood stone bound to them at any moment. Bonding is done by touching the stone with fresh blood, typically from a cut or prick on the hand or arm, and pressing it to the stone. The process only takes a moment but the stone turns blood red once complete. The bonding lasts until the blood stone remains untouched by the bonded for a month. Destruction of a blood stone cause a violent magical feedback to the bonded, causing physical harm, but allowing the user to bond to a new stone.
The nature of blood stones are like an extension of the user's personality. From a magical perspective a blood stone is a part of a person. A blood stone is as personal as a familiar, indeed, a ritual to create a familiar involves use of a blood stone and counts as a binding. Through the bond, a user can exert their will on a piece of magitech as easily as they can move their own body. This allows magitech items to do extraordinary feats such as calling to the user's hand, follow allong side the user, and let the user see or feel through the blood stone if such an item is designed to function this way. Due to the personal nature, and blood stones being an extension of the self, magitech devices that use a blood stone do no function for others, in the same way a familiar won't work for another wizard.
Blood stones have many strengths over Power Stones . First of all, blood stones offer more raw magical power over power stones. Second of all, blood stones can continue to operate without being touched by a person, for up to a month without being touched. Third, magitech items with blood stones are secure against being used by anyone other than the person who is bonded to it.
Magitech items that use blood stones can be built in fundamentally two different ways. An artificer can make a device have the stone built in permanently or as a removable item with a socket. A permanent installation can be removed with effort, but it usually requires skilled labor. A socketed magitech item could be removed to be used on a different item but this can present a security risk to the owner and is generally more expensive to make.
BEHIND THE SCENES: Blood stones are intended to function similarly to a character's familiar or pet, but as an item which can grow in power with the character.
Properties
Material Characteristics
Blood stones are cut gemstones roughly half an inch across and typically placed in a gilded setting which allows for socket use. Unbonded stones are a matte gray color and bonded stones are a transparent deep red.
Geology & Geography
Mined in the earth.
History & Usage
History
Blood stones were first used by the Terran Empire. Most old magitech will use bloodstones in one form or another, but as demand for magitech increased power stones started to become more common.
Everyday use
Used for personalized magitech items as a power source.
Hazards
During the refinement process sometimes blood stones can become "quirked" and have side effects when used.
Reusability & Recycling
Blood stones last forever unless intentionally destroyed.
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