The Strain of New Moons
Rinse and Repeat
The new moon is the most commonly used symbol in The Scarlet Arts. The Strain of New Moons is focused heavily on the feminine, the moon and ritual. Most of these abilities can only be used at specific times, with preparation, and with care. The products of these rituals are powerful. One drop of lunar blood can be used to enhance all other magic, particularly spells from other strains. To take this blood within you is to set the veins ablaze in a sacred fire. Blood Ladders gather and collect blood from The Wetworks so that the mage doesn't have to, and some, with the will to do so, have even discovered a form of everlasting youth.
Cyclical Blood
Lunar blood is created through rituals under particular cycles of the moon. The blood is harvested and then aged in a sense as rituals are cast over it. These rituals serve as the fundamental basis of the strain. Lunar blood undergoes a transformation during these rituals. These changes depend on the rituals performed. Not all the rituals in the strain are focused on creating powerful blood. The strain is filled with other forms of The Prestige.
The following are a series of rituals that focus on enhancing and changing the blood they harvest. These rituals in particular are heavily influenced by the phase of the moon and the various ingredients used.
- GIBBOUS BLOOD A batch of gibbous blood is harvested and prepared under a gibbous moon. The ingredients used alter the individual effects, but gibbous blood deals with invigoration and healing
- WAXING BLOOD Waxing blood is made under the waxing moon. The blood is generally toxic but not tainted, preventing its use in The Strain of Profanity. This blood is very temperamental, and explodes when charged with magical energy and experiencing a high impact, like throwing a jar full of the charged blood on the ground. The explosion pulls forth a raging crimson flame that can only be extinguished with blood or the will of the caster.
- WANING BLOOD Waning blood is created under the waning moon and possesses no immediate effects. It is often used to support full moon rituals to enhance the effects of full blood.
- FULL BLOOD Full blood, created under a fool moon, can allow for many beneficial effects on the part of the user. Increased strength, heightened intelligence, perception, and accuracy are all included. When combined with waking blood, taking twice as long to produce, the effects are doubled.
- NEW BLOOD New blood is created under a new moon and is essential in the creation of Blood Ladders and often used to summon creatures from the domain of blood. New blood is also used to request an audience of the many powerful entities that exist in The Wetworks, such as The Red Maiden herself.
Of The Blood, By The Blood
Practitioners of this strain often reference birth and rebirth when seeking to explain it. Most texts related to the strain have gone to great lengths to discuss family and the power of the feminine as well. Men have never been able to use this strain. Women were the sole practitioners.
Modern spins on the strain emerged as midwives developed and practiced Venomancy, the act of divination surrounding childbirth.
The Strain of New Moons is an uncomfortable subject for many due to its implementation and the implications that surround it. It is the source for much of the misunderstanding surrounding Arcana Sanguis
Fertility
Another common theme expressed in the strain is fertility. Many myths and legends depict the spilled blood of gods bringing forth life from otherwise lifeless soil. Blood has always carried a symbolic image as the essence of life and it is this image that lends to its power of healing and invigoration. It is even believed this strain was the first of the genre as the many qualities of its power match up with the earliest accounts of blood magic.
The Drinkers of Blood
Those who practice this strain take advantage of their unique connection to blood. When coming across a being that sustains itself through blood such as a perch, they can consume the residual energy and recover from fatigue caused by over use of blood magic. Many practitioners have leeches, they wander the fields of battle consuming the spilled blood for this reason.
Blood Batheing
A common practice among the older practitioners, one can take baths in full blood, often sacrificed by the members of the cult. This can retain youth, and enhance all the senses. It has a great many other effects. It can grant the practitioner everlasting youth, heal wounds, and even restore lost limbs, but has diminishing returns. You can only restore your vigor so much before your body will fall apart.
Coagulate
Practitioners of this strain can condense blood. This blood coagulates and eventually crystallizes into shards. These shards can be used as enchantments, whetstones, and as a drawing tool for creating blood sigils, the oldest form of blood magic ever practiced.
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