Blood Bound

The supernatural blood bond emerges when a Vampire shares his Vitae with another being, for example, a human or another vampire. It influences the attitude of the "victim" towards the donor of the Vitae and in extreme forms forces him or her to a loyalty second to none.

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Blood-bound Humans

Humans undergo probably the most drastic change when they become blood-bound. Their organism changes and stops any aging process. Their strength and resistance increase, their wounds heal much faster. However, this condition can only be maintained by the regular administration of Vitae.

A Ghoul, as a blood-bound human is also called, is potentially immortal and can learn certain vampiric disciplines. There are even rumours that old ghouls return as vampires when they die violently, which is due to the long intake of Vitae.

Some ghouls adopt a weakened form of their master's clan weakness. The ghoul of a Ventrue could thus develop a more specific taste that ejects certain foods from the organism.

How should one describe the feeling when the world changes and one's own existence takes on meaning again? The savoury, bittersweet note of the best drink in the world? How do you describe the feeling when you are no longer just human, but more? Better? Is that not worth the service of my master? He gives me everything I need, and what he demands is only just - devotion.

— Unknown Ghoul

A strong side effect of Vitae on humans is that it is addictive. Although the ghoul will do nothing to harm his master, he will not give up the Vitae without a fight. The result is "independent" ghouls, some of which gather in groups and hunt vampires to drink their vitae. Other independent ones work for different vampires and get paid in Vitae.

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Blood-bound Vampires

Vampires who get involved with a blood band experience different and much more finely tuned effects. Depending on how often one drinks from the respective vampire, the band increases in intensity and duration of effect. Why this is so is still not conclusively clarified, but a connection to the unchanging vampire nature is suspected.

Levels of the Blood Band

Each level of the blood bond presupposes that the vampire was already bound at the lower level. A blood band 2 therefore requires an existing and active blood band 1. Several levels cannot be created in the same night. It is therefore impossible to force a vampire who drinks from the donor's vitae for the first time into the highest blood band.

1. You have a minor sense of kinship towards the donor. He's not indifferent to you, and you tend to hear his opinion, but do not necessarily follow them.
   Duration: 1 year
2. You begin to like the donor, and will help him as long as it doesn't involve a greater risk for yourself. Whenever it is possible, you'll take his side.
   Duration: 2.5 years
3. You start to develop deeper respect for the donor, and are willing to take a small risk to help him out. His opinions become very important, and you'll oppose them only if they would bring danger to you.
   Duration: 5 years
4. The donor becomes your best friend. You'll ask him for advice and usually follow this advice, even if it's not to your favour. You'll take moderate risk to help him.
   Duration: 10 years
5. You begin to feel a strange, devoted kind of love for your donor. His presence becomes night and day for you, and you'll do anything he needs, even if it puts you in great danger.
   Duration: 50 years

Getting Rid of a Bond

There are only two common ways to break an existing blood band.

Killing the Donor

When the donor of the Vitae dies, any blood ties he has maintained with other Kainites or Ghouls also break. However, the nature of the blood bond prevents ghouls or bound vampires from turning against their masters, so the killing blow usually comes from outside.

Let the blood band run out

If a blood band is not regularly refreshed, its effect will diminish over time and weaken. After the specified period of time, the level of the blood band decreases by one. When the last level of the blood band goes out, the bound vampire is free again.

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Original content, characters and stories are
© 2020 - Susanne Lamprecht

While the blood band is a mechanism that also appears in the original VTM-RPG, the elaboration and the entire text is my own work.

This is not official content from Paradox Interactive and is NOT Canon in the World of Darkness.

Type

Supernatural

Origin

Divine

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Uncommon

Affected Species

• Vampire