Racial Blood Types

Oh urd! Um, guys. Everyone bleeds, right?

— Rietalcian, campaign 1, right after a deep cut didn't bleed

Most living things have some form of fluid circulating through them, although the precise purpose may not be what you think. For example, there are Earth insects that have a circulating body fluid that is not used for carrying oxygen. There are other creatures that use body fluids to signal biochemical reactions while consumables and waste move independently. Finally, in a world of magic and high-tech, there are creatures that may have no need for body fluids or very special needs that are served by a unique circulatory system.

by Leeland Artra

Be Warned

Some sharp readers of the Golden Threads trilogy pointed out, what they thought were mistakes in the descriptions of certain body fluids. I was pleased they spotted the clues and wrote back explaining they would be correct if all their assumptions about surrounding conditions were true. And then we shared a wonderful geeking out exchange of messages as they reexamined the situations and puzzled out what was actually happening. They were very pleased with the details and the experience of teasing out the truth. So be warned, there are unavoidable spoilers in knowing these details. I've placed the major spoilers behind "click to reveal spoiler blocks."

— Leeland Artra (aka your author at large)

Circulatory Systems

The circulatory system delivers oxygen and nutrients to cells and takes away wastes. The heart pumps oxygenated and deoxygenated blood on different sides. The types of blood vessels include arteries, capillaries and veins.
※ Department of Health & Human Services, State Government of Victoria, Australia Sep 29, 2012

Generally speaking living organisms with circulatory systems use their body fluids to deliver necessary nutrients. In a majority of creatures on Niya-Yur oxygen is a critical chemical. At the cellular level oxygen reacts with glucose breaking it down creating the energy needed for the organism to function. Further, oxygen is also used to kill harmful bacteria. Therefore, the delivery of oxygen or a similar chemical to the cells is a critical role in the circulatory system. The trick is that oxygen will bind to certain molecular structures under high pressure and then be released when the pressure is reduced. For this reason, circulatory systems operated at specific pressure ranges with the respiratory organs producing slightly higher pressure and the thinner capillaries near the cells dropping to slightly lower pressure.
All circulatory systems must operate within a specific pressure range and efficiently deliver chemical nutrients (oxygen or other) used for energy production. Nature is efficient and since these systems have cells, fluid, and motion, it also uses the circulatory system to deliver nutrients. In rare cases, the circulatory system also delivers control messages.
In addition to the cells or mechanism for the delivery of chemical energy, a circulatory system needs a suspension and lubrication fluid called blood plasma. Blood plasma is often forgotten and has its own composition. Its purpose is as important as the carrying mechanisms. Blood plasma must suspend nutrients, be fluid enough to flow freely, and yet viscous enough to carry nutrients and cells throughout the body. Blood plasma generally makes up between 45% to 60% of the circulation system's total blood volume.
Circulatory system fluids will have variations in color based on a number of factors. Specifically, circulatory system fluid colors will change based on the availability of the energy chemical they carry, how much of the energy chemical they have taken up, and the dryness and composition of the supporting blood plasma.
To make things more complex, there are certain blood molecular traits that can cause the blood from one person to cause illness or death to another person of the same race. These traits generally cause some type of reaction by the recipient's body that attacks donated blood.
spoiler: Racial Blood Compatibilities

Racial Blood Type Compatibility

by Leeland Artra

Humans

Base energy chemical: Oxygen
Blood protein: Iron-based hemoglobin (Hb) - Red drying to a dark red almost black
Blood plasma: A yellowish liquid made of water, salts, enzymes, antibodies, and other proteins
Blood types: 8 (A+, A-, B+, B-, O+, O-, AB+, AB-)

Human Blood Type Compatibility

by Leeland Artra

Human Blood Chemistry

Hemoglobin (Hb) is the iron-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein in the red blood cells (erythrocytes) of almost all mundane terrestrial vertebrates as well as the tissues of some invertebrates. Hemoglobin has a porphyrin ring with a central iron atom (heme) that can reversibly bind with oxygen (O2) molecules. Hemoglobin in the blood carries oxygen from the lungs or gills to the rest of the body. There it releases the oxygen to permit aerobic respiration to provide energy to power the functions of the organism in the process called metabolism.

Elves

Wood Elves

Base energy chemical: Oxygen
Blood protein: Iron-based chlorocruorin (Cc) - green in the veins without oxygen, becoming a vivid red when oxygenated in the arteries, and drying to a bright crimson red
Blood plasma: A brownish liquid made of water, copper, salts, enzymes, antibodies, and other proteins
Blood types: 1 (T2)

Spoiler: Wood Elf Blood Chemistry

Chlorocruorin is an oxygen-binding hemeprotein that has an iron-based oxygen-carrying capacity. It is similar to hemoglobin except it is much larger and contains erythrocruorin. Chlorocruorin is a vivid red when loaded with oxygen, but in the veins is green. When it dry it forms a bright crimson scab.

High Elves

Base energy chemical: Oxygen
Blood protein: Cobalt-based coboglobins (Cb) - faint pinkish tinge in veins, dark yellow or deep amber color in arteries, and drying to dark orange
Blood plasma: A brownish liquid made of water, copper, salts, enzymes, antibodies, and other proteins
Blood types: 1 (T3)

Spoiler: High Elf Blood Chemistry

Coboglobin has a porphyrin ring with a central cobalt atom (cob). Coboglobin blood is colorless with a faint pinkish tinge when in the veins (not loaded with oxygen), but takes on a dark yellow or deep amber color when loaded with oxygen in the arteries. Coboglobin loses its ability to bind and release oxygen more rapidly than hemoglobin. As this "irreversible oxygenation" sets in, the pigment changes color dramatically from amber to deep pink. But, like humans, this poses no problem for elves, as millions of human blood cells are broken down and rebuilt each minute of their lives just like the hemoglobin in humans.

Silver Elves

Base energy chemical: Oxygen
Blood protein: Iridium-based Triphenylphosphine-iridium (Ti) - brilliant yellow in veins and arteries, and drying to a bright lemon yellow crystalized scab which breaks down in sunlight slowly turning into deep bluish-black ash after three days of exposure to sunlight
Blood plasma: A brownish liquid made of water, copper, salts, enzymes, antibodies, and other proteins
Blood types: 1 (T4)

Spoiler: Silver Elf Blood Chemistry

Vaska's complex is the trivial name for the chemical compound trans-carbonylchlorobis(triphenylphosphine)iridium(I), which has the formula IrCl(CO)[P(C6H5)3]2. This square planar diamagnetic organometallic complex consists of a central iridium atom bound to two mutually trans triphenylphosphine ligands, carbon monoxide and a chloride ion. It is able to carry one atom of oxygen per molecule. Vaska's complex can undergo oxidative addition and is notable for its ability to bind to O2 reversibly. It is a bright yellow crystalline solid. The iridium-based blood of Silver Elves would is protected from the light by their opaque silver skin. The pigment slowly decomposes over a period of days or weeks when exposed to strong light, gradually changing color from yellow to green and finally to a deep bluish-black. Silver elf blood, In the absence of light, is stable remaining usable for oxygen exchange for years. Because silver elf blood breaks down releasing the iridium it is not safe for the other elf races who have neither the opaque skin nor recycling chemicals to safely break down and discharge broken down iridium-blood molecules. However, sliver elves can safely be given other elven blood so long as they are purified.

Orcs

Although orcs are an extinct species, records of their blood remain in libraries through the realms for researchers to study. Many scientific and magical studies were conducted on orc blood attempting to determine its unique characteristics as well as the origins of the spontaneously appearing hostile sentient species.
Spoiler: Orc Blood Chemistry

Blood protein: Complex cobalt-based silver-iron-coboglobins (SICb) - dark blue in veins, blackish-yellow-green in arteries, and drying to black scabs
Blood plasma: A yellowish liquid made of water, silver, salts, enzymes, antibodies, and other proteins
Blood types: 1 (T5)

Silver-iron-coboglobins blood is the result of massive alteration by magical and mundane radiations. It has a porphyrin ring with a central cobalt atom (cob) that allows reversible oxygen binding. The blood is the result of a virus-like infection of a magically irradiated molecule that binds to specific cell lines causing them to mutate producing the fiendish species. The resulting blood is held together by powerful bonds which increase the O2 bind and release abilities beyond any known creatures. The metals cause the pigment to shift into the dark blues resulting in blackish-blue blood in veins and blackish-yellow-green in arteries. This blood does degenerate as it loses its magical energies until "irreversible oxygenation" sets in, the pigment changes color dramatically to black. But, like humans and elves, this poses no problem for orcs, as millions of blood cells are broken down and rebuilt each minute of their lives just like the hemoglobin in humans.

Gnomes

There are two subraces of gnomes, field and mountain gnomes. Interestingly, both races have similar blood akin to the human subraces. However, they have two distinct racial blood types with the mountain gnomes' blood being dominant, as with interbreeding characteristics. However, unlike humans, gnomes may successfully exchange blood by transfusions without concern of rejection of the alternate blood type. Gnome internal circulatory systems use multiple hearts and have the ability to sustain life even with up to 65% blood loss. They also have the ability to rapidly replace lost blood given amble sustenance and fluids (beer or ale is preferred/demanded, but not necessary in spite of what the gnome may tell you, wine and even water with field rations will also work). Finally, gnomes may give and receive blood with the Yuran and Copper Dwarven tribes. (Note, in an emergency requiring this cross-species transfusion it is best not to tell either patient where the blood came from or went to if you want to keep your hearing and medical tent/room in working order.)
Base energy chemical: Oxygen
Blood protein: Iron-based haemerythrin (Hm) - it is faintly blue in the veins without oxygen, becoming a violet-pink when oxygenated in the arteries, and drying to a light pink scab
Blood plasma: A clear liquid made of water, lithium hydroxide, salts, enzymes, antibodies, and other proteins
Blood types: 2 interchangeable types, field and mountain (T6)

Spoiler: Gnome Blood Chemistry

Haemerythrin is an oligomeric protein responsible for oxygen (O2) transport in many terrestrial creatures as well as gnomes. It is similar to hemoglobin in that there are extra proteins attached, but the gnome physiology does not appear to react to the different protein tags. Haemerythrin is a violet-pink when loaded with oxygen in the arteries, but in the veins is almost transparent. When it dry it forms a bright pink scab.

Dwarves

Dwarves were one of the last races to accept blood transfusions. Although most dwarves have lost their initial distrust of modern medical practices and research. There remains a significant prejudice towards patients needing a transfusion. Such patients have a stigma of weakness for accepting or needing the transfusion. Also, a lingering distrust remains towards any who voluntarily donate blood for a transfusion or research. Most dwarves still believe anything involving extracting blood for experiments or recycling is too close to necromancy because of their shared racial history of King Vendrithul The Black Blooded. The tales of King Vendrithul are not spoken of lightly or generally with other races and cause most dwarves to experience intense reactions to mentioning blood donations, transfusions, or research. The last few generations of dwarves have tried to leave King Vendrithul in the past accepting advanced medical techniques. However, significant tisking and side-eyed looks remain in the general population.

Yuran/Copper Dwarves (aka Hill Dwarves)

Copper and Yuran dwarves are two branches of a single subrace, they have some specific physical characteristic traits and differ slightly in cultural references. However, after blood and genomic analysis, it was found the two subraces were essentially the same internally. (Note, it is not a good idea to express this fact out loud in the presence of any tribe of dwarves, especially Yuran or Copper tribe members.)
Base energy chemical: Oxygen
Blood protein: Haemocyanins (Hc) uses two copper atoms to reversibly bind single O2 molecules - faint copper tinge in veins, blue in arteries, and drying to dark blue scabs
Blood plasma: A coppery liquid made of water, copper, salts, enzymes, antibodies, and other proteins
Blood types: 1 (T7)

Spoiler: Copper/Yuran Dwarf Blood Chemistry

Haemocyanins (Hc) are proteins that transport oxygen throughout the bodies of dwarves and some terrestrial animals. These metalloproteins contain two copper atoms that reversibly bind a single oxygen molecule (O2). Unlike the hemoglobin in red blood cells found in vertebrates, hemocyanins are not bound to blood cells but are instead suspended directly in the hemolymph. Oxygenation causes a color change between the colorless deoxygenated form and the blue oxygenated form.

Tanscria Dwarf (Mountain)

Although essentially the same internal chemistry drives all dwarves, the Transcria Tribe members do have additional proteins in their blood which the Yuran and Copper tribe members do not. These proteins are hard to filter out and cause severe allergic reactions in the Yuran and Copper tribe members. The extra proteins in Tanscria blood make give it a
Base energy chemical: Oxygen
Blood protein: Haemocyanins (Hc) uses two copper atoms to reversibly bind single O2 molecules - faint copper tinge in veins, deep blue in arteries, and drying to cobalt scabs
Blood plasma: A coppery liquid made of water, copper, salts, enzymes, antibodies, and other proteins
Blood types: 1 (T8)

Spoiler: Yuran Dwarf (Hill) Blood Chemistry

Haemocyanins (Hc) are proteins that transport oxygen throughout the bodies of dwarves and some terrestrial animals. These metalloproteins contain two copper atoms that reversibly bind a single oxygen molecule (O2). Unlike the hemoglobin in red blood cells found in vertebrates, hemocyanins are not bound to blood cells but are instead suspended directly in the hemolymph. Oxygenation causes a color change between the colorless deoxygenated form and the blue oxygenated form.

Halflings

Halflings are the closest to humans in blood chemistry. They have four basic types which follow a standard gene dominant and recessive pattern. However, the proteins on their hemoglobin-based blood types are different from any human variety causing extreme allergic reactions to any blood transfusion attempts between humans and halflings. The Yhatnar have claimed their blood is compatible with halflings, this claim is yet to be studied since the recent reemergence of the Yhatnar race.
Base energy chemical: Oxygen
Blood protein: Iron-based hemoglobin (Hb) - Red drying to a dark red almost black
Blood plasma: A yellowish liquid made of water, salts, enzymes, antibodies, and other proteins
Blood types: 6 (E-, E+, F-, F+, EF-. EF+) (T9)

Spoiler: Halfling Blood Chemistry

Halfling Blood Type Compatibility

by Leeland Artra

Hemoglobin (Hb) is the iron-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein in the red blood cells of halflings and most terrestrial vertebrates on Niya-Yur. It has a porphyrin ring with a central iron atom (heme). Hemoglobin in the blood carries oxygen from the lungs or gills to the rest of the body. There it releases the oxygen to permit aerobic respiration to provide energy to power the functions of the organism in the process called metabolism. Oxygenation causes a color change between the bluish deoxygenated form and the crimson oxygenated form.

Yhatnar

Yhatnar are the closest to immortals in blood chemistry. The details on their blood chemistry are available only from Yhatnar sources and very rare ancient texts. The Yhatnar are all of one species separated by tribal lines of subraces. The subraces are able to share blood without any known side effects, according to ancient texts. Although their tribal line may be determined through blood analysis, they essentially have a shared single blood type. The Yhatnar themselves have claimed that they may freely share blood with halflings in both directions. The Yhatnar sources of this information have provided no evidence or genetic reasoning to back the claim.
Base energy chemical: Oxygen
Blood protein: Orichalcum-based trioribrioglobin (TOb) - faint violet tinge in veins, copper tinged red in arteries, and drying to a rose gold colored crust
Blood plasma: A faint bright blueish liquid made of water, yithandreal, titanium, salts, enzymes, antibodies, and other proteins
Blood types: 1 (T10)

Spoiler: Yhatnar Blood Chemistry

Trioribrioglobin (TOb) is an orichalcum-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein in the violet blood cells of yhatnar and most a few mammal-like creatures from the fae worlds now living on Niya-Yur. It has three porphyrin rings with a central orichalcum molecule. Trioribrioglobin in the blood carries oxygen from the air exchanging organs to the rest of the body and carries away a number of respiratory and other cellular waste products. It releases the oxygen to permit aerobic respiration to provide energy to power the functions of the organism in the process called metabolism. Oxygenation causes a color change between the violet deoxygenated form and the copper-red oxygenated form.

Immortal

Spoiler: Imperial medical details on immortal blood

Immortal/Dragon

Immortals (aka dragons) are the apex species from the fae universe and the original sentients to make contact with the mundane worlds. The details on their blood chemistry are available in many imperial sources kept in secure locations of major imperial libraries and research institutions. The immortals are unique in their ability to become any species they desire. In their natural form, they are all of one species separated by generational levels. Each immortal generation has unique traits regarding their body chemistry which do not appear to be genetically controlled. All generations are theoretically able to share blood without any known side effects. Only two blood transfusions to an immortal are known and the details around those events are closely guarded secrets. The immortals themselves have claimed and proven they may freely share blood with any race at will. They also, due to their unique ability to control their biochemical state, claim they may use any species' blood, but only if conscious during the transfusion or if in that species' form if unconscious.
Base energy chemical: Oxygen
Blood protein: Orichalcum-based trioribrioglobin (TOb) - faint violet tinge in veins, copper tinged red in arteries, and drying to a rose gold colored crust
Blood plasma: A faint bright blueish liquid made of water, orichalcum, copper, iron, platinum, titanium, salts, enzymes, antibodies, and other proteins
Blood types: 1 (T10)

Spoiler: Immortal Blood Chemistry

Immortal/Dragon Molecular Chemistry

Trioribrioglobin (TOb) is an orichalcum-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein in the violet blood cells of yhatnar and most a few mammal-like creatures from the fae worlds now living on Niya-Yur. It has three porphyrin rings with a central orichalcum molecule. Trioribrioglobin in the blood carries oxygen from the air exchanging organs to the rest of the body and carries away a number of respiratory and other cellular waste products. It releases the oxygen to permit aerobic respiration to provide energy to power the functions of the organism in the process called metabolism. Oxygenation causes a color change between the violet deoxygenated form and the copper-red oxygenated form.
Immortal blood plasma has trace amounts of the unique ratio of precious metals in it regardless of the species they have changed into. Specifically, they may be detected in any form if the precious metals trace amounts have a ratio of 300 µg/litre orichalcum / 200 titanium µg/litre / 100 platinum µg/litre.
Note: pseudodragons have the same type of blood as immortals.

Other Known Blood Types

• Kobolds and other creatures from the original Dwarven world: copper-based haemocyanins (Hc) variants - faint copper tinge in veins, blue in arteries, and drying to dark blue scabs
• Driads, blights, and other plants: chlorophyll - dark green drying to light green
• Gremlins, faerie dragons, and small fae creatures (e.g. fairies and pixies) hemocyanin (copper-containing) - beautiful blue in the arteries and crystal—clear colorless like water in the veins
• Marilith, nalfeshnee, mimics, and other fiends: Hemerythrin is an iron-containing proteinous pigment - bright pink or violet when oxygenated but turns colorless by the time it reaches the veins
• Gnolls, goblins, and Kenkus: vanadium chromagen - apple-green in color but can also be found in blue and orange varieties
• Merfolk: porphyrin (copper-based) plus porphyrin (manganese-based) gives a brownish pigment