text, un: v

[mehanizovati]

I would like to pose several questions regarding bloodstone gems.

Robby has had some luck in gathering information from Nevermind when discussing blood pollution and attempts to balance it. The pthumerian stated isolating specific abilities from the bloodtypes into gems could be an avenue. Darkblood comes to mind, the reality bending abilities used to warp the pollution or corruption directly from the environment.

I've done some initial testing with little success, hence this post. Does anyone have experience with making bloodgems they can share?

Are there bloodgem jewelers in the Trench you can recommend? Any information found in the Archives that can be useful?

For that matter anyone interested in the research is welcome to help or get involved, I am hardly an expert in blood magic itself, in truth. Donations of blood are welcome as well as we continue to look into this.

[ooc; here is the ooc plotting post for this player plot!]

Comments

un: younghuman | text | private

[terriblepurpose]

Hello, Viktor. I hope you've been well.

I had been investigating a similar avenue of research earlier this year, although I was more focused on corruption than blood pollution directly. I'd had some success with using Paleblood stones to ease corruption in Beasts, but the side effects were undesirable, and I wasn't able to pursue the refinement of the process further due to outside circumstances.

I could bring you a sample and documentation of what I'd been working on. Perhaps you'll be able to find something in them to incorporate in your research.

Have you thought of doing anything with botany or mycology?

text | private

[mehanizovati]

It's good to hear from you, Paul, I admit I've been wondering how you are doing. I have been well, the surgery was a success and work moves ever onward.

I would appreciate that. I suppose I should save my questions for when you deliver them, I have a great many. I'll be in Sanctuary for the rest of the day, if you have the time.

No, at the moment most of the work has been in the gems and technology itself. What are you thinking?

Text | un: londonstar

[slightlytaller]

I've only ever worked with my own blood, or vials that I have traded for, but I have had some success in creating pendants and the like with the materials here. I've naturally had the most success enchanting an item with Vileblood related effects.

I can share my findings and a few samples.

... I do admit, I've been working on a project for Robby as well. He's a very clever young man and I plan to show him my mock ups shortly.

[mehanizovati]

I would appreciate that. Most of my own experience comes from working with paleblood and darkblood, vileblood is still somewhat new to me.

He is very clever, and much better at getting any sort of information from Nevermind than I have ever been. Frankly this wouldn't have been possible without his digging.

action woop

[megatheorem]

[Palamedes multitasks, and gives this post a quick read on his way back to the lab, with his multitudinous Bags. He pauses for a moment so he can give the omni a sappy smile, the saccharine pride-in-husband coming through their bond so that Viktor will know exactly the moment he read this post. Always gotta support the man's science...

He shoulders through the door to the lab shortly after, bags in both hands and omni stupidly tucked under his chin, announcing:]

Somehow, I remembered your lunch.

[Ha ha. He comes to put that down first, freeing a hand to pocket the omni, then leaning down to give Viktor a smooch on the temple before the real star here arrives: bag of rocks. He holds it up.]

With love from my staff, the lockjoint stones.

[mehanizovati]

[viktor's been trying to learn how to project an eye roll over the bond, which usually fails because he's fond too. one day, his truest dream.

he's tapping at his omni when pal enters, trying to keep up with any messages. it does get put aside to glance over at his visitor, fond again through the bond at the site he makes and remembering lunch.] Good thing I didn't make any bets with Nico, I would have lost money.

[or whatever people gamble with in the trench. he leans up into the kiss a little but is immediately ready to take the real prize here, more samples to work with. he opens the bag, humming in approval.]

Perfect- I want to stay here tonight, I have a few experiments I want to keep an eye on. That and a few people may be stopping by to share notes. Stay with me? [sanctuary sleepover, thank god they have their own space here for how often they probably stay.]

Video; UN: Filledwithsunshine

[onebadapple]

Well, I can't help much with research, I don't think, but I'm happy to donate my blood if you need it! I'm just a warmblood though so I don't know that it will do anything helpful.

[mehanizovati]

Actually that would be remarkably helpful. Warmbloods seem relatively rare, I have very few samples of blood or warmblood gems. Given warmbloods are said to have a natural resistance to corruption there's several matters I would like to look into regarding it.

text | un: rin

[offinventory]

How are you measuring blood pollution and/or corruption in the environment?

[mehanizovati]

At the moment by corruption cases of residents in the area and general physical manifestations of pollution. I am working on a machine for a more exact estimate but it is a slower go than I'd like.

Plantlife I find is often the best quick judge.

[faceblocks]

ill throw my blood in the ring
did i give you one of the chill out stones i had made
cause ive got a few if u need one

and if ur doing donations again i can do numbing duty
and hand out candies or w/e

sansa knows how to make some p sweet jewelry
i bet she knows ppl too
i know a couple

[mehanizovati]

I've heard of the ring you made, I'd like to study it.
If anything I think it may be a good clue as to how we can begin isolating specific characteristics.

Well, apparently I have someone willing to bake sweets for donators. I suppose we should do a blood drive properly.
Vi, how do I keep planning social events? It's terrible.

I'm planning on messaging her if I don't see her on the post. I was hoping her hound may also be willing to offer a small blood sample, in truth.
Regardless any information or numbing will help.

text; un: stanford

[cryptograms]

[ Finally, some good fucking science. ]

I've had considerable success creating bloodstones in the past. Dark, cold, pale, and vilebood are all types I've had considerable experience with, both in forming stones and in using their liquid forms for other applications.

[mehanizovati]

[even has some 'oh this could go real poorly' mad science vibes, it's perfect.]

I've only just started making them properly myself a couple of months ago, so any notes or advice you have on the process I would appreciate.

There's a fascinating level of possibility to test though. Melding two blood types, the various effects of each month and how they may impact the gem or blood itself when used in rituals, and more so how to try and target singular abilities in the blood and enhance them.

[text | un: inkmetal]

[inkedspell]

[Hell yeah. Someone else who gets it.]

Been making stones, gems, and crystals using blood for minor uses for a while now. You're right they aren't very strong if you want to use them for anything long term. The stronger the power, the shorter the timespan it lasts, and they're still not strong enough to do much individually.

Darkblood definitely makes it easier because mixing the different bloods together has different results each time. Been using rune magic to help manage the blood and control what the stones do.

We have something similar to corruption back in my world, so I've been using that as a basis for my research here.

[mehanizovati]

[hell yeah someone who immediately seems to understand the shit he's been working with. breath of fresh air tbh]

Not at all, outside of all of this I have been using them to merge technology and magic with decent results, but the lifespan of the gems is hardly ideal. If Nevermind is telling the truth I cannot imagine gems as they are now being able to handle that kind of strain.

Are you Saeri? Robby and Vi have both mentioned that name to me as someone who works with rune magic and bloodstones.

Regardless, would you be willing to discuss that research? Given how malleable the nature of the arcane is in the Trench I've long believed adapting techniques and knowledge from other worlds is likely our best way of moving forward.

Text - UN: Onerthes

[onerthes]

At present, I have not worked with the crafting of Blood Gems. I believe there is another gentleman who has been researching it and you will find several who can assist. There might be something to this, as Never Mind has said, if we can isolate the different ways in which blood powers are expressed.

I'd be willing to offer a few notes from the times I've attempted to combine certain magics of my world and this world, though my own prowess is severely depleted since leaving the nightmare.

I would offer blood too, but there is a problem with that. Storing it might prove difficult, as it's very acidic. It causes problems at times. You have no idea how much I try to avoid paper cuts.

[mehanizovati]

Even if we can do it in blood alone it would be a step. One of my main issues in testing all this remains that bloodgems simply don't hold up long when using a great deal of power, like this would no doubt need.

I would love to see them. Frankly any eyes on this would be welcome, the magic of this place is malleable enough to respond to surprising methods.

Yes I can imagine. I may be able to make something to store it, if I can test the acidity. Was your blood always this way?

Text UN: 1stStrike

[strikefirster]

I've always thought donating blood was a scam.
But if you think it'll help I've got the pale shit that I can throw in.

private, text, un: kickflips

[strongroots]

[ (Are you trying to get easy brownie points with your son, Johnny? It's working.)

Robby will be telling Viktor who this is before he responds, but also: ]

thanks. i can draw your blood
have you used it for anything before

text; un: hakkai

[knowsvinewhip]

I happen to be known as "pale blood", if that would be of assistance.

I unfortunately also lack experience with blood gems. However, I am happy to make a donation.

[mehanizovati]

You mentioned having healing abilities of a sort, yes? That may prove useful if we can manage to isolate it in your blood and augment it with abilities of others.

Which is to say a donation would be very welcome regardless, in truth. Apparently we'll have baked goods for it.

[he's still not sure how a proper blood drive happened but hey. free food?]

Text; un: darkness

[survivalthroughhate]

If you have some willing volunteers, I could pull the corruption from them. You could take blood before and after to see if there is any change in its composition.

[mehanizovati]

That would be excellent, thank you. I'll see if we can't find volunteers.

Is this a power you have from your world or from the blood magic of this world?

Text| un: Shadow_Puppet

[stoicsilhouette]

[ He has some ideas on what could possibly be some great mixes and theories on how that might help the holder from emotional and physical corruption. ]

What if we mix warmblood and darkblood? Warmbloods have been proven to help alleviate corruption when used in blood transfusions. Maybe if combined with darkblood it could help to clear out some of the pollution physically being given off by the land?

I was also thinking that maybe mixing paleblood and darkblood, given palebloods ability to calm some of the more mental/ emotional aspects of corruption, someone with this sort of gem might be able to feel at ease that way, and the land itself almost feels like an entity, and possibly may benefit as well.

The darkblood would be a good base for the two because I thought it might be able to capture/ warp the pollution while the other blood types actually neutralize the negative effects.

Also I wonder if crushing up some of the sakura petals from Ammy's tree and adding them to the gems would help at all. The space around that tree is completely free of corruption, it may be worth a try?

[ Also Viktor knows this boy will literally give blood everyday he can to help with projects like this. ]

[mehanizovati]

[there's his bud, with the Good Ideas.]

If we can use darkblood to bend and enhance warmblood's natural properties with corruption I do think we'd be onto something. In truth I haven't had much practice or experience working with warmblood before, until now.

Treating the land like an entity to be soothed? That is interesting. I have some devices already utilizing paleblood gems to sooth beasts, they could be adapted. That said the major problem I see is even large gems simply can't handle that much power output. There must be a way to refine matters further.

The petals aren't a bad idea either. I've been speaking to Paul about his ideas regarding plants and fungi, there of examples of the latter in my world that absorbs chemical pollution to a minor extent.

text; un: JustD

[distant_one]

I'd be happy to share the research I've done with you.

So far I've been able to use vileblood, coldblood, and darkblood to create a new mortar that fuses stone blocks together into a single piece, and I'm working on another project.

I've been collecting sleeper ink and virgin blood stones towards this goal, and if you have any insight on implementing my plan, I'd be happy to share.

[Attached is an image of a fairly complicated double pentagon with a pentagram inside it and notes of the various potential effects that might be gained from using the 5 blood types. The gist of it is gathering a large amount of blood in a single place and covering a large area with the effects created]

[mehanizovati]

I would appreciate it. At the moment I think consolidating efforts already made is a worthwhile avenue.

[and give him a minute to read over that all, coming back with the same image with some notes attached where he can help- largely rune and symbols from his own world and the trench he uses often in his work, indications of how they may be helpful or could be tested to perhaps help. augmentations to the whole, in a way.]

I'd like to see this myself. In truth the magic aspect is my weakest point but at the very least I can help with resources.

[Text] un: QueenCobra

[abornfighter]

[Guess who is very proud of her boyfriend right now? This girl.]

I already told Robby he can have some of my blood, but I'll put it out here too. Let me know if you need any supplies for storing it and I can get you that.

[mehanizovati]

[as she should be, viktor's only known him a short while and he's proud. go getter teen putting in the work]

I wouldn't say no to more storage supplies. You wouldn't happen to have anything that can handle containing highly acidic substances, would you?

private text; un: looking for shinsengumi

[tealeafs]

i can donate a lot of blood

[ This is literally the most ominous message out of context.

The fact that it's on private doesn't really help either, huh. ]

private forever

[mehanizovati]

[yeah chizuru, just making viktor read over this message and wonder if he needs to be worried. the private more than anything, chizuru....]

I'll happily take a vial or two, but no more. We're apparently going to have a blood drive of sorts, with baked goods and juice.

[how does this keep happening to him, social events. terrible. anyway, still a bit concerned.]

Is there a reason this is private, Chizuru?

text; un: lady

[dohaeris]

[you could have emailed her first, viktor.]

I should like very much to see what Never Mind had to say about bloodstone. Adaine had a theory that bloodstone could be mixed and set to doing certain things, like how the mixed bloodstone in the lunar generator is good for collecting power from the moon and turning it into electricity. We were trying to make some of her ideas together, but mixed bloodstone is very difficult and none of it worked.

My new jewelry teacher can make the ordinary types of mixed bloodstone, like the kind in the lunar generator. I should be glad to introduce you. She's a bit stern, [incredibly demanding and intimidating] but very honest, [intensely proud of her work and her earned status as a master artificer and deeply insulted by insinuations that she might stoop to any sort of cheating] and a great teacher and craftswoman. [has definitely driven previous apprentices to tears and quitting.]

I know many Blood Ministers use pale bloodstone in their work. I had thought perhaps they were using it to access paleblood magic so they could soothe the emotional distress of corruption, but there could of course be other applications. I would imagine they might know more at the Lumenarium. My teacher does craft pieces for Blood Ministers, but I am not practiced enough to assist her. I can certainly ask her more about them.

I have thought warm bloodstone must have some application in Blood Ministry, but I imagine Warmblood is too valuable for transfusions to use in experiments. Dark bloodstone is difficult to come by for similar reasons. I admit I am loathe to waste Darkblood in experiments that may not come to anything, as dark bloodstone is so useful for magic. Adaine and I did try; she thought perhaps it could influence the rest of the bloodstone into doing what we wanted.

[these of course were not adaine's exact words...]

I have her notes on bloodstone. I could show you if you'd like.

[mehanizovati]

Yes, mixing blood has proven a very complicated matter. In truth the integrity of the stones themselves are what I believe our biggest obstacle. All research and testing I've done on the matter and with the tools have only been able to go do far.

I would very much appreciate meeting your teacher and hearing her thoughts on it all.

Well, we are in luck when it comes to resources. Donations have been generous for this, which I admit surprises me. Darkblood included, and warmblood. I admit I've rarely had access to warmblood before this, likely for the reasons you stated.

Regardless I would very much like to see her notes.

text | un: wheninlanling (public, and then private)

[poorlittlesange]

Greetings, Viktor-xiansheng.

This one cannot provide any expertise with the creation of bloodstone gems, but as we discussed during the Sanctuary holiday gathering, I may be able to provide assistance with your research and experimentation.

[a follow-up text arrives a few seconds later.]

Please permit this one to apologize for not following up with you about our conversation sooner, xiansheng. I was returned to my world for a brief period of time.

[mehanizovati]

Hello, I have been meaning to contact you on that matter. It could end up being useful in this particular project. Perhaps we can have that meeting we discussed with Palamedes.

[and then private:]

No worries, I dealt with the same two months ago. Disorienting, isn't it?