Blood of the Covenant

Common practice throughout the darkling world is the tradition of pact-bonding. Many denizens of the night have the ability to grant a measure of their supernatural power to those mortal who they deem worthy. Whether this is vampiric thralls, kitsune den-mates, or even genie spouses, the act of pact-bonding differs from creature to creature.

The vampiric pact-bond, known as the blood bond in nightwalker coteries, is one of the most insidious. The magic of the blood is powerful and can grant a mortal extended life, preternatural strength and endurance, or even provide healing to the terminally ill or wounded. All of this comes with a cost: addiction.

Once addicted to the taste of vampire blood, few can resist the temptation to take more. The terrible thirst of the vampire can only be sated through obedience and the gift of blood. They become irritable and quick to replace all personal needs with thoese oftheir master. Some thralls even hope that their service might turn into an embrace if they perform well. However, new vampires are rarely sired from the throng of mortal followers and adulators that rely on their master for their source of vitae.

Mortals are seldom enthralled by chance. Thralls are usually blood bonded through necessity, performing some service that the vampire cannot perform themselves. Attending the daylight needs of their estates and holdings, managing wealth and meeting with the general public, and more. Most prized among the mortals are those who can perform magic. Witches have a particular affinity to the vampires and it is not unheard of for entire covens to be enthralled to a single vampire.

Blood bonded witches are adept at haematomancy and augury, providing their masters with a further advantage over the others of their kind.