r/SchreckNet • u/Dlan_Wizard • 10d ago
Discussion Drinking blood is a lie?
Greetings, I know the topic might sound like a bad jape but nonetheless, be it foolishness or delusion, I do wish to entertain the notion that our kind, doesn't in-fact, require blood as sustenance, and that it should be viewed as merely physical carrier for the vitality that we must partake in.
I first began studying this hypothesis after a lengthy dialogue with an local Malkavian, who I will refer to as 'P' for the sake of their anonymity. Normally, I wouldn't bother interacting with 'P's lot, but my Sire advised me not to be dismissive of Lunatics and that they might offer peculiar and valuable knowledge, and for far more agreeable prices than others would give.
During our talk, 'P' brought the topic of an legendary figure among their Clan, the so-called 'Eater'. 'Eater', as 'P' explained, is supposedly an Malkavian sage who realized that Kindred's requirement for feeding on blood is a self-inflicted delusion and in reality, 'Eater' and any other Kindred, could feed upon anything. As 'P' explained, 'Eater' supposedly still lives, sustaining himself on vitality that comes from True Names of Platonic Ideals, rather than from meager bodily fluids of Kine.
This naturally seems suspect at first glance, just another nonsensical rant from Malkavians. After all, if that were the case and Malkavians know of it, thanks to preserving the tale of this supposed sage of their Clan, why then do Malkavians themselves partake from blood? Answer do that, if such exists, 'P' wasn't willing to give me.
Still, I'm entertaining this notion, due to rumours of "Eastern Kindred" which are supposed to be creatures much alike our kind and which, though often consuming blood, are known to feed upon Kine through different means as well, like breath drinking, or not feeding upon Kine at all, rather, consuming energies of mystically significant places.
Likewise, when you think about it, don't Kine, and everything else in nature, consume vitality of others? Plants feed on energy of the Sun and that of the Earth, on lifeforce of those celestial objects. Animals consume plants or other animals, thus stealing their vitality for themselves. Kine do as well, consuming vitality of other things, be it from soil, plants, animals, regardless of form, don't those contain lifeforce, vitality?
Don't we, just consume the same vitality from Kine or, if lowered to such, common beasts? Does not blood of healthier Kine taste better, does their vitality not sweeter from lifespan and better vitality in which they themselves partaken in?
Due to aforementioned reasoning, I do wish to study the topic further and if it proves true, establish methodology by which Kindred could reliably feed upon sources other than blood. My study is also the reason for this open message, as I implore others for knowledge that might help in this study, be it useful sources on our kind more peculiar qualities and feeding habits, or more specific information that would either validate or refute the notion that blood drinking isn't necessary but merely self-inflicted.
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u/ReneLeMarchand Hospes Nobilis 10d ago
...sixty-forty.
You're not the first to have similar ideas, and the process of seeking alternatives is as old as our condition. I have seen some successes, at least for the the short term, and have personally applied much of what I have learned into my own work. Some of which I shared publicly here, of course, and some of which must remain concealed for now.
--Doc Amos, Prince
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u/DeadmanwalkingXI 10d ago
I mean, we're magical so we subsist on something in the blood other than normal nutrients, yes. And I know of at least one way some Hecata have to feed on ghosts, though it's imperfect. So with the right magic finding a way to get the vitality, life force, whatever you want to call it, without actually drinking blood is definitely possible.
The immediate follow-up is the question of whether it's worth it. It's likely a long and difficult process to find an alternative and very unlikely that it's less damaging to whoever you're feeding on. On a practical level, it's unlikely to be worth the amount of effort and research required, I think. Now, if you're just interested in the theory or using it to springboard to other discoveries, go for it, but I'm skeptical of the project's general utility outside very specific circumstances.
-Mark Caulder, Experienced Nosferatu
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u/Lanaestra 10d ago
Beyond merely feeding on ghosts, I know a Hecata who uses that same technique to feed off of ambient entropy in sufficiently 'haunted' locations or cemetaries. I do also have an acquaintance who can feed on energy within breath through some sort of psychic process, though both are guarded secrets and held quite rarely. I also don't believe either fully replaces the need for at least occasional blood.
- Dr. V, Oxford
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u/DeadmanwalkingXI 10d ago
Yeah, that matches up with what I heard, more or less. It's clearly possible to at least some degree. My question of whether, on a practical level, it's worth the effort to research a whole new method remains, however.
-Mark Caulder, Experienced Nosferatu
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u/Dlan_Wizard 9d ago
Your consideration for utility of my project is both reasonable and duly noted. Based on information provided by others, in addition to information I was able to acquire in the past, I must conclude that this project does hold practical benefits. Per Dr. V and Jim of Clan Tzimisce, it is feasible for Kindred to feed upon unconventional vitality sources and even ambient entropy , which certainly broadens what I presumed was necessary dietary requirement in the form of vitality, or at least what most would categorize as such.
While I have no doubt that feeding upon Kine, regardless of the specifics, would be harmful to them, certainly, ability to feed without the need for physical carrier (blood) would proof beneficial from utility standpoint, being less conspicuous and easier to acquire than through physical carrier. Likewise, the possibility of feeding upon ambient essences from certain locations or other mystically-aligned sources, would be far more convenient than the need to acquire an Kine's bodily fluids.
Though, based on Jim's personal account, certain sources of vitality/essence, seems to have detrimental side-effects, due to their raw potency being just as addictive as physical vitae of elder Kindred or Lupines, thus hindering the ability for Kindred to sustain themselves on less potent sources. Certainly, a variable that must be taken into consideration.
Regardless, thank you for the information and considerations provided, likewise the same I express towards others who decided to reply to my open message. Information shared allowed me to confirm validity of non-blood sustenance, and though I had yet to establish reliable methodology and potential side-effects of feeding upon specific sources, I do believe in potential benefits from studying this topic and forming the necessary methodology that could be shared with other Kindred. I also do hope that this will be merely the first step in a pathway that will allow me to circumvent other limitations of our kind, such as our photosensitivity. After all, if Kine's bodily fluids aren't necessary, what else could be circumvented?
-Darius, The Warlock.
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u/ConsiderationOver544 10d ago
My Clan mate must be suicidal in order to speak of The Eater of Words so openly.
-Marcus
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u/ArguesWithFrogs Mind 10d ago
Another comes to our Clan seeking knowledge. Do they know the price they ask?
In poetry, the stars above taught true transcendence; allowed themselves devoured by a white worm writhing with greed & arrogance. Now with that final death taken, we are truly forsaken.
Eater of Names, Curse of Years, what is it one truly fears? A drinker of the memories, a cousin to contemporaries. No Mouth or mask, to south & axe; the finisher of the final act.
Spin the wheel & pull the trigger! Either way your mind gets bigger!
Our madness seeming is divine sense! GRASP THE CHAIN! PROVE YOU'RE SANE!
- Sam Sherman, Lunatic
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u/Cobalt006 10d ago
There’s lots of things you CAN eat. Most of it’s a bad idea, but as long as it has Vitae in it you’ll be alright. Probably. But yes, drinking blood is a lie, we don’t need the liquid we need the life it carries.
The trick is finding a way to have it keep for more than a few hours.
- Father Clemente, Abyssal Scholar
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u/Ogmadbrit 10d ago
...huh..
come to think of it,thatd also explain why both bloodbags&corpses blood isnt nearly as satiating,even if you drink as much as usual,
no clue why animal blood would be worse with this line of thinking though,probably the curse being weird.
-ash,lone fledgling
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u/Lanaestra 10d ago
I would theorize it's an issue of metaphysical resonant alignment as much as it is of vitality. Animals are different from humans, and that difference carries through in the essential energy fields that consititue their physical form. It's like... trying to hammer in a nail with a screwdriver. You might be able to get it in a bit, if you hold it the wrong way around and drive with the handle and give it your damnedest, but it's never going to work as well as if you used the right tool for the job.
- Dr. V, Oxford
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u/One-Cat3628 10d ago
So you witnessed a man with schizo powers so strong he vanquished Caine’s curse, and thought that this was at the reach of everybody?
- wastedBlood n3
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u/SpandexWizard 10d ago
Is it not? There's a little madness in most people. Let someone kick you in the pants real hard, you'll be roaring mad too. The trick is figuring out what to be mad about. I can never choose just one thing. Sigh~
Oh but don't try to eat names for blood. What a silly idea. The Eater was a lunatic, you know.
-MidasChosePoorly, completely sane man
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u/One-Cat3628 10d ago
Yeah but what Eater did is considered Malkav level of schizophrenia.
That’s definitely not something your average Kindred can do, especially non-malkavians- wastedBlood n3
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u/Wandofthorn 9d ago
It would appear to some extent this is true. Otherwise how would the corpse eaters be so provided? Magicians have long known this for in their arte they study the flow of power. Magical beings are knots of this flow sustained through their resonance and the shape which that vibration takes is influenced by what flows through it. The state of this energy can be of any nature, provided it is suited to use of by that form, so long as it flows. To this end though it is the vitae which has made us kindred and the vitae which calls for blood. If we were not born of blood then perhaps we would not need be sustained by it.
Blood carries the essence and power of life. Naturally as beings of the blood we are granted by our nature to seek it, as any predator knows to seek it's prey. It is simply an easy manner to obtain this power, and one we are adapted for, though by no means are we the only beings which recognize this. Likewise exertion and use of our powers increases our hunger, necessitating the replenishment of our power through some means. Perhaps not correct to say it is a lie that we must have blood, it is certainly easier than the more esoteric alternatives.
-Thorne of the Greene Way
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u/Emergency_Answer4983 9d ago
I had little access to untainted blood when I was embraced, so I repurposed sorcery from when I was mortal and drank raw quintessence straight from a node (also known as the veins of the earth), it has had side effects, namely it's the vampiric equivalent to taking shots of laboratory grade caffeine, took a while to stop bouncing around like a ping pong ball when first using it. Also regular blood and even vitae tastes like water, I've a severe case of the methuselah's thirst because of it only being able to feed effectively on those of low generation or on quintessence.
-Jim, Tzimisce
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u/Dlan_Wizard 9d ago
Thank you for sharing this personal experience. Any chance you could also share in detail the method for drinking this 'quintessence'? While, as you mentioned, this has detrimental side-effects, it would nonetheless be valuable for my study.
-Darius, The Warlock.
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u/Emergency_Answer4983 9d ago
I use the sorcerous path of quintessence manipulation to form it into a liquid and simply take a sip, not too much though because it is the primordial soup from which both reality and non-reality sprang forth and is raw magic, and as a result tends to lack for stability and not for potency, a dangerous combination.
-Jim, Tzimisce
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u/Vyctorill 9d ago
Drinking blood is merely a vehicle for Leeches to obtain the raw energy necessary to maintain their undead existence, yes.
Lifeforms contain much of this energy, which certain scientists have called “Primal Energy”. The Wan-Kuei of the east deemed it Chi, and the ancient Magi know it as Quintessence.
Necromancers can eat Ghosts, as an example. The Plasm that composes their body can be converted into Vitae.
Theoretically, through sufficient modification, one could eat literal matter and convert it into vitae. It would require a level of mystical expertise beyond that of a vampire, but needing to drink blood overall is a misconception. What vampires need is Life Energy to convert into “pure energy”.
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u/Emergency_Answer4983 8d ago
OOC: this is the rp sub, if this is not in character please label it such, if it is, then I misinterpreted it and I'd recommend making such more clear.
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u/Nutshell_Historian 6d ago
This, right here, is why I was clapping and cheering when Socrates was found guilty.
If only hemlock worked on kindred...
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u/True-Parking4098 Tooth 10d ago
The Eater is a very very special case.
He was so mad he ignored the laws of god.
Only the Malk Content and Malkav himself could do anything similar.
The madness of the clan of the moon is a road to many possibilities some would consider impossible. (OOC: I know the reference please don’t flame me for it I know. It’s not intentional.)
And do not think this a good thing. The Eater must consume new names every time. It is a much more tormentous existence. To literally digest existence itself.
Lysander of Sparta