Weapons Usable for Bloodtheft

[LaeAndril Rayn]

In all the reading I've done on bloodtheft and how it is done, I need some clarification. None of the descriptions of the act of bloodtheft (at least, in the books I have) say what kind of weapons can or cannot be used to commit bloodtheft. Whether a character is using a tighmaevril weapon or a normal weapon, does it have to be a melee weapon? If so, are they limited to slashing and piercing weapons, or can bludgeoning weapons be used as well? If someone is using a normal weapon, logic would say "yes" because the rules indicate they must pierce their opponent through the heart on the killing blow. However, it says nothing about tighmaevril having to pierce through the heart; it doesn't say anything about tighmaevril having any limiting factors of this nature, other than the killing blow must be with the tighmaevril weapon. So, could a character have arrows or bolts made of bloodsilver and be able to commit bloodtheft with them? Could they use a mace or flail made of tighmaevril?

Thanks to all in advance who provide any answers.

Lae'Andril Rayn

[Fizz]

I would say it needs to be a melee weapon. The act of killing the scion through the heart is required to create a conduit from one character to another. It's a personal thing, stealing a bloodline.

But if there isn't a character on the other side of the weapon, as in the case of an arrow or bolt, where is all the divine energy going to go? It'll just dissipate into nothingness.

That's my view anyways, but it's not `official'. I don't know if there is an official ruling or not.


-Fizz

[Rhiannon Faramiriel]

My view is the same as Fizz. Bloodtheft is a very up close and personal thing.

I would say that it is anything that "pierces". It could even be a sharpened stake of wood. A blunt does not pierce, it crushes.

I don't know what the sactioned ruling is, but the house rule of my campaign is no distance weapons.

J

[Osprey]

I am also in agreement about the melee requirement, and the idea of the act of bloodtheft opening a conduit for the divine energies of the ruptured bloodline.

Also, all tighmaevriel weapons I have ever seen described are edged/pointed: swords, spears, daggers, etc. "Blood-shedding" seems to be a primary attribute of these weapons. Also, all of them are made by one elven smith...and I really have a hard time imagining any elven smith making a blunt, metal, melee weapon (mace, warhammer, morning star, or flail).

Osprey

[irdeggman]

In 2nd the combatants had to meet in battle. In general this was considered melee since ranged attacks could be done for ambushes and not in battle per se.


In the BRCS:

However, because the scions divine essence is contained in his blood, this usurpation can only occur if a scion dies in a violent manner and his blood is literally spilt. If a blooded character dies non-violently, by poison, or a spell that doesn’t result in the spilling of blood, then the divine essence of their bloodline passes with them, either to their heir or to into the land itself if they had not designated a heir. However, if a scion’s blood is spilt as a result of his death in hand-to-hand combat then the divine essence of his or her birthright is released in a burst of immediate power.

Bloodtheft

If a blooded character is slain as the result of being pierced through the heart (via a coup de grace), then the victim's divine essence passes in its entirety, to the slayer whether or not he is blooded. Specifically slaying a scion through a blow to the heart to claim their bloodline is commonly referred to as bloodtheft. Bloodtheft also occurs when a scion is slain by a weapon made of bloodsilver (Tighmaevril).

A scion that commits bloodtheft is not subject to any maximum limit for absorbing RP (normally twice the receiving scion's bloodline score). Furthermore, this regency is immediately used to raise the scion's bloodline score at the standard cost (one more than the current bloodline score).

Coup de Grace:

As a full-round action, you can use a melee weapon to deliver a coup de grace to a helpless opponent. You can also use a bow or crossbow, provided you are adjacent to the target.

You can do a coup de grace witha bow or crossbow if you are adjacent to the target and it still takes a full round action to perform. IMO using ranged weapons in this manner is wrong, but the RAW allows it and it was decided to follow the core rules as closely as possible. So it would be up to the DM to modify this one.

[LeifVignirsson]

You know, in a magical world, there is nothing wrong with having a ranged weapon as bloodsilver and let me tell you why... You coup de gace someone from a distance of even 100 feet, that person is not going to be drained of blood by the time you reach them in... what... 2-3 rounds if it is all clear?

I look at it like this... Bloodtheft is something that is not honorable, it was developed by the Awnsheghlien to destroy each other, not the Anurieans to settle duels. So, yes... Crossbow or longbow to the back, through the heart and bathing in blood of your enemy... That sounds awnsheghlien to me.

I'd allow it in a heartbeat, ranged bloodtheft.

[RaspK_FOG]

You know, in a magical world, there is nothing wrong with having a ranged weapon as bloodsilver and let me tell you why... You coup de gace someone from a distance of even 100 feet, that person is not going to be drained of blood by the time you reach them in... what... 2-3 rounds if it is all clear?

I look at it like this... Bloodtheft is something that is not honorable, it was developed by the Awnsheghlien to destroy each other, not the Anurieans to settle duels. So, yes... Crossbow or longbow to the back, through the heart and bathing in blood of your enemy... That sounds awnsheghlien to me.

I'd allow it in a heartbeat, ranged bloodtheft.

You can't perform a coup de grace on an opponent with a bow or crossbow unless you are next to him or her; hence the "adjacent" thing mentioned in an earlier quote.