Some settings, particularly those in the dark fantasy and horror genres, have depraved mages and ritualists who draw power from blood. The blood trapping is used only by evil necromancers and blood cultists who wish to invoke fear and panic in onlookers.

The blood trapping is used only by evil necromancers and blood cultists who wish to invoke fear and panic in onlookers. An ability with the blood trapping involves hemorrhaging in some way and can be disgusting and horrifying to witness, particularly when a wound is inflicted.

Damage-causing powers typically cause blood to erupt from orifices and open wounds. Protective powers filter toxins directly from the bloodstream, pump a target full of adrenaline, or surround the arcanist with hardened blood. Others, such as Summon Ally, create creatures from blood sacrificed by the blood mage.

Additional Effects

• Buckets of Blood: anyone seeing this power for the first time (or who previously failed a Fear test against it) must make a Fear check at -2 as they are sprayed with blood.
• Slick Surface: When a wound is inflicted, either against a summoned creature or against a target by a damage-causing ability, copious amounts of blood spray the surrounding area (immediate squares around the target) and movement through it becomes difficult (as Difficult Ground).
• Tiring: An arcanist using a beneficial power on an ally or to conjure an ally must make a Vigor roll or suffer a level of fatigue for paying the price with his blood.