Blood Magus & The Underdark

[kingbobertvii]

Okay, so I know that blood magi are KOS on the surface, if they're seen using their blood magic. But... what about in the Underdark? Would the Drow really care what sort of magic you're using? I'm not sure if they would respect it as a means of gaining power, or revile it for being primitive or "cheating" your way to magical power. I'm considering going down this route on my underdark character, and would just like a little clarification as to whether or not I'll be marked for death if seen as on the surface, and what the general drow attitude towards me should be.

[DM Eminence]

Blood Magus class has bloodseeking spell, bloodwalk and awaken blood listed as KoS feats. These feats say ingame on your character sheet that a character is also subject to the KoS in the Underdark. I've not heard anything stated of it being otherwise so assume that is the ruling made on the class despite that not being clearly listed on the class page.

If you cast those KoS abilities near NPCs in the Underdark, they should react in some way. Blood magic is mistrusted pretty much everywhere.

[kingbobertvii]

Okay, thanks! I have not actually taken the blood magus PrC yet so I was not able to look at the feats on the charsheet. All I read was the forum&level up screen description of the class, which just said they were KoS, didn't specify Underdark. Good to know even the drow have scruples about SOMETHING

Thanks for the clarification!

[DM Ioulaum]

My understanding is that evil dominated civilizations tolerate Blood Mages as disposable assassins and agents, but remain wary and mistrusting. A thayan red wizard blood magus would essentially be an outcast for example, if he is found out. I imagine the same is true for S'shamath.

The exact reaction depends on what manner of ability you manifested. If its a low level ability it can be explained as something you learned through dabbling. But the high level abilities pretty much mark you as an outcast to be avoided. That is the trade off you make with the class, and is also reflected by alignment changes for the higher level abilities.

[Lockonnow]

DM Ioulaum

A thayan red wizard blood magus would essentially be an outcast

he will not only be a out cast he will be kill by the A thayan red wizard them self

[Untaramar]

Well... I have a UD Wizard, and am currently working on a revival of the School of Mages, and we will only have one goal, the study and improvement of all things arcane. So blood mages will be able to preform and experiment with their vile art with us. It's just another interesting way to preform the art... just like we would allow someone to summon angels if they have that ability.

[DM Eminence]

On our server, the higher level abilities (the KoS ones) are considered repugnant even in the UD and as stated, the NPCs will have opinions which reflect this. If you're going to promote all out blood mages openly in the Underdark, you should be prepared to take the consequences of that ICly.

Your character may of course attempt to work to sway this opinion, which could lead to some very interesting RP but the reason "it is the UD" doesn't mean that everything goes there unchallenged.

The Conclave are especially suspicious and paranoid about other forms of magic, recognizing blood magic may force them to make yet another school, which they are very reluctant to do (which you can find info on in lore in this thread - Rulers, internal hierarchy).

Not impossible but there will be obstacles. Drow do not give up or share power easily and treat any challenge to their own very seriously

[Untaramar]

Well... I hope most wizards aren't blood mages so we don't get flooded with them, but one or two experimenting with their magic on the school is another matter.

And no, the excuse won't be "This in UD". I hope for better RP than that from everyone

[duracele]

i have a question concerning blood magi. do they have the ability to take complete control of an unsuspecting victim? meaning could through some kind of ritual a blood magi (or a generalist arcanist dunno) take control of someone without the pc affected noticing?

[DM Eminence]

No, that's not possible by simply being a blood mage. Complete control over someone else's character should be run through with the DM team so that we can ensure that it's done fairly and that everyone are agreeing on it.

Even with player to player agreement that's preferrable as we've had requests where the two parties thought they were in agreement but details were added which one part absolutely didn't agree to.