New Spells: Minor Blood Magic
April 10th: Some of these spells have been previewed again with minor updates! The original article and preview follow below.
Art Credit: https://www.deviantart.com/missingtheground/art/Blood-Magic-404976528
Today we're getting into the Blood Magic! Blood magic is a popular concept for fantasy casters but lacks much support within the official D&D 5e content. In light of that, I've produced a small ecosystem of blood magic, spells, subclasses, and even a feat to enable players to choose the amount of blood magic that's right for them -- a small sip, or a deeper drink? Blood spells are a new school of magic, but each Blood spell also has a conventional school of magic as well, so that the Blood affix is more of an additional tag added to spells, which enables them to work with the various blood magic class features and feat abilities that will come with them. Blood magic, along with lycanthropy, dark curses, vampires, soul magic, fallen heroes, and more will be available in The Impermissicon, one of my three planned compendiums focusing on forbidden magic.
These three spells are from The Impermissicon, and are intended as a solid foundation of spells for the aspiring blood mage to cement his or her aesthetic. The gore spike cantrip offers a Constitution-based alternative to firebolt for simple damage; blood boil is a potent at-will (concentration) debuffing cantrip with short range and minimal damage; and blood extraction is a 3rd-level area spell that damages enemies over time, dealing more damage to bloodied foes, and absorbing the blood of defeated foes for your consumption.
Remember that these blood spells only work against foes with blood, which enables them to be very slightly stronger than similar spells without the same restriction. Most enemies have blood (including most fiends, dragons, angels, and aberrants), but many kinds of creatures lack blood, such as most undead, constructs, and elementals. However, intensely magical creatures have magical blood, and using blood magic upon such foes may have unpredictable and dangerous side-effects, depending on how your DM is feeling. They say unicorn blood has healing powers, so what does the dark magic found in the blood of a pit fiend do? Stay curious, and watch out!
PDF Link / D&D Beyond Links: Blood Boil, Gore Spike, Blood Extraction
