Bloodforce

The Zykla believe that all life is fundamentally similar. All living things share in a collective pool of life they refer to as the Bloodforce. Blood is the medium that sustains life and is the physical world's connection to the force that allows life to exist at all. The Bloodforce affect the physical world through the actions of living beings. Trees grow, animals evolve, sentience builds but the Bloodforce can be harnessed to alter the physical world in a more direct fashion. However, not all Zykla are blessed with the touch of Bloodforce. Only those who hope to awaken their Bloodforce follow the closely guarded ritual offerings in the form of sacrifices of blood and flesh to their Gods; Moon & Sun.

These rituals have followed the Zykla people since their infancy, allowing them to separate and draw out the Bloodforce from the sacrificed blood of a living being. The amount of power and how it can be used to affect the physical world depends on the amount and "quality" of blood harvested. Quality is determined by the complexity of the living being. The blood of a sheep has a lesser connection to the Bloodforce, than that of a Zykla, because the Zykla is sentient. Equally, A younger Zykla's blood is of higher quality than an older Zykla. Despite centuries of growth and practice with Bloodforce, Zykla have never in their recorded history, been able to utilize the blood force for any significant effect.

❖ Zykla can have less than 5 abilities. Glitterdust and Wisps are required but do not count toward the allotted 5 slots.
❖ Players can select the remaining 5 abilities between the following:

❖ Pure + Neutral
❖ Tainted + Neutral
❖ Neutral
(Cannot mix Pure & Tainted)

~~Example:~~
1. Ability
2. Ability
3. Ability
4. Ability
5. Ability
6. Glitterdust
7. Wisps

Bane of their Bloodforce
There are base fears in all cultures. Of Death and Darkness, Monsters from deep and even Metal from the sky.

Meteoric Iron is a relatively rare mineral and as such its contact with Zykla culture has been minor, yet its afflictions have carved deep scars into their collective minds as to weave into their myths and legends.

Upon contact, this astral metal restrains a victim Zykla's ability to utilize their stored Bloodforce and render them vulnerable. While the physical effects are powerful, it is the feeling that overtakes a Zykla that has truly earned its dreaded history and an aptly fitting name. "Bound Soul."

It is one thing to tie a person's hands. It is something very different to deny their control, their agency over their own body. Intangible as the concept of a "Soul" might be, to the Zykla, it is an undeniable reality and one that is directly affected, subdued by the contact of Meteoric Iron.

The Afflicted will very rapidly succumb to a dread that is difficult to quantify and is often likened to the mental state of a person that has endured sustained emotional abuse and while these effects can be dealt with, any mishandling can incur significant psychological damage.

While Meteoric Iron is prohibitively expensive, some more well-funded entities have taken to incorporating the necessary amounts and smelting it into jewelry or restraints. Collars, shackles, or bangles entirely made out of the dark Meteoric Iron are common place but for those more extravagant, gold and silver jewelry can be lined or heavily accentuated with the astral metal to use it as a means of exerting their control over Zykla in service. This can even escalate to a much grander scale to those who choose to punish or harness a Zykla for the arena.

However, any being that seeks to take advantage of this material should be aware that Meteoric Iron subdues the Bloodforce. It does not remove it and any afflicted Zykla can continue to accumulate their powers even when bound.