(magic item) potion of survival
Alice Raizel
I love him who wants to create over and beyond himself and thus perishes.
—Nietzsche
The
potion
of survival
represents the
first experiments
of Clarissa the Poisoner
towards
the
philosophic reproduction
of the process of vampirism. One
begins with a specially prepared vessel, a vial of dark
and
exquisite glass. Vampiric sire and potential progeny each open a
vein, their
spirits combining within
the chosen
flask.
The intended progeny—and
no
other than
the
intended progeny—may
then drink the potion.
If the magic is successful, he or she will die, rising as a vampire
the next nightfall. The demonic blood of Lilith claims another mortal
soul.
And
if the magic is unsuccessful, he or she will also die. Drinking
a potion
of
survival
causes a loss of consciousness,
and requires a saving throw against massive damage (DC 15 Fortitude)
to withstand the overpowering
shock
to the progeny’s system. The creation
of a vampire
is fanatically painful, but those
who survive don’t remember it. Miss Clarissa neglects
to mention these
trivial matters to her intended disciples.
Clarissa
the
Poisoner has
used these potions
to create at least two vampires: the rogue Satin and the Chocolatine
refugee Jessica—but
she considers
her efforts failures.
Satin
couldn't even survive the exposure of true freedom, and Jessica's
obvious intelligence proved
wretchedly
shallow in spiritual ambition. Clarissa
has thus abandoned these efforts in biting frustration, vowing that
her future creations will
be raised to postmortality only after
their souls have
first
been
sharpened
to perfection.
With the capture of the Ministry of Culture
and possession
of the
vampire
chair,
Clarissa intends
to have her way. The Grand Mistress of the School of Virtue
has
diverted the resources of an empire to realise her obsession.
She
means
to raise
an entire generation of Carnelian’s brightest youth as her
spiritual children.
Potion
of Survival
Requirements: Brew Potion, gentle repose, one syrinx of blood of both vampire sire and intended progeny, one handful of unhallowed grave soil, several doses of fatal poison; Cost: ...significantly less than a thousand ducats.