Helforge Blood

A disturbing rest-product from the process of forging helwrought metals. A potent magical component, sought after by everyone dealing with the infernal. Known to most for its intense smell of iron and honey. The metallic sweetness might drive one to think that the liquid might be a delectable drink, which could not be further from the truth. Imbibing the blood acts as a burning poison, which slowly starts melting the drinker from the inside. Something in the magic of the blood keeps the imbiber alive through a grueling process, which can last up to several days unless something is done to halt it.

Despite its magical nature, the blood has come to be defined as a "natural by-product" due to the facts that there has been no way to stop it from spilling forth while a smith works the infernal magics into the metals, and that there is still no explanation as to why it appears. Not even bound devils have been able to answer the question, which speaks to the fact that not even they know how it comes to be.

The infernal nature of the fluid means that it lends itself particularly well as a component in all kinds of magic dealing with fiends. Quite often used in summoning helbeasts, or to channel infernal energy. But since the selling of the blood usually requires even more extensive permits than just running a helforge, most helsmiths simply reuse the rest-product to reinforce their own safe-guards and bindings. On Trildovaar, the only place one used to be able to freely produce helforge blood was in Solitus. But in the last few decades it has started to see more common usage in Raler, where it is part in enforcing the strength of The Red Legion.

While most consider the blood to be fairly harmless as long as it is managed and used with scrutiny, there are those who think it is part of a greater conspiracy from the side of the devils. Looking though history, there is very little credence to these conspiracy theorists, as there has been no reported infernal breaches connected to the substance.