The most valuable substance known to man, hoarded and consumed by the wealthiest and most powerful individuals, is the mineral Bloodstone. It’s uses range from imbuing weapons with magical properties to a highly effective, though addictive stimulant drug. Wars have been fought, nations have risen and fallen, and heroes have been made because of this scarlet crystal substance. After eons of use and study of Bloodstone, the greatest wizards, miners, and minds of the material plane concluded that the mineral is actually the, now crystalline, blood of the gods that was spilled in their various wars on the material plane. Their blood, wherever if fell, seeped into the earth where it took a crystalline form imbued with the innate magic of the gods. Bloodstone is mined from the depths of the earth, a dangerous operation, but highly rewarding. Bloodstone mines are usually owned by the wealthiest individuals or organization on the planet who employ fearless miners to face the many dangers of the operation. Once extracted from the ground, the mineral must be processed to make its use safe for mortals. Bloodstone, in its raw form, is highly toxic to mortals, though in much different ways than other poisons and elixirs. The effects of Raw Bloodstone exposure are first recognized by significant physical changes. The eyes take a deep crimson hue and a creature’s physical abilities, such as strength and speed, become immensely powerful. Creatures exposed to Raw Bloodstone also usually gain strange magical abilities, which are highly variable and impossible predict as they come from the raw chaos magic of the crystal. The most dangerous effect of exposure is the effect it has on the mind. Bloodstone is feared by all intelligent creatures, not even illithids can control its mind-changing effects. Exposed creatures slowly go mad, filled with the chaos of pure magic. The destruction wrought by these now Bloodstone fueled monstrosities is devastating. Bloodstone mines usually require an entire army to operate safely, as many a miner will succumb to the bloodstone’s power. Once extracted, Raw Bloodstone must be processed to make it safe for use by mortals. This refining process is a heavily guarded secret, known only to those with the highest security clearances in a mining operation, as that process is the lifeblood of the organization’s wealth. Once processed, Bloodstone is sold as a fine powder or dust to many different markets. The most common market for Bloodstone is the crafting industry, in which it is the source of magic for enchanted weapons, armor, trinkets, elixirs, and oddities. The price of these items tends to follow the rise and fall with the price of Bloodstone. In a way, Bloodstone is the universal currency, accepted everywhere, worth more than a hundred thousand times its weight in gold. Another, more dangerous, market exists for Bloodstone, that of its use as an ability enhancing drug. Those who can afford the highly purified forms of Bloodstone use it to lengthen their lifespans, increase their magical abilities, augment their martial prowess, and a host of other effects. The drug, in this highly purified form, bends its effects to the desires of the user, making it incredibly powerful, though also highly addictive. Even one taste of the drug is usually enough to instill a lifelong addiction to any mortal. Though highly purified, the drug form of Bloodstone is not without its dangers. Many heavy users eventually fall into madness, driven by their addiction to the drug. Outside of the wealthiest quarters it is still possible to find Bloodstone as a drug, though it is much more dangerous, as its purity is usually well below the noble standard. **Uses** The effects of the use of Bloodstone as a drug are highly variable and tend to be expressed as the user desires. Below are some sample effects and how much Bloodstone must be used in order to achieve that effect. Bloodstone is measured by cost for simplicity. - Gain XP based on the amount of Bloodstone consumed. 100XP = 50gp of Bloodstone - Regain 1 spell slot. 20gp/level. - Regain hit points. 1gp/HP - Increase an ability score by 2. 1000g/day - Gain the effects of the Alert feat. 100g/hr. - Increase speed by 15ft. 50g/hr. - Gain Darkvision. 50g/hr. **Bloodstone Madness** Every time Bloodstone is consumed, there is a chance that some of its effects will induce madness. Below are rules that describe when Bloodstone Madness effects a creature. Whenever a creature consumes Bloodstone, roll percentile dice to determine if it succumbs to madness. Use the list below to determine the results. If madness occurs, roll on the indicated Madness Table in the PHB. - 10gp or less — 1-90 No Effect, 91-95 Short-Term Madness, 96-99 Long-term Madness, 100 Indefinite Madness - 11gp – 100gp — 1-80 No Effect, 81-91 Short-Term Madness, 92-97 Long-term Madness, 98-100 Indefinite Madness - 101gp – 500gp — 1-70 No Effect, 71-85 Short-Term Madness, 86-96 Long-term Madness, 97-100 Indefinite Madness - 501gp – 1000gp — 1-60 No Effect, 61-75 Short-Term Madness, 76-94 Long-term Madness, 95-100 Indefinite Madness - 1001gp – 5000gp — 1-50 No Effect, 51-68 Short-Term Madness, 69-90 Long-term Madness, 91-100 Indefinite Madness - 5001gp – 10000gp — 1-30 No Effect, 31-50 Short-Term Madness, 51-80 Long-term Madness, 81-100 Indefinite Madness - 10001gp + — 1-15 No Effect, 16-40 Short-Term Madness, 41-65 Long-term Madness, 66-100 Indefinite Madness It can be more difficult to remove madness caused by Bloodstone than other forms of madness, as the innate magic of the effect can sometimes resist restoration magic.