Blood Ministration

Lore & Background

The origin of Blood Ministration traces back to the College of Byrgenwerth, where scholars discovered the Great Ones and old blood. The Healing Church adopted this discovery, spreading the practice as a medical solution until it connected directly to a plague transforming people into beasts. This led to the deployment of Hunters to eliminate the infected. As the infection spread, the upper echelons of the Healing Church succumbed to infighting rather than finding a true solution. The practice is central to the game's setting in Yharnam, where inhabitants are afflicted by this blood-borne disease. The narrative reveals that before the events of the game, the discovery of old blood was the catalyst for everything that followed, turning a city of healing into a nightmare.

In Their Own Story

The Hunter arrives in Yharnam seeking "Paleblood" and receives a blood transfusion to survive the night. After this procedure, they awaken during a specific event known as the night of the Hunt. During this time, Yharnam's citizens and Hunters kill those transformed by the plague. The Hunter is trapped in the mysterious realm called the Hunter's Dream, overseen by Gehrman, an elderly Hunter. Guided to the Healing Church's grand cathedral, a vision points them toward Byrgenwerth. At this location, the Hunter defeats Rom, a spider-like being whose death reveals the blood moon and the true influence of the Great Ones. The story unravels as the Hunter encounters signs of Queen Yharnam, her child Mergo, and the Nightmare of Mensis.

Reader's Guide

While players do not perform Blood Ministration directly in the gameplay loop, understanding its mechanics is vital to navigating the world. The game emphasizes that Hunters are often sent to kill those transformed by the plague, a direct result of the ministration practice. To progress, the player must explore different locations and interact with non-player characters who hold clues about the disease's origin. Combat focuses on strategic weapon-based encounters using trick weapons and firearms against varied enemies. Defeating enemies grants Blood Echoes for character progression, while Insight acts as a secondary currency obtained through events like defeating bosses. Accumulating Insight changes some aspects of the game world, reflecting the player's growing understanding of the Great Ones and the ministration's true nature.

Did You Know?

• The game was originally developed under the working title of Project Beast starting in 2012.
• Bloodborne is set in a Gothic, Victorian-era inspired city heavily influenced by architectural designs from Romania and the Czech Republic.
• The soundtrack features over 80 minutes of original music performed by a 65-piece orchestra and a 32-member choir.
• By February 2022, Bloodborne had sold 7.46 million copies worldwide.
• The downloadable content The Old Hunters was released in November 2015.