Discovery of Old Blood

Lore & Background

The initial application of this blood seemed like a miracle; it acted as a definitive cure for the Yharnamite Plague, eradicating the infection in those who consumed it. However, the remedy was far more sinister than the disease itself. The Old Blood did not merely heal; it rewrote the very nature of human biology, linking the consumer's soul to the Great Ones. Over time, this connection began to manifest as a gradual transformation into bestial forms, turning the cured into beasts in an endless cycle of addiction and mutation.

In Their Own Story

The torchlight flickered against the damp stone walls of the subterranean cavern, casting long, dancing shadows that seemed to reach out for the trembling scholars. In the center of the chamber lay a pool of dark, viscous fluid, pulsing with a faint, rhythmic glow that echoed the beating of a heart not yet born. One by one, they dipped their hands into the sludge, the cold liquid clinging to their skin like living mercury. As they drank, the pain of the plague vanished, replaced by a surge of power and a whisper in the back of their minds—a voice from beyond the stars promising salvation. They did not know then that they were not drinking medicine, but an invitation.

Reader's Guide

The narrative arc begins with the devastation caused by the Great Plague, which forced humanity to seek radical solutions. A coalition of scholars and hunters, led by figures who would later found the Healing Church, discovered ancient ruins containing traces of a primordial substance. Upon extracting this Old Blood, they developed a cure that initially eradicated the plague and granted enhanced physical abilities. This success allowed for the founding of Yharnam as a beacon of hope and medical advancement, with the Church rising to power as the sole distributors of this miracle. However, the long-term impact was catastrophic. The blood induced a latent transformation in its users, turning them into beasts during their sleep or under stress. This led to the creation of the Hunters' Nightmare and the eventual collapse of Yharnam's society, trapping the city in an eternal cycle of violence and horror that persists to this day.

Did You Know?

• The Old Blood is not a natural substance but a remnant of the Great Ones found in the Pthumerian Labyrinths, primarily associated with entities like Kos rather than the Moon Presence.
• Consuming the blood acts as a cure for the Yharnamite Plague but inevitably causes the consumer to transform into a beast, a condition known as 'beasthood'.
• The Healing Church was founded specifically by Laurence to manage and distribute this dangerous cure, masking its true nature from the general populace for centuries.
• While Willem remained the head of Byrgenwerth seeking insight into the Great Ones, his student Laurence founded the Healing Church to spread the Old Blood as a plague remedy.