Blood Pen

By Timothy Toner (thanatos@interaccess.com)

Description

Resembling elegant fountain pens from long ago, blood pens are used often to sign contracts between Kindred and other denizens of the World of Darkness. The pen initally seems to have no ink. However, a sudden pinprick, and the pen is writing.

Any name on a contract is bound to the letter of the contract as if a blood bond exists between it and the signor. The Signor must be aware of the exact letter of the contract, else it has no power. Thus, an obscure clause, if it conflicts with the letter of the contract, is invalid. For example, Tom is buying a cycle from Nick Scratch. Buried in the fine print is the clause: I give my immortal soul to Nick Scratch. Since nothing exists within the clause to link the sale of the bike to the surrendering of the soul, the clause is not valid. Had the clause said, "In addition to the above stated price, I also give my immortal soul as payment in full," it would be keeping to the letter of the Contract. The signor must be able to read the contract in toto. If he chooses not to, it is his fault.

Other than that, the signor must follow precisely what the contract says. He may fight it as a person resists a blood bond. One way of doing it is corrupting the Letter of the Contract with the Spirit of the Contract. By spending a point of Willpower, and informing the ST of a possible loophole in the contract, the signor can act on the loophole. If enough loopholes can be found (from 5- 10), the contract is declared null and void.

It is often good business for both parties to sign the contract so that both sides must adhere to the Letter of the Contract. Unscrupulous Warlocks will often neglect to tell a Signor that he too should sign the Contract. If both names are on the list, neither party may do anything to affect the other's enjoyment of his end of the contract. Thus, in exchange for Tom's money and soul, Beelzebub must surrender the bike, and must allow Tom to enjoy the bike. If Tom should lose the bike without Beelzebub interfering, Beelzebub may collect. Neither side may willingly harm a Signor. Often two names will be simply signed on a blank piece of paper. As long as the paper exists, neither one can hurt the other. Anyone can burn the paper, but neither side can aid in its destruction.

Using the pen consumes a blood point.