Arate

An arate (pronounced /ɑˈrɑteɪ/ or /ɑˈrɑtiː/) is a constructed being made entirely of blood, taken from a creature either alive or recently dead. Arates in a way partake of the soul of the creature whose blood they're made of, and they share this creature's knowledge and personality. Accordingly, it's common for wizards to make arates out of their own blood, though they sometimes may create arates of valued allies, or even make aretes of enemies to have the satisfaction of keeping them in servitude. An arate may be made of the blood of more than one person, in which case its mind and personality will be some combination to those of the people used to make it, in approximate proportion to the amount of their blood that was used in its creation.

The creator of an arate has some limited ability to command it; the arate is bound to obey his orders and do his will, though it can attempt to twist the intent. Arates are often used as servants, usually to do menial tasks around the owners' homes, but also occasionally sent out to carry out their bidding elsewhere. Sometimes small arates are created as simply a macabre sort of pet.

There are multiple ways to create an arate, which have somewhat different results. A least arate is created from the blood of a living creature. Naturally, this limits the amount of blood that can be used, since living creatures only have so much blood to spare, but more blood can be added to it later to increase its size. Conversely, a deathbed arate is made from a dying creature; on its death, all the creature's blood exits the body to form the substance of the arate. Most arates are shaped like amorphous blobs, but there are some, the homunculus arates, that take the form of the creatures that supplied their blood.