So, can Alchemists(either the PC class, or any alchemist in Golarion) create blood? They can do other stuff, right? They can brew potions and do fantastical things, can they make a substance that behaves exactly like blood and has all the same 'nutrients' and atoms and whatever? (Obviously I'm not a Geology expert).
If they can, could they ostensibly solve the "reluctant Vampire" thing that's bound to happen in Golarion, like with that one Paladin guy?
And if they can, would drinking fake alchemist's blood count as an evil act?
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Well, strictly speaking, making up the necessary chemical ingredients for blood isn't all that hard. Nor, for that matter, is gathering the ingredients to make a human, As Edward Elric once put it in FMA: "humans are cheap. Most of the stuff we're made of can be bought on a school-child's allowance." So, technically, it wouldn't be difficult to create a liquid very similar in composition to blood. The thing is, I don't think its really the chemical composition that's important for vampires. I'm pretty sure its the aspect of consuming another's life force through the medium of blood that's the important part. So, I suppose you could make fake blood. In fact, it would probably be mind-numbingly simple for an alchemist to do so. Problem is, since the blood isn't from a living creature, it might no "substance" to a vampire. This is, of course, just speculation. I'm just guessing this based on how I assume undead work. If vampires do actually feed on the ingredients of blood and draw strength from any substance similar to it, by all means, this would be the "vegetarian alternative," and would certainly be a neutral-aligned action (you aren't hurting anyone doing this).
By the by, I'm aware that it isn't actually possible to create human blood just by stacking the ingredients together using basic chemistry. Alchemy, on the other hand, has an element of arcane magic. It should therefore be child's play to create a substance that not only has a similar chemical composition (salt, water, iron, etc.) but also functions exactly as blood., in the same way it seems to be child's play to make a substance that gives one temporary regenerative abilities like a troll, or cures hangovers, or temporarily transmogrifies metals into other metals on contact with air. When compared to that, approximating blood should be a cinch. Especially to a chirurgeon alchemist.
Well, there you go. Just one less thing to worry about.
Well, strictly speaking, making up the necessary chemical ingredients for blood isn't all that hard. Nor, for that matter, is gathering the ingredients to make a human, As Edward Elric once put it in FMA: "humans are cheap. Most of the stuff we're made of can be bought on a school-child's allowance." So, technically, it wouldn't be difficult to create a liquid very similar in composition to blood. The thing is, I don't think its really the chemical composition that's important for vampires. I'm pretty sure its the aspect of consuming another's life force through the medium of blood that's the important part. So, I suppose you could make fake blood. In fact, it would probably be mind-numbingly simple for an alchemist to do so. Problem is, since the blood isn't from a living creature, it might no "substance" to a vampire. This is, of course, just speculation. I'm just guessing this based on how I assume undead work. If vampires do actually feed on the ingredients of blood and draw strength from any substance similar to it, by all means, this would be the "vegetarian alternative," and would certainly be a neutral-aligned action (you aren't hurting anyone doing this).
By the by, I'm aware that it isn't actually possible to create human blood just by stacking the ingredients together using basic chemistry. Alchemy, on the other hand, has an element of arcane magic. It should therefore be child's play to create a substance that not only has a similar chemical composition (salt, water, iron, etc.) but also functions exactly as blood., in the same way it seems to be child's play to make a substance that gives one temporary regenerative abilities like a troll, or cures hangovers, or temporarily transmogrifies metals into other metals on contact with air. When compared to that, approximating blood should be a cinch. Especially to a chirurgeon alchemist.
just going to add to this, but since an Alchemist actually applies their own magical essence to extracts and the like, I don't think it would be too much of a stretch to rule that as a life essence substitute.
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I checked the bestiary for the answer, thinking something like pigsblood might be the solution, but I found something way more interesting.
In Pathfinder, vampires don't need to drink blood to survive. Yes, you might want to let that sink in for a moment. There is no rule that says that vampires have to drink blood. Yes, they can drink blood and it's beneficial to them. But there's no downside for those vampires who abstain from drinking blood.
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I checked the bestiary for the answer, thinking something like pigsblood might be the solution, but I found something way more interesting.
In Pathfinder, vampires don't need to drink blood to survive. Yes, you might want to let that sink in for a moment. There is no rule that says that vampires have to drink blood. Yes, they can drink blood and it's beneficial to them. But there's no downside for those vampires who abstain from drinking blood.
...unless you're using the Hunger rules from Blood of the Night. And any campaign in which vampires are prominent should use these rules or something similar. Vampires that don't legitimately hunger for the blood of the living are no fun.
Luckily, the same book provides the spell Transmute Wine to Blood, which turns a bottle of wine worth at least 10gp into a suitable if not palatable substitute. It's not an alchemist formulae (cleric 2, sorcerer/wizard 2, witch 2), possibly because it doesn't target the drinker, but I see no reason not to house-rule that an alchemist could make an extract that when mixed with wine has the same effect.
Finally, as an alternate non-evil option, remember that it's only an evil act to drink blood from an unwilling intelligent creature, and it's not necessary to kill in order to feed. If using the hunger rules, one use of blood drain (dealing d4 Con damage) is considered "a feeding" and a single feeding is sufficient for a number of days equal to the vampire's HD. It is feasible for a nonevil vampire - even a vampire paladin - to feed from a willing ally and allow time or Lesser Restoration to repair the damage such that no lasting harm is done. And personally I think this is a much more interesting option than sterile synthetic blood.
Alchemists making synthetic blood?
Alchemists can also hypthetically create an Alchemical lotion that allows vampires to walk in sunlight unhindered for 24 hours per dose as well if desired. i'd wager such an item is worth 10 gold pieces per dose at best.
