The Tobe Na Med Research Institute is a research institute that claims to specialise in Historic Genealogical DNA research, specifically with the goal of finding genetic markers within historical noble families and their descendants. Amongst their stated primary goals is the discovery of genes which are related to the failure and success of dynasties, as well as determining if marriage customs of the historic era have created genetic division between nobles and non-nobles. They accomplish this goal by analysing the blood of the descendent of noble families, especially those who still qualify as nobles.

While this is the official story, anyway. Unofficially, the Tobe Na Med Research Institute is a front to purchase and storing blood for consumption by the Kindred who set up the institute.

The Tobe Na Med Research Institutes purchases donated blood as any research institute or hospital would. They are especially interested in purchasing the blood of humans who qualify as nobility, regardless of blood type. Notably, they take “second pick”, that is, they yield preference of purchase to any medical institution that needs blood to serve patients, and moreover loan from their supply to nearby hospitals in cases of emergency.

Besides research into nobility, the institute also tests the quality of blood for pathogens, contamination, etc.

The research institutes primary function is acquiring blood, the method for which is listed blow. However, there are several other benefits provided by the institute:

* Counts as ⅕th of the necessary effort for raising to Resources :6: due to tax benefits and financial constructs
* Can be a good justification for increasing Influence rating due to new acquintances in Berlin's administration
* Can act as justification for establishing private security firm with exceptional permits and rights
* Lab that can perform quick blood testing and research on demand without questions asked

* Can be a catalyst for getting new contacts and gettings things done in the medical sphere
* Can be a catalyst for getting new contacts in the research funding sphere
* Can eventually be used as a recruitment location for skilled junior scientists

• Can eventually act as an information source on issues regarding the city's inhabitants' blood and its quality

• Provides an extensive lab facility for research on blood and blood related matters, including a research assistant to ease up on various tasks
• Can be used as a cover for purchasing chemicals without suspicion

The institute can be used to acquire blood in three different ways: direct extraction, market purchase, and donation filtering

Direct extraction is the least complicated method with the most problems - it is possible to simply take blood directly out of the refrigerator in the institute for consumption. Administratively this is easy: since blood which fails pathogen tests is destroyed to prevent contamination, it requires only that a test form is filled out as a positive test for pathogens instead of a negative test and that it is recorded as having been destroyed.

However, direct extraction affects the blood supply, both in the institute and in Berlin more generally, besides being fraudulent. Using this means would be a Humanity 7 sin (theft). In special cases when there is a blood shortage (for example following a large accident), it may also be a Humanity 6 sin (accidental violation). In either case, depending on the humanity of the kindred extracting the blood, a humanity discussion may be appropriate. Naturally, specific circumstances may factor into the decision. Wasting blood for fun or using it for dark purposes may rank lower on the humanity scale and may be a violation even for lower humanity characters, while using it to save lives or otherwise do greater good than harm may mean no humanity violation took place at all.

Due to the size of the store and the normal operational costs that include provisions for failed tests, up to 5 blood can be acquired through this means in a month without affecting operations. If trying to take more blood, an (Intelligence + Medicine) check should be made. The number of successes is the amount of blood beyond five that can be taken without arousing suspicion (so 5 on a failure, 6 on 1 success, etc). If more blood than this is taken, or if a botch is rolled, an investigation is triggered with one of the grant givers or with the health department. Such an investigation may temporarily close the institutes operations, may cost money in fines, or may even place the masquerade at risk in rare cases.

Since the institute purchases blood for its research, unlike with Direct Extraction, it does not arouse suspicion if the institute purchases blood from the blood market through the proper channels. In this case, the institute purchases blood as normal, reserved for research and once acquired gives this blood to the buyer (who will pay the listed price in the form of a donation). Since this is “second pick” blood, and nobody is at risk, there is no humanity violation involved.

The going rate for blood in Germany is 105 euro's per dose ¹⁾ while the black market rate is some 200 euro's ²⁾, so it is even possible to make some level of profit from this by filtering blood to the black market - this would, however, attract unwanted attention if it were to become known.

Two limitations apply on Market Purchases. First, since the institute cannot sell blood to consumers without arousing serious suspicion, there is a one day delay between requesting the purchase and receiving the blood. While it is possible to buy blood that is stored at the institute already, for bookkeeping purposes it is necessary to wait until a replacement batch has been bought to make sure the supply is the same in the refrigrerator as it is on paper - to do otherwise would make the purchase a Direct Extraction (even if a donation is made to pay for it).

The second limitation is that there is a limited amount of blood that can be purchased in this manner - if there is any blood to buy at all! Each month, there is 2D10 - 5 points of blood available for purchase ³⁾. Roll the first time anyone attempts to purchase blood or use Donation Filtering (see below) during a month - if the result is zero or less, it means no blood is available.

For various reasons, it may be desirable to filter blood acquired from other sources through the research institute.

This is done by donating blood (for example by bringing in in a volunteer donor) via the institute. Since the institute profits from testing the blood on behalf of the collective Berlin blood banks, it can then use those profits to buy some of the donated blood from the blood banks. You can get one point of blood for every two points of blood donated.

This type of purchase is analogous to a Market Purchase, but it is paid for out of the profits of the donation, and it provides its own blood, and is therefore not limited by the available amount of blood.

One advantage is that blood filtered in this way will have been tested for pathogens and is therefore a safe source of food.

Another advantage is that donation filtering actually increases the supply of blood available for patients, but this comes with a potential disadvantage: in special cases where there is a blood shortage in Berlin due to large accidents or the likes, the blood banks are not obligated to sell back the blood just donated. Due to the large stored supply, this would only happen in the most dire of events.

The implementation of the Research Institute requires four steps be completed: funding, location, permits and recruitment. Once all four are completed, the institute can be started up right away. There are also two optional components which can, but do not have to, be completed.

Funding needs to be provided to start up and maintain the institute. A total of E 250.000 needs to be raised (excluding the cost for the building) up front, and a Finance check may be required to effectively set up the system of loans and investments necessary to maintain the institute.

A fitting location needs to be secured and acquired. Currently, the best location appears to be Alastar Mac Caoileann's domain, which is right next to the Charite Hospital, but space needs to be made available. Acquiring such a location may require purchasing a building or finding some other way to gain ownership of it.

The institute will require a permit to process bodily fluids as well as connections with the local hospital and the red cross in order to be able to purchase blood. Someone well connected in the charity circuit, or perhaps with political connections, would likely be able to make such arrangements, or perhaps Influence could be used to ensure the necessary permits.

The institute needs to hire various scientists and support staff. These need to be people who are both capable and trustworthy. Preferably they would be masquerade friendly, though if not, they should be the type of people not to ask too many questions. In total, four researchers and two support staff need to be recruited.

The standard setup includes various alarms, locks and security camera's, but as an optional feature, security can be arranged to better secure the facility beyond this, posting guards or the likes.

The standard setup includes the contacts necessary to operate, but having additional connections in the science community can lend additional credence to the facility and can make it easier to get future grants, while seeming much more legitimate.