Counting Frame Analysis of Trends in the Bloodlines of the Dragonblooded Gens

By Crescent Moon

Counting Frame Analysis, known sometimes by its more wieldy nickname ‘Bloodlines by Abacus’, is a text attributed to the early Shogunate.

Its author Crescent Moon posits a controversial theory: it contains a number of mathematical formulae for calculating the odds of a child Exalting, which increase based on how well-bred the parents happen to be. The text, however, asserts that this is the only measure which can be influenced: whether or not a child is likely to Exalt can be controlled, but their aspect and even their level of breeding are completely arbitrary and unrelated to any trait of parents or environment. The text is critical of conventional wisdom which holds that Gens naturally favour certain aspects and lines bred for purity always produce well-bred offspring, pointing out that there is no valid formula which can be drafted to prove this to be the case.

The text is on the Realm's list of proscribed texts, illegal to read or own for any but the Dragonblooded. It is a rare text, with no print copies available, but within the front cover of the book is an Immaculate notice stamp advising that the contents of the book are both incorrect and heretical.