Developer Richard Garriott, best known for creating the Ultima series, is looking to raise money for his next fantasy RPG, Shroud of the Avatar. Rather than rely on a traditional crowdfunding approach via Kickstarter or Indiegogo, Garriott is turning to eBay to fund the new game.
Garriott, known to his fans as Lord British, is auctioning off six reliquaries filled with his blood. Yes, that's right - you can buy his blood.
The auctions, which start at $5,000, describe the reliquaries as beautiful and unique pieces of art made of bakelite, copper, nails, glass, and mirrored glass that can be hung on your wall. The current auction has roughly nine days left although I don't suspect it'll last that long - not because of demand but due to the fact that selling blood violates eBay's policy.
If for some reason you are interested and end up with one of the reliquaries, you'll be happy to know that the blood in them is real. In fact, Garriott livestreamed the bloodletting on YouTube last night with help from a registered nurse. You have to wonder what was going through her mind as the whole thing played out.
The auction also includes a wealth of digital goods from Shroud of the Avatar as well as a visit to Portalarium, the developer's studio in Austin (travel costs are not included).