•• Guided Steps
Lorna Zelan was not a combatant by nature, but over the course of her career saw her share of violence. Strangely, though, attackers tended to miss her — guns jammed, knives became caught in clothing and opponents stumbled at critical moments. It was this kind of happenstance that earned her the nickname “Lucky Lorna,” but she consistently claimed that luck had nothing to do with it. She knew when it was time to dodge, time to strike and time to run. With this power, the Zelani takes advantages of such circumstances, avoiding danger and harm.
Effect
The Zelani can activate this power any time as a reflexive action, but only during a turn in which the player declares a Dodge. The character’s Serendipity rating is applied to her Defense Trait after it is doubled. All other Defense-based effects, including Merits that alter Defense and reductions for multiple opponents work normally, except that the character’s Serendipity rating is applied as Defense toward firearms attacks. If the character also has the Celerity Discipline and activates it for that turn, her entire Defense is applied to firearms attacks.
Example: Lorna Zelan is in a fight with a Mekhet assassin. Biding her time, she activates Guided Steps. Her Defense is normally 3, but as she is Dodging, her Defense is doubled to 6. On top of that, her player adds her Serendipity rating (5), for a total Defense of 11 for that turn. If the Mekhet shoots at her, however, her Defense is only considered 5, since her normal Defense does not apply to firearms.
Attacks that miss due to the character’s augmented Defense seem to fall victim to unfortunate, but completely plausible, twists of fate. Guns jam, attackers (or the Zelani herself) trip, a sudden crack of thunder startles an attacker into Jumping back and so on. Likewise, a dramatic failure on such an attack indicates that the attacker has had a particularly disastrous turn of events. Perhaps he encounters an unforeseen motorcycle as he charges across the street at the Zelani, or perhaps his bullet misses and the ricochet hits him.
Example: Lorna Zelan is in a fight with a Mekhet assassin. Biding her time, she activates Guided Steps. Her Defense is normally 3, but as she is Dodging, her Defense is doubled to 6. On top of that, her player adds her Serendipity rating (5), for a total Defense of 11 for that turn. If the Mekhet shoots at her, however, her Defense is only considered 5, since her normal Defense does not apply to firearms.
Attacks that miss due to the character’s augmented Defense seem to fall victim to unfortunate, but completely plausible, twists of fate. Guns jam, attackers (or the Zelani herself) trip, a sudden crack of thunder startles an attacker into Jumping back and so on. Likewise, a dramatic failure on such an attack indicates that the attacker has had a particularly disastrous turn of events. Perhaps he encounters an unforeseen motorcycle as he charges across the street at the Zelani, or perhaps his bullet misses and the ricochet hits him.
Material Components
Cost: 1 Vitae
Gestures & Ritual
Dice Pool: No roll is necessary.
Related Discipline
Effect Casting Time
Reflexive
Level
2