Flesh of Iron
(Protean •••, Resilience •)
The known dangers of a vampire’s nighttime existence are bad enough. When a nomad travels to a new town or shelters in the wilderness, he risks a whole new array of dangers and hazards. This Devotion allows a measure of protection against physical threats, whether the impact of a car on a lonely highway or a Machete in the hands of a vampire protecting his domain. For a few moments, the character’s skin takes on the consistency of sharkskin or granite, his flesh like iron. Blades and impacts bounce off; even bullets and swords are blunted.
Effect
When this Devotion is used, the vampire gains an armor effect. His dots in Resilience are treated as armor points and can be used to defend equally against melee, ranged and firearm attacks. Armor rating acquired from this Devotion is not combined with that from any protective gear worn; the highest armor rating of the two takes precedence. The effect of this power lasts for a number of turns equal to the character’s dots in Protean.
As a side effect of this protection, the character’s movement is slowed. His thickened, hardened flesh is stiff and cumbersome. His Initiative and Speed traits are both reduced by an amount equal to his dots in Resilience, to a minimum of zero.
A character may choose not to invoke the full measure of his Resilience in armor. For example, a character with this Devotion and Resilience •••• may choose to invoke only two points of armor from Flesh of Iron. A character doing this suffers the Initiative and Speed penalties for only the amount of armor he uses; so, the character in the example would suffer only a -2 penalty to Initiative and Speed in this case.
As a side effect of this protection, the character’s movement is slowed. His thickened, hardened flesh is stiff and cumbersome. His Initiative and Speed traits are both reduced by an amount equal to his dots in Resilience, to a minimum of zero.
A character may choose not to invoke the full measure of his Resilience in armor. For example, a character with this Devotion and Resilience •••• may choose to invoke only two points of armor from Flesh of Iron. A character doing this suffers the Initiative and Speed penalties for only the amount of armor he uses; so, the character in the example would suffer only a -2 penalty to Initiative and Speed in this case.
Material Components
Cost: 1 Vitae
Gestures & Ritual
Dice Pool: This power involves no roll to invoke
Related Discipline
Protean •••, Resilience •
Effect Casting Time
Instant