Lessons in the Steel
Auspex •, Resilience •••
Some rather intrepid Kindred develop the ability to gain insight into a foe’s combat prowess by willingly subjecting themselves to opponents’ attacks. Knowledge is power, after all, and any vampire wounded in this way is gifted with power that can then be used against the enemy.
Effect
In order to activate this Devotion, the vampire must first suffer an attack from an opponent that successfully inflicts at least one point of damage of any type in close combat. Upon suffering this wound, the vampire’s player makes the requisite roll. His dice pool is reduced by one die for each piece of information sought about the attacker (up to a maximum of five) beyond the first. The information the character seeks must be related to combat or other martial prowess. For example, Joe’s character wishes to learn two bits of relevant information about the Kindred who just hit him, so Joe rolls Resolve 3 + Investigation 2 + Resilience 3, minus one die for the second piece of information sought. One success is achieved and the Storyteller reveals that the attacker has great prowess with a blade (Weaponry 4), but rather poor follow-through (Strength 1). This power has no effect on ranged attacks, nor on attacks that are themselves manifestations of other Disciplines. Theban Sorcery’s Blood Scourge, for example, provides no information, but an opponent invoking Vigor for a pummeling attack does.
Material Components
Cost: 1 Vitae
Gestures & Ritual
Dice Pool: Resolve + Investigation + Resilience – opponent’s Resolve
Related Discipline
Auspex •, Resilience •••
Effect Casting Time
Instant