Fortitude Revised (version 3)

By Andrew Grichting (darkling@ozramp.net.au)

Introduction

"Within all of us crouches the Beast, ready to spring, should we let down our guard, for the briefest instant. Beside the Beast, in the dark of our souls crouch others, waiting to be discovered, should you but be bold enough. Let me tell you of one you already know the rudiments of, that which others call Fortitude; but they fail to understand -- for it is more than mere endurance -- it is the soul of a stone, it is more than that -- it is the essence of adamant -- it is the distillation of what it means to be a vampire -- like you and me -- eternal, unchanging, and truly immortal."
-- Attr. to anon Gangrel Elder

"Da gibt es welche, die glauben um tapfer zu ein muesse Verwandt eine mystiches Ader zu haben - und das ist falsch. Du bist ein Vampir. Kannst du ermessen was das bedeutet? Es handelt sich umgehores Geschenk und einen Fluch - Denn Du wurdest von Kain ausgeraehlt und brauchst keine weitere Erklaerung mysticher Art fur einen Umstand der dir von recht und pflicht zukommt und dich verflucht den dummen und grausame Kine zu baendigen."

[trans:]

"Some would have you belief there is a mystic element to Fortitude -- this is false. You are a Vampire. Do you know what this means? It is a fearful and mighty gift and curse, for you are the chosen of Caine, and you need no further mystical explanation for something that is your right as much as it is your duty to rule the unknowing and uncaring Kine."

-- Johann Von Meinhaerlten

* Resistance (Seelenstaerke)

At this most basic level, vampiric skin takes on a rubbery feel, and is resistant to bruising. Any damage which would move a vampire from unhurt to bruised simply has no effect.

** Ignoring the Stinging of Gnats

Now the vampire's skin begins to feel hard, as if there were tensed muscle beneath the flesh. Any damage inflicted by a physical strike does not cause the vampire to stumble backwards if the damage is less than the vampire's combined Strength + Potence

*** Deflecting the pain

This level of Fortitude allows the vampire to lessen the debilitating effects of wounds. If the vampires dice pool is lessened due to injury, the penalty is one die less. Additionally, even if the vampire is incapacitated, he may roll one die for actions.

**** Resilience (Steinherz)

When the vampire has mastered this level of Fortitude, he begins to bring the stone within to the surface, and in certain vampires, their skin begins to take on a grey tinge, and become rigid. Damage which would tear the skin, or relies on piercing the skin to do damage, automatically inflicts one level less damage.

***** Agony's Release

At this point the vampire may consign pain felt to the stone within, effectively ignoring any wound penalties for a number of turns equal to a Stamina + Fortitude roll difficulty 5. A botch indicates that the vampire has failed and is doubled in pain for a number of turns equal to the number of botches rolled.

****** Pain's Fading Fury

Upon reaching this level of power, Kindred may totally detach themselves from any pain at will, for as long as required. This means that anything which would cause pain still causes damage, but has no other effects. There are negative effects in that blood may not be spent to heal wounds while this level of Fortitude is being maintained. Upon releasing the discipline, the vampire feels intense agony for a number of turns equal to the current wound penalty, and feels pain until all wounds are completely healed.

******* Sharing of the Wound

Few Kindred reach this level of mastery, but those who do are indeed forces to be reckoned with, having an iron-like skin which is hard to the touch. Striking their flesh causes reverberations which may injure the attacker. On any attempt to inflict damage, if all damage is soaked, then the attacker suffers two damage levels, which may be soaked.

******** Forsaking the Flesh

When the flesh is forsaken, the Cainite has truly taken the essence of the stone, forming a union which renders him nearly invulnerable. Bullets will ricochet off the flesh, and any creature with a combine Strength and Potence of less than 4 can inflict no brawl damage whatsoever.

********* Assuming the Stone

Beyond the essence is the form, and kindred with this level of Fortitude can become the stone, making themselves statues, which can absorb even the most terrifying forms of damage: sunlight and fire. When the Kindred chooses, she may make a statue of herself, with limited mobility. Entering a form of torpor during daylight, she may stand in the full sun and suffer no harm, yet retain a limited awareness even as the sun savages her rocky exteriors.

********** Blood of Iron

No kindred with this level of power have seen fit to describe it to lesser kindred, but tales persist of vampires who ignored direct bomb blasts, walked freely in the light of day, and whom even the mightiest of blows could not scar, let alone topple. Speculation has been forwarded of the ability to absorb minerals into the bloodstream, and use these to make a skin of steel, which yet retains its flexibility.