Protean
While other Cainites huddled in caves and villages with mortal populations, the
Gangrel stomped about for thousands of years conquering the world as they knew
it. They adopted mortal tribes and migrated with the herd and harvest,
following their human prey from grassland to grassland. Gangrel nomads
benefited from their own Discipline of Protean, a secret of the Blood that
meant that they did not have to keep within a half-a-nights run from the
shelter of a hut or cave. For millennia, the Gangrel kept this Discipline
secrete and private so that members of no other clan could learn it. Gangrel
legends say that the other clans believed them to be gods of the steppe, immune
to the suns scorching rays.
In these nights, the secret of Protean is no longer entirely the property of
the Gangrel. Other clans have unearthed the Discipline's secrets and passed
them from sire to childe, but no bloodline has the flair for it that the
Gangrel do. Protean allows a Cainite to change his body's form to aid in his
nightly hunting, and in escaping his enemies (both physical and spiritual). The
ability is a reflection of Gods curse on vampires because it peels away the
layer of protection and civility provided by a vampires human shape. It
displays the Beast in the vampire using it and keeps him from denying it or
hiding from it.
As a characters shape changes, the use of certain Disciplines may become
impossible. A Cainite in mist form cannot use Dominate, as it depends on eye
contact, for instance. While general guidelines are provided, the final
decisions in these matters rest with the Storyteller.
* Gleam of Red Eye (gleam) This allows the user to see in the dark.
** Feral Claws (claws) This grants a Vampire beastial claws that count
as bare hands. The claws grow in strength as the Vampire's Protean
increases.
*** Earthmeld (earthmeld) Protection from sunlight and mobs, type
anything and it pops you up instantly.
**** Shape of the Beast (shift <wolf/bat/rat) This allows you to alter
your form to that of a Wolf, Bat or Rat.
***** Shape of Mist (shift <mist>)This allows you to change your form into
that of Mist. Almost impossible to damage.
See also: Gleam, Claws, Earthmeld, Mist, Shiftmist
