10 XP
This Devotion was first taught to a young Carthian by a sympathetic independent elder. He had been a soldier in life, and continued so under different leaders in undeath. Now quite old and quite mad, helping a young soldier keep his watch struck the elder’s fancy. The young Carthian took credit for inventing the Devotion after the elder disappeared into the night.
Cost: 1 Vitae per night, or until surprised
Dice Pool: This power involves no roll to invoke.
Action: Instant
The user of this Devotion cannot be surprised. The character rolls Wits + Composure (or the appropriate surprise dice pool) normally whenever something he would respond to happens suddenly. If the roll fails, this power takes effect and makes the roll a success. If the roll succeeds, the player may opt to expend the power anyway to automatically win initiative for the ensuing encounter. This makes character’s initiative number one higher than the other highest initiative rolled.
After an activation of this power has prevented a surprise or won an initiative contest, the power is used up, and, to prevent any more surprises, Vitae must be spent again. Only one Vitae may be spent at a time; the power is either active or it isn’t. The effects of this Devotion are the matter of an instant’s reaction. If additional combatants enter after the power has been used to win initiative, this Devotion does not cause the user to go faster than the newcomers should they happen to roll higher than the user placed with this power.