Ramparts of Obedient Earth

Cost: 2m per cubic yard; Mins: War 4, Essence 3; Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Action-Only, Combo-OK, Obvious, Shaping
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Phantom-Warrior Horde

To the Children of Pasiap, the battlefield is clay to be shaped according to the demands of military tactics. With this Charm, the Dragon-Blood can stamp his foot or smite the ground with his fists, and the earth responds to its master. Up to a cubic yard of dirt or similar earthy material can be shaped to the Dragon-Blood's will. The earth can be wrenched up and compressed to form a crude barrier capable of providing cover against arrows or disrupting a cavalry charge or an infantry formation. It can be compressed beneath the feet of an advancing force, requiring all those caught within the resulting sinkhole to succeed on a (Dexterity + Athletics) to avoid knockdown. Finally, the Charm can be used for excavation, as the Exalt tunnels into the ground, compressing the earth away from him and leaving rock-hard tunnel walls in his wake. The compressed earth has a soak of 5L/8B and a Hardness of 4. Each area roughly a yard thick requires 20 health levels to damage and 30 to destroy. The Charm can be used to manipulate dirt, sand, pebbles and even mud, but it has no effect on actual rock of any density.

This is a reflexive Charm that can be used freely without the need for a Combo. The Dragon-Blood is, however, limited in using the Charm as follows: The Charm can be activated only on a tick when the Dragon-Blood performs an action. It cannot be activated on the ticks between actions.

Latest Errata: By default, each activation of the Charm molds one cubic yard per 2m spent. All affected volume must be contiguous. The difficulty to avoid falling in a sinkhole is the Exalt's Essence rating and an entire unit may be knocked down if the pit or trench is large enough. With Essence 4+, the Terrestrial can shape 10 cubic yards per 2m and can mold rock, allowing more grandiose constructions and excavations. Modifying terrain can affect the cover provided and how swiftly units may move over it as appropriate to the resultant landscape.