One of the more unusual Nelapsi legends refers to line members as creatures with two hearts. On at least one occasion, a Nelapsi has shrugged off a hawthorn stake thrust squarely into his chest, removed the offending implement himself, and chastised his startled attacker before destroying her. Shadow Heart relies as much on misdirection as it does on sheer toughness. By creating a momentary distraction at the moment of impact, the Nelapsi causes the attacker’s blow to land slightly askew, missing the vital target while harm is diminished by undead sinew and bone.
Nelapsi never teach this Devotion to an unproven operit. By tradition, only a predek can teach this trick and only to his own childer.
