[Submission] The Unliving Hive

The Unliving Hive
Cardtype: Retainer
Cost: no cost or 1 blood
Discipline: Ani
Clan: Nosferatu
Animal retainer with 3 life.
Lock this retainer to prevent all damage from a strike. The Unliving Hive takes the damage instead.
as above, and this vampire can lock this retainer to gain +1 intercept.
as above, and this vampire gains an additional maneuver once each combat.

Art notes: A nosferatu in a commanding pose, with a swarm of insects following their direction.

World of Darkness reference: The Unliving Hive, p.247 Corebook V5

How does this card address a compelling game need?: Nosferatu / Sabotage wall concepts require a lot of different tools: Intercept and versatile combat means, especially something to cope with constant medium damage. The Unliving Hive is a power which provides exactly that - distraction, damage prevention and a means to spy. The locking mechanism intends to balance the versatility benefit.

Created by: Jan Etzel, with credit to @hobbesgoblin.

Unliving Hive
Cardtype: Retainer
Cost: 2 blood
Discipline: Ani
Clan: Nosferatu
Animal retainer with 3 life. A vampire can have only one Unliving Hive.
Lock this retainer to prevent all damage from a strike. Unliving Hive takes the damage instead.
as above, and this vampire can lock this retainer to gain +1 intercept.
as above, and this vampire can lock this retainer and burn (one?) two life from it to cancel a strike card.

Alternate version which uses a "burn life" mechanic for the amalgam effect. Added further restrictions (a vampire can have only one, cost upped to two blood) to balance the new effect.