[PvK]

I think it's a reduction to _defense_ (not protection) per _melee_ attack.

_Protection_ is reduced by the target's fatigue.

Missile attacks also ignore _defense_, though not _protection_ nor shields.

Did the Bane Lord have any fire resistance?

(I've killed SC pretenders with enough non-flaming composite bows...)

However that's just due to eventual good hits through luck, not due to any kind of protection reduction, I think.

PvK