What about a lessening of your cabal powers success/power when you have 3 items. You then have the choice of taking 3 enemy cabal items but risk not deathblowing as often or beasts not heading your call. You have huge areas to chameleon in but no beasts to call makes the cabal leaers have to make tactical decisions about who's items they take. If it resulted in less items being taken it would result in more open warfare rather than war at the cabal.

-----Abernyte