When getting attacked by the slave sprites in the gladiator pits I see the following message.
Code:
A sprite slave's stab at your left leg is deflected by flesh hide.
A sprite slave's stab at your left arm is deflected by flesh hide.
A sprite slave's stab at your chest is deflected by flesh hide.
When I have this for my gear.
Code:
<worn on body>       an elegant tunic (worn out)
<worn on head>       a soft leather cap (brand new)
<worn on legs>       some pleated suede trousers (worn out)
<worn on hands>      a pair of white lace gloves (superb)
<worn on arms>       a pair of full-length, leather bracers (good)
<worn about body>    a full-length, sea-colored kimono (good)
<worn about waist>   a trimmed steel girth (brand new)
And after killing a dozen or so I've noticed that they 
never hit me.  Nothing but deflects.  They challenge as a tough challenge for my Initiate, so I am pretty darn sure they should be able to hit me.
Maybe they are supposed to be wusses and maybe I do have a flesh hide.  *shrug*  But I'm pretty sure this is a bug.
-/d