### **Description**

Stone endures. Those who master Masonry understand the permanence of their work—fortresses that defy siege, monuments that carry legacy, and sanctuaries that shelter the weary. Whether reinforcing walls during a siege or collapsing a tunnel to thwart pursuit, a skilled mason can shape stone as both shield and weapon.

The _Pillars of Stone_ tree represents the knowledge and strength needed to work with stone. It spans the practical and the sacred, from quarrying building materials to crafting shrines that channel spiritual power.

### **Overview of Tiers and Progression**

- **Tier 1 (Masonry 1+)**: Basic construction and hazard detection.
- **Tier 2 (Masonry 2+)**: Reinforcement, trap-building, and efficiency in material gathering.
- **Tier 3 (Masonry 3+)**: Siege-specific support, monuments, and controlled demolitions.
- **Tier 4 (Masonry 4+)**: Legendary stonework and spiritual shrines.

**Cost:** Each tier costs **Tier × 3 Marks**, spent from **Masonry or Might**.  
**Advancement:** Must unlock **Tier 1** before accessing later tiers.


### **Tier 1 Abilities** _(Masonry 1+)_

| **Name**             | **Type**    | **Action/Duration**                             | **Roll (if active)** | **Description**                                                                                                                                 |
| -------------------- | ----------- | ----------------------------------------------- | -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Stonecraft**       | **Passive** | Always on                                       | —                    | Gain **+1 die** when building or repairing with stone.                                                                                          |
| **Spot Instability** | **Effect**  | Attaches to a Masonry roll inspecting stonework | —                    | Mark one die as **Effect**. If it succeeds, you identify a structural weakness. The next attempt to exploit that weakness gains **+1 success**. |
| **Emergency Wall**   | **Active**  | 10 minutes downtime                             | **Might + Masonry**  | Once per scene, create a temporary stone barricade from rubble or bricks, providing **+2 Cover** or blocking a narrow path.                     |


### **Tier 2 Abilities** _(Masonry 2+)_

| **Name**                | **Type**    | **Action/Duration**         | **Roll (if active)** | **Description**                                                                                                                                                          |
| ----------------------- | ----------- | --------------------------- | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Fortify**             | **Active**  | 1 hour downtime             | **Might + Masonry**  | Reinforce a stone structure, granting it **+1 Soak die** against siege or environmental damage for 1 scene.                                                              |
| **Stone Trap**          | **Active**  | 1–2 hours downtime per trap | **Might + Masonry**  | Build a stone-based trap (falling block, trip-and-crush). Traps trigger automatically. Roll **Might + Masonry** when setting; their DR = **2 + your Masonry successes**. |
| **Efficient Quarrying** | **Passive** | Always on                   | —                    | Gather usable stone at twice the normal rate when quarrying or reclaiming material.                                                                                      |


### **Tier 3 Abilities** _(Masonry 3+)_

| **Name**             | **Type**   | **Action/Duration**                      | **Roll (if active)** | **Description**                                                                                                                                                                   |
| -------------------- | ---------- | ---------------------------------------- | -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Siege Defense**    | **Effect** | Attaches to a roll in a siege scene      | —                    | Gain **+1 die** when repairing breaches or reinforcing walls during a siege. Mark a die as **Cooperative**; if it succeeds, allies gain **+1 die** to related actions that scene. |
| **Monument Crafter** | **Active** | days or weeks, depending on the monument | **Might + Masonry**  | Once per session, build a lasting monument that improves local NPC attitudes **by one step** toward your group.                                                                   |
| **Collapser**        | **Active** | 2 hours downtime                         | **Might + Masonry**  | Sabotage stonework so it collapses safely when triggered. Roll **Might + Masonry**; if successful, you may trigger the collapse later with a single action (or narratively).      |

### **Tier 4 Abilities** _(Masonry 4+)_

| **Name**                  | **Type**   | **Action/Duration**                                     | **Roll (if active)**         | **Description**                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| ------------------------- | ---------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Master Mason**          | **Meta**   | Retroactive declaration (counts as 1 week prior effort) | **Mig                        | Once per session, declare that you reinforced a structure against a specific threat. Roll **Might + Masonry**; each success removes **1 die** from the threat’s attempt to breach or damage it. |
| **Underground Architect** | **Active** | 1 week downtime (project-based)                                                        | Design and build subterranean structures (tunnels, vaults, hidden lairs) that remain stable for years. Allies gain **+2 dice** when hiding or defending in them.                                |
| **Cleansing Shrine**      | **Active** | 1 full day downtime           **Spirit + Masonry**   **   **   **   **   **   **   **  | Once per session, build a shrine of stone capable of removing **1 Corruption die** from each willing participant who visits.                                                                    |


>[!hint] **Design Notes**
>- **Effect abilities** (Spot Instability, Siege Defense) latch onto existing Masonry rolls, adding tactical bonuses.
> - All **Active abilities** declare downtime or encounter action costs, fitting combat and long-term projects.
> - Tier 4 makes you a **legendary builder**, able to alter entire strongholds or sanctify places of stone.