### **Description**

Cooking is more than sustenance; it is comfort, connection, and even alchemy. Those who master this craft know that a shared meal can soothe wounds, mend relationships, and kindle hope. A true cook can feed a starving band with scraps, lace a banquet with poison, or host a feast that unites rivals.

The _Fires of Hearth & Heart_ tree represents mastery over food as a force of survival and inspiration. In dark times, a warm meal may be the difference between despair and determination.

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

- **Tier 1 (Cooking 1+)**: Basic group nourishment and food preservation.
- **Tier 2 (Cooking 2+)**: Boost morale and manipulate others through meals.
- **Tier 3 (Cooking 3+)**: Prepare dishes that heal and empower allies.
- **Tier 4 (Cooking 4+)**: Legendary meals capable of removing corruption and forging bonds.

## Ability Tiers
**Cost:** Each tier costs **Tier × 3 Marks**, paid from **Cooking or Wit**.  
**Advancement:** Must unlock **Tier 1** before later tiers.

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

|**Name**|**Type**|**Action/Duration**|**Roll (if active)**|**Description**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Forage Feast**|**Active**|1 hour downtime|Wit + Cooking or Survival|Feed your group using limited ingredients, removing **1 Fatigue** from all who eat.|
|**Comfort Meal**|**Active**|2 hours downtime|Wit + Cooking vs. Presence + Spirit (target)|Once per day, prepare a meal that shifts an ally’s attitude **up by one step**.|
|**Preservation**|**Effect**|Attaches to a Cooking roll to preserve rations|Wit + Cooking|Mark a die as **Persistent**. If it succeeds, you double the shelf life of any rations you prepare. You may use the Persistent die later for **+1 success** when cooking.|

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

| **Name**              | **Type**   | **Action/Duration**                                     | **Roll (if active)**      | **Description**                                                                                                                 |
| --------------------- | ---------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Stimulant Brew**    | **Active** | 1 hour downtime                                         | Wit + Cooking             | Prepare energizing food or drink; allies **ignore Fatigue** for one scene.                                                      |
| **Poison Chef**       | **Effect** | Attaches to a Cooking + Herbalism roll when lacing food | Wit + Cooking + Herbalism | Mark one die as **Effect**. If the marked die succeeds, your dish is poisoned. If the die fails, the target is **alerted**.     |
| **Gourmet Influence** | **Active** | 2 hours downtime                                        | Wit + Cooking             | Prepare a lavish meal that improves your reputation; all allies gain **+1 die** to their next Social encounter with the guests. |
### **Tier 3 Abilities** _(Cooking 3+)_

|**Name**|**Type**|**Action/Duration**|**Roll (if active)**|**Description**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Healing Broth**|**Active**|3 hours downtime|Wit + Cooking|Once per session, prepare a dish that heals **1 Injury** from all who eat it.|
|**Battle Rations**|**Active**|2 hours downtime|Wit + Cooking|Craft meals that boost movement; allies gain **+2m movement** during the first round of their next combat.|
|**Flavor Masker**|**Passive**|Always on|—|You can mask the presence of poison or medicine in food. Detection rolls **automatically fail**.|
### **Tier 4 Abilities** _(Cooking 4+)_

|**Name**|**Type**|**Action/Duration**|**Roll (if active)**|**Description**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Legendary Feast**|**Active**|1 full day downtime|Wit + Cooking|Once per session, prepare a legendary meal that **removes all Fatigue and 1 Slight** from all allies who share it.|
|**Cleansing Meal**|**Active**|4 hours downtime|Wit + Cooking + Spirit|Prepare a dish capable of removing **1 Corruption die** from a willing eater.|
|**Festival Host**|**Active**|1 full day downtime (host event)|Wit + Cooking|Turn your cooking into a social event. Allies gain **+1 Bond level** with any NPCs who share the meal.|


>[!hint] Design Notes
> - **Effect abilities** like _Preservation_ and _Poison Chef_ latch onto existing cooking rolls, allowing you to weave secondary effects in without extra rolls.
> - Active abilities clearly consume **downtime**, making them feel like real investments of resources and opportunity.
> - Tier progression flows from **survival and preservation** → **morale and manipulation** → **healing and buffs** → **legendary social and spiritual feasts**.