vaelora/Rules/Ability Trees/Skills/Crafting/Masonry (Might) - Pillars of Stone.md

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.