vaelora/Rules/Ability Trees/Skills/Crafting/Cooking (Wit) - Fires of Hearth & Heart.md

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.