Setting Expertise Perks
Setting Expertise Perks
Perks representing mastery of IL-specific information systems and environmental phenomena: Kinetic Debt, Entropy Collapse, and the Juris-Axiomatic knowledge domain. These are professional capabilities that reference setting mechanics unique to the Iron Lattice.
Entropy Signature | Setting Expertise | Stage 1 | Free Action | Near range | Short Rest
The character can read the harmonic stability of their local environment, detecting Kinetic Debt buildup and assessing Entropy Collapse risk. This is the Kinetic Auditor's core professional capability and a prerequisite for effective response to NVS Entropy events.
As a Free Action, assess the Entropy state of the immediate area. No roll required for basic state:
| Entropy State | Indicators | GM Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stable | Harmonics undisturbed; technology functions normally | No Entropy risk |
| Stressed | Subtle harmonics bleed; minor tech glitches; Harmonic Tradition Thresholds +1 in area | Collapse possible if Stressed further |
| Critical | Visible spatial distortions; tech failures; Harmonic Tradition Thresholds +2 in area | Collapse imminent without intervention |
| Collapsing | Active reality instability; area-wide tech failure; physical anomalies | Requires immediate Collapse Containment |
For identification of the Entropy source vector (which NVS sub-routine overload, which harmonic fault, which geographic flaw is driving the instability), roll Wit + Attunement vs Threshold 2 as a Minor Action. On success, identify the primary vector, actionable information for containment or evacuation decisions.
Limit: Passive state assessment always available. Source vector identification once per Short Rest.
GM note: Entropy State is an environmental condition that evolves during play. A Stressed area that receives additional Harmonic Tradition use without grounding, especially Kinetic Modifier rolls with Implosion, may escalate. A Critical area that the party ignores will Collapse. The Kinetic Auditor is the character equipped to track and flag this escalation in real time.
Profession assignments: NVS Kinetic Auditor (Stage 1); available to any character trained to read Axiomatic stress
Collapse Containment | Setting Expertise | Stage 3 | Primary Action | Near range radius | Full Rest
The character can stabilize an active Entropy Collapse, halting reality instability in a Near-range area long enough for evacuation, source neutralization, or emergency response.
Roll Wit + Attunement vs Threshold 4. On success, all Entropy Collapse effects (spatial anomalies, area-wide tech failure, harmonic discharge events) in the Near-range area are suppressed for the scene. Technology functions normally within the contained area. Harmonic Tradition rolls return to their normal Thresholds within the suppressed zone.
The Collapse is held, not resolved. The underlying Kinetic Debt source remains. When the scene ends, the area returns to Critical Entropy state, or escalates to Collapsing again if the source was not addressed during the suppression window. Collapse Containment buys time; it does not fix the problem.
On a failed roll, the containment partially forms, reduce the Collapsing area to Critical for one Turn, then re-escalate. On a Critical Failure (Wild Die Implosion), the containment attempt adds harmonic energy to the instability, the Collapse escalates to its next severity immediately.
Limit: Once per Full Rest. If the character also has the Human Kinetic Modifier, using Collapse Containment is itself a Harmonic Tradition roll, the Kinetic Die applies. A Kinetic Explosion on a successful Containment extends the suppression by an additional scene. A Kinetic Implosion removes one success and applies a Kinetic Effect (see AX.GIL.08.01).
Profession assignments: NVS Kinetic Auditor (Stage 3)