Cognitive Awareness & Sanity Protocol
Certain deep-strata minerals extracted beneath Fathomholm emit psychic resonance. Master the 0–100 Awareness threshold to prevent Mind Overload and maintain workshop productivity.
The Four Awareness Stages (0–100 Scale)
Lucid Artisan
Symptoms: Normal vision. Mechanical dials, blade tension springs, and wheel gears operate cleanly without psychic distortion.
Guild Countermeasure: None required. Standard operational envelope for cutting Quartz and standard gems.
Sensory Drift
Symptoms: Minor auditory disturbance and subtle visual vibrations at peripheral magnifier edges.
Guild Countermeasure: Monitor cumulative cuts closely when processing anomaly stones like Hushstone or Kneeling Stone.
Psychic Resonance
Symptoms: Living crystalline striations appear to pulse. Chisel alignment crosshairs experience micro-jitters.
Guild Countermeasure: Step away from the workbench. Visit the reception counter to drink herbal tea and restore stamina.
Mind Overload (Critical)
Symptoms: Psychic overload peak reached. Complete mental incapacitation prevents stone appraisal and tool operation.
Guild Countermeasure: Mandatory rest cycle. Sleep or brew special tea to purge accumulated Awareness before resuming work.
Abyssal Anomaly Ores & Psychic Build-up
| Anomaly Specimen | Awareness Surge | Danger Tier | Operational Handling Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone of Erasure 抹消之石 | +25 Awareness | Extreme | Grey-white pyramid with memory-corrupting properties. Maximum hazard. |
| Mothscale Crystal 鳞粉结晶 | +20 Awareness | Severe | Mined from Moonforge stratum. Powdery flakes induce madness. |
| Shrift Stone 告解石 | +15 Awareness | High | Commissioned by church artisans for sacred stained windows. |
| Blue Chromophage 蓝食色者 | +14 Awareness | High | Absorbs blue light spectrum, casting psychological chill. |
| Red Chromophage 红食色者 | +12 Awareness | Moderate | Absorbs crimson light, inducing rhythmic pulse hallucinations. |
| Green Chromophage 绿食色者 | +10 Awareness | Moderate | Siphons green light, requiring synchronized blade passes. |
| Kneeling Stone 俯首石 | +9 Awareness | Moderate | Generates heavy gravitational pull on cutting chisel. |
| Hushstone 静石 | +8 Awareness | Low | Dampens all sound within five paces; requires visual dial reliance. |
| Lenten Stone 斋戒石 | +7 Awareness | Low | Induces ascetic exhaustion; counteracted by drinking tea. |
The Salon Tea Routine: Whenever Awareness crosses into the Psychic Resonance zone (>50), cease lathe operations immediately. Sit at the reception salon counter and consume a pot of herbal tea purchased from Kamala Sahni. A single tea session purges 30 to 50 points of Awareness, preventing the disastrous complete paralysis of Mind Overload.