Taste

Taste *

Able to detect and distinguish the quality, safety, and composition of food and drink through gustatory perception.

Impaired

Perception
Cannot taste any flavor or discern spoiled from fresh or safe from poisonous.

Information
No information can be gathered about consumables by taste.

Attribute Check Bonus
-8 ​ Fortitude

Range
Detection Time On consumption
Food Range Direct contact
Sensitivity Rest Time
Impaired 30 minutes

Dull

Perception
Can only recognize extremely strong tastes (very bitter, sour, or sweet). Most flavors go undetected.

Information
Can barely tell if something is spoiled or overtly poisoned; only the most obvious spoilage or toxins can be detected.

Attribute Check Bonus
-4 ​ Fortitude
+2 ​ Reflex

Range
Detection Time Upon contact
Food Range Direct contact
Sensitivity Rest Time
Dull 1 hour
Impaired 15 minutes

Average

Perception
Can experience ordinary taste. Able to distinguish regular levels of sweet, bitter, sour, salty, and umami.

Information
Can reliably detect common spoilage, most simple toxins or taints, and estimate edibility.

Attribute Check Bonus
-2 ​ Fortitude
+4 ​ Reflex

Range
Detection Time Within a bite or sip
Food Range Direct contact
Sensitivity Rest Time
Average 2 hours
Dull 30 minutes
Impaired 10 minutes

Bright

Perception
Can identify nuanced and faint flavors in food or drink. Able to distinguish subtle spice, herb, or ingredient differences.

Information
Can detect spoilage or toxins in diluted food and beverages. Able to discern masked or mixed flavors and trace ingredients.

Attribute Check Bonus
-0 ​ Fortitude
+6 ​ Reflex

Range
Detection Time Before swallowing
Food Range Detectable in diluted samples
Sensitivity Rest Time
Bright 4 hours
Average 1 hour
Dull 15 minutes
Impaired 5 minutes

Heightened

Perception
Able to discern between highly similar flavors, origin of ingredients, and presence of most adulterants at trace levels.

Information
Can distinguish specific toxins or chemicals, fermentation sources, even in diluted or masked consumables. Able to identify edible plants, potions, or alien substances by taste alone.

Attribute Check Bonus
+4 ​ Fortitude
+8 ​ Reflex

Range
Detection Time On smell or the faintest sample
Food Range Trace contact or diluted presence
Sensitivity Rest Time
Heightened 8 hours
Bright 2 hours
Average 30 minutes
Dull 10 minutes
Impaired 2 minutes

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Poison detection *

[Augmentation]

Able to detect poisons and toxins in food, drink, or on objects, without being adversely affected by their presence.

Impaired

Method
Requires substance to be diluted with a glass of water before testing. Detection is unreliable and not all poisons may be sensed.

Information
Can only discern the possible presence of a poison with significant uncertainty.

Attribute Check Bonus
-8 ​ Fortitude

Poison Effect
Partial effect from dilution method
full effect if swallowed

Range
Method Dilution only
Scope Consumables
Sensitivity Rest Time
Impaired 30 minutes

Dull

Method
Able to detect poisons in food or liquid by diluting a sample in water; sensor can identify potential toxins.

Information
Can detect the presence of a poison and identify general category (e.g., neurotoxin, irritant). Cannot identify specifics.

Attribute Check Bonus
-4 ​ Fortitude

Poison Effect
Minimal effect from dilution method (meager symptoms)
Full effect if swallowed

Range
Method Dilution only
Scope Consumables
Sensitivity Rest Time
Dull 1 hour
Impaired 15 minutes

Average

Method
Can test substances by holding/swirling them in mouth (not swallowed); gains a lot of information but must immediately spit out, or risk exposure.

Information
Reveals the basic properties of the poison: whether it is lethal, paralyzing, or causes illness; source (plant, animal, mineral) if common.

Attribute Check Bonus
-2 ​ Fortitude

Poison Effect
No effect from water dilution
Minimal effect from mouth method (slight symptoms)
Full effect if swallowed

Range
Method Mouth (swirl/spit), or dilution (no risk)
Scope Consumables
Sensitivity Rest Time
Average 2 hours
Dull 30 minutes
Impaired 10 minutes

Bright

Method
Able to detect poisons by holding in mouth or swallowing.
Swallowing allows for further detailed insights at greater risk.

Information
Discerns full nature of the poison: source, possible antidotes, time until effect, and symptoms.

Attribute Check Bonus
+0 ​ Fortitude

Poison Effect
No effect from dilution method even if swallowed;
No effect from mouth method, minimal effect if swallowed (slight symptoms)

Range
Method Mouth or swallow (player's choice)
Scope Consumables
Sensitivity Rest Time
Bright 4 hours
Average 1 hour
Dull 15 minutes
Impaired 5 minutes

Heightened

Method
Detects any toxin with a mere touch to lips, with full knowledge available by swirling or swallowing. Completely resistant to tested poisons during detection.

Information
Provides total analysis of all poison components, source, method of delivery, possible treatments, long-term effects, and even rare compounds.

Attribute Check Bonus
+4 ​ Fortitude

Poison Effect
No effect from any method
even if swallowed

Range
Method Mouth/touch or swallow
Scope Consumables and contact toxins
Sensitivity Rest Time
Heightened 8 hours
Bright 2 hours
Average 30 minutes
Dull 10 minutes
Impaired 2 minutes

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Gustatory resilience *

[Augmentation]

Able to resist and even benefit from consuming spoiled or foul-tasting food and drink, though not resistant to actual toxins or poisons.

All food and drink consumed must be edible by your species; immunity does not extend to poisons, allergens, or caustic substances. Bypass normal penalties for eating spoiled or unpleasant food according to sensitivity.

Impaired

Exposure
Can perceive spoiled or foul flavors but cannot tolerate significant quantities.

Benefit
No benefit from spoiled food/drink, but takes half the usual negative effects (minimum 1).

Attribute Check Bonus
-8 ​ Fortitude

Spoiled Nutrient Gain Negative Effects Taken
Application Limit 1 per day Half (minimum 1)
Sensitivity Rest Time
Impaired 30 minutes

Dull

Exposure
Can tolerate unpleasant taste/texture and gains faint benefit.

Benefit
Gains half the usual benefits of spoiled food/drink with half the negative effects.

Attribute Check Bonus
-4 ​ Fortitude
+2 ​ Focus

Spoiled Nutrient Gain Negative Effects Taken
Application Limit 2 per day Half (minimum 1)
Sensitivity Rest Time
Dull 1 hour
Impaired 15 minutes

Average

Exposure
Able to eat moderately spoiled food/drink regularly, drawing most value.

Benefit
Gains full benefits of spoiled food/drink but takes only half of the negative effects.

Attribute Check Bonus
-2 ​ Fortitude
+4 ​ Focus

Spoiled Nutrient Gain Negative Effects Taken
Application Limit 3 per day Half (minimum 1)
Sensitivity Rest Time
Average 2 hours
Dull 30 minutes
Impaired 10 minutes

Bright

Exposure
No qualms about consuming spoiled or offensive food; may gain benefits even from refuse.

Benefit
Gains full benefits with no negative effects.

Attribute Check Bonus
+0 ​ Fortitude
+6 ​ Focus

Spoiled Nutrient Gain Negative Effects Taken
Application Limit 5 per day None
Sensitivity Rest Time
Bright 4 hours
Average 1 hour
Dull 15 minutes
Impaired 5 minutes

Heightened

Exposure
Actively seeks out and thrives on spoiled, rotten, or decomposed foods.

Benefit
Gains twice the usual benefit from spoiled food/drink, with no negative effects.

Attribute Check Bonus
+4 ​ Fortitude
+8 ​ Focus

Spoiled Nutrient Gain Negative Effects Taken
Application Limit 10 per day None
Sensitivity Rest Time
Heightened 8 hours
Bright 2 hours
Average 30 minutes
Dull 10 minutes
Impaired 2 minutes

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