Stress accumulates when your nervature is working. Once you reach 100% of your stress level your combat abilities will greatly diminish, often resulting in a swift death.

There are several active ways to reduce stress:

• Turn nervature off with 'nervature none'. This, of course, stops nervature from working.
• Imbibe a suitable ingredient. Pleniscentia is suited for this purpose.
• Apply a wrap soaked in an ingrediant.

There are multiple skills which have an effect on stress accumulation. Examples of such skills are relaxation, extrapolation, and finesse.