Language, Other (Specializations)

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Language, Other (Specializations) (01%)

When choosing this skill, the exact language must be specified and written next to the skill. An individual can know any number of languages. The skill represents the user's chance to understand, speak, read, and write in a language other than their own.

Ancient or unknown languages (such as Aklo, Hyperborean, etc.) should not be chosen (unless agreed with the Keeper), but ordinary Earthly languages may be. The Keeper may raise the difficulty level if archaic speech or writing in that language is encountered. A single successful Other Language roll normally allows comprehension of an entire book.

Suggestions regarding the Other Language skill:


 * At 5% skill a language can be correctly identified without the need for a roll.
 * At 10% skill simple ideas can be communicated.
 * At 30% skill transactional requests can be understood.
 * At 50% skill a person is fluent.
 * At 75% skill a character can pass for a native speaker of a foreign language
 * To identify a present-day human language (unknown to the investigator), use an EDU roll.
 * To identify an extinct human language, use an Archaeology or History roll
 * To identify an alien language, use a Cthulhu Mythos or possibly an Occult roll

Opposing skill/Difficulty level: Regular conversation, perhaps with pauses for clarification (when not speaking to a less than fluent foreign speaker) does not require a roll for those who are fluent.


 * Regular difficulty: conversation (perhaps at speed); written material containing a few technical or uncommon terms.
 * Hard difficulty: high content of unusual technical terms, historically archaic phrases; speaker has unusual dialect.

Pushing examples: taking longer to think through the words you want to say; taking long pauses to answer what you have been told; referencing other books to make a translation.

Sample Consequences of failing a Pushed roll: exaggerated or loud discussions between investigators and third parties alert some enemy faction to the investigators' intentions; a word or phrase is misunderstood (perhaps the meaning is reversed); the listener takes offense to an unintentional slur, and they respond with their fists, or turn everyone in the neighborhood against you.


 * If an insane investigator fails a pushed roll, they begin to speak in tongues, or imagine that they are using the Enochian language.