Cthulhu Mythos (Skill)

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 Cthulhu Mythos (00%) 

(see also Cthulhu Mythos )

This skill reflects understanding of the inhuman (Lovecraftian) Cthulhu Mythos. It is not founded on the accumulation of knowledge as academic skills are. Rather, it represents the opening and tuning of the human mind to the Cthulhu Mythos. Thus, Cthulhu Mythos skill derived from encountering Deep Ones (for example) is transferable to other situations and entities. Also referred to as "That which man should not know", the Cthulhu Mythos is antithetical to human understanding, and exposure to it undermines human sanity.

No starting investigator may take points in Cthulhu Mythos as a starting skill (unless agreed with the Keeper). There is no tick-box for Cthulhu Mythos on the investigator sheet, as successful use of the skill does not offer an increase in the investigator's percentiles in the skill. Instead, points in Cthulhu Mythos are gained by encounters with the Mythos that result in insanity, by insane insights into the true nature of the universe, and by reading forbidden books and other Mythos writings. A character's Sanity may never be higher than 99 minus their Cthulhu Mythos skill. As Cthulhu Mythos points proliferate, they crowd out Sanity points, and leave the investigator vulnerable.

Whenever spoor or other evidence of Mythos monsters is found, a successful roll against this skill allows the investigator to identify the entity, deduce something about its behavior, or guess at some property it may possess. A successful Cthulhu Mythos roll might also allow an investigator to remember some fact concerning the Mythos, identify a spell by seeing it cast, remember that a particular spell or piece of information may be found in a particular Mythos tome, or achieve some other task. The Cthulhu Mythos skill may also be used to manifest magical spell-like effects.

Opposing skill/Difficulty level: This skill begins at zero and often remains relatively low. The vast majority of skill rolls will be made at Regular difficulty.


 * Regular difficulty: to correctly identify a Mythos entity based on secondary evidence (spoor, wounds, firsthand accounts).
 * Hard difficulty: to identify a Mythos entity based upon rumors, legends or minimal evidence; to identify a possibly vulnerability or knowledge that grants some minor advantage over a Mythos entity after thorough research and firsthand experience.

Pushing examples: getting closer to the creature for a better view; consulting dread tomes, or lore of humans (or otherwise) possessing specialist knowledge; conducting an autopsy to learn more; reading aloud as you retrace the strange cryptograms.

Sample Consequences of failing a Pushed roll: get too close, exposing oneself to harm or suspicion; unwittingly read aloud a passage from a tome that activates a summoning spell; accidentally corrupt or destroy the evidence being studied.


 * If an insane investigator fails a pushed roll, they experience a vision or revelation that reveals new truths about the Cthulhu Mythos, akin to an Insane Insight (with possible Cthulhu Mythos skill gain and/or associate Sanity loss)