Decipher Writing
You attempt to decipher complicated writing or literature on an obscure topic. This usually takes 1 minute per page of text, but might take longer (typically an hour per page for decrypting ciphers or the like). The text must be in a language you can read, though the GM might allow you to attempt to decipher text written in an unfamiliar language using Society instead.
- Arcana: writings about magic or science, like arcane theory.
- Occultism: esoteric texts about mysteries and philosophy, occult topics, including complex metaphysical systems, syncretic principles, weird philosophies, and incoherent ramblings.
- Religion: scriptures of a religious nature, including allegories, homilies, and proverbs.
- Society: a coded message, text written in an incomplete or archaic form, or in some cases, text in a language you don’t know.
The DC is determined by the GM based on the state or complexity of the document. The GM might have you roll one check for a short text or a check for each section of a larger text.
Critical Success You understand the true meaning of the text.
Success You understand the true meaning of the text. If it was a coded document, you know the general meaning but might not have a word-for-word translation.
Failure You can’t understand the text and take a –2 circumstance penalty to further checks to decipher it.
Critical Failure You believe you understand the text on that page, but you have in fact misconstrued its message.
Sample Decipher Tasks
- Trained entry-level philosophy treatise
- Expert complex code, such as a cipher
- Master spymaster’s code or advanced research notes
- Legendary esoteric planar text written in metaphor by an ancient celestial
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