Investigation
Mysteries are solved by combining clues, not by waiting for one perfect roll. Tell the Keeper what you examine, what you ask, and what you are trying to learn.
Time is a resource
A round handles immediate danger. A minute covers a quick search or short conversation. An hour covers research, travel, or detailed investigation. A day covers recovery and extended work. Ask how long an approach takes: a deadline may be as dangerous as a monster.
Finding clues
Obvious information does not require a roll. Hidden details generally use Spot Hidden or a careful search. Very hidden information may be Difficult; extremely hidden information may be Hard. If a critical clue is available, the investigation should provide at least three possible routes to it: a document, an interview, an observation, or a deduction.
A failed check does not have to mean that no clue exists. You may find partial information, a misleading lead, or the right clue after spending more time and attracting attention. Record what you know and separate evidence from assumptions.
Research
Library Use handles catalogs, archives, newspapers, and cross-references. Research usually takes an hour or more. Occult, History, Anthropology, Science, Law, and Art/Craft can answer narrower questions. Combining a primary skill with a relevant secondary skill may grant +10%.
| Source | What it can reveal |
|---|---|
| Newspapers | Public events, names, dates, rumors |
| Court or police records | Legal facts and official accounts |
| Business records | Money, ownership, movements |
| Personal letters | Motives, relationships, private fears |
| Interviews | What a witness believes or conceals |
Interviews
Choose your approach. Charm builds trust, Persuade makes a reasoned case, Fast Talk bluffs or distracts, and Intimidate forces cooperation at the cost of future hostility. A willing subject is Standard; a reluctant one is Hard; a hostile or trained subject may be Extreme or worse.
Let the subject matter. A failed social roll may close one door while opening another, reveal a lie, or make the witness seek protection. Psychology can help you understand motives, but it does not automatically prove someone is guilty.
Leads and revelations
Most investigations move through a hook, initial leads, complications, revelation, and confrontation. Keep a list of names, places, symbols, and unanswered questions. Share theories openly; another player may notice the connection you missed.
The goal is not to identify every fact. It is to learn enough to choose what you will do next—and to understand what that choice may cost.